Megan Burgess

Bonners in Global Service

The opportunity to go to Peru came up at the very last minute for me and was certainly not anything I was expecting to do. I heard through the grapevine that the trip had become open to Bonners who weren’t just juniors, and that the Bonner Foundation would help pay for a substantial part of the trip, which sat well with me.

Megan BurgessBecause of a previous commitment, I couldn’t attend the interest meeting explaining the details of the trip, but after hearing Preston [Fields, director of volunteer services] and other students talk about Peru, I decided that I really wanted to go.

The next two months were a whirlwind of activity in preparation to leave the country.

Arriving in Lima, Peru, on May 28, 2006, we were greeted by our fearless leader, Paul Pistone. After spending the night in Lima, we drove for 12 hours on a bus to Chiclayo, where we would spend the next three weeks.

Chiclayo, located on the coast in northern Peru, is a mid-sized city, complete with lovely houses and slums. With grocery stores, banks and schools toward the center of town, we were able to get a much fuller understanding of what life was like for an average Peruvian.

The work we did in the poor districts of Chiclayo was aimed at building relationships with those in the communities. We conducted door-to-door surveys in the morning, partnering with Impacto Cristiano, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming and improving the lives of poor people in Latin America.

The survey included questions concerning employment, health, number of children, school, food sources, living conditions, beliefs and family culture. This data will be helpful as leaders begin to identify (and eventually deal with) the most severe obstacles the communities face.

Perhaps its just because children have fewer inhibitions, or maybe it’s because I am more comfortable with kids, but whatever the reason, I was able to build a strong relationship with the kids in the community. The girls were never afraid to play charades with us (necessary because of our poor Spanish skills) and were so eager to just be around us. Always waving hello, their faces would light up when we recognized them and called them by name.

It was amazing to me to see how full of life these kids were and how quickly we could build a personal relationship with them, despite our language differences. Always up for a challenge and always grateful for what they were given, the kids were always near us. These characteristics remained constant throughout our work in Peru.

One of the most incredible things about the trip for me was getting to build relationships with those around me. Those who made an impact on me were filled with love and laughter. These people challenged me to become a better person and to encourage those around me to think more about making a positive impact on the world and to really love those around me.

One of our ongoing projects was building a wall in a community known as “14 de Abril” (April 14). The small community, rather like an American neighborhood, needed a sort of retaining wall. Once this wall was constructed, community members would be able to raise money and have water and electricity installed, as well as be recognized by the Peruvian government.

When we first arrived in the community, there was nothing but a trench in the ground where the wall would eventually be placed. No time was wasted, because on that arrival day, several of the guys in our group began digging, breaking up the clay-like soil so that cement could be poured and more work could be done. Throughout the three weeks we stayed in Chiclayo, the wall materialized into a testimony of the work we all put forth, as well as the relationships we built with those in the community. Side by side we worked in the hot afternoons to construct this huge wall.

A core group of guys went together to work on the wall and really built lasting relationships with those around them. Eduardo, the main Peruvian who lived in the community and was overseeing the building of the wall, came to work on the wall after putting in a full day of work at his job. Eduardo often was struggling just to walk because of a bad back and yet worked as many hours and every bit as hard as the young American boys worked. The relationship that was built between him and the guys working on the wall was something priceless.

On the last night we were in Chiclayo, the people of the community invited us to a dinner. After eating and conversing with those around us, we were led, unknowingly, to the wall. When we arrived at the wall, there were tens of people from the community waiting for us with signs, cheering. It was an absolutely breathtaking moment. We stood below the wall for a while just trying to take it all in. Amid shacks of houses, there stood a great wall and people cheering and waving colorful signs. It was evident the impact just this wall had on the people around us. The wall was a huge accomplishment for us all, and a definite milestone in the trip for me.

It’s hard for me to think of an adequate answer to give to those who ask, “How was Peru?” as I walk across campus. There’s no way that I can summarize a month of excitement, anticipation, sorrow, hope, illness, laughter and tears in a sufficient answer that doesn’t take all day. Even after writing reflections, I still haven’t conveyed a fraction of the thoughts and emotions held while I was in Peru. There was so much to take in while I was in Peru I think that I am just now “coming to terms” with everything that occurred there Returning to United States was nice, but there are times when I find myself longing to be back in Peru.

I certainly didn’t enjoy every moment – especially the times I was sick or the hours I spent sitting on a bus. But the good and priceless moments outnumbered the bad, tenfold.

Like I wrote earlier, the trip to Peru sort of fell at my feet very unexpectedly. Without the help of the Bonner Foundation, I would have never traveled to Peru, and I doubt I would have ever gone to South America. Yet this was a trip that I will remember and treasure for the rest of my life. I think I learned a lot about just how far I can push myself, and I grew in Peru personally to overcome some big issues. I really think that the trip to Peru has changed me for the good and continues to do so.

I found that language is only a barrier when we make it so. Communication can always happen if you really want it to. I found that there are always those who want more and there are always those who are so happy to be blessed with what they have. I found that love for humanity transcends all borders, language barriers and classes. Peru, along with the Bonner program, has shown me that anything can be accomplished with love for one another.

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