Global Support Mission

Monday, September 25, 2006

Iquitos update.

24 September
Global Support Update
Leigh Buchan in Iquitos, Peru


Imagine yourself to be in Iquitos, Peru, driving a small motorcycle or vespa along with one hundred of your closest friends, and a large, old 1994 Land Cruiser comes along side you with a gringo-- woman, no less, pulling up along side. Sweat is dripping down her forehead and back, okay everywhere, face red from the heat, and inside are 50 square meters of bathroom tile, 9 square meters of kitchen tile, and grout to match, 15 meters of accent tile, 35 bags of primer paint, three large bags of concrete and some miscellaneous paint supplies. You guessed it. That is me. Also in tow are two children and Shanon Guimares.

The head honcho of Campos Blancos, Glaucio, has returned to the states and Shanon, his wife and I are commandeering the work here in order to complete construction on the first home for the street children to move into.

Global Support raised $2000 for this van I am driving, from a kickball tournament in mid June. Then challenged other supporters of Campos Blancos around the States to chip in. Diane Ellis and her team brought enough money with them in mid August to purchase this car, drive it over the Andes, and ship it on the Amazon to arrive in Iquitos.

Global Support then donated another $2000 to complete the work on the Children’s Home. I have to say, timing is everything! That is where I have come into the picture. My being here enabled Glaucio to return to the States and raise money yet still have the construction continue here. I cannot imagine obtaining all these supplies and then having to arrange transportation to the Children’s home which is a good hour away. Monetarily it would be a challenge, not to mention the logistics. I personally am so grateful to have the Land Cruiser. Its hauling ability is more than adequate to do the job! Thank you to all who contributed to this cause! And thank you to all who contributed to my support so I could be here.

I am continually reminded of why I am here. The kids who live on the street will seek us out whenever possible. Sometimes if I am riding on the back of Glaucio’s motorcycle I will hear the kids yell out, “Glaucio!” They know he is their friend. They followed us to a restaurant today. It was a simple, open air restaurant. Sitting alongside the perimeters of the restaurant, they wait for us to finish, but making sure they are within our purview. Their hands go up to their mouth and say, “tengo hambre”, I am hungry. We bought them a meal and handed it to them upon leaving. They grabbed it and ran up the street at lightning speed to devour their lunch.

They are kids—just kids-- living on the streets of Iquitos, Peru. Que lastima. What a pity—how sad.