Amauta

Again, I'd love to be uploading pics with this entry but I didn't have my camera with me today...(gotta buy a new card or clear off my documenting of the last 5 months) I went with Laura to Amauta today. My first time to the pueblo joven, or squatter town I guess you could call it. It was quite an adventure getting there even though we took a taxi, what we do when we don't leave an our early to take the bus. The area leading into Amauta is covered with flourescent advertisements on the walls of buildings and people everywhere. They were doing construction on the main road out there and there were hardly any signs indicating that, except those that read " Keep following the detour"- though we had to turn around and find a new route when we saw those. After going over some huge speed bumps, we were actually allowed to cross the "construction zone" to get were we needed to go and our taxi driver finally saw the busses traveling through so he was assured of how he could get out. The road was covered in potholes so I was defintely glad they were trying to make improvements. We were dropped off at a nice simple yellow dwelling. It was one room church building in the front area of a family's home. You passed through a passageway where they did their laundry until you saw the small chicken pen in front of you, when you turned left and went into the chhurch room or walked through the hanging clothes to get to the rest of the house. Laura had told me they only have a hole for the bathroom and the daughter did look a little unsure when I asked her where the bathroom was for a little child to use. I later saw the kitchen that was a very clean room with a table, a cooker( Irish word for oven and stovetop) and a well-kept dirt floor. The roof there was a blue tarp. We came to play volleyball with some of the girls in the area so we brought the ball and went looking for a net in the neighborhood. The girls thought they knew of someone who rented it out to people. We went to two more houses looking for it- one house more shabbily made than theirs and one with a solid wood door and tile floor. The last lady told us that no, they didn't have it but someone farther up did. When I looked up to where they seemed to be referring, I was really hoping we were not going to go find it. In this area, like in other areas of Lima I have seen as I entered this overcrowded city, there are (usually yellow) stairs that climb high up these dust mountains- the only way to reach houses that have been built where no roads go. It is dumbfounding this "city planning." So we played volleyball by drawing the lines in the dust out back behind the houses. It worked fine until some mean little boys came trapsing (is that how you spell that word?) through our game to play some soccer in the same area. Luckily they didn't stay long or there would have been some scuffles! -There was at least one rough and tumble girl in the group! Then we headed back inside an hour later for the women's Bible study. It was a good turn out: about 10 ladies besides leaders, many with their babies tied in blankets on their backs. It was suprisingly cool out there as today was cloudy. They seemed to understand some more about repentance and faith. One or two of the women needed one of us to read the questions to them because they are unable to read or write. The leaders assured them that it is great to come and we're always willing to help. It was a neat time but we left as it was getting dark because there is no lighting in the church room yet! The bus ride(s) home were a little tiring!