Over $51,000 raised and all of it given for earthquake relief in Peru including Camp Vista Alegre in Pisco Peru.

August 2008 We are still building houses

Donate today at the above link

Pisco Peru site of 8.0 Earthquake August 2007

 

 

Today was once again hot (33 C)  Even hotter when you are working in the sun.  We build two more homes today.  These families were once again very needy.  The first home was out in the middle of a field with only one other damaged home near it.  The family of 4 were living in one of our tents that they had been given after the Camp had been closed up.  All of their earthly belongings were in and around the tent as we began to build the house.  It takes 5 men about 2 1/2 hours to build the basic house then another few hours to do the finish work such as put locks on the doors and glass in the windows etc.

"Our second house was built for a widow.  Her husband had been killed in a pedestrian accident 3 years ago when she was 3 months pregnant with her 4th child. They did own a small piece of land in one of the slum areas.  The floor had been poured a couple of weeks ago and in 3 hours her house was up and she was wiping down the outside of it as the sun was setting.  (read below for day one)

  

     

                                Familia Duenas Pozo                                                                          Donatilde Quispe Atao

 

DAY ONE April 1/08

            The August 2007 the 8.0 earthquake hit us hard about 5.40 in the evening.  I was not expecting to be wakened up last Friday morning at 7:50 am to the shaking of another earthquake.  A 5.3 quake hit Lima and I jumped out of bed and ran into the hallway.  36 seconds later it was all over.  Thank the Lord there were no injuries and only minor damage this time.  My plan was to come to Peru to help in Pisco and that is what I am doing. I arrived here in Pisco yesterday, Monday March 31st. The weather here is hot (30 C) and dry and always windy. We started working this morning to build 5 homes small wooden homes. Our goal is to build them over the next 4 days. The houses are prefabricated in Lima and trucked 4 hours down to this seaside city. It has been 7 months since the earthquake and I am amazed at the damage that is still very visible everywhere in the city. Our host here commented that it is because of the lack of funds.  He commented that it will take 5 or 10 year at least.

          Our first house to build this morning was for Dalma.  Dalma is a widow and when I met her late last night she hugged me and said thank you.  As we were building today I looked over and she stood watching us.  After a while I went over and again and again she said thank you and then tears came to her eyes as she gave me a big hug.  Our second home is for a family of 4. The Garcia Quispe Family.   The father and the boys helped us put together their new home. 

The exiting part is to watch the faces of those you have helped.  The sad and hard part is to have a young mother come and tell you how she lost everything and ask for a house which I cannot give to her.   The need will always be here.  Thank you for your part in helping.

Doug Springer

  

Dalma watching her new home being finished                                     Putting up the walls for Familia Garcia Quispe

Updated April 1 2008