Going to the Top!

My classroom in the mornings, with my fellow volunteer from Holland (don't mention the World Cup), a few of the goofballs, and Lilliana the teacher.On the Trek.
Some of my favorite Kiddos, Mariana, Yasmine, Isaiahs, and Leonardo!

Last week I had the chance of a lifetime, to trek and climb Huaytapallana (good luck pronouncing that one). It’s a glacier at an altitude of 14,000 feet in Peru! At first, those of us who aren’t from around this neck of the woods, were gasping for air with each step. The climb was steep, a bit scary, and definitely challenging. At the beginning there was an ominous shadow that the mountain cast over us. The peak was tremendous, and for those of you who know Columbine Trail in Red River, NM...that’s a piece of cake compared to this! It seemed to dare, and taunt me to reach the top. I defied it. Abby and I encouraged each other to push through the burning muscles and weezing lungs, and we finally made it past the first push, after about an hour. We found ourselves standing in between a deep valley in which we would soon descend, and the vast plain below us from which we had come. In the distance, I saw snow tipped mountains that would reveal themselves as glaciers within a couple of hours.

I wish my family had been there. My Dad is responsible for instilling a passion for physical challenges like sports or hiking, and my grandma, Gaga, passed her passion for nature to all of us. I’ve never had a better time in my life when I am together with both of my sisters, and my mom knows how to sit and soak in a beautiful moment. I feel so lucky to have so many people in my life that all appreciate beauty, and hard work, because that was the epitomy of this adventure. Throughout my travels, I have had many experiences that bow my mind, but all of them seem to lack just a bit when I’m not with all of the people I love so much. It is revelations like this that make me homesick at times, and also realize why home is so intensely meaningful to me.

Anyways, enough with the sappy stuff…When our expedition made it to the glacier, we had to climb 50 meters of pure and steep ice using 100 feet of rope I had carried. This was tricky mainly because one of us had to scramble up the slanted obstacle, find secure footing, and plant a stake into the ground in order to secure themselves, while the rest of us used the rope to guide ourselves upward. After about 45 minutes of this leapfrog action, we made it to the ice planes. A GIANT winter park, larger than any face of a ski resort I’ve witnessed. Of course we got to play! Sledding down a 45 degree ice patch for 100 feet with no breaks is quite a rush!

My final description of this weekend is really just to remind myself a frightening aspect of all this excitement. On the way down from the mountain, I expected to take half the time we climbed, so about 2 hours…but when we were descending the first peak, a sinister fog began to sink around us. I swear I could not see 12 feet beyond my nose! Not only was it hard to see the people walking the path before me, but also step drop offs that surrounded us. At one point, shortly after our guide had declared we were taking a shortcut, he asked us to wait, so he could make sure we were going the right way…after an hour and a half of walking in obscured paths…that is not what I wanted to hear. For an intense moment I considered what sleeping at 13,000 feet during winter, with 8 people and no shelter would feel like. But my guide was true to his word and returned from out of sight within minutes. In an hour we reached our van, and the tiny village house that sat next to it. The old lady who lived there had prepared all of us a fresh river trout dinner with potatoes and rice…DELICIOUS.

I know that was a lot about the hike, but this is an online journal for me as well! Remember I’m almost 24…so my memory isn’t what it used to be. My work is going great. I love the kids and I’ve just about learned all their names HAHA. It’s hard when you can barely pronounce them! This weekend I’m going to take off on a bus and go to the jungle. I WANT TO SEE SOME MONKEYS!

This week Abby showed me a great scripture about going further than you ever could have imagined. "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21”

It is inspirational, because a huge part of me just wants to leave a mark on this world that makes people smile for a lifetime. Who knows? By believing that positive change is always possible, and taking the right action to make it happen, all of us can impact somebody right? I love y’all and I can’t wait to see your pretty faces soon.

Profesor Layne? Who'd a thunk it?

HONK HONK! I wake up in the mornings to a symphony of Claxones (horns) in the street below my bedroom window. The markets are beginning to come alive by 6:30 am, while 80 year old women open up their tiendas just as they have for the last 70 years. So if I can get a little more sleep then I absolutely try, otherwise my day starts early. Abby and I get ready for the day and head downstairs for a breakfast with our host family. The food is light, usually consisting of Papaya, a tangerine, and some homemade biscuits, which I quickly scarf down! Typically, the grandmother in our house offers a coca tea or Hierba Buena to wash it all down.

Abby and I work in separate non-profits in the mornings. She walks around the corner in the crazy market modelo, and proceeds to the back of one of the niches, and assists children with their homework, draws with them, and does whatever she can to brighten up their day. Most of these children help their parents who work in the market. They have no free time to show their kids basic arithmetic, and they do not know English, so they will not be able to show them basic grammar. Abby helps them do this. Hopefully these kids will go on to succeed in school, and possibly aid in the development of Huancayo or Peru as a whole. Some of them might follow the same cycles as their parents and takeover the Carnerías, selling raw meat, or growing vegetables. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, but hopefully some of the children can be a part of a generation who will help advance medicine, infrastructure, or education.

On the other hand, as Abby hangs near the house, I jump on a bus and travel the chaotic and random streets for 20 minutes until I arrive at a very small pat of town. This is dirt road with several abandoned buildings, and a couple dusty stores. In the midst of this, there is a single room consisting of you would hardly notice if you weren’t looking. It has 2 tables, that can fit up to 18 kids, dozens of books and puzzles randomly placed, and handmade posters and pictures taped all over the walls. I come here to be with two Peruvian social workers who dedicate their time to helping the children. The kids I get to work with live in humble homes with parents who are not there in the mornings. Many of them are farmers who commute to the outskirts of the city, and others may be single parents who do whatever they can to make a dollar.

My time with them is short but intense. 3 hours consisting of homework help, counseling about troubles in the world, and reading them books in English. I have to translate most of them to Spanish so as to decrease the blanks stares. For instance, the Berenstein Bears “Old Hat, New Hat” became “Sombrero Viejo, Sombrero Nuevo” haha! My favorite part of the morning is the last hour reserved for juegas…(games). I go outside with the 8 or 9 boys and play Futbol! They run me ragged! Not only are we at 10,000 feet…but these guys can ball! They spend the first 10 minutes fighting over which team I will play for, screaming “Profesor! Aqui en mi equipo!” I wish middle school had been this easy to get picked on the team! Dad, my soccer skills are improving, even though I’m playing 12 year olds.

In the afternoons, after a lunch with my family, Abby and I grab a Cambi (very small public transportation), and go 45 minutes outside Huancayo to the CASA project. Where once again we assist 15 or 16 children with their homework, and then spend 45 minutes teaching English. Abby and I team up with our fellow volunteer from France, Sarah, and do our best to make it interesting. We’ve covered the alphabet, shapes, and some animals, but I don’t know how much they’ve retained! We’ll probably review tomorrow.

For those of you still reading…I know it’s a long blog! The food here is hit or miss in my opinion, occasionally we have a delicious meal, and I quickly ask what it is so I can request it again…but other times, there are very interesting flavors revealing themselves. Jungle veggies, and funky chicken sometimes result in Abby and I slowly turning to smile at one another as we chew the first bite…I have not allowed myself to taste the local delicacy Cuyo…or Guinea Pig for all you native English speakers….

Well, I’m going to have to write about our experience trekking over a mountain range and up a glacier will have to wait till tomorrow! I am sorry for the long pause between updates. I have been a busy boy, but I promise that Abby and I are alive and well, trying to make a difference in the world! I love you all and we pray for y’all every day.