Photos from the collection of melynda thorpe burt, peru 2012

Into the Darkness

10 passengers, 27 pieces of luggage, fruit cases stacked to the ceiling and bags filled with bread

Part 5 in a series following: https://medium.com/heart-of-the-andes/30a4fab1eb61

September 25, 2012

Guest entry written by Penelope Eicher, co-founder of Heart Walk Foundation

Penelope Eicher and her husband Tim of southern Utah happened across the plight of the mountain Q’ero people while traveling in Peru in 2003.

It is 7 p.m., dark, and we are still one hour from Hueccouno. After so many trips through these steep mountains with treacherous precipices falling 4,000 feet below us, I know better than to risk this trip in the dark. But here we are in a van fit for 11 tiny people max. We are 10, with seats jammed to the ceiling with cases of fruit, bags of bread, and at least 27 pieces of luggage. Or maybe more. Donations, anyway. In a way, I am glad it is dark so my team of volunteers cannot see the sections where the road has caved away, leaving one narrow lane. Will the remaining section give way as we pass?

“I’ve been traveling to this part of Peru for 10 years now, and I know better than to risk this trip in the dark.” — Penelope Eicher, Heart Walk Foundation co-founder

Tomorrow will be a day of great joy. The Hueccouno students and parents will celebrate Students Day as well as the first day of spring. They delayed celebrating this national all-day festival for our arrival and plan to wow us with traditional dances, music, songs, games, and heaps of food prepared in the adobe brick oven by the mothers. Each parent contributed some of their meager funds to buy the food, although many suffer daily hunger at home.

My conscience challenges me and makes me uncomfortable. Is it right for us to take from their scarcity? We are there to help them. What is helping? Who is really helped? These questions haunt me and remind me that everyone deserves the dignity of giving back and sharing. The poor people of Hueccouno recognize our relationship as mutual and reciprocal. They are living the Andean principle of the web of life, ayni.

We have much to celebrate tomorrow.

Continue the series with part 6: https://medium.com/heart-of-the-andes/daaf77672114

For more information about the film, to go heartoftheandes.org

In case you missed:

Part 1 can be found at: https://medium.com/heart-of-the-andes/6a005fbeaf

Part 2 at: https://medium.com/heart-of-the-andes/c38bca5c7485

Part 3 at: https://medium.com/heart-of-the-andes/a75615be746c

Part 4 at: https://medium.com/heart-of-the-andes/30a4fab1eb61