In 2003 we left for Peru to spend nearly a year of our life volunteering at S.E.R., a Christian medical ministry located in Southern Peru. S.E.R. is a clinic based on a sliding scale fee system. Meaning, those who have money pay the normal fees, those who are poor get charged according to how much they can afford, the poorest of the poor receive free treatment. So, how do you go about paying for those who can’t afford the services? It was our mission to open up a restaurant to support the “free” services of the clinic and that was our main task while we were down there for those 12 months. A three story building was picked out with this specific goal in mind. The first floor is the restaurant, the second floor is the clinic, the third floor houses all the staff. The restaurant also holds meeting rooms for health lectures and classes which is a great avenue to teach the local people about the importance of healthy living as the best “preventative medicine”.
As of 2009 S.E.R. has tripled in number, there are now three different sites up and running…two in the Cusco area and one in Arequipa. One clinic even has several “beds” for those who need to receive more intensive treatments for longer amounts of time. The ministry also has regular alloted time on local radio and television stations which has helped immensley in getting the word out to the public. So, for all of our families and friends who have wondered what in the world we were doing down in Peru…we hope this gives you a clearer picture.
First Taste of Peru
Our first taste of Peruvian culture was when we stepped off the plane and headed into the airport. While we were waiting for our luggage a native Peruvian band played music for us, hoping for a passer buy to drop a little tip. They were all dressed up in traditional costumes and it was quite the site. It didn’t take long for us to realize that the little band wasn’t going to be our first culture shock. As soon as we stepped out of the airport we were informed that there was a strike in the city of Lima. Being ignorant of what a strike really meant we grabbed a taxi and headed to our destination. We would liken that thirty minute taxi drive to being in an action packed movie. Rocks were flying, tear gas was exploding, people were shouting, and the traffic was insane. At one point we looked thru 
the back window to witness two cars slam together sending sparks flying. At that same moment we heard a loud noise at the front of our car. We turned around and to our surprise the car hood had flipped open. Stopping, the taxi driver jumped out of the car, slammed the hood shut and started again. And if that wasn’t enough a few minutes later we got a flat tire. It was quite a ride!
*A word of note: We have visited Peru many times and this is not a normal event. Strikes are rare, the environment is pleasant, and the government is very stable. We just happened to arrive on an interesting day!
People of Peru
The people of Peru were an example to us of what it really meant to be happy. Some of the people that we visited in the smaller country villages were living many years behind the kind of life we were used to. For many of them running water was a novelty and electricity was a treasure. Many times we had taken those things for granted. Despite their living conditions they always had smiles on their faces. They were the hardest working group of people we had EVER been in contact with. They were up before the sun rose and didn't finish working until the sun went down again. Even in their poverty they were always generous towards us and always showed so much gratitude for the work we were doing. Even though many spent their days just laboring for survival, they were so loving and so grateful and so quick to open their hearts and homes.
Poverty
In some areas of Peru poverty is a major issue. No running water was the greatest issue in some of these areas. Taking showers meant buying a large plastic tub from the local market and filling it with water from a reservoir tank. If you wanted to heat your bath water then you could if you could afford it. Using the toilet meant digging a
hole in the back yard or using a bucket. No electricity meant going to bed early and waking up early to get in all the day light that you could. No electricity also meant no dishwashers, no laundry machines, no electric power tools, no fancy electric kitchen gadgets, no hairdryers, and we could go on forever.
hole in the back yard or using a bucket. No electricity meant going to bed early and waking up early to get in all the day light that you could. No electricity also meant no dishwashers, no laundry machines, no electric power tools, no fancy electric kitchen gadgets, no hairdryers, and we could go on forever.
The Environment
Peru's landscape is absolutely beautiful— in our opionion Peru has some of the most beautiful views in the world. We were blessed to experience everything from the gorgeous coast lines to the spectacular Andes Mountains to all the creepy, crawlies of the Amazon jungle. It was all so amazing. Soaking in breathtaking views as we adventured around t
he Peruvian countryside, walking through hills, trekking up mountains, climbing through jungles, and seeing life from an entirely different perspective. Finding words to describe some of the beauties that Peru boasts is just so hard. Beautiful just doesn’t do it justice.
he Peruvian countryside, walking through hills, trekking up mountains, climbing through jungles, and seeing life from an entirely different perspective. Finding words to describe some of the beauties that Peru boasts is just so hard. Beautiful just doesn’t do it justice.
The Transportation
It was definitely quite the journey to actually get to Peru. It took 16 hou
rs just to get from St. Louis, Missouri to Lima, Peru. But the real journey began as we took the very long 24 hour bus trip up some of the tallest mountains in the world. We learned very quickly that Peru's transportation was not the same as what we have been accustomed to here in the U.S. Treking up the mountains to an elevation of almost 15,000 feet in a big bus without any guard rails was a new experience for us. We took that ride about six more times and it was just as alarming every time.
rs just to get from St. Louis, Missouri to Lima, Peru. But the real journey began as we took the very long 24 hour bus trip up some of the tallest mountains in the world. We learned very quickly that Peru's transportation was not the same as what we have been accustomed to here in the U.S. Treking up the mountains to an elevation of almost 15,000 feet in a big bus without any guard rails was a new experience for us. We took that ride about six more times and it was just as alarming every time.
Cusco & Manchu Picchu
Cusco was the city where we actually lived while we were in Peru. It was big compared to what we were used to, but it was absolutely charming. There is a lot of myth and legend about Cusco's history, and as one 
of the centers of the Incan empire, there is a very rich cultural element to it. Being the cultural center that it is, Cusco is also a tourist center, so the mix of the two was fun to observe. And then there’s Manchu Picchu. The history behind that place, at least from what we’ve learned of it, is fascinating. We would slaughter it if we tried to retell it, so we recommend you looking it up.
They say that if the groomers quit the upkeep on the place, it would be reclaimed by the jungle within the year. It was entirely covered by the forest when it was discovered. Its discovery is a really interesting story also. Again, look it up, we don’t want to ruin it.
Click here to learn about peru:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_peru.html
of the centers of the Incan empire, there is a very rich cultural element to it. Being the cultural center that it is, Cusco is also a tourist center, so the mix of the two was fun to observe. And then there’s Manchu Picchu. The history behind that place, at least from what we’ve learned of it, is fascinating. We would slaughter it if we tried to retell it, so we recommend you looking it up.
They say that if the groomers quit the upkeep on the place, it would be reclaimed by the jungle within the year. It was entirely covered by the forest when it was discovered. Its discovery is a really interesting story also. Again, look it up, we don’t want to ruin it.Click here to learn about peru:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_peru.html
Peruvian Cuisine
The food was so good that we thought it was worthy to note. The Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the world and is on par with French, Chinese, and Indian cuisine. It is a very eclectic menu combining th
e tastes of Spain, Japan, and Italy with Incan flair. But what we miss most is the fruit selection, especially the cherimoya (for those of you who have eaten a cherimoya you know what we mean)! After picking from Peru’s fresh fruit variety it’s very depressing to visit our local Wal-Mart.
e tastes of Spain, Japan, and Italy with Incan flair. But what we miss most is the fruit selection, especially the cherimoya (for those of you who have eaten a cherimoya you know what we mean)! After picking from Peru’s fresh fruit variety it’s very depressing to visit our local Wal-Mart.
Our Experience
It’s difficult to put into words what an experience like this does to a person, or at least, to us. We were reminded about just how good it is to serve and not expect back. The smiles we got from helping some of the people in Peru were better than any paycheck. Helping people just for the sake of helping them, out of love and not out of obligation, their gratefulness was o
ur reward. We learned alot during our stay in Peru especially as we chose to live amongst the poorer locals. We chose to do without many items that we were use to here in the U.S. Sometimes that meant taking freezing cold baths, washing our clothes by hand, boiling our drinking water, living in a dirt house and out of a suitcase with no fancy furnishings to brag about. Even after
all of that we realized that we had so much more than a lot of the poorer people that we were helping. We had a checking account with money in it, enough clothes to last through washings, food on our table, but most noticeably, we had a plane ticket that would take us out of it all. We had a ticket of hope. It doesn’t seem fair, that so many people live a life of luxury while millions of others struggle just to survive.
ur reward. We learned alot during our stay in Peru especially as we chose to live amongst the poorer locals. We chose to do without many items that we were use to here in the U.S. Sometimes that meant taking freezing cold baths, washing our clothes by hand, boiling our drinking water, living in a dirt house and out of a suitcase with no fancy furnishings to brag about. Even after
all of that we realized that we had so much more than a lot of the poorer people that we were helping. We had a checking account with money in it, enough clothes to last through washings, food on our table, but most noticeably, we had a plane ticket that would take us out of it all. We had a ticket of hope. It doesn’t seem fair, that so many people live a life of luxury while millions of others struggle just to survive.
