A good news story

03.08.2009

Fr Joseph Ruys reports from Lima, Peru.

Recently I was asked to bless a new house. This is not unusual here in Lima, but let me tell you a little more.

Magda Victoria Papuico Samudio is the mother of four children and grandmother of one. She has been living with her family on a little hill in our parish known as "Cerro Candela" for the past eleven years. Before moving to the hill she lived as guardian in a food preparation centre used to distribute breakfast and dinner to the poor.

Many of our sections of the community have these government supported centres. Her particular centre was closed when the road was widened to become a major through-road in our parish. She then had to look for somewhere else to live with her husband and children.

Magda moved out to Cerro Candela to "claim" a small plot of land and constructed what was to be their home. The home was made of planks of packing pallets, cardboard and plastic sheeting with reed matting as a roof. At the time Magda was two months pregnant with her fourth child. After three months her husband left her and has not been seen since.

Alone, Magda has managed to look after her children by washing clothes three days a week. She earns about 250 soles (AUD$90) per month. With this money Magda has to feed her family, pay medical bills, buy clothes and educate her children. Luckily she receives a little help from the Australian Sisters of Mercy through their Women's Support Centre when life becomes impossible for her.

Because she lives high on the hill the water truck cannot reach her home  so she and her children carry water up about 100m by bucket so that they can drink, wash and cook.

 Life under these circumstances would be difficult for any family however there is more to tell. Magda's second child, Catarina, 15, is intellectually handicapped and needs special education and care.

A year ago her oldest daughter, Evelyn, 17, gave birth to a son, Luis. Evelyn died three days later leaving Magda to raise her new grandson. Her other two children are Betsabel, 12, and Juan, 10. The three children attend school every day and Magda does not ask them to work to help with the income. (Sending young children to work selling lollies or polishing shoes is illegal but common practice here in Peru).

Last year officers of the National Police of Peru arrived at Magda's home. They spoke briefly with her, took some photos of her home and told her they might be back with some good news. Indeed they returned and offered to build her a new house on the same site!  In their own time, with their own hands the police have leveled a larger part of land and built a simple four room house along with a little shop from where Magda can sell a few basic house items.

While this house was being built the police rented a room in a hotel for Magda's family. When the police invited me to bless the new house they explained that they have begun this new programme to assist a needy family each year in each of their poorer jurisdictions. For me, it was a great experience to see the good work of the police working within the community.  Magda and her family have received the keys to their new home, a real house. They still have many difficulties to face each day but at least they have a home to protect them from the elements.

I had the enjoyable honour of being able to invite God's blessing on their new home.

A good news story of hope, don't you agree?

Fr Joseph Ruys is an associate priest working with the Columbans in Peru.

Read more from The Far East March, 2009