We arrived to Chimbote and quickly made plans with the students for dinner. The students chose a newer restaurant they had been waiting for us to arrive to try. Surprisingly all the students ordered chicharron de pollo, chicken fingers and fries. Over dinner we heard the various renditions of what it is like to live and work in Chimbote. The next day we planned to visit all the worksites and families.

We started out the new day meeting up with the students at the Parrish met by Father Jack, the Priest that oversees the Parish. We distributed mail to very excited recipients and once the excitement died down the students took us on a tour of the parish.

We started with Reuben’s service assignment, accompanying at the Matt Talbot center for rehabilitation of addictions, primarily alcohol and drugs. Reuben has gotten to preach and has appreciated getting to know the program.

From there we returned to the Parish to pick up Marissa for lunch, downtown Chimbote. We searched for a while for a recommended restaurant and enjoyed ice cream afterwards. From there we started visiting families. We started with Chelsea’s family, Brian’s family and Josh’s family who related the joy he was to have a part of the family, as their “youngest” son.

From there we visited four more work assignments, the students have been filling school packs for children who are soon going back to school after the coastal summer. Kaila, has been teaching English at the Casa de la Juventud, the House of Youth. Marissa, works a block or so away at the Hospice and has gotten to know several of patients who live there. Marissa also goes with the Doctor and the Director on outpatient visitors. Marissa is a good person to accompany; she holds their hands as they get painful shots.

From there we visited the last 3 families, Marissa’s family, Kaila’s family and Reuben’s family. Reuben’s mother is a social worker at the parish and offered us soda and popcorn. Reuben’s mother, Udy Palacios, is delightful and looked a little like a fairy godmother.

After all those visits we were beat and retired early for the bus ride through the canyon to Huaraz, where we meet up with Ross, Emily, Daniel, Hannah R. and Audrey.