Looking out over the vast shantytowns that make up much of the city of Lima. - Photo:Ana Flores
After 13 years as a missionary in the Philippines, I am now back in my own country doing mission work in one of the areas where the Columbans are located: San Martin de Porres and Ventanilla District in the north of Lima. It is my desire to return to the Philippines and continue working there, but because of the uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, I cannot predict when that will be.
When I heard from the Philippine Immigration Office that I had to leave the country at short notice, it frightened me to the core that I had to take a long-haul flight back to Lima during a global pandemic, especially given that the cases of COVID-19 in Peru were surging. I had to undergo several bouts of quarantine - twice before leaving the Philippines, then during a layover in Chile, and finally, upon arrival in Lima. A total of four quarantines and a series of RT-PCR tests! It was the longest journey back home.
After my second quarantine, I felt more confident that I could adjust to this new reality. I knew my people were suffering, and many had died an untimely death. I pondered the fragility of life and how I could continue to serve on mission. The question I asked myself was: What can I do to help? These thoughts occupied my mind while I was still halfway home.
In pre-Covid times, families came to the airport to welcome an arriving family member, especially when one had been away for a long time. But when I arrived in Lima, the usually busy and vibrant airport looked like a ghost town. No one was at the airport to welcome me. The place was dead apart from a few taxi drivers; the roads were empty. I had never seen the city of Lima so deserted!
Initially, I found it challenging to re-adjust to my own culture, even to speak my own language, but gradually, I noticed myself reintegrating. While waiting for my return to the Philippines, I have occupied my time visiting and involving myself in the communities of Villa Isolina, Jerusalem and Huertas del Paraiso. These areas have many informal settlers who belong to the San Martin de Porres Municipality.
These communities prefer to belong to Callao province because there they can access hospitals, schools, and markets, unlike in San Martin de Porres, where the only available facility is a preschool for the whole community. It is disheartening to note that these people have lived in these communities for more than 30 years and still do not have water and drainage systems. The only source of water is from the water trucks and tanks.
I have been visiting a soup kitchen called Olla Common Dios Provee (The Soup Kitchen That God Provides for Those Who Need It). It is a project initiated in March 2021 in response to the dire need of families whose economic situation has been tremendously impacted on by the pandemic.
Almost 65 persons regularly collect lunch, paying a minimal amount for each plate if they can afford it; the elderly, the sick and others who cannot afford to pay can have the lunch packs for free. The Columbans support the Soup Kitchen with groceries. The benefactors take turns in preparing food from early in the morning until noon. The beneficiaries come to collect their food in their own food containers.
The women in the Soup Kitchen are not just focused on preparing food, but also on making a space for recipients to share their struggles and challenges, a place to listen to their health concerns, financial difficulties and other domestic problems. The needs of the children are so palpable that I decided to help them in their studies.
As well as helping the children in the community, it has been a wonderful experience for me, as it feels like going back to being a teacher.
I believe I am not doing a lot, but I am spending my time with my people as much as I can. Being present with them has made me understand and appreciate their presence differently. At times, I help in the cooking and have courageously introduced some recipes I learned in the Philippines.
I try to interact by sharing funny stories that “get us out of the pandemic” if only for a few minutes. I do not know what the future holds for me, but I remember the encouraging words of Pope Francis to be with the people and listen to their experiences and problems as we journey together in SYNODALITY. I shall continue to be present and hope that the best is yet to come.
Columban lay missionary Ana Flores is assigned to the Philippines but currently lives in Peru.
Columbans, Fr Iowane Gukibao (right) and lay missionary, Anna Flores (third from left), stand with a family on the dry earth of Lima, Peru. - Photo:Ana Flores
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Related links
- Read more from The Far East - July 2022
