Esta Semana....this week´s work ...Barro! MUD!!

Haciendo barro para preparar adobes mejorados....excelente ejercicio!
Mixing mud to prepare reinforced adobes.....it is an excellent form of exercise!

Los pies de Andy ya acostmbrados al barro Chinchano
Andy´s feet already used to Chincha´s mud



We need 2000 adobes....we are working hard to meet our deadline and number
Necesitamos 2000 adobes...estamos trabajando durisimo para alcanzar nuestra meta

Penca: Uno de los ingredientes de este adobe mas resistente a sismos
Penca: one of the ingridients used in the making of reinforced adobe

Progresando...Making Progress

Hi again, today we continued mixing mud and making adobes...Andy, Abel and I kicked off the day and were joined by Lorenzo, Javier and Roberto (local friends) for a portion of the day...we are moving along...we are a day behind schedule but little by little we are catching up.....
After a few days of looking for tools and some hands, I am happy to share that our friends at PISCO SIN FRONTERAS gave me the tools I need to move forward and full force with our construction project...Thank you Pisco Sin Fronteras! andddd i almost forgot, I believe one of PSF´s volunteers will come down tomorrow to help us make adobes...so yes, we are making progress....these days we are focusing on making the 2000 adobes we need to start building in two weeks.....tomorrow nothing will stop us...ADOBES HERE WE COME!! Check out our beautiful reinforced adobes...:)

BUEN DIA!solo queria contarles que ya nuestros primeros adobes estan secando...son grandes y super lindos...abel, Andy y Yo llevamos ya dos dias mezclando barro y haciendo adobes...estamos un dia retrasados pero poco a poco estamos nivelandonos...mañana tendremos un dia sumamente productivo, ya que hoy pude porfin conseguir las herramientas que tanto necesitabamos...gracias Pisco Sin Fronteras por prestarmelas...sin ellas es dificil mover la obra...Hoy, se nos unieron al trabajo Lorenzo, Roberto y Javier, Chinchanos netos que tambien quisieron ayudar y que retornaran mañana a continuar apoyandonos aunque sea un poco...gracias muchachos!!...y creo que mañana tambien Mike de Pisco Sin Fronteras nos estara ayudando....aun necesito muchas manos mas...espero que todos los dias pueda encontrar gente dispuesta a sumarse a este esfuerzo por ayudar a Manuel y Rosaura....por ahora, estoy feliz y agradecida por lo que hemos logrado hasta ahora ....mañana seguiremos haciendo adobes y buscando ayudas....aqui les dejo unas fotitos de nuestros hermosos adobes mejorados...necesitamos 2000...MANOSSSSS NECESITAMOS MANOS PARA HACERLOS!!

Reconstruyendo/ Rebuilding

Buenas Noches Mundo! hoy es el dia 2 del inicio de obra de reconstruccion de casa de mis viejitos Manuel y Rosaura..estoy muerta de cansancio y no hay musculo que no me duela, tengo las mano ampolladas, y hoy no hay agua asi que me toca dormir enterrada totalmente...pero que buen dia fue hoy...Andy, Tim y Jonathan llegaron de Pisco como mi regalo mas necesitado...abel y yo empezamos a demoler la casa solos y por un momento pense que nadie llegaria, y como si hubiesen podido oirme, llegaron estos tres maravillosos muchachos que ayudaron a que hoy sobrepasaramos nuestra meta...GRACIAS muchachos! tambien gracias a Pilar y a todas las señoras de pasaje Castilla por venir en la tarde con herramienta en mano listas a demoler, romper, cargar y dejar todo limpio...seños gracias por apesar de estar cansadas venir a ayudarnos....GRACIAS! Javier tambien gracias a ti por mostrar tus ganas de ayudar y estar con nosotros...Neiba, Witi, mi Erickson, Geral...gracias tambien a ustedes por ayudarme con el hueco para los adobes....hoy fue un dia matador pero que bien se siente saber que mis viejitos estaran mas seguros y comodos pronto gracias al trabajo de todos...Abel, gracias como siempre por siempre estar y hacer conmigo lo necesario para ayudar...te quiero mucho....aqui les dejo unas fotos para que tengan una idea de lo que han sido nuestros primeros dos dias....Sandro, Y juan gracias tambien por ayudarnos ayer a instalar el modulo para los abuelitos...ese trabajo tambien fue arduo y muy valioso...muchas gracias por dedicar su dia a este trabajo conjunto por ayudar a Manuel y Rosaura...gracias Omar y amigo por ayudar a traer el modulo de tambo de mora...SHIRLEY...ya entregamos y instalamos el modulo a mis viejitos...gracias a ti y a tu amiga por habernos ayudado a obtener este modulo...Manuel y Rosaura estan bien y muy agradecidos...GRACIAS!!!!! bueno gracias a todos....me voy por q estoy muy cansada....mañana traducire todo esto al Ingles...abrazos a todos...

Hello everyone! Today, was day 4 into our rebuilding mission...days 1 and 2 were exhaustingly productive...on day 1, we got and installed the prefabricated home for Rosaura and Manuel thanks to Omar, his friend, Sandro, Juan and Abel´s help...doing this was not as easy as we thought but Sandro´s creativity and resourcefulness really helped...thanks guys!
On day 2, we really got to work and took the house down...in the early morning was just Abel and I taking down the roof and I really thought the two of us would be it to demolish the house but TA RAN...in came Andy, Tim and Jonathan....you guys were a gift to me that day...you picked up my spirit and helped move things along...thank you very much guys for your time and effort...I believe in people still, and you helped remind me why....

Pilar y las grandiosas señoras Demolicion de pasaje Castilla, Chincha


And just when I thought no more help was coming THE LADIES showed up...that´s right a a demolition group of healthy yet rather mature women led by Pilar came and helped us remove the rubble...i had no tools...especially no wheel barrows and they saved the day bringing everything we needed...Pilar and ladies from Pasaje Castilla in Cinco Esquinas...GRACIAS... you make me really proud...despite the fact that they spent the entire day removing rubble everywhere else and were quite tired, they came and helped...you are what I need ladies...Gracias!


Tim, Jonathan, Andy, Abel and I

Javier y Andy

So, today, day 4, we spent the day preparing mud, leveling the area where adobes will dry up, getting rid of some rubble, and getting the materials needed to kick off our adobe production...we need adobe making human machines to help us make the number we need in wo weeks..we are running against the clock and resources are VERY limited...but I am certain I will get everything I need however....life knows what I am trying to do, and why I have embarked on this project and as always will find a way to give me exactly what I need.....I NEED VOLUNTEERS, I NEED TOOLS, I NEED MATERIALS, I NEED FOOD, I NEED MONEY.....Please those of you who are in the position to help and know my project do so in whatever way you choose....thank you....I am dead tired, my body is soar as heck, my hands are blistered and my skin is burnt and covered with dirt...but man, it feels good to go to bed knowing that today´s hard work will bring comfort, tranquility, safety and warmth to two human beings who are not used to being valued or cared for....SHIRLEY AND FRIEND, thank you for helping us get the temporary home for my viejitos...they are well and very grateful...mil Gracias! finally, thank you to every person helping me help these two tough and wonderful people.....good night for now world! until soon....

Abel..gracias mi Abe...TE QUIERO MUCHOOOO!

Chin ayudando un ratito...Chin helping out

Abe Sandro (and Manuel look over) putting together the modulo...prefabricated home

Juan, ayudando a Sandro a Instalar el modulo

Sandro ayudando a instalar el modulo...great job putting together that module Sandro..gracias!

1 Año Despues Del Terremoto/ 1Year After The Earthquake

Hello Everyone, yesterday was a BIG day for us in Chincha...yesterday was August 15th...a year ago on that date thousands of people we sreaming, crying and desperately looking for missing loved ones...I know, I was one of them....1 year has gone by since the earthquake hit Chincha and Pisco and few things have really improved...a year ago, I decided to work in Chincha and help those most in need and while it has not been easy...I am happy to say that I have been able to do that with help from friends who came from all over the world and believed in this project of mine.

Yesterday, my kids and I cooked a traditional Chincha dish called Carapulcra y Sopa Seca for the entire neighborhood...we closed the street down and set tables up....my kids prepared a mural in which they creatively reflected on all the things they´ve experienced this past year.......my kids also showed the puppet play they wrote to their parents...it was a hit!!! We all danced, ate, played and reflected as a community...we thought together yesterday about the things we lost on august 15, 2007, and most importantly about the things we could have lost and fortunately did not.........things have been and are difficult around here....98% of my kids continue to live in temporary homes made of plastic and bamboo...all are living in sub human conditions and I am determined to give kids in these neglected communities an alternative...an opportunity to break patterns of poverty, ignorance, violence and neglect.....I am VERY proud of what La Casa De Mayten as an independent project has achieved this past year, and I am even more proud of the progress my kids make daily...I want the world to know that talented, capable, warm, honest, eager, intelligent, loving kids exist HERE and they, like any other valuable kid anywhere else in the world, deserve to be given a chance to express, create, achieve, feel, excel, dream, go after their dream, and be......I have tons of work lined up for the rest of 08 and most of 09 already.... my work is definitely cut out for me but I couldnt feel better or more fulfilled....I leave you now, so you can see a few more images of our 1 year since the earthquake ceremony.....Finally, a year after this massive catastrophy and drastic changes in my life, I just want to say that I continue to believe in human beings, in nature, in energy and education.....affecting the very essence of people affects me in such extraordinary ways...i am fortunate to be here, to be among people who despite their circumstances dare to believe with me that a better, more balanced and just future can and will be!....hasta pronto...until soon...

Junior, Minero, Joel y Witi listos para hacer reir y entretener al barrio, y asus papas

Junior, Minero, Joel and Witi ready to entertain their parents and neighbors

Mural hecho por los niños

Mural made by the kids

Kids showing their puppet play called La Primavera (Spring) to parents and neigbors

Niños mostrando su obra de titeres llamada La Primavera a sus papas y vecinos el barrio