Ojos (eyes)

I have left Cajamarca for my return trip to Austin.  Maggie and Hector are staying a couple of days more for a few more bank visits.  As I sit here in the Lima airport, reflecting on my trip, I struggle for words.

It’s impossible for me to describe my experience here.  Just as anyone tries to describe a watershed moment in life, words are inadequate.  So I thought I’d share a few photos and an observation that Hector made our first day in Cajamarca.

We were greeted on our first night at the Hope House by a group of women from different village banks.  They stayed late after a sewing class to share some of their creations with us.  Each in turn told a bit of their personal story and their experience of the DiscoverHope program.

Hector observed later that the women who had been part of our program for several loan cycles were more confident and looked us in the eyes as they were talking.  Many of the women in earlier loan cycles were more uncertain and looked at the floor while they spoke.

I became much more aware as the week went on, who would look me in the eyes when we met or spoke.

One of our bank officers, Carina, repeated the familiar phrase several times this week,  

“Los ojos son la ventana del alma.” or 

“The eyes are the window to the soul.”  

I will try again in the coming days to describe my experience here, but right now, I am at a loss.

Instead, I’d like to share a few photos from the week.  

I hope their eyes convey some of what we experienced this week.

In gratitude,

John