The Knot of Community.

April 5

Just as the sun peeked above the cloudy blanket of the morning, our plane hovered above Cajamarca Peru, the former Incan Northern stronghold. The arrival into this small mountain town is such a beautiful experience…the landing is done purely by sight as the town is very remote (aka no radar tower, sometimes just cannot happen on extra rainy days). The pattern is always the same: plane circles mountain morning haze and drops into layers of the clouds, one layer at a time…you literally enter the bowl of green and brown patched land sprawling over the expanse below…framed by mountains on every side. It is really glorious and slightly nerve wracking! Desiree our Program Manager and Oswaldo General Manager of our NGO partner greeted me in the early morning hours with a familiar welcome. We laughed on the ride into town about the welcome sensory vista of Cajamarca: flooded broken streets accented with farm animal dung and crisp air washing the fresh day into your lungs.

I slept for two hours to acclimatize to the mountain altitude and get it all together. There is vulnerability in settling into a totally different culture where you are so different from everyone. I usually begin it all with 1) rest 2) shower 3) coffee and 4) plain old remembering through any doubt that WE ARE MEANT TO HAVE AN AMAZING LIFE.

First stop: Hope House. Today’s class was 40+ women who requested crochet lessons from their favorite teacher, Charro. Walking into their Presence is such a refreshing reminder of all of the conversations I have on the US side…to be close to the women and the reason we do what we do. They are gracious and strong. The KNOT of their community in one another’s lives is so apparent. Watching them all settle into their class, I just let myself float away for a second and listen. I heard the ECHO of communion punctuated by laughter, sharing, and advice. Humbled time and time again by the strength of mothers all over the world, I just loved being close to the experience of their agility and determination—toddler wrapped in blanket on the back, young infant in their arms, and somehow crocheting the design with pride and power. Introductions and goodbyes are very ceremonial so the class began with me giving a formal speech of appreciation and ending with a personal shared kiss with every one of the ladies and their kiddos…talk about love amplified! That I get to be in receipt of such power is truly an honor.

Late Day was punctuated by bringing the entire Peruvian staff together for an evening of sharing over Peruvian pizza (aka cheese not familiar to our pizza). The world is a canvas for our imagination…and this was a joyous evening, inviting each person to contribute to how they see the future ownership of the program here. The resourcefulness and intelligence is well and alive in all of them.

Sitting in safety and gratitude. If you feel it, you can receive it! Your goodness is a magnet to all the riches in life.

mags

The Diary of a Journey

April 4th into early am 5th. Sitting in the Lima airport…12.5 hours into the trek. I am in the in-between world of an all-night adventure—my 5:30am flight awaits to take me in the Northern Andes. Seeing the sun rise with the new day’s light over the corridor of icy caps that rise above the cloud line…well, this is indeed a beautiful treat of the first morning flight into the mountains. But first, 4 hours to go…and maybe a one-eye open doze off with my bags wrapped into my arms. Life’s journey is so special. All day I watched incredible people coming and going on their unique paths. I feel so blessed to be an observer of so many unique intersections of life. The awesome part is that we each get the very same gift! Here I am---there you are---here we are. Somewhere in here we get to share a union together. I am constantly changed by this, lifted, built, it’s as if I imagine tiny bursts of light being added into all that I AM—and as we get the chance to observe and gift—we gift the very same way. Example..today I brushed shoulders with Leann Rimes…who was moving through the Houston airport to eventually sing the National Anthem at the NCAA Basketball championship game…and to know that you may have seen her on this evening, wherever you were in the Universe, and that she also had a piece of me by virtue of the gift of passing by and getting a brush of Love. Well, it just confirms for me the connectedness we have. On the plane ride from Houston to Lima I sat next to Hal and Dot, two extraordinary people, nearly 80 years old and traveling to Macchu Picchu to stand in the energy and spirit that engulfs those magical rocks that sit atop a green vista of the world. Hal, once a structural engineer and Dot, once an RN, raised 4 children together and their thirst for experiencing life inspired all of the 6 hour flight for me. 57 years of marriage later I asked them the secret of successful love…they peppered our time together with stories of joy and pride and humor and disagreement and well, quite frankly, a love for one another that you could feel in the very comfort of their inhale and exhale side by side, their conversations a rhythm. Hal joked about the geriatric woman who hit on him at Trader Joe’s and that the secret to being picked up was some sweet spare ribs in your cart. They spoke of the most important times of their years of memories—time with family—this was their golden gem. They told me their last name was Efron and I may know their grandson Zach (hello, hot Hollywood High School Musical now grown up babe?!). We talked lovingly about stardom and its perks, but the tough trade off of just being able to BE. Bottom line, they were such special, intelligent, and grounded people. They reminded me of the spark that we are—that we can literally see and witness in every person and ourselves. What if we knew this to be true all the time? I AM A SPARK! What if we saw every person and every situation as worthy of getting a part of that from us with loving intention. What if we KNEW that was possible for us to get back also. Every time you give this…through feelings, actions, words…you just add more to what’s around you. YOUR FEELINGS REFLECT WHAT YOU ARE GIVING. Enjoy the extraordinary power you have today, Resting with You. Mags

Adventures in Hope and Chocolate

The electric green hues of the spring are reminders of coming into life for all of us. I hope that no matter what is at the forefront for you, this can be a time of growth to inhale and appreciate. As I embark on my annual trip to Peru to check on our incredible work and stir up possibility, a beautiful teacher of mine reminded me to remember back to 2003 when the “still small voice” asked me to “go see with other eyes”, and therein, the eventual birth of DiscoverHope. It was that damn still small voice in my head. The one that doesn’t go away if you ignore it. The one that likes to plant possibilities and ideas. The one that causes you to wonder your whole life long if you just let it go. Maybe it can be called God, Spirit, Universe, or any of the things that I comfortably believe all are the same great thing. What I did know was that this small voice came to me for months in 2003 everyday amidst my silent mornings: “Go see con otros ojos.” And yes, the voice was half Spanish, which I figured was slightly comical inspiration. I remember the first time I heard it. The phrase meant nothing to me: Go see with other eyes? I’m leaving the country to see with other eyes! It certainly didn’t sound like a slick business plan. So I kept asking for more. For months, images and thoughts started to form in my head until I finally had the answer: I needed to leave the boundaries of the United States to see myself from a different perspective, to see with “other eyes.” But I knew what I wanted and what I had been directed to do: I wanted to explore the change-agent in me. I wanted to know about myself from a framework of newness that didn’t include the comforts of my own culture. I wanted to see myself as a person who could truly seize the opportunity to affect change in the world. And so…the seeds for DiscoverHope were planted. Many years later…I can’t even begin to describe what I have gotten from this experience. The most important thing I’ve learned from all of this is that we all share a common connection—a desire to realize potential…in ourselves, in each other, and in the world around us. DiscoverHope is founded upon the belief that one of the most powerful things you can do for another human being is to honor the potential in that person. When we do this, we awaken hope in their hearts. With hope, opportunity is born. The journey to Peru begins April 4-April 19 and I can feel it in my heart, this one is special. I’ll begin for a week in the amazing communities of the Northern Andes near Cajamarca and check out our work which is well and alive with hundreds of women. The second half of the adventure will bring me to the high sub-tropics of the Peruvian northern border area to vet our next possible sight. My mentors Brian and Dan (who dropped me in the Andes back in 2003) have developed a beautiful chocolate project with the local communities, Marañon Chocolate. The pure white chocolate beans they have found in this region means perfection in the confection world, and there is a lot of energy around their work from chocolate buyers around the world. They want to give back to the communities and knowing all we’ve created together, this is another chance to ignite possibility. Join me here as I’ll try to write everyday on the Adventures in Hope and Chocolate. There is nothing that Love cannot accomplish. Let’s face it…the world needs us to shine its Light. As me. As you. Grateful. Maggie

Hello DHF Family!

Now that I have been introduced via the Discover Hope blog, I would like to tell you a little about myself. As Des mentioned, I am from Madison, WI – born and raised all my life. I have done extensive traveling to both Europe and Africa, visiting the latter four times over the past four years. My desire to travel to Africa began at a young age when I saw my father living in various African countries for work as a medical doctor.

Some more interesting facts:

-        I have an identical twin sister and a nine-year-old little brother

-        My twin sister is a bilingual highschool guidance counselor near Boston and I am about to graduate with a degree in School Social Work (similar fields!)

-        I've been white water rafting on the Nile

-        I arrived in Zimbabwe in 2009 with just enough money to pay for the entry visa. I didn't even have enough money to pay for the taxi ride to a hotel. I had to borrow money from a friendly business woman to pay for the visa to cross into Zambia to get money from the ATM as Zimbabwe had no money in the ATM's (due to bad economy). If only I had known this BEFORE entering Zimbabwe. I guess it all worked out though!

-        I've been with my boyfriend for 11 years

-        My best friend is eight years my senior and has three kids (I have none)

I’m extremely grateful for having the opportunity to work with Discover Hope Fund and am excited to share my adventures during my three month internship. Every day brings a new experience and opens my eyes to the possibilities that microcredit can offer.

~Rachel

Introducing Rachel Rakower

I'd like to introduce you to a new addition to the DHF Family. Rachel Rakower is our Hope House spring intern hailing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rachel will be completing her Masters in Social Work this May and approached us about lending a hand last year. So how did this all come about? Our former program manager, Nora Bedard, took a class with Susan Kidd-Webster at the UW-Madison a few years ago (Nora is also a Social Worker by profession). Susan happens to be the person you speak with about completing an international internship. When Rachel mentioned to Susan that she'd like to intern in Latin America and practice her Spanish, DiscoverHope's name came up. And the rest is history.

For the next three months, Rachel will be helping us on the program management side here in the Hope House and also using her social work skills. She'll be teaching business-oriented English classes, helping our childcare provider revamp our childcare room, and co-facilitating our mental health series beginning in April. Rachel will also be writing on our blog from time to time, sharing her adventures in international development in Cajamarca, Peru.

~Des

Creating Communication and Connection

Greetings DHF family, this is Nora (previous Peru Field Program Manager) signing in briefly to spread the joy of the fruits of DHF labor.
No, I haven't returned to Peru.
Yes, I have received emails from our loan recipients in Cajamarca.

As Desiree shared in a previous post, women started computer classes again this year. I was connected on the "other side" of the computer classes this time around. Let me explain. I opened up my email a couple of weeks ago and I received a couple of emails from our loan recipients in Cajamarca. One of them read the following:

Hello Miss Nora, I hope that all is well with your health. I am writing to tell you that I am learning so much this year, I am in computer class (learning excel) and when I learn more I want to find a job, since I will be prepared, even though the classes are hard I know I can do it. Thank you to you, Miss Desiree and the teacher who teaches me with some much patience.

Needless to say, I was beaming from ear to ear to read this. This is testimony that a woman from the countryside who has three small children and sells guinea pigs to create a small income for her family that lives in an adobe house without a front door, can communicate and connect to people (well, me!) outside of her community and outside of her country. I can only think, praise be to DHF to give her and so many other women these opportunities. It is changing her world. I remember when I met Esther last year and she was unsure about being part of a village bank since she was pregnant and her street food business wasn't flourishing. Now, a year later she has a new business and a beautiful baby, is making jewelry and selling it, learning crochet for the first time, and learning basic computer programs. All made possible through DHF.

I am anxiously waiting another email. One that talks about her new typing job.

Paz and Praise ~ Nora

Springing Into Action with Educational Classes

The month of February came and went….fast. I’m proud to say that with the financial support of our DHF donors, we organized 38 classes ranging the gamut from how to make a pizza from start to finish to stylish haircuts, export jewelry models, and literacy classes. To run the numbers we organized:  01 health session , 01 animal husbandry talk, 02 jewelry classes, 02 cosmetology classes, 02 culinary classes, 04 literacy classes, 07 Computer Basics classes, 06 Microsoft Excel classes, and 13 crochet classes. We also organized our first Buy Day of 2011 in which our Hope House women took home a total $287.32 in profits.  

What rings home most of all is our women’s response when we ask them how they feel after leaving a class. I’ll give you a few examples. Angelica Huangal of Village Bank Mujeres Emprendedoras said she felt “more beautiful, professional, and ready to do her best.” After speaking to Magdalena Chatilan of Progresistas after finishing her baby jacket, “I feel proud. At first I didn’t think I would be able to crochet such a beautiful coat but I did my best and finished. I already have a buyer and have three orders.” Such comments make the work we do worthwhile and so important.

So what’s to come in the month of March…a programmed 50 development classes. Our women will be learning how to make new desserts, fashion-forward jewelry sets, manicures and formal hairstyles as well as scarves, coats, and ponchos. Beginning March 18th we’ll commence our literacy classes in the Hope House. As you can see, we’ve started the year off right and with your support we plan to continue at the same pace.

~Des