You can change the world for someone

On the 5th of April this year very heavy and unseasonal rain fell on the desert coast of Peru.  It's quite rare for it to rain here in Lima and the surrounding area at all so when it rained heavily it was very strange.  It didn't rain in the city at all but just 20km inland from Lima it rained for days. For some this rain would have been a welcome relief from the choking dust and arid climate of the coastal desert but for the people of the town of Chosica it was a disaster. The rain caused an avalanche of several thousand tons of rock and mud to pour down the hillsides above the town onto a poor area of Chosica, destroying everything in its path: houses, schools and shops. That day many people lost not only their homes but also their livelihoods.

When the children of San Andres heard about what happened they wanted to help in any way they could those who had lost everything. So they collected clothes, blankets and money and with the help of a contact in a christian school in Chosica, a small group of secondary pupils made the journey up the steep, rocky hillsides to the town and gave their gifts to these families.  They also arranged to buy and install 4 wooden houses which will provide replacement accommodation for families who have lost their homes.


Although I wasn't there, I know how much this small act of kindness and love will mean to these people because, sadly, during my stay here in Lima I have seen so many living in equal poverty. Sometimes I think it's impossible to change the world, enable children to go to school to learn, help those who are starving because of lack of food or dying because of dirty water or lack of health care and the idea that the work is impossible for me to do is a convenient excuse for doing nothing or a reason for being depressed about the state our world is in.  But the other day I read somewhere that "one person cannot change the world, but you can change the world for one person". Small acts of kindness and mercy like those of the San Andres pupils shows that this is so true. Too often I am tempted to think that to be a blessing and a help to those in great need I have to give money I don't have but giving shoes to a child who has none, a Bible to someone who can't afford to buy one, a blanket to a mother of newborn or your time to listen to the heartbreak of those who have no one to talk is enough to change the world for that person because they know that someone cares about them and sometimes that is just what they need to know. Poverty is only bound to this earth and we are reminded in the Bible that it is only a passing thing but our attitudes to it show whether we too are bound to this earth or whether we take our example from the one who said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

    for yours is the kingdom of God. 

²¹ 

Blessed are you who hunger now,

    for you will be satisfied. 

Blessed are you who weep now,

    for you will laugh."

San Andres News

Father's Day - Día del Papa

Some cute little things in Kindergarten

I thought I should keep up to date with all the things that have been going on in San Andres in the last wee while especially since I have only a little time left here in Peru.  


On Friday we had a special breakfast in school for the fathers of all the primary and kindergarten children to celebrate Father's day! Peruvians really do celebrations in a big way whether that's a birthday, Christmas, Father's day or Mother's day or just a national holiday! So although the Father's celebrations were a lot less extravagant than the Mother's day ones, it was still quite a fuss for someone like me who isn't really used to having a party every few weeks! On saying that, there is a lot we could learn from the Peruvians about learning to appreciate our loved ones and making the most of what we have since the majority of us have so much more than many, many others.  On Friday the chaplain led a special service for all the "papas" reminding them of the role they play in the lives of their children and of the responsibilities they have as a father.  He also reminded us all that we should take our example from our Heavenly Father who is the perfect father and who cares for his children however old they are and however much they think they don't need Him.  

Feliz día papito - Happy Father's Day, Dad

Interhouse sports day

4th Grade races

On Thursday I spent the day at the race track in the Bohemian heart of Lima: Barranco.  The children had an Interhouse athletics competition which involved lots of very over excited children, quite chilly Lima winter weather and constant megaphone announcements about the next race on the track.  All the teachers were given jobs to do and myself and Rosa found we were in charge of the "lanzamiento pelota" or shot putt.  How difficult could that be I thought to myself as I prepared to mark the spot the ball landed in for our first competitor.  2 hours and many re-throws later as well as dodging the odd stray ball and getting a good workout getting them back, I was pretty exhausted! Luckily we did get a lunch break and the afternoon did go past a little faster than the morning since we were on race track duty! By the end of the day I don't know who was more tired the pupils or their poor teachers but I was sure glad I'm not a PE teacher!


My Assembly
Last Tuesday I faced my biggest fear (making a fool of myself in front of a Spanish speaking audience) by taking the primary assembly in school.  San Andres is a Christian school and so every morning we have a 20 minutes assembly where the children sing a few worship songs and one of the teachers leads us all in a Bible study to suit the children.  Well, I had been asked a few times by Clive (the headmaster) to take the assembly.  "It'll be a good experience for you" he said, "It'll be such a benefit for your Spanish" he said.  Very reluctantly I agreed simply because himself and his wife Ruth have been so good to me since I arrived here and I felt if I was going to make a fool of myself for anyone, it should be them!  Well, I am glad I did and it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be although standing in front of a room of 400 native Spanish speakers and giving a talk in a language you're just learning was quite a nerve-racking experience but I felt a peace while I spoke which could only have come from God and I know that this was His will.  It also gave me a good idea of how I've improved in my Spanish as I could never have done that when I arrived 6 months ago.


Megan's Visit

Myself and Megan with our Anne of Green Gables style hats!

On Thursday Megan , another Scottish volunteer who worked at San Andres before Christmas and in Moyobamba at the Annie Soper school since, arrived in Lima on her way home to the states. Megan is a good friend of mine and I was happy to see her and share stories of how our time in Peru has unfolded. We went to the opera together on her last night here, visited the Ambassador for the Queen's jubilee celebrations and had a few Starbucks together (a kind of tradition for us) We spent a few days together and she left on Wednesday night bringing her 9 months in Peru to an end. I met Megan here in Lima in January just after I arrived and we've kept in touch since.  I spent a great week with her in Moyobamba in May and we plan to stay in touch when we're both back in Scotland in September. So it wasn't so much "Goodbye" but more "See you soon".
Her departure reminded me that I have just 4 weeks left here and the goodbyes I say then may really be goodbye.  How quickly time flies! (or maybe I'm just getting old). 


My Birthday
Speaking of getting old, I was 21 of the 3rd of June! I remember years ago, when I was still in school, chatting with friends about how we'd spent our 21st birthdays. I never dreamed I'd be spending in in Peru! I had a lovely day although I wished my family and friends at home could have shared it too. We went for a nice meal in a fancy restaurant in Miraflores called Vivaldinos.  Another year gone already and my time in Peru quickly coming to an end.  Sometimes it would be nice to have a pause button.  I wonder where I'll be 21 years from now, the future is unknown but God has been so good to me in the past year as He has always been and I can face the future knowing He will always walk by by side wherever I go.

Myself and some of the 3rd year girls

Happy Birthday San Andres!

Feliz Cumpleaños Colegio San Andres!

Some of the men who were celebrating 50 years
since graduating from San Andres

Today, the 13th of June 2012, is the 95th anniversary of San Andres and this is very exciting. The school has a long history and has been through many challenges as well as many good times over the years. Today we celebrate all that has made San Andres the great school it is.


On the 13th June 1917 the Anglo-Peruano was founded by a Scottish missionary called John Alexander Mackay, under the guidance of the Free Church of Scotland, to provide an education for the elite of Lima.  Many of the first students were sons of generals and politicians.  The Anglo-Peruano was founded upon Biblical teaching and continues to teach its student based on the Bible.  The school's motto became "El principio de la sabiduria es el temor a Jehova" or "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord". The school began as a boys primary school but grew steadily over the years.  In 1919 the school grew to include a secondary department with a total of 70 staff and 270 pupils.


In 1930 the school moved to its current location in the heart of the city of Lima (Avenida Petits Tours) although at that time the school was on the outskirts of the town  It was recognised by the president of Peru as one of the best academic institutions in Lima and the school continued to grow.  


In 1942, the Anglo-Peruano changed its name to what it is now known as: Colegio San Andres.  This was an order from the government because at that time, Europe was in the middle of the Second World War and although Peru was neutral and took nothing to do with it, there were fears that businesses with strong links to Britian could encourage problems.  San Andres has kept its name ever since.  This is very apt since the school has very strong links to Scotland and San Andres or Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.


In 1994 the school underwent more big changes with the introductions of mixed education. The school grew quickly as a result and new buildings were added to cope with the increase in pupils. A kindergarten section was added to the school meaning that San Andres now takes pupils from the age of 2 years to 16 years.


95 years after it all began and having faced financial problems that threatened to close the school, survived a World War, years of military dictatorship and many different headmasters, San Andres now has over 100 staff and 750 pupils from all areas of the city of Lima and from all backgrounds.  It still holds firmly to its Christian founding principles and is a steady shining light in a city with much poverty and corruption.  Today we celebrated all the blessings God has bestowed on this school and gave thanks for the blessing it has been to generations of young Peruvians.


Today the children had a day off school although the teachers still came in.  This morning we had a formal celebration ceremony with those who graduated 50 years ago and 25 years ago to the day from San Andres.  The school's history was recounted and we all looked at photos together of the school as it has changed over the years. I couldn't help but think as we looked at the old photos of what John Mackay, the school's founder, would have thought if he'd be there. I'm sure he'd be very happy to see how the school has grown and how much of a blessing it has been to the community it serves but most importantly that it has stuck by its principles when sometimes that has not been easy.

3 cakes!!!

This afternoon was great! We all headed to a fancy restaurant in Miraflores for a lovely lunch Peruvian style! By the end of it all we could hardly move but unfortunately Megan had a plane to catch so off we went to the airport.  I waved Megan off tonight and couldn't help thinking how fast time has gone by since I arrived in Peru in January. I only have 1 month left before I too will be making my own jounrey to the airport for the last time and saying goodbye to all the wonderful friends I've made here.  Better make the most of it!

A beautiful boquet sent by a nearby school

Diamond Jubilee celebration in Lima

The Queen's diamond jubilee has been a big deal in the UK from what I'm hearing but we've had our own celebrations here in Peru too! A few weeks ago I logged into my emails to find an email from the British Consulate in Lima.  Oh oh I thought, what if something has gone wrong with my visa or something else along these lines.  I opened the e-mail to find it was an invitation to a diamond jubilee celebration at the British Ambassador's residence here in Lima!  

Cake competition entries

I was 12 years old and in primary school when the queen visited Stornoway on her Golden Jubilee tour of the Hebrides.  I remember all the excitment and special security in place on that day and how lovely the queen looked in her pink suit and hat.  We stood at the town hall and waved little Union Jacks while the queen collected lots of floral tributes and thanked us for coming. I would never have guessed then that 11 years on I would be celebrating her diamond jubilee in Peru!


Yesterday was the big day! Myself, Charmian and her husband Dennis and Megan (who arrived back from Moyobamba on Thursday night) went to the British Ambassador's residence for a buffet lunch to commemorate the Queen's diamond jubilee.  It was a bit of a jounrney there since we stay in the opposite side of the city and Saturday afternoon traffic in Lima is terrible.  We ended up getting lost looking for the car drop off point and had to be given directions by a friendly looking "vigilante".  By the time we made it to the point where we were supposed to meet the private car that was to take us to the Ambassador's house, we were pretty late but thankfully we weren't the only ones to have fallen victim to the Lima traffic!

Beautiful flower table decorations

We were escorted to the residence where we had identity checks and then welcomed to the party with a little paper cone of fish and chips! It was fantastic and better was to come.  We arrived just as the choir of the United British Schools of Lima were in the middle of their performance.  They sung really well and we had a chance to meet the other Brits in Lima.  After a quick speech by the Ambassdor we were all invited to sit and enjoy the buffet.


I was happy to see there food was mostly British (made a nice change) and there was more than enough for everyone.  We sat outside in the lawns of the Ambassador's house with the sandy peaks of the smallest foothills of the Andes in the background and Union Jack banners waving in the breeze to reminds of where we came from, There was a cake competition and a quiz of Great Britian which our team did very poorly in (perhaps we should have listened better in history class!) We had a lovely time meeting new people and catching up with others we hadn't seen in a while.  The time passed fast and all too soon it was over and we were back battling the Lima rushhour traffic but it was a lovely way to spend the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  We felt part of the celebrations even though 6000 miles and an ocean separate us from where we call home!

In celebration of the Union Jack

Breakfast with the Ambassador

Yesterday the British Ambassador to Peru, James Dauris, visited the school to take the secondary school assembly and answer the questions of the some of the 4th and 5th year students.  He spoke of the economic problems facing the United Kingdom at the moment and ongoing trouble with Argentina over ownership of "Las Malvinas" or the Falkland Islands as well as the celebrations for the Queen's diamond jubilee and the Olympic games 2012 due to start soon in UK.  The students had some good and very mature questions and the visit seemed to have gone very well.  It was the Ambassador's first visit to Colegio San Andres and a great honour for the school as it prepares to celebrate its 95th anniversary on the 13th June 2012.  The school has long established links to the UK and especially to Scotland.  On the 13th June 1917 the Anglo-Peruano was founded by Scottish missionaries to provide accommodation for the elite in Lima.  95 years on and having faced financial problems that threatened to close the school and having survived a world war and many different headmasters, the Anglo-Peruano is now called Colegio San Andres (Saint Andrew's School) after the patron saint of Scotland and has grown in size to 750 pupils from all areas of the city of Lima and from all backgrounds.  It still holds firmly to its christian founding principles and is a steady shining light in a city with much poverty and unrest.  Next week we celebrate the anniversary of the school with celebratory parties and meals as well as speeches from former pupils and a photo display of the school through the ages.  Hopefully San Andres will still be here 95 years from now still providing a christian education for the children of Lima.

After the Ambassador's assembly I, being one of the few British staff members of the school, was invited to have breakfast with the director of the school and the ambassador as well as a lovely Scottish lady who has been a teacher in the school for many many years and the school chaplain!  We shared a lovely breakfast and chatted about British foreign policy (don't mention the Falklands said Clive, the headmaster!) and the Queen's diamond jubilee as well as British influence in Peru and Latin America in general.  It was quite a privilege to have breakfast with an ambassador and although I hadn't really a clue what to say and tried hard not to show my ignorance I really enjoyed the experience.  It's not everyday you get to have breakfast with the British Ambassador!