Easter on the Equator

    This has been an exciting and productive few months for us.  Our work projects have really  taken shape and have kept us wonderfully busy through the rainy season. 

    Brian is a Cocina Mejorada expert now and leading a project in La Jalca to build 20 cocinas or ´´better cook stoves´´. The families seem to love them and the only problem is that everyone seems to want one. 

    I´m still working with the community and two NGO´s to create a 70,000 acre community conservation area. So far there have been many ups and downs. I had no idea what was involved in a project of this scope when we started, but I´ve learned something new every step of the way. I hope that I will be here to see the formation of the area before our time here is up.  Go conservation!

     I´ve also started working with an artisan textile group here called Pachamaytuna. There are 20 women in the group who weave on wooden looms with sheep’s wool. They make beautiful things  but it´s been a challenge for them to find markets to sell their products. So, beginning in May we´re going to participate in the first Eco-Fair in Chachapoyas. Wish us luck!

Some friends admiring the artesania from La Jalca

   

Presenting Maria Jovita with a leaderhip award for InternationalWomen´s Day

    

We´re both looking forward to a week-long festival called Raymillacta in June because La Jalca is going to be hosting a day of the celebration. We´re working with the tourism commission and the regional government to organize traditional dances and foods, an artisan fair and a fashion show for the artisan groups to show off  their products.

 

  In between work we try take advantage of seeing more of Peru. Over Easter we traveled to the northern border near Ecuador. We spent Easter camping on the equator on a beautiful beach and celebrated Brian´s birthday. At night  we made a campfire and watched the bioluminescence in the crashing waves.  Pretty amazing.