La Casa de Mayten

Agosto 15, 2007 - Agosto, 15, 2011. A Mis Chicos y Chicas de Mina De Oro

2011-08-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

Mis amados amigos y amigas de Mina de Oro, en este dia tan lleno para mi de memorias, emociones, alegrias y dificultades, quiero recordar con ustedes aquel 15 de agosto hace 4 años, cuando el mundo parecia venirse abajo. Quiero recordar con ustedes el dia en que mi grupo de extraños amigos y yo llegamos en camion a Chincha, aquel dia en el que despues de 16 años yo retorné a mi barrio, a mi casa de adobe, a mi infancia. Cierro los ojos y me veo ese agosto buscando la casa de Don Godo, recuerdo buscar y buscar y no encontrar a la Tia Marcela, ni la casa de Don Urbano. Recuerdo ver la casa de la Esther caida y la bodega de Julve en pedazos, y luego recuerdo caminar hacia la pampa y ver las quinchas y por fin ahi, encontrar rostros conocidos. Y es ahi, en la Pampa donde empezó nuestra historia muchachos.

El terremoto fue fuerte, grande, grave, pero gracias a la vida también fue generoso con nosotros por que nos dio la oportunidad de conocernos, de querernos, de crecer juntos, de hacernos amigos. Hoy mas que nada quiero con ustedes recordar todos nuestros momentos juntos, los buenos, los malos, los simples y los dificiles. Yeni, Witi, Junior, Minero, Erickson, Chin, Ton, Geral, Frank, Joel, Mirtha, Marco, Xiomara, Paloma, Cielito, Manuel, Gianpiere, Angelo, Camila, Marquito, Victor, Giango, Alexis, Adolfo, Tati, y tantos y tantos mas, hoy quiero jugar partido con ustedes, quiero bailar con ustedes (quien sera el/la que me quiere a miii), quiero cantar con ustedes (confio en ti por que..), quiero tejer nuestras vidas otra vez juntos, quiero ponerlos a todos en una linea para ver si por fin me ganan en Poder Mental, quiero tocarles la guitarra como siempre, quiero cocinar juntos algo simple, quiero abrazarlos con toda mi fe y fuerza, quiero reir con ustedes, y sobre todo quiero agradecerles por creerme, por atreverse a crear y querer conmigo, por decidir que ustedes serian diferentes, por caminar conmigo estos 4 años artesaneando, cantando, viajando, sintiendo, hablando, compartiendo, mejorando, por crecer y ayudarme a crecer. Ustedes son mis amados amigos y el regalo mas grande que aquel terremoto pudo haberme dado.

Son muchos los momentos lindos que yo personalmente he vivido con ustedes en Chincha, pero tambien he vivido muchos momentos dificiles, cargados de impotencia y frustracion. En esa mezcla de momentos pero, mi vida se ha enriquecido, mis esfuerzos se hicieron titanicos y se llenaron de significado y valor. No hay momento alguno en estos 4 años que ha sido en vano, todos aportaron a mi crecer, a mi determinacion, a mi querer, a mi fe, a mi hacer diario. Les invito mis muchachos a que recuerden conmigo...por ejemplo...recuerdan chicos el mundial de quinchas que organizaron Nacho y Borja? Recuerdan los triciclos que tuvimos que empujar para llevar un poco de ayuda? Recuerdan nuestros primeros talleres en la sala de mi casa? Recuerdan el Qori Sonqo, nuestra escuelita de plastico en la pampa? Recuerdan nuestro festival cultural, nuestras carapulcradas, nuestros innumerables viajes a la playa, nuestro viaje a Cusco, nuestro viaje a San Bartolo, nuestro viaje de campamento a Paracas, nuestro paseo por Islas Ballestas, nuestra caminata de mil horas en Pisac, la moraya, los tantos y tantos partidos de futbol en la calle, todos nuestros talleres, la campaña anti-violencia, nuestras encuestas (Erickson: aqui le traigo un tratadito" jaja), nuestros almuerzos y cenas en la casa, los amados amigos del Peru y el mundo que llegaron hasta Mina De Oro para vivir con nosotros pedazos de sus vidas y las nuestras, las muchas risas, las fiestas, el dia internacional de Mayten (jiji), cuando construimos la casa de los abuelitos, nuestras pijamadas....tantas y tantas cosas vividas con ustedes mis muchachos y muchachas....yo recuerdo cuando antes eran mis ninos y ahora son mis muchachos.....el tiempo pasa rapido pero gracias a la vida no pasa nuestra amistad, la nuestra se planto bien plantada ese agosto 2007 y aunque ustedes ya son muchachos y yo tengo mas canas, seguimos atados en amor y en leal amistad.

Hoy mis queridos chicos y chicas, a la distancia, rodeada de lluvia, memorias, y amor por ustedes, quiero simplemente recordar y dar gracias por que apesar de muchas dificultades, ustedes y yo hemos logrado cosas extraordinarias e invaluables. Estos 4 años han valido la pena y aunque ahora nuestros talleres estan suspendidos, yo confio que con nuestro esfuerzo y trabajo podremos continuar en algun momento edu-creando, luchando por llevar bienestar y salud integral donde vayamos, buscando formas de romper los ciclos de violencia, etc. Les pido a ustedes en el barrio que tomen buenas decisiones y hagan cosas que los llenen de orgullo y no de verguenza. Les pido que cuiden su amistad y con acciones demuestren ser buenos amigos y amigas. La amistad que tenemos es muy valiosa y no viene asi no mas todos los dias. Cuidense mis muchachos, les recuerdo que tengo mucha fe en ustedes, no olviden todo lo que hemos aprendido juntos estos 4 años, y sobre todo traten cada dia de ser buenos seres humanos. Nuestro barrio necesita que cambiemos y mejoremos muchas cosas y ustedes pueden ayudar a cambiar y mejorarlas. Los quiero, los extraño, pero siempre estoy con ustedes....hasta la proxima vez mis muchachos, mis amigos! Mina de Oro, Chincha! Mayten

El tiempo paso volando muchachos!

Comparacion entre foto del 2007 (proyectada) y foto del 2011...

Haciendo un repaso fotografico con los chicos en Abril 2011 de nuestros momentos juntos desde el 2007

IMPORTANT LCDM NEWS!

2011-07-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of LCDM all over Peru and the world! It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I write this entry today, hoping that all of you are well, and finding the things that make your lives full and enriching. After noticing a few important changes in my kids and community, and being confronted with a couple of personal dilemmas at the beginning of this year, I decided to invest a lot of time observing, asking, listening, thinking, feeling, and creatively thinking again and again. After doing all that, conducting an impact survey among my kids in April, and holding group meetings every weekend with them to assess their current situations, I have decided to suspend all official LCDM activities indefinitely. (Ya viene esta entrada en espanol)

If you have been following our blog these past years, or if you have been a volunteer with us, you know of the many efforts we've made to keep our little impossible project alive. It has been tough financially, but with help from family, and many friends from Peru and the world, we can proudly say that LCDM has been a home, shelter, refuge, resource center, and a place of complete light, laughter, healing, learning, friendship, opportunity, exchange, creativity, and possibility for almost 4 years. I could not thank each person who has supported our efforts enough for making a donation, for volunteering their work, for sending an encouraging email when I needed it most, for letting me recruit volunteers through their sites (Steve!), for donating a performance, for lending me their spaces to host a fund raiser, for attending our fund raising events, for helping us stay alive for almost 4 years, and most importantly for believing in our work and for being able to recognize the value in it, and in the people we worked with and for. You are true friends to me and will forever live in my love, gratitude, and faith in the infinite capacity human beings have to be extraordinary.

After carefully evaluating the impact surveys and all the information my kids shared with me during our meetings, I can sincerely say that my kids and the girls at CAS are better. Just a month shy of our fourth anniversary, I can rewind to August 2007, see my neighbors' anguish, and desperation, and my kids roaming around scared without a safe place to go to. Then I fast foward quickly to now and can very clearly see the progress made and all the improvements experienced by my kids. Lots still needs to be done but in important areas/ways my Mina De Oro kids and the CAS girls are better and on their way to healthier futures. The girls at CAS shared with me in May that their new director is improving many things within the shelter from the food they eat, to their access to education and services, to visits to health providers, to outings and activities, and more. Obviously, we were thrilled that our friends at CAS started the year on a healthier note and are on their way to better experiences.

When I look at my kids now and see them more confident, better informed, taller than me :), growing closer to each other every day, connecting and interacting with other people in healthier ways, still facing challenges and difficulties, but feeling accompanied and with sources to go to when decision making time comes, I feel proud, very proud of them and grateful to have been part of their healing process, of their integration as a solid unit of many friends, of their growth, and their continuing path towards healthier lives. I am convinced today that one of our greatest contributions to my kids' lives has been connecting them meaningfully to each other, and helping them see the value each adds and brings to their circle and community. My kids and I are tied for life and we are committed to keeping our friendship robust, for-ever young, and enriching for as long as we live.

I hope that every volunteer/friend who spent some time with us in Chincha also feels this strong connection to the lives and well being of these kids and girls. The kids certainly remember all their friends who came to share a bit of living and learning and laughing and creating with them. You can often find the kids telling their friends about the time Nacho and Borja put together a soccer world cup among quinchas, or when Lucila and Jason came to our Qori Sonqo bringing music and puppets, or when Jose taught them how to weave and juggle and do the lotus flower position, or when they saw the ocean for the first time, or when they saw Roger ride around La Mina in his beat up motorcycle for the first time, or when a whole circus of friends came to Mina De Oro to light up la cancha, or when Clelia and Sergio brought their Gotita de Mate to our lives, or when we closed the streets to do our festival, or when Ming brought theater to CAS, PH and our house, or.....SO many moments, so many people, soooo many lives connected...thank you each and all for coming to Mina De Oro and giving my kids that moment with you they will cherish and tell about for ever. I promise you, the workshops and activities might be suspended but not the relationship, not the communication, not the growing together, not the finding ways to bring opportunities and alternatives to my kids from wherever I am and however I can.

As for me, as you know, my partner Andy and I have been working in Peru on a purely voluntary basis since 2007 and are presently back in the US looking to work for a salary again, gain more skills and knowledge, make more friends, and spend meaningful quality time with our loved ones who have been generously sharing us with the kids in Peru for the last 3+ years, and supporting our work in different ways.

My dear friend and perennial LCDM volunteer ABEL is now staying in my house in Chincha and on the weekends spends the afternoons playing the guitar with the kids, listening to them, and sharing music and advice. He has been with LCDM since its inception and is a loved and trusted friend to my kids as well.

This could easily be a very long entry but I will end it just by saying that I have always needed to feel wellness as a collective shared reality and have always found it necessary to make all of my personal and professional experiences foundations that one day would help me make integral well being a collective experience. I live in that effort and whether I am able to financially keep LCDM open or not, I will continue to work and exist in a daily commitment and effort to bring integral health and wellness to all, including myself.

There is something in the eyes, something so profoundly intimate that shifts when a person feels loved and valued. An internal beaming light decides to turn on and begin a process of healing, of connecting meaningfully, of receiving and giving. I am a MUCH MUCH better person today and I thank life because all these 4 years I have seen beautiful eyes once pale and shattered, shift, light up, hope, believe again, trust, and connect for ever to other beaming eyes. Thank you for your support, thank you for your faith in our work, thank you for your friendship! We are not done yet but will need to pause at this point to rest, gather strength, friends and resources and start again.

Please receive my love and sincere desire to feel you happy, light-hearted, optimistic, faithful, open, courageous, creative, determined to listen to your most internal voices and to follow your own direction, and to fall utterly in love with all the possibilities to love and make the impossible possible every day! Share yourselves—extraordinary people are waiting for you out there every day!

Love and gigantic abrazos, Mayten (Ya viene esta entrada en espanol)

End of April and May! Fin de Abril, y Mitad de Mayo!

2011-06-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

Dear friends all over Peru and the world, I hope you are all healthy and doing interesting and fun things whereever you are now! I apologize for the long silence but we had a few issues with our computers and very little time to write but here we are again connecting with all of you! Today, I want to share a few of the special moments the kids, volunteers, Andy and I had in Chincha up to mid May. The kids are big and beautiful and we couldn't have asked for more wonderful days with them. Our kids are growing fast and what a great and complex thing it is to grow with them and go through changes together. This time with so many teenagers I felt more like a mom than ever before...my kids opened up to me and made me so proud...life is all about decisions I think and my kids are trying their hardest to make good ones!!!

Please take a look at the pictures below which include our Earth Day beach trip, our Sleep Over, our Party, House Improvements, visits to CAS shelter, some workshops, and visits to Manuel & Rosaura's home. We really hope you enjoy these images as much as we do and cherish them as proof that true friendship, love, healing, joy, and determined self improvement are all possible despite endless limitations anywhere! Abrazos, Mayten

Queridos amigos del Peru y el mundo! Espero que donde esten se encuentren bien, haciendo cosas interesantes y divirtiendose mucho. Disculpen nuestro silencio desde Mayo pero tuvimos varios problemillas con las computadoras y muy poco tiempo y dinero para resolverlos. Pero aqui nos tienen nuevamente con muchas ganas de compartir con ustedes esos momentos especiales que vivimos con nuestros chicos y chicas en Chincha hasta mediados de Mayo. Los muchachos estan grandes y hermosos y hermosas y nosotros no podriamos haber pedido mejores momentos que los que vivimos todo este tiempo...Nuestros chicos estan creciendo rapido y que maravillosa y compleja oportunidad es el poder crecer con ellos y vivir muchos cambios a su lado. Esta vez con tantos adolescentes me senti mas mama que nunca...mis chicos y yo tuvimos conversaciones y compartires inolvidables aveces dificiles pero siempre valientes...para mi la vida se trata de tomar decisiones y a medida que los chicos crecen los veo tratando de tomar las mejores posibles y eso me llena de orgullo....

Pero bueno ya dejo de hablar para que disfruten estas imagenes las cuales incluyen nuestro viaje a la playa para celebrar el dia de nuestra Pacha Mama, nuestra pijamada, nuestra fiesta, mejoras hechas a la casita, visitas a CAS, visitas a casa de Manuel y Rosaura, y algunos talleres. Que disfruten tanto como nosotros! Un gran abrazo, Mayten

EARTH DAY BEACH TRIP!

Jump Chin jump! Chin saltando doble ulahs!

Chess at the beach! Ajedrez en la playa!

Kids enjoying the beach!

Todos disfrutando el mar y celebrando el dia de nuestra Pacha mama!

guys trying to make a big sand castle

Rosita's first trip to the beach!

Jun practicing at the beach...Jun practicando la guitarra en la playa

Nuestro pago a la tierra en su dia. An offering to mama earth on her day!

Pago a nuestra Pacha!

FINAL KARATE EXHIBITION

Xio's Karate moves

Victor mostrando lo aprendido

Paloma en posicion con su profe Alberto...Paloma ready to show her karate skills.

Andy trying some moves with Alberto

Abel's last guitar rehearsal with kids! Ultimo ensayo de Abel con sus estudiantes de guitarra!

DINNER & SLEEP OVER

Jenny preparing our purple corn chicha...Jenn preparando una chichita

Andy & Jun preparing our dinner...Andy y Jun preparando la cena

Chicos preparando el postre

having our dinner! disfrutando nuestra cena!

listening to everyone give thanks....dando las gracias por todo lo que nos da la vida...

Andy tambien dando gracias....

Sleep over time!!!...Angelo fell asleep....BODY PAINT!

Erickson's ghost...

Our endurance test...harden your bellies...nuestro test de resistencia...

jajajaja...this was way too funny....esto fue demasiado gracioso!

Otro que se quedo dormido....a pintar muchachos! :)

Ton Ton Ton....sooo funny

Alberto trying to get Andy...Alberto tratando de pintar a Andy q se quedo dormido

Junior tratando de cubrirse entre suenos

All of us watching movies...todos viendo peliculas

Ton Ton Ton.....se quedo dormido

Chin also fell asleep....

Frank and his new thick eyebrows....he feel asleep too....jiji

Last attempt to paint Junior...ultimo intento de pintar a Junior

Angelo ayudando a lavar los platos...Angelo helping us wash dishes

PARTY

Go Manuel...Go Manuel!

Giango y Manuel bailando

Cielito pasando sin problema...Cielo & Andy going under...

Marquito doing a good job

Guitar class final presentation during Party....

La presentacion final de la clase de guitarra durante nuestra fiesta

Giango y yo bailando de lo lindo.....Giango & I dancing away...

Alegrias for everyones!!!!

A look back through pictures at ouryears together...una mirada con fotos a nuestros casi 4 anhos juntos

Bailando hasta el anochecer.....

Kids enjoying themselves...chicos bailando y disfrutando

Club scene over here!!! Go Alberto!

Kids having SOOOOO much fun

End of our party...final de fiesta....

Andy dancing away too....

Giving away prizes to the best dancers...premios para los mejores bailarines/as

Nuestro ultimo desayuno juntos...our last breakfast together..

Andy's going away gift to Alberto....Gracias Alberto por compartirte con los chicos y nosotros...te pensamos ,queremos y vives ya en nuestra amistad....besos!

Jun despidiendose de Alberto

Chicos despidiendo a Alberto....kids saying good bye to Alberto

our visit to Rosaura & Manuel...visita a Rosaura y Manuel

En la estacion de bus despidiendo a Alberto..

MAKE-UP & BODY PAINT WORKSHOPS @ CAS SHELTER

Our first make-up workshop (Erin the girls loved all you sent them and I tried to do a good job)

Mi primera vez haciendo un taller de maquillaje en CAS...las chicas quedaron encantadas con el maquillaje!

Miren que lindas quedaron las chicas! the girls after their make-up session...

Beautiful! Preciosa!....I think I did a good job ..:)

chicas despues de su sesion de maquillaje....

body painting time....Andy was my first victim...:)

mi segunda modelo para pintura corporal quedo super contenta...:)

I followed your instruction Erin...thank you!!!

This was our second make-up/body painting workshops at CAS shelter....

Nuestro segundo taller de maquillaje y pintura corporal en CAS

Maricruz's turn....

Johana ayudandome a hacer pintura corporal a los chicos mientras yo maquillaba a las mamas

the kids looking great wearing Johana's art work

next...Jesmerlin.....while all look attentively

Beautiful! Quedo super linda!

My last make-up model was Nancy and she looked beautiful....I was proud of my make-up work...

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Pintando el mueble que hizo Andy para los materiales de los chicos

Andy working on the garden...Andy mejorando nuestro jardin

Kids helping us make the garden's roof...Chicos ayudando a limpiar canhas

Ton ayudando a pintar el porton del jardin

Andy making the garden's roof....

Andy improving our tiny garden...

Andy paving the entrance...

Andy fixing an inside wall ...Andy arreglando una pared interior

Andy rendering the wall...tarrajeando las paredes

Frank putting our new storage furniture to use....Frank usando nuestro nuevo mueble

Kids relaxed and not wanting to leave my house late at night....

Kids and I looking at old pictures

Viendo fotos antiguas nuestras

Miren que grandes estan los chicos....

Look how tall and beautiful my kids are....

Playing and singing a song for and with my kids....en el bosque de la China..lalalalala :)

my last chess match against Frank...the invincible.....un dia te ganare Frank!!!

Andy painting an interior wall....

un regalito de mi hermosa Paloma para mi....:)

Otro regalo hermoso (un girasol) de mi Erickson y Mirtha...que plantamos en nuestro nuevo y mejorado jardincito!

Planting our sunflower...

Plantando nuestro girasol...

y ahora mi regalo para mis chicos....

I loooooooove my kids......

Amo a mis chicos...a todos...son mi amigos...y cada uno y una es importante para mi

Ericksonnnnnnnnnn...te quiero mucho mi vida...y en cada abrazo te dejo toda mi vida..

Despidiendome de Abel y Johana....gracias por los talleres, y nuestra amistad muchachos!

Nuestro nuevo y hermoso jardin...gracias ANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And it has a roof!!!! y tiene techoooo ...woooohoooooo

la nueva entrada pavimentada que ayuda a mantener el polvo mas lejos de nosotros

our last tutoring session with Xio & Paloma

mi ultima clase con Paloma y Jesus

nuestra amiga Johana curando el dedo cortado de Manuel...Gracias Johana por venir con nosotros!!!

Doors Andy made for the house...puerta que hizo Andy para la casa....

Mis queridos muchachos si leen esto sepan que los quiero mucho, que siempre los pienso, que ruego todos los dias a la vida y a la gran mama natura para que ustedes tengan la fuerza, claridad y valentia para tomar buenas decisiones, y para que sientan el gran amor y fe que les tengo....sigan por favor tratando de ser buenos seres humanos y llenandome de orgullo....sean buenos amigos y recuerden que yo siempre estoy con ustedes en mi amor y en mis ganas de que esten bien y tranquilos.....nunca estan solos ....los quiero mucho! Abrazos enormes, Mayten!

April Update Part II ! Abril Parte II !

2011-05-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

Guitar class w/ Abel...clase de guitarra con Abel

Math tutoring with Alberto...Angelo y Javier en reforzamiento Matematico

Junior ayudando a sacar la pintura del piso

Andy fixing cracks in the walls and Alberto sanding the walls to be painted

Alberto taking a break to get to know Paloma & Xio! Descansito para que los chicos y Alberto se conozcan

Chin y Xio ayudando a sacar pintura pegada en el piso despues de pintar las paredes

Paloma & Ton helping us clean our workshop room after painting the walls...

Junior painting our giant Chess pieces

Marquito pintando nuestras piezas gigantes de ajedrez

Chat after movie night! Conversacion despues de pelicula

Chess workshop

Our finished chess pieces

Nuestras piezas de ajedrez terminadas

Manuel doing a bit of yoga to concentrate and win the game :)

another of Abel`s Guitar classes

Andy filling in for Abel during 1 of Abel's guitar classes

Our nurse friend Johana curing Victor's deep cut

Another Chess workshop...we are all hooked!!!

Alberto teaching Tati how to move the pieces

Kids during my arts & crafts workshop

Chicos en mi taller de manualidades

Taller de artesania y pintura corporal....Giango looks SOOOO cute!

Warming up during Karate class with Alberto

Chicos calentando durante su clase de Karate

Chicos en mi taller de creacion literaria...Kids in my creative writing workshop

Kids practicing their first full song after a couple of weeks of work!
Chicos practicando su primera ranchera en guitarra!

Saty Tuned for more ...mas noticias de Abril prontito!

April Update Part I! Noticias Abril Parte I !

2011-04-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

1st Karate Class with Alberto

Dear friends, this April has been quite special and busy for the kids and us at LCDM. We have been working hard on our final house repairs, offering creative workshops, academic support, and taking kids on weekend group retreats to give them a spectacular month. Luckily Andy and I got some help from our dear friend Abel, and our new friend and volunteer Alberto. The four of us have been able to offer the kids opportunities for learning new, fun, and interesting things. Alberto, our Karate instructor and movie night coordinator has been of great help this month and the kids could not be happier to have him. Abel as always has been working with us to give kids the extraordinary gift of music and boy are they hooked with the guitar! Our house is filled with life and activity and the kids are enjoying every bit of it!

Discussion after movie night!

Queridos amigos, seguimos trabajando para dar a nuestros chicos nuevos talleres y nuevas herramientas para crear y generar bienestar. Este abril hemos estado ocupadisimos con reparaciones de casa, talleres creativos, apoyo academico a los chicos, y pasando mucho tiempo hablando con ellos en retiros los domingos o durante nuestros talleres de creacion literaria. Gracias a la vida nuestro querido amigo Abel como siempre nos ha dado una mano ofreciendo clases de guitarra a los chicos, y nuestro nuevo amigo-voluntario Alberto tambien nos ha ayudado mucho no solo ofreciendo clases de Karate y coordinando noches de cine y conversatorios, si no tambien pintando, cocinando, ayudando a los chicos con matematicas y ajedrez. Queriamos dar a los chicos un mes maravilloso y sentimos que realmente este mes es especial y estamos agradecidos por todos los momentos lindos que seguimos viviendo juntos los chicos, voluntarios, Andy, ustedes que nos leen, y yo!

We have tons to share but unfortunately we no longer have a working computer at home so my entry will be shorter this time....sorry guys! I really hope though that each of you reading and seeing these pictures can sense all the love, life, learning, friendship and fun impregnated in these images. Enjoy with us and know that meaningful friendships are not only possible but incredibly enriching. Until next time friends!

During our chess workshops...taller de ajedrez!

Queridos amigos, tenemos mucho por compartir pero ya no contamos con una computadora en la casa asi que esta entrada sera breve pero espero aun asi puedan percivir todo lo maravilloso empapado en cada momento aqui capturado.....y sigan visitandonos que partes 2 y 3 ya vienen en camino!!! Hasta prontito!

We finally finished painting our giant recycled chess pieces!

Arts and Crafts workshops...repairing our beheaded puppets....arreglando nuestros titeres que perdieron las cabezas en una de las varias inundaciones que ha sufrido nuestra casita...pero ya estan bien! :)

Erickson bringing Plutonio back to life! Reviviendo a Plutonio!

Chicos recibiendo sus cinturones blancos de su profesor Alberto!

Sunday retreat/ swimming lesson with group 3! Retiro/ natacion con grupo numero 3!

Marquito y Erick disfrutando su dia en la piscina!

Kids enjoying their day at the `pool!

Kids learning how to swim!

Ton being a shark after laerning how to swim! Ton ya nadando!

Competencia de natacion entre Ton, Marquito, y Erickson!

Chicos dando de comer a pecesitos!

Kids feeding lots of fish!

Friends proud of themselves...all four were able to swim by the end of the day!

Having a lot of fun...this was an amazing day - gift to me and the kids! Este fue un dia regalo...hermoso y pleno!

Kids dancing away....chicos bailando sin una preocupacion en el mundo!

No longer afraid of the water! Chicos disfrutando el agua y el estar juntos!

Erickson nadando ya solo! Erick swimming on his own!

Frank swimming...Frank ya nadando solo!

Frank worked hard but he did it...he swam and swam!

On our way back home...the boys and I!

Regresando a casa despues de un dia precioso!

The kids were hungry after swimming so much...un antichuchito para mis nadadores!

Going over the alphabet with Rosita!

Kids focused on Karate!

Django aprendiendo Karate...

Movie night...noche de cine!

Conversation after the movie....conversacion despues de la pelicula!

Stay tuned for parts 2 & 3 . . . mantenganse alerta para la segunda parte. . . .

Chincha April Update! Abril en Chincha!

2011-04-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

Hello friends, at LCDM we hope you are well and creating interesting opportunities whereever you are! March was an interesting month for us in Chincha...full of good, great, bad and concerning moments! Now, we are really trying to make April an extraordinary month for all our kids! In their March surveys our older kids told us that they wanted more opportunities for in-depth conversations, and all our kids asked for more music, more travel, and more art. SO, we are looking for volunteers who can help us bring more art and more ways to spark our kids' curiosity and need for creative exploration and expression. Check out our call for volunteers on the top left side of this page!
Andy and Abel are working hard making several repairs to the house and trying to fix all the things that broke down in the last 4 years...we want the house to be in better shape and ready to welcome a few more volunteer friends this month. April must be rich, full of moments, new experiences, new skills, and more friendships...I want it to be our best month ever and I want to spend special quality time with each of my kids.

Buen dia amigos, esperamos que ustedes esten sanos, bien, y creando oportunidades interesantes donde quiera que esten! Marzo fue un mes interesante para nosotros lleno de momentos maravillosos y dificiles pero estamos decididos a hacer de abril nuestro mas divertido, interesante, productivo, e intimo mes. A traves de una encuesta los chicos mas grandes nos dijeron en Marzo que querian mas oportunidades para conversar, y todos pidieron mas arte, asi que estamos trabajando bastante para darles a los chicos lo que nos piden. Andy y Abel estan trabajando mucho, arreglando todas las paredes rotas, tuberias inservibles, huecos en el techo y pisos, pintando, y demas para dar mas vida a nuestra casita y poder invitar a algunos amigos voluntarios este mes. En este nuestro cuarto año, estamos sintiendo muchos cambios en el barrio, en nuestra provincia, en los chicos, en el mundo, en todo....todo cambia dice la cancion, pero yo quiero asegurarme de que todos mis chicos a medida que crecen y cambian, se queden prendidos de alguna herramienta de expresion, y sepan valorar y nutrir la maravillosa amistad que existe entre ellos, que nacio aqui, en mi casa en agosto del 2007. Entonces, este mes dedicare mucho tiempo a nutrir nuestra amistad y a dar a los chicos muchas razones para reir, y muchas mas fuentes sanadoras.

In march we kicked off our swimming lessons/retreats with our first group of 5 kids. We took 5 older kids first and I am happy to share that 4 of 5 kids were swimming by the end of the afternoon. For the first time in their lives these kids were able to glide through water and really enjoy being in there knowing they would not drown. I was very proud of these guys and Andy who was an excellent instructor. We had a lot of fun in the water and great conversations during our pool breaks. These kids have each other and their wonderful friendship which is worth the whole world....I am proud of their friendship which was born in my house and nourished with love and creativity all these years....this was a great first retreat!

En marzo iniciamos nuestros retiros/clases de natacion durante las cuales conversamos, nadamos, nos compartimos, y nos disfrutamos. Fue linda nuestra primera experiencia con 5 de nuestros muchachos mas grandes. La idea es poder dar mas atencion, energia, y tiempo a cada persona en cada grupo pequenho. Usualmente en cada viaje llevamos a todos los ninos, pero tambien es importante dar tiempo exclusivo y enfocado. Estoy muy orgullosa de estos chicos por que de 5 chicos, 4 estuvieron nadando antes de caer la tarde. Fue una maravilla verlos nadar sin miedo, y por primera vez verles disfrutar el agua, deslizarse por ella sin temer ahogarse...nuestras conversaciones tambien fueron interesantes...relajadas, y tambien me senti orgullosa por la honestidad compartida. Andy fue un extraordinario instructor de natacion y todos los chicos quedaron super contentos y agradecidos por el dia que pasamos juntos.

First Retreat/Swimming Lessons (Older Boys) 1er Viaje/Retiro/Natacion

Reading notes the kids wrote to each other about each other during our pool retreat. Nice moment :)

Jo reading his notes...

The boys and I getting ready to go back in the pool to swim away!

Los muchachos y yo listos para regresar a nadar a la piscina despues de conversar un rato.

Back in the pool...round two!

Jo aprendiendo a nadar!

Giampi & Joel getting their turn to learn how to swim!

HE DID IT! Jo's first time swimming!!! Yes..yes...YESSSSSSS!

Andy teaching kids and I the frog kick... Andy ensenhando la patada de rana

Jo nadando por primera vez! Que felicidad para mi!

Chin and Minero in a SWIMMING race....:) Chin y Minero en una carrera de natacion :)

And off Joel goes! y ya nada y nada y sigue nadando :)

Chin just chilling after swimming for a while!

Kids encouraging Jo ....

Ice cream time after pizza time...kids had pizza for the first time and most did not like it :)

March Workshops - Talleres Marzo

Paloma dancing on the chair....Paloma bailando....

Xio dancing while paloma sang

Paloma and I going over the ABC's...repasando el abecedario con Paloma

Origami time.. trying to make a crane....Haciendo origami....nuestra primera grulla!

Manzanitas canhetanas para los muchachos!

My first crane...I loved it!

Kids playing "heart attack" Jenga....

Castigo para Chin....

Aguita Chinnnnn

Chin...Chin...jaja :)

Kids working on caligraphy and basic mathematics

Giving our giant chess pieces a final coat...we've been making those pieces for a MONTH! gggzzz

but only 6 pieces are left to complete...all the rest are ready for painting...Yay!

Manuel & I providing the entertainment for the evening....Manu y yo tocando para que trabajen mejor!

Poniendo una capa de goma y papel a las piezas gigandes de ajedrez.....

Llevamos un MES haciendo esas piezas....pero ya solo faltan 6 piezas mas...

entre ajedrez y penha Chinchana en la noche.....music courtesy of the boys!

Jenga!!!!

Se va a caer...Minero se va a caerrrrrr

28 pieces completed and ready for painting....6 more to go

28 piezas terminadas y listas para pintar

6 piezas mas y terminamosssss...por fin!

Home Repairs & Maintenance - Reparaciones y Mantenimiento de Casa

Andy preparing the bathroom for repairs and painting....Preparando el banho para reparaciones

Abel fixing the kitchen's walls and preparing them for painting...Abe arreglando la cocina

Abe y Andy descansando un ratito.....the guys taking a break to eat

the back room finally getting fixed

2nd Retreat/Swimming Lesson (Girls Only)

Paloma and I during our all girl retreat/swimming lesson

Yeni y Xio divirtiendose juntas durante nuestro viaje/retiro solo para chicas :)

Xio y su nueva amiga Jose Maria...Xio and her new friend Jose Maria

The girls having fun, enjoying each other, and their new friends..

Paloma THE GREAT...she did it...nothing will defeat her :)

Paloma LA INVENCIBLE....escalo la pared solita ...nada vencera a esta hermosa Palomita!

Trampolin time!

Las chicas disfrutaron mucho el trampolin....

I can flyyyyyyy.....

The girls really felt the whole place was theirs....jaja

Xio practicing her kicking

Yeni looking beautiful!!!

Las chicas listas para ir a comer heladitos depues de nadar toda la tarde....

us girls looking refreshed and beautiful :)

Paloma has lost three teeth in the last month and didn't want to smile

The girls enjoying their ice cream at the main square...

March in Chincha! Marzo en Chincha!

2011-03-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

Paloma made me a shell ring :)...Mi Paloma me hizo un anillito :)

Dear friends, I hope this month is bringing you lots of light, laughter, love, enjoyment, true friendship, and lots more! March is flying by here in Chincha and I want to share some updates, images and moments with you before this month is all gone. March marks the end of the summer and the beginning of the school year here, so just a week ago the kids started school again and while getting up early and doing homework every day takes some getting used to, the kids are doing just that. Because we want our kids to start their academic year strong, we've started offering academic reinforcement/tutoring and remediation in English, Reading and Writing, and Math. So, as of last Monday, we are working on academic tutoring during the week and offering creative-educational workshops during the weekends.

Last weekend the kids and I had a lot of fun using all the stones and shells we brought from our Paracas camping trip to make beautiful bracelets, rings and necklaces during our artesania workshop. I was very lucky to have been given several beautiful pieces made with love by my kids....thank you guys!!! I also decided to conduct a survey among the kids who attend our workshops to determine impact on them, the neighborhood, and their decision making process. Things are changing rapidly in Chincha, kids are growing fast and I want to make sure I listen in every way I can to the messages my kids and community are sending me.


Queridos amigos, espero todos esten bien, rodeados de luz, amor, difrute y mucha risa! Este mes esta volando rapido y quiero compartir con ustedes algunos de los momentos vividos este mes con los chicos. Pues bien, marzo aqui en Chincha significa el termino del verano y el principio de clases, asi que los chicos hace una semana tuvieron que empezar a levantarse temprano otra vez y hacer tareas diariamente. Claro que al principio es dificil retornar a esa rutina pero poco a poco los chicos estan haciendolo....por nuestra parte, ya que necesitamos que nuestros chicos empiezen el año escolar bien, hemos iniciado clases de reforzamiento y nivelación academica en Inglés, Matemáticas, Lectura, y Escritura. Asi que desde el Lunes pasado Andy y yo estamos ofreciendo apoyo academico los dias de semana en las mañanas y tardes, y los fines de semana como siempre estamos ofreciendo talleres creativo-educativos.

La semana pasada trabajamos con varios chicos durante la semana mas que nada haciendo reforzamiento en comunicaciones y matemáticas, y el fin de semana aprovechamos las piedritas, caracolitos, y conchitas que colectamos en Paracas, para hacer un taller de artesania durante el cual los chicos hicieron piezas muy bonitas....incluyendo unas especiales llenas de buena energia protectora para mi. . . gracias chicos! La semana pasada tambien aproveché para hacer una encuesta entre los chicos para determinar el impacto que LCDM ha tenido y tiene aun o no en ellos, en el barrio, y en su proceso de crecer y tomar decisiones. Las cosas están cambiando rapidamente en Chincha, en nuestro barrio y los chicos estan creciendo a velocidad luz, asi que quiero asegurarme de escuchar todos los mensajes que me envian estos chicos de todas las formas posibles, con sus acciones, palabras, respuestas, etc.

The older kids asked on their surveys for more personal/ in-depth activities which is why I have decided to begin a "retreat-" like calendar of activities during which I'll be taking groups of 5 kids every Sunday to some nice/ neutral place where we can have FUN, honest and comfortable conversations, and create the chance for kids to unload some of the things they carry inside. Many of my kids are going through puberty and adolescence and are feeling all the turmoil that this process brings. These days are certainly different, I feel like a mom but also a friend to these growing kids and they are asking me for more chances to speak, express, and expel. My kids are not children anymore and I really hope these retreats will give them those opportunities for expression they are looking for. Things change, people change and we must always be open to change. On a different note, last week I also sent an invitation to parents to join us for free basic computer classes on Sundays. I hope parents will take advantage of this opportunity and come.We'll see what happens.

Xio on her second bracelet...she is growing fast!

We also went to visit our friends Maximo, Manuel and Rosaura...they are all well considering their age and conditions and trying to stay healthy. Maximo is seeking treatment here in Chincha for his degenerative condition and we are trying to help him get the services he is looking for. We hope to get him the medical service transfer he needs.				Lastly, we were very happy to have our friend Hugo last Sunday, he's a past volunteer friend who returned to Chincha after two years. Hugo left many friends here when he volunteered and we were all very happy to have him in our house again. I will stop talking now and will let you enjoy the pictures below...stay well and creative...muahh! Mayten

Minero and Pierre doing Artesania...

Joe made me a beautiful bracelet..:)

My beautiful gifts...all made by my older boys :) Mis regalos :)

Hugo playing Chess with Frank

Huguito regresando a nuestra casa :)

Hugo con su causita Erickson

Huguito y yo disfrutandonos mucho

Gracias por regresar Hugo y por pasar tu domingo con nosotros....te queremos muuuuuucho!

Body painting time

Body art...pintura corporal....

Leo was happy with the results :)

Yeni getting her face painted....pintando a Yeni

Les cuento que también invitamos a padres de familia a tomar clases de computación básica y esperamos que respondan a nuestra invitación. También fuimos a visitar a nuestros amigos Manuel, Rosaura y Maximo, la familia a la cual les construimos una casita en el 2008. Fue lindo verles otra vez juntos y bien dentro de todo. Ellos son una familia que apesar de las condiciones físicas degenerativas que sufren siguen intentando vivir con positivismo y entusiasmo. Estamos ahora intentando ayudar a Maximo a conseguir unos servicios medicos que necesita transferir y esperamos lograr lo que el nos pidió. Por último, la semana pasada regresó a nuestra casita un amigo voluntario de Cusco, Hugo, quien estuvo con los chicos y yo la navidad del 2007 y principios del 2008. Fue muy especial para todos nosotros verlo otra vez tenerlo aqui haciendo talleres nuevamente con nosotros el domingo pasado. Bueno, ya dejaré de hablar...les invito a que continuen viendo estas imagenes y disfruten este paseo virtual por nuestros dias, vidas y experiencias......tengan dias lindos y llenos de energia creativa.....un abrazo! Mayten

Mas body-painting.....

tutoring Ton...going over his homework

Teaching Ton his ABC's....

Hablando con Rosaura quien se veia muy bien ese dia

Talking to Rosaura and Manuel

Hablando con Maximo

Kids playing memory...

jugando memoria

Pierre y Paloma

Abel and I serenading the kids at night..cantando para mis muchachos

Yeni filling out my latest survey

Kids helping me make giant chess pieces for a giant chess board we want to make

Chicos ayudando a hacer piezas de ajedrez gigantes para un tablero gigante de ajedrez

making the giant chess pieces...Horacio the kids are ready for you!

Minero making a knight...Minero haciendo un caballero

Paloma, Xio, Manuel and I...Update: Paloma & Xio will move to their own house...just for them and their dad and new step mom...these are great news!

Mi Cielito looking gorgeous

Ta ra.....Yeni

Mi Paloma showing the ring she made for me.....

Paracas Camping Trip! De Campamento en Paracas!

2011-03-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and family, Andy and I are finally back with the kids in Chincha after a 6 week marathon fund raising effort in the US. We raised a little money, made lots of new friends, and reconnected with old friends during our stay in the US. While we didn’t raise all we needed in order to begin building our community center in Mina de Oro, we did raise enough to cover what we spent organizing the US events, to organize a camping trip to Paracas, to structure a creative workshop schedule through the end of April, to launch an integral health campaign in our community in March and at the 2 shelters in April, and to prepare an anti-violence educational training calendar in April. So, thanks again to every person who helped us make our 2 fund raising events in VA and SF a reality...thank you all!

As you can imagine, we arrived and hit the ground running to make our camping trip to Paracas a reality and to organize trainings and campaigns. I am so happy to share with you though that all our kids are fine, healthy, and today they had their first day of school. I am even happier however to share that 19 of my kids, Andy and I went on our Paracas camping trip over the weekend and had a BLAST! We were in the middle of the desert at a beautiful beach within Paracas National Reserve surrounded by nothing but blue sky, dunes, and waves always speaking to us...it was b e a u t i f u l!!!! We took a peaceful boat ride (the kids' first ever) to Ballestas Islands and saw sea lions, South American Penguins, sea stars, extraordinary rock formations, and thousands of incredible birds of so many different kinds. The beauty and diversity in Ballestas Islands amazed all of us, especially my kids and while I can write a book on this camping adventure alone, I'll let the images tell you about the special moments the kids, Andy and I lived in Paracas.....Enjoy these fantastic pictures! A big thanks to Harold Zevallos for getting us reduced-priced tickets to the boat ride, we and the kids really appreciated it! Thanks also to Mrs. Cespedes, head of the reserve, for giving us access to the reserve.

Queridos familiares y amigos, Andy y yo regresamos a Chincha hace unos dias despues de 6 intensas semanas trabajando duro para recaudar fondos que nos ayuden a sacar adelante nuestros planes para este 2011. Fue lindo para nosotros poder conocer nuevos amigos y reconectar con viejos amigos durante nuestra maratonica carrera recauda fondos. Bueno, mientras que no recaudamos lo que necesitabamos recaudar para poder comprar un terreno e inciar la construccion de nuestro centro cultural aqui en Mina de Oro, si recaudamos suficiente como para hacer realidad este maravilloso viaje a Paracas, organizar una campaña de salud gratuita a fines de marzo y principios de abril en nuestra comunidad y en los dos albergues con los que trabajamos, y crear un calendario de talleres y capacitacion educativa anti-violencia hasta fines de abril. Asi que gracias a todas las personas que nos ayudaron a hacer nuestros dos eventos recauda fondos en VA, y SF una realidad!

Como imaginaran tuvimos que ponernos a trabajar de inmediato para hacer realidad nuestro viaje de campamento a Paracas. Los chicos estaban muy entusiasmados sobre el viaje y me llena de felicidad contarles que nuestro viaje de campamento fue PRECIOSO! Preparamos todo y nos fuimos los chicos y yo rumbo a Paracas....una vez alla tomamos un lindo viaje en bote (el primero para los chicos) a las islas Ballestas y vimos playas llenas de lobos marinos, pinguinos Sud Americanos, formaciones rocosas increibles, preciosas estrellas de mar, el candelabro, y miles y miles de extraordinarias aves de diferentes clases.....realmente el viaje en bote fue la mejor manera de iniciar nuestra aventura. Luego del viaje en bote nos fuimos a la Reserva Nacional De Paracas para poder armar nuestro campamento en una playa muy linda en medio del desierto dotada con un cielo celeste impecable. Fue toda una aventura este viaje y aunque yo podria escribir muchas cosas, prefiero dejarles las imagenes para que ellas les cuenten lo especial de nuestros momentos en Paracas....Disfruten estas maravillosas imagenes! Muchas Gracias a Harold Zevallos por ayudarnos a conseguir el paseo en bote a un precio reducido, la verdad nos encanto y lo agradecemos muchisimo! Gracias tambien a la Sra. Cespedes, jefe de la Reserva, por darnos acceso a la reserva.

Kids looking at Candelabro (giant geoglyph)...Chicos viendo el candelabro (una figura gigante)

Meeting with kids the day we arrived in Chincha! Reunion con chicos el dia que llegamos!

Meeting with parents 2 days before the trip...Reunion con papas 2 dias antes del viaje

Meeting with kids 2 days before the trip...reunion con chicos 2 dias antes del viaje

Andy happily pealing peas in preparation for our Paracas trip...

Meeting with kids & parents to go over rules and questions.Hablando con papas y chicos antes del viaje

On our way to Paracas...camino a Paracas

On boat ride: kids watching attentively...en paseo en bote viendo todo con atencion

Lobos Marinos...sea lions

Penguins & Pelicans...pelicanos y pinguinos

Playa de lobos marinos...sea lion beach

arriving at our camp site...llegando a nuestro campamento

Seleccionando un lugar para acampar...choosing a spot to camp

Andy and the boys putting the tents together....Andy y chicos armando las tiendas

the kids cleaning the area before tents went up...limpiando el area para poner tiendas de campanha

The girls enjoying each other...las chicas disfrutando juntas

al agua.......all the kids ready to go in the water

y Carnaval se ha dicho! kids playing Carnaval...throwing water at each other

Enjoying the water....

Lunch time...Jo cutting a watermelon ...Jo ayudando a repartir sandia a todos para refrescarnos

Kids REALLY enjoying this rock formation full of life! They spent hours there!

next morning back at the rock...todos de vuelta a las rocas...

Yenni corriendo cuesta bajo...

Ton atrapando mui muis y buscando piedritas...looking for stones and mui muis

guys exploring and looking for fish ...

Muchachos explorando y buscando vida marina

Angelo chiquito corriendo en la orilla

ya cae la tarde en las rocas....

our camp site...nuestro campamento en medio del desierto en una playa muy bonita

carrera en la orilla....racing on the beach

CARNAVAL!!!!!! the kids and I making sure no one remained dry

ji ji...i loved this part....todos pasandola bien en el agua

y mas aguaaaa...and more water....CARNAVALLLLL

the kids and I hiking up the dunes around...chicos y yo explorando los cerros que nos rodeaban

climbing up dunes on a very HOT morning....escalando cerros en una manana MUY calurosa

view from our camp site....la vista desde nuestro capamento

llegando a la cima de nuestro primer cerro...our first dune conquered :)

Us crossing the desert to climb a higher mountain...todos cruzando desierto para escalar un cerro mas alto

regresando a nuestro campamento...returning to our camp site

and back to the water!!! Joel....AL AGUA!!! ji ji

todos ya mojados y refrescados....all of us in the water very refreshed

Karina, Cathy and the kids helping us cook....Karina y chicos ayudando a cocinar...gracias Karina!,

Yenni, Mirtha y Camila corriendo cuesta abajo...girls running down the dunes

Yenni, Mirtha & Erickson looking beautiful in their tent at sunset ...ninos hermosos al atardecer en su tienda

despidiendonos de nuestro campamento... listos pra regresar

Saying farewell to our camp site and getting ready to return home

afternoon Soccer match....partido en la tarde

Karina otra vez ayudandonos a preparar los alimentos....Karina again helping us prepare meals...

Having dinner...soup in a cup....cena en campamento...Chupe de pallares en posillo....

Asegurandome que todos coman la cena....

Our camp site......nuestras tiendas....
hay muchas fotos mas..veanlas en nuestro FB!!!
check out way more Paraca pictures on LCDM's FB

!Hasta la proxima entrada! Until next entry! Mucha luz , buena energia, salud y calidez para ustedes!
Good energy, light, health and warmth to each of you out there! Mayten

Thank You San Francisco! ¡Gracias SF!

2011-02-16T15:28:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Last weekend we had our long-awaited cultural fundraising event in San Francisco! It was a lot of fun and a lot of work to put everything together, but thanks to a lot of help we were able to make it happen. Great food, lively performances, fun intimate moments, and lots of interesting conversations were part of this special evening put together with lots of love. De Rompe y Raja, an amazing Peruvian Cultural Association from the Bay area was in charge of our entertainment for the evening and their cajon and stepping opening performance gave our event the perfect tone. This group of singers, dancers and musicians did a fantastic job introducing everyone to the sounds and rhythms of Coastal Peru throughout the evening. They can really put on a mind blowing show! Please check them out at www.derompeyraja.org.

Queridos amigos, este sabado pasado por fin llego el dia de celebrar nuestro evento recauda fondos en San Francisco. Fue mucho trabajo el organizarlo pero gracias a mucha ayuda pudimos hacerlo realidad y divertirnos mucho esa noche. Buena comida, excelente musica y danzas en vivo, momentos super lindos, y muchas conversaciones con nuevos amigos fueron parte de esta noche tan especial para nosotros. De Rompe y Raja, una asociacion cultural Peruana de esa area estuvo encargada de llenar la noche de sonidos y ritmos costenos Peruanos y que maravilloso trabajo hicieron todos los miembros de esta agrupacion. Les invito a que conozcan su trabajo www.derompeyraja.org...son excelentes! Gracias Pedro!

Our dear friend Mumu was also part of the program delivering a beautiful dance piece that moved me to tears. I saw all my girls moving with and in Mumu. Thank you Mumu! We love you!
Our friends from Dreamtime Circus and from the Convent Collective were such a special part of this evening helping us organize different aspects of the event and performing at the after party.
Sophia our key lead event coordinator who worked tirelessly and with every ounce of love she had to make the event happen was essential in the realization of this event. Thank you Sophia for all your work, love, friendship and energy!

Ilya, meeting you was special and seeing you run around doing whatever it took to help us really means a lot to me. I'll never forget your kindness and I'm grateful to life for bringing you and Sophia together.
Chris and Savannah thanks for your help setting up the convent for the evening, performing at the after party, and sharing your experience in Chincha during the main program. Alex thanks for making our event and coming to help chop veggies! Karen, thank you for coming to the event and talking about us to all your friends! Tom, thank you for your kind donation...we were sorry we couldn't thank you in person but we are grateful to know that our work is still in your mind and intention. Thanks for your support Tom and all Dream time Circus friends! We love you and seeing you again in your neck of the woods was almost surreal and lovely :)
Convent Collective friends, thank you for opening your house and sharing your space with us. Nothing would have happened without your help and support...gracias!

We also want to thank Angie and Keely (Sophia's friends) for all their amazing help in the kitchen preparing our Peruvian dinner. Andy was certainly lucky to have you both ladies! Thank you SOOO much! Finally, I want to thank Carlos from Mi Lindo Peru restaurant for donating the dessert we served, Jose from Crazy Copy for donating the printing of programs and tickets, Carlos from Peruvian Produce distributors for donating the purple corn and corn to make canchita, and Inkas restaurant for donating a pan of rice. All of you helped us make our event become a reality and I couldn't thank you enough! Gracias a todos ustedes!

I certainly enjoyed the evening and speaking to many new friends made that night. Andy and I left San Francisco feeling like we had a new group of friends there and we are grateful for your support and friendship. I hope you enjoy the images on this entry and decide to continue getting to know our work and our community in Chincha. thank you and enjoy! Mayten

De Rompe y Raja making great music for us!

De Rompe y Raja girls gracefully dancing a festejo

Fox showing off one of our raffle items

Dani helping us model an alpaca scarf and a bag during our raffle

me announcing the winning ticket number....

and he took it!!!

Savannah also helping display our raffle items

My friend Yasushi helping me pick another raffle winner

she wonnnnnn :)

Chris from Dream Time sharing his experience working with us in Chincha. Thanks Chris!

Dinner time!!!!

We had lots of liquid possibilities.....

Ilya and Meredith helping us serve dessert ...lucuma ice cream which was a hit!

Mumu dancing beautifully during her performance

De Rompe y Raja dancers showing a different dance form (Peruvian Waltz)

Pedro Rosales De Rompe y Raja's director speaking to the audience about their work in SF

Gaby Chiroma from De Rompe y Raja inviting audience to try a few Peruvian moves with her and her girls

dancers teaching us how to move

Audience moving to Peruvian music

Chris & Savannah from Dream Time performing at the after party

Mumu performing at the after party

Alex & Mumu performing together at the after party

Andy and I taking a moment at the after party to look at the moon and stars and feel grateful

Ilya and the Future Simple Project playing at the after party...thanks guys!

Thanks to everyone who attended the SF event. I know there are plenty of interesting things going on in your city, so your support means a lot to me and I hope some of the new friends and connections I have made in San Francisco will prove to be lasting ones. We are looking forward seeing you all the next time we are in town, hopefully to do another event even better than this one!

San Francisco Event - Sat. Feb. 12th! Evento en San Francisco, Sab. Feb. 12th! COME ALL! ¡VENGAN TODOS!

2011-02-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

Dear friends! We are now in San Francisco excited beyond measure about hosting our event in this FANTASTIC city! This Saturday, February 12th from 7pm - 11pm we'll have an amazing Peruvian Cultural Fundraising event at The Convent Artist Collective at 660 Oak St (btw Webster & Fillmore - 22 & 71 leave you steps away). Exciting Afro-Peruvian music and dance performances will be provided by De Rompe y Raja, a well recognized Afro-Peruvian Cultural group in San Francisco! We will also give you a delicious Peruvian dinner and a courtesy drink all for just $30!!!! Just by attending and enjoying a fabulous evening you'll help us raise funds we desperately need to continue our work in Chincha.

Can't come to the main event? Then come to our AFTER PARTY from 11pm to 1am! You'll get mind blowing music, fire performances, live music performance, great roof top ambiance, and the chance to meet creative artists and path makers from all over the world all for less than $10!!

Auction Item: Nazca Lines Ceramic/Hand-Painted 3 Bowl set

Queridos amigos, estamos en San Francisco preparando todo para nuestro evento este Sabado, Feb. 12 a las 7pm en The Convent - 660 Oak St (entre Fillmore y Webster -buses 22 y 77 los deja a solo pasos). Esta ciudad es INCREIBLE y la verdad esperamos que todos ustedes se contagien de esta energia maravillosa y vengan a nuestro evento este Sabado! De Rompe y Raja, una organizacion Culltural Peruana que se especializa en sonidos y ritmos de la costa del Peru se encargara de llenar la noche de musica y danzas Afro-Peruanas en vivo. Les ofreceremos tambien una deliciosa cena Peruana y una bebida de cortesia, todo por solo $30! Con su entrada cada uno de ustedes nos ayudara a continuar nuestro trabajo en Chincha, Peru y llevar salud a menores de bajos recursos. La salud es un regalo enorme y espero ustedes nos ayuden a darla viniendo a nuestro evento este Sabado, 12.

No puedes venir al evento principal? Entonces VEN a nuestro AFTER PARTY de 11pm a 1am donde tendran musica, presentaciones por artistas que manejan fuego, un ambiente espectacular en la terraza con vista a la ciudad, la oportunidad de conocer artistas de todas partes, y mucho mucho mas todo por menos de $10! LOS ESPERO!!!

Auction Item: Traditional Andean Tapestry from Cusco dyed with plants & stones

I sincerely hope you'll join us on Saturday knowing that what you are really giving is a bit of health for kids in Chincha who live in poverty, violence and negligence. THANK YOU!!!!!

Gracias por ayudarnos a continuar dando salud a nuestros amados ninos y chicas en los dos albergues con los que trabajamos. Los espero este Sabado 12 amigos con mucho amor y entusiasmo! Hasta pronto! Mayten

NJ Event Canceled Due To Weather! - ¡Evento en NJ Cancelado!!!!

2011-01-30T11:21:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, I have received several responses from some of you with concerns about Saturday's weather. Because enough of you will not be able to attend due to weather and other reasons, I have decided to cancel our NJ event. While I would love to see all of you, I would also hate to jeopardize your safety by asking you to drive on very icy roads at night. I hope you all understand.

I want to thank those of you who confirmed attendance and were willing to face the ice and cold temperatures to be part of our event. Your support and presence means a great deal to me! I also want to thank those of you who sent me very nice emails explaining why you couldn't attend. The extra effort you made really showed me your intention and desire to support our work regardless. Thank you all!

Whether or not you intended to come, please know that should you want to support our work in Chincha, you still can by making a much-needed contribution using paypal (link on left side of page). If you have any questions, please email me at lacasademayten@gmail.com. THANK YOU!!!

We will come back soon to conduct more events. We hope the weather will be on our side then and you will be able to attend. We will keep you posted! Now, Andy, Sophia (our San Fran partner) and I are working to finalize preparations for our Feb. 12th, San Francisco event which will be SPECTACULAR! Please, visit our blog for pictures and news of that event!

My NJ/NY friends and family, I hope to see all of you next time (hopefully in the summer when the it is hot, sunny, and shiny!! :) Can you believe this winter? Be brave out there friends in the North East...winter is just a few weeks from being over! Warmth, laughter, music, and love to all of you! Mayten

DC Area Fundraiser a Success! Evento en DC un Exito! THANK YOU!

2011-01-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all well! We held our first-ever USA fundraising cultural event in Arlington, VA last Saturday and I am thrilled to announce that it was a success! It took many weeks of hard work preparing and coordinating, but in the end we pulled it off, everything was ready, and we had a good turnout despite some competition from another Peruvian event in the area that same night. We want to send out a huge thank you to all of the marvelous people who braved the cold (and nation's worst traffic) to come out and spend their whole evening sharing with us our work and our passion. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and the dancing and the food as much as we did!

We really want to thank all the people who contributed their work and performances to help make this event a success. We couldn't have done it without each and every one of you. GRACIAS!

Thanks first of all to our dear friend Lauren, who has been the engine pushing all our DC event fundraising forward, giving up her own bedroom for nearly a week as we prepared for the event, sacrificing sleep and sanity helping us with all the details, and generously donating any item we could not get from other donors or that we had overlooked. We love you Lauren! Thanks also to Lauren's housemates for putting up with our Peruvian invasion!

A big thanks goes to Jacquie Antonson and George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution for donating the use of the room and audio-visual equipment, which worked out perfectly!

Big thank you to Mamauca for opening the event with some awesome and authentic festejo dancing. We especially want to thank Griselle and her husband Victor Ruiz for sharing their time and their talent with us, despite a busy schedule! ¡Mil Gracias!

Another special thank you goes out to Cecilia Villalobos and Axel from Salsa Fuego School, for being so generous with their time and heating up the second half of the event with some hot salsa dancing. You guys are the best!

A very special thanks to my beautiful sister Rayen, who has been helping us non-stop doing everything from creating beautiful brochures, flyers, and invitations to cooking and setting up plates! THANK YOU RAY!!!!! Big thank you to Amalia and Costa Verde Restaurant for donating rice and potatoes and to El Chalan Restaurant for donating a Dinner for two....Gracias!

And another special thank-you to Jazmin, my lovely niece, who has also been helping us out with coordination, preparation, ticket sales, and a lot more. Thanks Jazmin, you rock!!

Overall the event was a success, and we are proud to have pulled everything together despite the short lead time and despite this being a new area for us. While we did not meet our original fundraising goal, we were able to make some great connections while still raising a significant amount of money that will be a real boost to our work in Peru. We are glad to have one event's experience under out belts as we head to New Jersey and to San Francisco for our events there, for which we are getting ready and excited. We hope you are excited too! Here are some more pictures from the event, enjoy!

Milagros, a radio host and reporter for El Tiempo Latino interviewing me for a newspaper article that will be out this week!

Boiling purple corn and pinapple to make Chicha Morada, which was a big hit!

Jazmin cutting beef for the Lomo Saltado, which came out delicious.

Rayen peeling onions for the Lomo Saltado.

Andy working on videos and multimedia presentations about our work in Chincha to show at the event. Thanks to Andy's dad for donating the laptop!

Lauren's friend Ashley toasting Peruvian corn to make the Canchita. Great job, Ashley! Thanks for your help.

Jazmin making the tasty sauce for Papa a la Huancaina. Also a big hit with our guests!

Authentic, hand-made Peruvian items all set up for the auction.

Jazmin and Mayten at the door receiving our attendees and selling tickets.

We were happy that Andy's Uncle Reed, Aunt Ann, and cousin Michael came out to support us. Thanks for being there guys, and congrats for acquiring some gorgeous stuff at the auction!

Some of our guests enjoying the food.

Cecilia and Axel from Salsa Fuego showing us how salsa is done

Lauren and Ashley trying out some new salsa steps with Cecilia and Axel. Way to go ladies!

We had just the right number of guests for the space

Lauren giving people a closer look at some of the items during the auction

Getting into the bidding at the auction! Thanks to all the people who purchased items during the auction...we really appreciated your generosity and enthusiasm!

Getting ready to raffle off a beautiful Tawantinsuyo shawl!

An honest hand chose the person who most deserved this gorgeous shawl... congrats Ashley!

Rayen putting the finishing touches on the event program

Andy helping prepare the item descriptions for the auction...
Friends in NEW JERSEY, our next event will be in your area on Saturday, February 5th...come and help us make our NJ event an even bigger success....we can do it!

LCDM's US 2011 Fundraising Tour! Tour Recauda Fondos 2011 en EE UU!

2011-01-18T17:36:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, we are SOOO excited about our ARLINGTON, VA fund raising event to be held this SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR). Everything is coming together and we could not be more grateful to Jacquie from ICAR for all her help with the venue, and to our friend Lauren for giving her time and energy to help me make this event possible. Andy and I are in Virginia now staying with Lauren and her generous roommates who are all sharing their space with us...Thank you ladies!!
Our goals with these events are to raise the funds we need to meet our 2011 goals, let universities, organizations, and programs know about our work in Chincha, and develop lasting connections and partnerships with institutions that share our vision and goals.

Please friends, if you are in the Washington/ Virginia/Maryland areas or have friends in those areas invite them to attend our event which will be filled with Peruvian food, music, dance, culture, spirit and much more! Come have FUN and help us continue helping wonderful people in Chincha, Peru! COME ALL!!!

Queridos amigos, estamos muy muy emocionados por que nuestro primer evento recauda fondos en Arlington, Virginia se llevara a cabo este SABADO, ENERO 22 de 6:00pm a 9:30pm! La universidad George Mason y su Instituto para Analisis y Resolucion de Conflicto se han unido a nuestro esfuerzo y precisamente sera ahi, donde realizaremos nuestro primer evento recauda fondos. Esperamos que nuestros amigos de Virginia, Washington, y Maryland decidan pasar un trozo de su sabado con nosotros ya que nuestra noche ofrecera una deliciosa cena peruana, musica y danzas peruanas, la posibilidad de comprar hermosas prendas y piezas traidas desde Peru a traves de una subasta, y rifa, y la oportunidad de contribuir a la salud y bienestar de maravillosos seres humanos en Chincha, Peru quienes merecen todo nuestro trabajo y esfuerzo! Vengan y diviertanse con nosotros!

Look for upcoming information about our New Jersey event on Saturday, February 5th, and our San Francisco event and After Party on Saturday, February 12th!!!!!

Our Christmas in Chincha, part 2 / Nuestra Navidad en Chincha, parte 2

2011-01-15T21:55:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and family, here are pictures of our Dec. 25th Christmas at the Beach celebration! The kids and I had a blast and really loved having each other and the beach as our x-mas present. Good friends, a sunny day, and open water was all we needed to be happy...and the munchkins Andy and I brought our kids from Lima :) This is the fourth Christmas my Mina De Oro kids and I spend together and there was no better place to celebrate than by this incredible natural body of water full of life and movement! I hope you enjoy these pictures and can feel all the fun we had that day! Enjoy!

Queridos familiares y amigos, estas son fotos de nuestra celebracion navidenha con los chicos de Mina De Oro, el 25 de diciembre en playa Totoritas. Esta fue nuestra cuarta navidad juntos y la playa fue el regalo perfecto para todos. La pasamos muy bien, disfrutamos mucho el mar y el estar juntos en este dia especial. Espero ustedes disfruten viendo estas fotos y sientan toda la buena energia de la que nos cargamos los chicos Andy y yo....

Arriving...llegando a las totoritas

sharing the munchkins Andy and I bought for the kids in Lima...compartiendo los munchkins con los ninos...

I want to thank our friends Lauren, Bree and Inmaculada for helping us make our x-mas beach trip and shelter celebrations possible with their donations....we had a lot of fun thanks to you ladies...THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Queremos agradecer a nuestras amigas Lauren, Bree y Inmaculada por ayudarnos con sus donaciones, a hacer posibles nuestras celebraciones en los dos albergues y nuestro viaje a la playa el 25! Las chicas en los albergues, los chicos de Mina De oro, Andy y yo la pasamos muy bien gracias a ustedes! MUCHAS GRACIAS!

Kids racing at the beach...haciendo carreras con los chicos!

A sus marcas...listos...fuera!....ready....get set...GO!!!!

Perdiendo miedos y disfrutando el aguita!!!

Minero & Witi having fun! Mi Minero y Witi disfrutando el agua!

Jo & Jun....man, my kids are growing fast....:(

Andy helping Jorgito be less afraid of the BIG water...

mi hermosa Cielito y Tati comiendo sus pancitos con tamal y colao chinchano!!!

Disfrutando la arena...Jenny & Cora enterradas hasta el cuello en arena :)

Cielito y Paloma playing volleyball...jugando su propia version de volleyball

Andy y Xio....

Food break!!! Una pausita para comer....

Mi hermosa Paloma....my beautiful Paloma....

Kids receiving a few simple toys my friend Paty from Cusco sent for them...thank you Paty!

Los chicos reciviendo unos regalitos que nuestra amiga Paty de Cusco envio para ellos...GRACIAS PATY!

Celebrando navidad en la noche con mis muchachos....

Outside my house celebrating x-mas with my kids at midnight....

mas chispitas mariposas.....

Yo feliz al ver a Alexis y Adolfo...Alexis & Adolfo stopping by to say hello on x-mas...they are sooooo big!

lighting up sparklers with Alexis & Adolfo...yayyyyyyyyy

More simple but special x-mas celebration outside mi casa in Chincha....

Dreaming away with the kids.....sonhando ....

Dear friends and family, thank you for visiting our blog....please continue getting to know us....we sincerely appreciate your time and friendship! UNTIL NEXT TIME!! HASTA LA PROXIMA VEZ AMIGOS! Gracias por visitar nuestro blog y seguir conociendonos! Mayten

Our Christmas in Chincha, Part 1 / Nuestra Navidad en Chincha, Parte 1

2011-01-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

Paul Harris Shelter
Dear friends and family from around the world, before telling you about our Christmas celebrations, I want to wish each of you a healthy, happy, loving, and enriching 2011! With that said, let me start this two part holiday entry by telling you about our WONDERFUL Christmas celebrations at Paul Harris and Camino a La Solidaridad Shelters in Chincha. Well, while in 2010 we worked with both shelters, due to pressing reasons, we decided to focus more work and attention on our CAS girls so it had been a few months since we last saw our beautiful girls at Paul Harris shelter. Seeing them again and spending time with them on Christmas eve was simply unforgettable and a true gift to us. So unforgettable in fact, that I am still engulfed in the girls' energy, love, embraces, appreciation, friendship and smiles! I love those girls and spending one more Christmas with them singing, dancing, eating delicious things and lighting up dreams was a BIG gift from life to me this year. The girls at Paul Harris are beyond special and this 2011, we are planning lots of fun stuff with them so you will also get a chance to get to know them a bit more!

Queridos amigos y familiares esparcidos por el mundo, antes de contarles sobre nuestra extraordinaria navidad, quiero desear a cada uno de ustedes un 2011 lleno de salud, amor, felicidad, y momentos enriquecedores! Ahora si empezare contandoles sobre nuestras fantasticas celebraciones con nuestras amadas chicas en los albergues Paul Harris y Camino a La Solidaridad en Chincha. Bueno, la verdad es que apesar de haber trabajado con ambos albergues en el 2010, por diferentes razones, decidimos dar a las chicas de CAS un poco mas de atencion y fue MUY MUY lindo poder regresar esta navidad a abrazar, cantar, bailar, sonhar, crear y querer con las chicas de Paul Harris...ellas tambien son amadisimas amigas nuestras y poder estar con ellas en navidad fue nuestro GRAN regalo, y a mi en lo personal me lleno de manera insuperable...aun tengo los abrazos de kasandra aferrados a mi cuerpo, los ojos de Brenda mirandome de cerca, y las manitos de Saida y Bea apretando mis brazos buscandome.....no puedo explicarles amigos y familiares mios el ENORME amor que ahora siento recordando esta navidad tan llena, tan generosa en amistad y amor, y a la vez tan sencilla.Este 2011 estamos preparando muchas cosas lindas para nuestras amadas chicas en ambos albergues, asi que este 2011 ustedes tambien podran conocer a nuestras amigas de PH mas de cerca.

After spending some time with our Paul Harris friends, Andy, Abel and I walked over to CAS shelter at 9:30pm, and were so happy to find the girls waiting for us, all dressed up and ready to have a good time. All the girls looked beautiful and danced as their tutor prepared a delicious Christmas dinner and as their children slept waiting to be awaken at midnight as the tradition in Peru calls for. We had a great time talking, singing, dancing and just being with each other on Christmas eve. Some of the girls had their moms, sisters and other family members come visit them and join us for dinner which made the celebration that much more special for the girls. We are very proud of every girl at CAS for all the progress made by each of them in 2010, and we are particularly grateful for the promise of a healthier and happier 2011 for the girls and their children.

Despues de pasar un rato con las chicas de Paul Harris, Andy, Abel y yo caminamos a el Albergue Camino A La Solidaridad donde las chicas nos esperaban listas, llenas de energia y con ganas de divertirse. Todas las chicas estaban guapisimas, vestidas de fiesta y bailando mientras su tutora preparaba una cena de navidad deliciosa y sus hijos dormian esperando la media noche para ser despertados con abrazos, regalos y rica comida como dicta la tradicion en Peru. Como ya es nuestra constumbre con las chicas de CAS, bailamos, cantamos, comimos y disfrutamos estar juntos en esta noche especial. Fue lindo ver a algunas de las chicas compartir con sus familiares que llegaron a visitarlas y a pasar navidad con ellas. Verdaderamente, estamos muy muy orgullosos de cada chica en CAS por todo el progreso hecho en el 2010, y estamos particularmente felices y agradecidos por la promesa de un 2011 mucho mas saludable y enriquecedor para todas las chicas y miembros del equipo de trabajo en CAS.

As we kick off the new year, at LCDM, we are filled with hope, enthusiasm and determination to make 2011 our best year yet! We have lots to accomplish this year which is why Andy and I are now in the US organizing fund raising event in San Francisco, New Jersey, New York and Washington/No. Virginia. We are working hard and hope that you our friends can help us make this year one, full of health, opportunities and creative alternatives for our kids in Mina de Oro, and our girls at CAS and PH shelters. Please enjoy the below pictures of our Christmas celebrations at both Paul Harris and Camino A La Solidaridad shelters and check out PART II of our Christmas celebration in which I share all about our x-mas BEACH trip with our Mina De Oro kids...we had a BLAST!

A medida que iniciamos este 2011 en LCDM queremos hacer de este, nuestro mejor anho asi que nos hemos armado de esperanza, entusiasmo y determinacion para lograrlo. Este 2011 tenemos muchas metas por cumplir y por esto Andy y yo estamos ahora en EE UU orgnizando eventos recauda fondos qe nos ayuden a lograr las metas trazadas. Estamos trabajando mucho en la organizacion de 4 eventos en New Jersey, Washington/No. Virginia, San Francisco, y New York y esperamos que ustedes nuestra familia y amigos quieran y puedan ayudarnos a hacer de este 2011, un anho lleno de salud, oportunidades y alternativas creativas para nuestros chicos en Mina De Oro, y nuestras chicas en Paul Harris y Camino A La Solidaridad. Por favor disfruten estas fotos de nuestras celebraciones navidenhas con las chicas en ambos albergues y no dejen de ver la segunda parte de esta entrada navidenha en la que comparto detalles sobre nuestra NAVIDAD EN LA PLAYA con los chicos de Mina De Oro. Difruten!

All the girls at PH and the tutors wanted to light up dreams using sparklers on x-mas eve! This was a beautiful and fun moment for all of us!

Mi amada Kassandra...te quiero MUCHO MUCHO!

Encendiendo suenhos con las chicas de PH! Lighting up dreams with PH girls!

Here's Andy's dream lit up! El suenho de Andy ya encendido!

2nd round of dreams! 2da ronda de suenhos en PH!

Ethel lighting up two dreams! Ethel encendiendo sus suenhos!

Y mas chispeantes suenhos

Kassandra tambien sonhando con nosotros...Kassandra also dreaming with us!

Singing our lungs off with Abel! Cantando hasta mas no poder con Abel!

Handing a treat we brought all the way from Lima for the girls (DD's munchkins)

mas cantos y abrazos...more hugs and songs

the best hugs ever! mis abrazos-regalos!

and more singing.....

giving away dolls my friend Paty from Cusco sent for the girls. Gracias Paty!!!!

Nice moments at PH

Nat y Leidy compartiendojuntas en navidad!

Bailando y despidiendonos ya..dancing and saying good night to the PH girls!

Camino A La Solidaridad Shelter

x-mas dinner with all the girls at CAS! Cena navidenha en CAS! Q linda mesa!

Andy, Maricruz & I dancing away! Bailando con Maricruz y Andy en navidad!

Mardely y Abel difrutando en Navidad!Mardely & Abel enjoying together!

Rosa y Marco juntos como siempre!

Nancy & Maricruz's sister came to visit for x-mas...la hermana de Nancy y Maricruz con ellas en navidad!

Que lindas estas 3 hermanas! three beautiful sisters together!

ooooohhhhh...this picture melts my heart...esta foto me llena de amor

R & L ...beautiful!

esta tambien es preciosa...

las chicas bailando...girls dancing

Abe y Andy

Enjoying sparklers with the girls at CAS too!

Mariluz :)

Neisy :)

my dream for the girls lit up...mi suenho para las chicas

Cantando con las chicas...singing with the girls


Mardely dando gracias antes de cenar...Mardely saying grace before eating	....CHECK OUT PART II!

Happy Holidays Friends! Felices Fiestas Amigos y Amigas!

2010-12-22T21:03:00.000-08:00

Dear friends from Peru and the world, we are busier than ever these days organizing our fund raising events in the US, working on our end of year activities, and preparing our February trip to Paracas and our March health campaign. This will be our fourth christmas in Chincha with the kids and we're running around making sure they, our shelter girls and our friends Rosaura and Manuel feel loved, thought of, and accompanied on this special time. But, before we get caught up in a tidal work wave, I wanted to send you a special embrace during this special season. At LCDM, we want to wish each and everyone of you, our dear friends, warmth, laughter, health, love, music, delicious food, sincere family and friends, and tons of FUN! You are important to us, and knowing you are out there thinking of us, and finding ways to help us continue, means a great deal to me. Thank you for your friendship and company! Please know that we are thinking of you and that we value you quite a lot. Enjoy...Enjoy...and Enjoy some more on our behalf! All my love to each of you! Have a fantastic holiday season! Mayten

Queridos amigos del Peru y el mundo!!! Estos dias estamos llenos, mas bien repletos de trabajo pero no queria dejar de saludarles. En esta temporada especial quiero abrazar con todo mi ser a cada uno/a de ustedes a traves de este mensaje y desearles mucha luz, calidez, salud, amistad, amor, mucha risa y aun mas divercion! Nosotros pasaremos nuestra cuarta navidad en Chincha con los chicos de Mina de Oro, con nuestras chicas de los albergues y con Rosaura y Manuel.....para nosotros sera como siempre maratonico... correremos de amigos a amigos, habran muchos abrazos, mucha simpleza, muchos cantos, risa y amor....exactamente como debe ser.....Deseo para cada uno de ustedes amigos nuestros muchos abrazos llenos de amor genuino, deseo que se sientan queridos y queridas y acompanhados por nosotros en espiritu y amistad.....disfruten sus fiestas y apapachen a sus familias y amigos......reciban un enorme abrazo y mucha mucha luz! Hasta prontito! Mayten

LCDM's 2011 Objectives! Nuestros Objetivos para el 2011!

2010-12-02T20:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends, family and colleagues, after a week wrestling with acute bronchitis picked up over the weekend in Chincha, and a teaching job that helps me keep my project alive but makes it difficult to juggle all things to do, I am ready to reach out to you and ask you to please help us meet the goals we have set for next year. As you may know, for three years, we have been dreaming of purchasing land where to build a permanent home for LCDM, and this year, I am determined to make this dream a reality. To this end, La Casa De Mayten will be traveling to the US to conduct fund raising events in different US cities hoping to raise the funds necessary to meet this and other 2011 goals.At the moment, we are planning three big fund raising events in the NY/NJ, and San Francisco areas and a smaller one in Washington, DC. If you are interested in becoming part of our fund raising event organizing teams, please contact me here as soon as possible or email me at lacasademayten@gmail.com, so we can coordinate activities, delegate responsibilities, and establish objectives.

Queridos amigos, familia y colegas, despues de una semana con bronquitis aguda y un final de mes en mi trabajo bastante ajetreado, les escribo para pedirles ayuda, mucha ayuda para poder continuar como proyecto y lograr todas las metas trazadas para el 2011. Como quizas sepan, mis ninhos y yo llevamos mas de 3 anhos sonhando con tener un lugar propio donde construir el hogar permanente para La Casa De Mayten y este 2011 estoy decidida a lograr ese objetivo, y algunos otros mas. Para esto, mi co-director y yo hemos decidido hacer un enorme esfuerzo, viajar a EE UU, y hacer un tour Recauda Fondos de tres ciudades diferentes, esperando recaudar los fondos necesarios para comprar el terreno y hacer algunas actividades anti-violencia y pro-salud este 2011. Actualmente estamos planeando 4 eventos en EE UU, dos en NJ/NY, uno en San Francisco, y otra mas pequenho en Washington, DC. Si alguno/a de ustedes amigos nuestros desea ser parte de nuestros equipos de coordinacion para estos eventos, por favor escribanme a lacasademayten@gmail.com lo antes posible. Nosotros confiamos que con su ayuda podremos hacer nuestros suenhos y objetivos posibles.

This fund raising tour is our chance to make our 2011 dreams possible and ensure life for LCDM. Please take a look at LCDM’s key objectives for 2011: 1: to continue offering our services free of charge to the people of Chincha; 2: to continue fighting against violence through our creative/educational anti-violence campaigns and training sessions at schools and shelters; 3: to continue taking free health services to people in marginalized communities; 4: to continue generating creative/educational alternatives and opportunities through workshops and cultural, social and academic exchange programs; 5: buy an adequate piece of land on which to build a permanent home for LCDM; and 6: develop an educational/cultural pre- college program to help integrally prepare youths from Chincha to study abroad. Before 2010 ends, we are planning to have our traditional x-mas lunch with our kids at home in Chincha, then visit our elderly friends Rosaura and Manuel for an early x-mas dinner with them, then run to Paul Harris shelter with music and some delicious treats for the girls, and finally end the evening having dinner with our girls from Camino A La Solidaridad. We are also presently organizing a camping trip with our neighborhood kids to Paracas in late february as reward for their personal, academic and other achievements, and putting together an integral two-week health campaign we will take to both shelters and my neighborhood the first two weeks of March.

Este tour Recauda Fondos es nuestra oportunidad de continuar nuestra vida como proyecto, y de seguir generando salud, oportunidades y alternativas gratuitamente para nuestros amados ninos y chicas en Chincha. Les comparto nuestros objetivos para este 2011- 1: continuar luchando constructivamente contra la violencia a través de campañas educativas anti-violencias en colegios y albergues para menores violentados; 2: llevar salud integral a seres sumidos en pobreza a través de campañas de salud integral gratuitas; 3: continuar generando alternativas y oportunidades creativo-educativas a través de talleres para niños y jóvenes en Chincha; 4: comprar un espacio adecuado en el cual construir un centro permanente para La Casa De Mayten; y 5: desarrollar en el nuevo centro un programa académico/social pre-profesional que prepare íntegramente a jóvenes chinchanos para salir a estudiar fuera de Perú con la meta de retornar a su provincia una vez culminen sus estudios universitarios y ayudar a crear en Chincha la estructura que garantizara a futuras generaciones el acceso a oportunidades que ahora no existen.

Antes de que termine este 2010 aun nos queda mucho por hacer...como llevamos haciendo por 3 anhos, tendremos nuestro tradicional almuerzo con los ninhos de Mina De Oro, solo que esta vez, con ayuda de amigos, tendremos nuestro almuerzo navidenho en LA PLAYA!!! :), luego correremos como hicimos el 2009, a cenar con nuestros amigos Rosaura y Manuel, luego llevaremos musica y muchas cosas ricas para nuestras queridas chicas del albergue Paul Harris, y por ultimo terminaremos la noche con una cena llena de musica y calidez con nuestras amadas chicas del albergue Camino A La Solidaridad...tambien desde ya estamos preparando un viaje a Paracas con mis chicos para finales de febrero en reconocimiento a sus logros este 2010, y tambien estamos organizando una campanha de salud integral para las dos primeras semanas de Marzo. Tenemos mucho por hacer y lograr y esperamos ustedes amigos y este tour recauda fondos nos ayuden a continuar.

We have lots to do and achieve and we hope that you our friends will want to be part of our efforts to continue our work and have a home from which to continue connecting the world to our world and vice-versa. We need donations and support in all forms from space, to equipment, to publicity, to performances, to interesting art pieces, to volunteer work, to money, to a place to rest while driving across the states, and much more. We are excited about seeing you again our friends in the US, and look forward to meeting new friends through you at our events! Stay tuned for more updates! Hugs to each of you! Mayten

Necesitamos mucha ayuda en EE UU para sacar adelante nuestros eventos y les pedimos con mucho amor a los que puedan, que consideren hacer una donacion en las siguientes formas: donar un espacio donde celebrar nuestros eventos (solo nos falta conseguir lugares en NJ/NY y DC), equipo para poder realizar los eventos, publicidad y promocion, una presentacion de musica y danza afro-peruana, piezas de arte para nuestras subastas, trabajo voluntario, dinero, mesas y sillas para los eventos, un lugar donde podamos descansar a medida que cruzamos el pais haciendo estos eventos. Estamos muy emocionados con los eventos y con la posibilidad de volver a ver a amigos, familia y colegas despues de bastante tiempo. Por favor, si pueden ayudarnos escribanme a lacasademayten@gmail.com para coordinar esfuerzos y objetivos. Millones de gracias anticipadas por reconocer el valor en nuestro trabajo, y sobre todo, el gran valor en los seres para los que trabajamos dia a dia. No dejen de visitarnos! Abrazos, Mayten

Weekend in Chincha! Fin de Semana En Chincha!

2010-11-24T19:51:00.000-08:00

Dear friends from Peru and around the world, as you can see from these pictures my kids, the girls at the shelters and I were beaming of happiness this past weekend. We missed each other quite a lot and being able to see each other and be together truly nourished our souls and brighten our lives. The weekend was brief but intense and full of wonderful moments and I want to thank life and our great friend Lauren and her family and friends in Washington for helping us make such a special weekend possible. Thank you Lauren and every person who attended her delicious dinner!!! Please look at and enjoy all the bright moments you helped create this past weekend!

Queridos amigos del Peru y el mundo, como podran ver en estas fotos, mis chicos, chicas de CAS y yo casi saltabamos de alegria al vernos, al abrazarnos, al estar cerca. Nos extranhamos mucho y que grande la vida y nuestra amiga Lauren de Washington y sus amigos y familiares, por ayudarnos a hacer posible este fugaz viaje a Chincha que me permitio compartir con mis amados chicos y chicas, un hermoso, ajetreado pero productivo fin de semana. Como siempre, yo corri de un lado al otro tratando de pasar un tiempito con las chicas de CAS y los chicos de mi barrio. Fue maratonico todo pero pudimos no solo pasar momento lindos con todos si no que tambien tuvimos la gran fortuna de conocer a la Dra. Gutierrez, ginecologa, quien generosamente dio su tiempo, fue con nosotros al albergue y contesto todas las preguntas que tenian las chicas ya hace mucho tiempo. Muchas gracias Dra. Gutierrez por decidir ayudarnos a ayudar a las chicas de CAS!

Dra. Nancy Gutierrez hablando con las chicas de CAS! Dr. Gutierrez speaking with girls at CAS shelter.

As always, I had a FULL weekend trying to split myself in many pieces and divide time between our kids at home and the girls at CAS. Thank life my dear friend Abel was there to help me and almost as an unexpected gift, Sandra and Andre showed up! Yup, Sanddddddd, a beloved friend and one of the first persons to volunteer with LCDM right after the earthquake in 2007. Sandra worked her behind off in Chincha for over a month back in 2007 and it felt SO good to have her back in Chincha.Sand, seeing you and feeling your friendship intact moved me beyond description.Thank you and Andre for crossing countries in horrible buses to come see us and for deciding to enjoy your time with us despite a couple of pretty bad moments on your way to Chincha! I love you Sand!!!!!

Bueno, entre las reuniones con los chicos de mi casa para coordinar nuestro viaje a paracas en febrero, hablar con los mas grandes sobre sus futuros estudios universitarios, organizar un almuerzo fugaz con los chicos, dar talleres, y coordinar nuestra visita al albergue con la Dra. Gutierrez, casi casi no dormimos ni comimos pero logre hacer todo lo necesario, incluyendo iniciar las coordinaciones para una campanha de salud integral en Febrero y Marzo del 2011 en los albergues CAS y Paul Harris. En febrero queremos lanzar una campanha de salud integral gratuita que incluya talleres creativo-educativos y atencion medica, ginecologica, dental, oftalmologica y sicologica a todas las chicas de ambos albergues y sus respectivos equipos de trabajo. Nuestras grandes necesidades economicas nos estan obligando a hacer muchos cambios pero nuestras ganas de continuar siendo oportunidad y alternativa, y continuar trayendo salud, educacion anti-violencia, y talleres creativo educativos siguen fuertes y en pie.

Yo confio que ustedes amigos nuestros de todas partes del mundo, podran reconocer el valor en nuestro trabajo y en las inquebrantables amistades que formamos nosotros con las personas con y para las cuales trabajamos, incluyendo nuestros ninhos, las chicas de los albergues, nuestros amigos voluntarios, profesores y estudiantes de varias escuelas, diferentes comunidades, etc. Por favor continuen estando con nosotros, continuen conociendonos y nuestro trabajo, y ojala decidan como hizo nuestra amiga Lauren, apoyarnos y ayudarnos a hacer que La Casa De Mayten continue. Gracias y disfruten este dia lindo lleno de oportunidades para reir, compartir, conectar con otros genuinamente y sobre todo querer! Somos afortunados amigos al poder dar y recibir amor y calidez. Cuidense mucho y disfruten las demas fotos! Feliz dia de Accion De Gracias a mis amigos y familia en los EE UU!

Well, after running around to secure a gynecologist and coordinate our visit to CAS shelter and meeting with my kids at home to coordinate our trip to Paracas in February, talk about college education with my older kids, offer a few workshops, and much more, we were exhausted! Luckily, I was able to do all the key things on my to do list for this past weekend which included starting to coordinate an integral health campaign at the two shelters we work with for February/March 2011. Despite our great financial needs and the many changes we have been forced to make this year, and since we are still the only ones offering creative/educational alternatives y possibilities in our neighborhood, we are determined to continue bringing integral health, educational anti-violence work, and creative-educational workshops to Chincha no matter what.

I trust that YOU, our friends out there will be able to recognize the value in our work and in the meaningful relationships we form with the people we work with, including our kids, girls at shelters, volunteers, teachers and students at different schools and communities, etc. Please continue visiting our blog, continue knowing us and our work, and hopefully you will decide one of these days, like our friend Lauren did, to also support and help us continue. At LCDM, we really need help from people who want to meaningfully connect and become genuinely involved with other people' well being. Thank you for visiting our blog! Please enjoy this day full of opportunities to laugh, share yourselves, connect with others meaningfully and above all love. We are pretty fortunate friends when we are able to share warmth and love! Happy Thanks giving day to my family and friends in the USA!!!!!!! Until next time! Enjoy the pics below!

Me loving Sand a lot! Dandole mucho amor a nuestra querida Sandra Pachas!

Kids hula hooping like crazy :) Competencia de hula hula!

Marco getting tall! Marco ya mas mucho mas alto q yo!

Compitiendo con mi Cielito lindo! Competing with my Cielito!

Joe also looking like the young man he now is! Joe ya todo un joven!

Jorgito ayudandome a regar mis plantitas!

Jorgito helping me water my plants and picking up any garbage he found!

Spending time with my kids! Mi minero esta enorme!

Ton y Jenny "trapeando el piso"..jaja

Ton & Jenny helping us clean our workshop area!

Mi cielito dibujando algo para Andy!

Xio y Marquito playing Jenga!

Mi Paloma showing off her drawing for me....Mi paloma ya muy grande !

Kids trying to do some circus stunts at home....nos the best idea...next time, we'll go to the beach!

Kids helping me wash the oranges to share with all kids

the kids "washing" the oranges/ playing carnival...los ninhos lavando naranjitas y mojandose como si fuese carnaval!

Mi Minero, Sand y Andre ayudando a cocinar la causa!

Ton ayudando a pelar las alberjitas.....

Some of my kids and I

Sand y Andre comiendo manguitos con los ninhos.....gracias Sand y Andre por venir a Chincha, estar con nosotros, ayudarme a hacer todo lo necesario este fin de semana y ayudarme a cubrir los costos de varias cosas.....gracias muchachos!

Jun, mi Minero and I outside my house...

Dr. Gutierrez answering girls' questions....

La Dra. Gutierrez contestando preguntas de las chicas

The gynecologist explaining a few things about the female reproductive system, personal hygiene, etc

La Dra. explicando a cada chica algunas cosas sobre el sistema reproductivo, higiene personal, quistes, etc

Andre playing with kids while the Doctor and I met with the girls

Abe entreteniendo a los chiquitines mientras Sand, la doctora y yo nos reuniamos con las chicas!

Giving out toothpastes and personal towels courtesy of Dr. Shiiiiiiiii Rivera....Gracias Shiiiii!

Even the kids were listening to the Dr!

Chicas y ninhos recibiendo sus cepillos de dientes y toallitas personales! Gracias Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Claudia

Giving out a few clothes donated by Shiiiiiiiii, Sand & Andre, and my generous English Students from Andina University!

Repartiendo unas ropitas a las chicas donadas por Shiiiii, Sand y Andre, y mis generosas estudiantes de Ingles de la Universidad Andina! Gracias!!!!

On my way to Chincha! Rumbo a Chincha! Yeyyyyyyyyy :)

2010-11-14T14:09:00.000-08:00

Queridos Amigos, Andy y yo estamos trabajando mucho estos dias para mantener mi proyecto vivo y para traer mas salud a las chicas de los albergues de Chincha. Casi no hemos dormido en estas dos ultimas semanas trabajando para hacer mi fugaz viaje a Chincha este proximo Sabado, 20 de noviembre posible y productivo ya que necesito coordinar con tiempo algunos planes que tenemos para ellos a principios del 2011! Tengo muuuuuucho que compartir con ustedes amigos mios, pero por ahora les quiero solo invitar a que vean nuestro ULTIMO VIDEO sobre la Campanha Educativa Anti-Violencia que lanzamos de Oct 2009 a Enero 2010. Gracias amigos y hasta muy pronto! Abrazos a todos/as! Mayten

Dear friends, Andy and I have slept very little these past weeks working to keep my project alive. I have decided to visit my kids and girls at CAS shelter in Chincha this upcoming weekend and coordinate a few things we have planned for them early next year! I have soooooo much to share with you but for now I just want to invite you to check out our LATEST VIDEO about the Anti-Violence Educational Campaign we launched in Chincha from Oct 09 - Jan 2010. It's right there to the right! Check it out! Until next time friends! Abrazos!M

Nurturing Parenting Program Closing Ceremony! Clausura de programa para Mamas!

2010-11-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Dear friends from around the world, it is with great happiness that I share with you these moments captured by volunteers at our LCDM Parenting Program Closing ceremony held in September at CAS shelter. Bero, Brian, Jill, Abel and Andy did a fantastic job preparing songs, decorating the place, getting the LCDM certificates for moms and making the girls and their children feel super special. The goal for us at LCDM is always to make certain the girls and their kids learn, teach but most of all, enjoy and have fun! Mission accomplished guys! Thank you! Just a few days before the ceremony I had to return to Cusco to work and was unable to physically be there with them but Andy read my letter to the girls, and I know all the volunteers made sure the girls remembered my love for them, my faith in their incredible talents, and the infinite value and beauty I always recognize in each of them. This was without a doubt a very special moment for the girls and LCDM volunteers full of music, emotions, lessons, friendship, hope and love, lots of love!

Bero's interesting classes and all the time she spent with each girl, Brian's tireless efforts to get the girls to move, run and practice with him, Jill's wonderful musical creativity inviting the girls to constantly create their own stuff, Abel's beautiful songs and way to teach music with such gentleness, and Andy's limitless ways to help me keep my project alive, even if this time it meant cooking every day, making sure volunteers didn't get sick, building a fence for our fragile house, fixing the many holes in La Casa's roof, making sure volunteers had hot water, taking, reducing and sending me pictures to keep you guys informed, buying the groceries and looking for good deals at the market, taking a lonnnng motorcycle ride with ABEL to make sure our shelter girl was ok, and soooo many other things...

Thank you guys for all your efforts to help the girls at the shelter and to keep my kids at home creating interesting things means the world to me. Every month, when I look at my financial situation realistically, and all the logistics issues I face, I feel like the end of La Casa De Mayten is around the corner YET, every time I also look at all the moments created, all the invaluable things achieved by such modest little project, more than anything, I think of how we have affected wonderful people and how they have affected us these past three years, and of course, I feel obligated to think of another way to keep LCDM alive! Yup, again I have thought of a way to keep us going in a very different way but going (I will tell you more about this soon!)....We must live and create until our last breath! There is no other way!....Thank you Bero, Brian, Jill, Abel and Andy....this parenting program was my way to help the girls and give my project longer life, my way to survive these past months until I thought of another way to keep alive. But now, please enjoy these moments here shown and feel my invitation to you, to share yourself with someone that needs warmth, creativity, friendship, and many other things. I couldn't tell you how much I learn from the girls at CAS and how invaluable they are to my own growth...give, give and amazing things will come to you as a result...we work hard but mannnnn, we are rich and enriched every day by the efforts we make to affect others and let others affect us! Enjoy these pictures and keep visiting our blog!

Queridos amigos del Peru y el mundo, es con gran alegria que comparto con ustedes estas hermosas fotos de la clausura del Programa Para Mamas que Bero, Brian, Abel, Jill y Andy me ayudaron a sacar adelante apesar de muchas limitaciones en el albergue Camino a la Solidaridad. Tuvimos los voluntarios y yo momentos lindos, dificiles, llenadores ...eso si, todos inolvidables e invaluables. Bero, Brian, Andy, Abel, Jill y Rebecca hicieron un excelente trabajo este dia decorando el lugar, pintando las caritas de los pequenhines, preparando presentaciones musicales, preparando los certificados y mas que nada asegurandose que las chicas y sus hijos se sintieran super especiales y muy muy queridas y queridos. La meta en LCDM es siempre que las chicas y sus hijos aprendan, nos ensenhen, pero sobre todo que disfruten, se sientan queridas/os y se diviertan. Mision lograda muchachos! Gracias! Solo unos dias antes de esta ceremonia yo tuve que regresar a Cusco a trabajar y no pude estar fisicamente ahi con todos pero estuve en amor, en espiritu, en energia y en ganas de que se sientan bien. Se que Andy pudo leerles a las chicas mi carta durante la ceremonia y que los demas voluntarios se aseguraron de que ellas y sus hijos supieran lo importantes y valiosas que son para mi.

Definitivamente este dia fue especial para las chicas, los ninhos y tambien los voluntarios de LCDM. Solo basta con ver las sonrisas, los ojos llenos de amor y calidez....ahora son amigos por siempre muchachos....que grande puede ser el humano cuando decide compartirse y darse a otros esperando. Las aportaciones de cada voluntaria/o fueron muchas pero la dedicacion y preocupacion de Bero puesta en cada clase y actividad preparada y el tiempo dedicado a cada chica, los esfuerzos incansables de Brian por contagiar a las chicas las ganas de moverse, de correr y practicar con el apesar de las limitaciones con el espanhol, la belleza interna de Abel siempre dando y ensenhando sutilmente, la creatividad de Jill siemre invitando a las chicas a que saquen de si mismas, de sus recursos mas locales y valiosos (ellas mismas) sus propias canciones, y la ilimitadamente generosa manera que tiene Andy de ayudarme a mantener mi proyecto vivo aunque, como esta vez, le toque cocinar, cuidar de los voluntarios, contruir el cerco de la casa, arreglar los muchos huecos en el techo de La Casa, arreglar las duchas mil veces para que los voluntarios tuviesen agua caliente, buscando en el mercado los mejores precios, enviandome fotos para mantenerlos a ustedes informados, tocando saxo para las chicas cada vez que tenia un momento libre, viajando en moto largas distancias con Abel para asegurarse que las chics esten bien, y muchas muchas cosas mas. Queridos Bero, Brian, Abel, Jill, Andy, muchas gracias con todo mi amor por ayudarme a sacar adelante este intento por ayudar a las chicas y sus hijos, y a la vez mantener LCDM vivo. Gracias tambien por ayudarme a mantener a mis ninhos en La Casa creando cosas interesantes!

Cada vez que reviso mi situacion economica, y veo las dificultades logisticas de mantener LCDM vivo siento que el fin de mi amado proyecto esta a la vuelta de la esquina, pero un momento mas tarde, pienso en momentos como este, en los logros de estos tres anhos pasados, pienso en todas las lecciones, y mas que nada pienso en las miles de personas a las que hemos afectado positivamente, y las miles de personas que nos han afectado por siempre a nosotros, principalmente a mi. Por supuesto que en ese segundo me siento obligada a creer y a crear nuevas posibilidades para continuar nuestra vida como proyecto...y si amigos mios, otra vez he pensado en otra manera de mantenernos vivos...ya les contare sobre esta nueva etapa para La Casa De Mayten en unos dias......lo importante ahora es disfrutar lo pleno de estos momentos vividos con las chicas y sus hijos en CAS. El valor en cada ser es inmesurable y que alegria ver en estas fotos como si es posible que un ser ayude a otro a ver su valor, a reconocer el de los demas y brillar juntos viendose verdaderamente. Disfruten estas imagenes y consideren compartir un poco de si con otros seres en sus comunidades....

Andy decorating the hall for the ceremony! Andy decorando el salon para la clausura!

Jill and Rebecca taking a smiling break from decorating and painting faces! Thanks Rebecca for coming from Lima to help us out with the closing ceremony!

Everyone at work decorating! todos decorando y trabajando!

Miguelito...que lindo quedo! Miguelito looking good!

Watch the ladder...Bero y Andy decorando el salon para las chicas!

Bero doing face painting...Bero pintando a los chiquitines!

y mas pintura! Face painting was a hit!

Jill & Rebecca also face painting!

Q linda se ve cathy! Beautiful Cathy showing her feline face!

Miranda & Cathy liking their new faces! las ninhas mirando sus caritas!

Cesar tambien de gatito!Cesar is wayyyyy toooo cute!

Maricruz also wanting her face painted! Maricruz pintandose tambien!

Rosita enjoying her new face! Rosita vuelta una mariposita!

Trensito ya llevando a los chiquitines y a las chicas al salon para iniciar ceremonia!

Kids and girls seeing the especially decorated hall for the 1st time...getting ready to start the ceremony!

Girls liking all the work done to beautify the hall...chicas disfrutando lo bonito q dejaron el lugar los voluntarios!

Bero & Brian empezando la ceremonia...Bero & Brian kicking off the ceremony!

Bero & Brian presenting the girls with their LCDM certificate...presentandole a las chicas con su certificado!

Llamando a cada chica! Calling each girl!

Pilar's turn to receive her certificate...Pilar reciviendo su merecido certificado!

Rocio y los ninos reciviendo su certificado...congrats Rocio!

Mariluz y Rosita reciviendo su certificado...Mariluz y Rosita receiving their certificate!

Estella getting her certificate with her daughter...Estella e hija reciviendo su certificado!

I think cathy loves seeig her mom happy!We do too!

Suley receiving her certificate from Brian...Suley reciviendo su certificado de Brian

Suley tambien saludando a Bero....

Neisy receiving her certificate...Neisy reciviendo su certificado

Maricruz feliz con su certificado...Maricruz happy to get her certificate

Marisol's turn to get her certificate...Marisol reciviendo su certificado tambien!

Bero y Brian celebrando los logros de cada chica! B & B celebrating the girls' achievements in their respective workshops!

y el turno de ser reconocida llego para Yesmerlin! Congratulations Yesmerlin...we are proud of you!

Y ahora Judith...quien aprovecho este programa al maximo! Congratulations Judith!

Briguitte's turn to be recognized! Felicitaciones Briguitte estamos orgullosos de ti y todas!

We are truly proud of each and every girl at CAS. Each of them gave their best each day an even on not so good days tried to give us the time, dedication, attention and creativity we needed from them.
Estamos sumamente orgullosas de cada chica en CAS por dar todo de si cada dia. Hasta en sus dias no tan buenos cada chica intento darnos la atencion, tiempo, dedicacion y creatividad que necesitabamos de ellas. Yo atraves de esta pagina le grito al mundo y al viento lo orgullosa que estoy de ustedes muchachas, lo feliz que me hace verlas felices.... ustedes estan llenas de cosas maravillosas y que bien se siente cada vez que nuestro trabajo ayuda a hacer esto sumamente visible....las quiero muchachas!!!!

It's Mirian's turn to receive her certificate...Mirian y Claudia reciven su certificado!

Lisbet reciviendo su certificado! Lis getting her certificate as well!

Rosa tambien siendo reconocida por todos! Rosa also getting her certificate!

Lesly and son getting her certificate...Lesly reciviendo su certificado

Chicas y Bero cantando su cancion! Heal the world....Bero and girls singing their song!

Girls, Bero, Andy, Abel and Guillermo playing and singing "Heal the World" together!

Chicas, Bero, Abel, Andy y Guillermo tocando y cantand "Heal The World" juntos!

The andy, Abel, Guillermo trio (guitar, sax and Peruvian cajon) El trio Andy, Abel, Guillermo (guitarra, saxo y cajon)...Gracias Guillermo por dar de tu tiempo y talento ese dia y ayudarnos a hacer que las chicas se sientan especiales...un abrazo para ti!

Brian and Bero hugging girls as the ceremony came to an end....

Bero y Brian abrazando a las chicas antes de que termine la ceremonia....

ohhhh...el amor es algo increible...nada me mobiliza mas que eso...amemos y compartamonos!

Jill and Abel singing til infinity with the girls....Jill y Abel cantando interminablemente con las chicas! Gracias guys!

y mas musica con Jill, Abel y Guillermo! and more music.........Music truly has an amazin healing power...the girls at CAS hold on to music with all they've got so that they can feel a little better each day...we always bring them music and invite them through workshops to create, sing and heal musically....what a magical thing music is...nothing compares to it in the universe.....make music friends, sing, play , share and heal through it!

and more music.....y mas musica y catos......

la musica es una de las fuentes sanadoras mas grandes en el universo...y estas chicas se aferran a esta gran magia que es la musica para sentirse mejor y sanar....hagamos musica siempre amigos...y sanemos y conectemos, y seamos humanos juntos....

Rosita esperando jugar con esos globitos!

Bero talking with the girls!

Bero sharing a few more moments with Jessica and Marisol! Que lindos!

Mariluz y Brian disfrutando un momento mas......Brian and Mariluz enjoying one more moment..

Volunteers, a friend of Bero's LuzMaria who offered the girls a nice Festejo Demostration, the girls and their beautiful children....

LCDM volunteers and Neisy! los chicos de LCDM y Neisy!

Gracias amigos del Peru y el mundo por visitar mi blog y querer conectar con nuestro trabajo y la gente con la que y para la que trabajamos! Por favor sigan visitandonos...pronto les tendre muchas...muchas mas noticias!

Hasta muy pronto amigos! Un enorme abrazo!

Thanks friends from Peru and the world for visiting our blog and keeping us company! Please continue visiting our blog as I will soon share many more news with you!

Until soon! un beso, Mayten

Voluntarios, Miriam y Clau ya cerrando la ceremonia!