Two Peruvian Weddings

A Country Wedding

Back in October, Walter and I were invited to a traditional country wedding, taking place in a community about 2 hours outside of Cusco.  This is a traditional community that still wear the typical dress of their area, as seen in the photos below - so, no, not just special wedding gear!  (Although, you can note that the younger generation are starting to wear more common pants and jackets). 

Every community, district, region in Peru have their own traditions.  Many country weddings take place over a period of three days.  This one was only one, starting around 11 am, and ending in the early evening.

The couple, Juan and Fortunata, are in their early to mid twenties and were married in their evangelical church by their Pastor.  We arrived late, and had missed some of the more than two hour long religious ceremony.  The couple and guests had already been adorned in colorful confetti, marking the exchange of vows as husband and wife. 

There is not much difference to the wedding outfits from their everyday outfits, but one thing that changes when man and woman go from single-hood to being married, is the design on the beaded strips on their hats.  The intricate designs on the beaded pieces change to a more simple one, with more white that symbolise a member's marriage status.

After the exchange of vows and rings, a main message, words said by different important people, and after singing some worship songs as a congregation, Juan said some words, and the service ended, as new man and wife came down the aisle, leading in procession all attendees out of the mud-brick church, along the mountain-side to the celebration site. 

The tradition in Peru, much like other Latin American cultures, is to have two couples represent you as Padrinos (godparents) at your wedding as witnesses.  One act as an elder couple who the promised couple choose, looking up to in values and standard of marriage, who help with organising the wedding, and who the newlyweds will go to for marriage advice in the future.  The other are also specially selected as a respected  pair who provide the wedding rings.  In the Peruvian farming communities, wedding bands are not always purchased, but if they are, they are simple silver or gold bands.  The couple tends to wear the rings on the right hand, though some Peruvians wear them on the left (apparently there is no standard in regards to this tradition).

The celebration site was a large community yard, where all of the guests sat outside along the perimeters, and were served the special dinner.  Some of Juan's brothers had been preparing the meal in the community kitchen while the ceremony was taking place, and it was the men from Juan's family who served the guests.  There was Fanta and Inka Cola served in plastic cups, boiled potatoes, moraya and chuño (freeze-dried potatoes), then a soup, boiled choclo (large kernels of corn), and the main plate of more boiled potato and chuño, and baked guinea pig and spagetti noodles.  As special guests from the city, they made sure to provide utensils for us, though the limited bowls and plates were used as people finished, and to serve the next guest.

The couple had hired a band from Cusco who were having some problems setting up due to intermittent rain, but finally got the party started with typical Andean music, and likely some dancing to follow.  We didn't stay, but gave our gifts to the couple at the head table, seated on both sides by their parents and godparents.  When you present your gift, the couple in turn give something back.  In this case it was a bottle of Fanta pop!

The couple in the middle with their godparents on both sides, participating to a worship song

Guests in the church



The happy newly-weds as they leave the church (more confetti!)

The guests heading to the celebration grounds

Men and boys serving the food

 

Inka Cola and Fanta pop

 

The couple at the head table surrounded by parents and their godparents  (the bottled pop below the table is to give as gifts to those who have come with gifts, and for the rest of the night)

 

Guests eating

 

 

A City Wedding

A couple of days before Valentine's Day, we attended a middle to upper-class wedding in the city of Cusco.  We knew Giani and Dina's wedding date months before, but received the invitation two weeks before, along with four others that we were told we could use to invite anyone we wanted.

The civil ceremony is what counts to the government here, and the couple were able to combine their civil and religious ceremonies into one.  The ceremony started at 5pm... well a little later to commemorate Peruvian time, and giving us the opportunity to really check out their decorations. 
The groom was nervous as he came in with his mother to stand at the front.  Some classical music started, and the bride and her dad floated in behind the bible-bearer, ring bearer, and flower girls.  The civil ceremony commenced, and was soon finished, with appropriate signatures in place and the judge's announcement of man and wife.
Then, the said wedding party went back to their 'starting places' and new processional music began, with the groom still anxiously waiting at the front stage. 
In Peru, rather than bridesmaids and groomsmen, the couple choose jovenes (youth) from their church who come in before the bride, forming an archway with flowers.  Giani and Dina had chosen a unique twist to the tradition, with every second of the young girls holding tambourines, and the guys holding bibles.  They did a little dance, sort of 18th century style, lining up and facing each other, and meeting in the middle with curtsies and dance steps, and then formed the archway with their hands held out to the partner across from them for the bridal entrance, and later for the newly married couple to pass under.

The ceremony was two hours minimum, with a full message, the vows, rings exchanged, the kiss, and then an announcement by the Pastor for the guests to lay money at their feet on a silken blanket - a tradition symbolising the bounty and plenitude of their future as a married couple.
After the ceremony all of the godparents, family, and then guests were invited to have photos with the couple.

And then, off to the ball... well it certainly felt like a fairy-tale-like ball anyways, with the reception held in a banquet room decorated for the occasion.  While the couple were whisked off for their private photos in some fancy place in Cusco (they chose the Plaza de Armas) fruity drinks and appetizers were served.  The centre table was set up with room for the couple, their parents, godparents, and pastor and his wife to sit on both sides.  The wedding cake was four-tiered and surrounded by eight other matching round cakes.

After Dina and Giani's grand entrance, they were seated, introductions of their wedding party were announced, the couple's dance started, and their godparents and guests were invited to dance with the couple.  It was around 11pm when the meal was finally served- lechón (deep-fried pork), tamales and bread,  and then cake, after the cake-cutting.  Guests then lined up to give their wedding gifts personally to the bride and groom.  Not long after, the couple visited each table, offering their little token of thanks (guest favours- little ornaments with the couple name and wedding date) to each person who had given a gift.  And then it was dance time!  Many people started to leave, fairly shortly after.

Pre-wedding decor, all ready to start

The bridal entrance for the civil ceremony

The couple after being announced man and wife by the Judge

The youth get ready for the new couple to pass through in their official marriage march

The newly-weds on their official march after the religious ceremony

 

The reception hall

 

The head table

Cake cutting

Two Peruvian weddings, both traditional, both similar and very different! 

Common-law relationships are very common here; with weddings beings so expensive, couples don't  feel convinced that they can get married for financial reasons.  A common trend in past years has been for churches or municipalities to put on "Massive Marriages" where it only costs a small amount to pay for the civil ceremony costs, with many couples getting married the same day, sharing the costs and celebrating later in a private family affair.

An Update on Baby Brisayda

In December I had posted about some needs between the two orphanages, including about the littlest- baby Brisayda.
Unfortunately, since visiting the Pediatrician and Neurologist, it turns out that Brisayda will not benefit from a surgery.  She was born without a brain, only the brain-stem, and would most certainly not make it through a surgery.  There is no expected life-span; she could live months, a couple of years, or into her teens.
We can only give her the most comfortable life with love.

December Activities... and Peace All Through the Year

Clowning around:

I wasn't able to attend the larger Christmas party for all the kids in the general Cusco Hospital, but I did get to go to the mini-party we put on for the children on the surgical unit.  We made animal balloons, read the story of Jesus' birth, and brought gift bags for each one with a simple toy, coloring sheets, crayons, stickers, card-making supplies, and other things to keep them busy while staying on the ward. 

Our wrap-up end-of-year-party for our Sunday School class in Wimpillay:

Walter and I showed an animated movie of Jesus' birth, complete with popcorn, hot chocolate and Christmas buns.  We also made up goody bags with stickers, Nativity coloring pages, candies, cookies, and these cool bouncy balls that light up when you bounce them.  The class has 23 children listed, but attendance varies greatly from week to week.  On this Sunday, we had 14.

Staff Christmas Party:

This year I had fun helping get ready for our staff Christmas party: decorating, a little baking and putting together their baskets (this year we used large reusable bags).   There are 10 full-time staff, many of whom have been working there since the beginning- four years ago.  There are 5 part-time staff, whom range from childcare staff to laundry and cleaning staff.  They all seemed to really enjoy the baked turkey, mashed potatoes and salad dinner.

It is tradition here to give your staff a Christmas basket which usually contains staples such as sugar, oil and noodles, and other goodies like Paneton, yogurt, chocolate and cookies.  Every year, Ruth adds something special- this year it was a framed photo of all of the children, which the staff loved!

Some of the wonderful staff that contribute to the home environment of the Casa J.

The staff with their Christmas baskets.

The Casa J's sweet children this December 2012

A typical Christmas basket would not be complete without Paneton (Christmas bread in a box).

The true gift of PEACE, for all through the year...

It was funny, writing some of my Christmas cards, thinking of the significance of my words: peace, joy, and love.
Being filled with Peace at Christmas.
It's funny, because we talk of it, but really, there's not much Peace to be found at Christmas-time.  Crazy line-ups, waiting in turn to point out that perfect turkey (or chicken... or lamb), waiting some more, to buy it in line at the till; weaving in and out amongst crowds, looking for that specific toy or gift, more line-ups, busy, busy, busy... a higher presence of pick-picketer's, everyone looking to make a dime; flashing lights, and constant advertisements; baking up a frenzy, higher food and electricity bills, swollen belly's from eating    Way.    Too.    Much.
And then, the let down, the emptiness, the feelings of blah, after it's all over.

These aren't the things that Jesus brought.  Because Jesus isn't in traditions.

In Isaiah, the arrival of Jesus was foretold and prophesied that he would be called a "Prince of Peace"  (Isaiah 9:6).  And, upon his arrival, Jesus was welcomed with a loud union of heavenly voices:" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."  (Luke 2:14)
Jesus came "to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins..." and to "guide our feet into the paths of peace."  (Luke 1:77 & 79b)
One of my favourite verses is John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  After living a few years searching for soul peace in many wrong places, I can say that asking Jesus into my heart has been the only true source of inner peace. 

It's something different: Despite the craziness of line-ups, of impatience, of propaganda, of business, it's a knowledge that though the world rages around - though there is sickness, though there is pain, sadness in things inhuman and things unexplainable, dreams yet unanswered, things that are mundane, or the things that are just plain difficult-  there is a promise of something better to come... and for now: a stillness in the heart, a place without worry, a place of comfort.  This is the peace that Jesus offers, not at a one-occasion, man-appointed time of the year, but      
          All
                 ThRouGH
                                   the YEaR.

 May your new year be filled, truly, with PEACE, all through the year!             

Orphanage Needs

These days I am spending a lot of time in the therapy room at the Casa J with Zoe, Carlos, Yomira and Brisayda.   The concern is how delayed they all are developmentally.  The four have weekly physiotherapy appointments at the missionary clinic in Cusco, so I help out as often as I can with their exercises.

Zoe is 2 years and 7 months old.  We are working on her leg muscles and coordination to learn to crawl and walk.  The latest celebration is crawling, which she has just started doing in the past month.  She can stand with support and on her own quite well, but has a ways to go before she'll be walking on her own.




Zoe

Carlos is a year and a half, and has only just started sitting on his own.  Right now the focus is on crawling.  Last week was so exciting to see him start wiggling his way toward a toy, and he can move his body around (on his tummy) in a circle- not quite crawling, but it's a good start!

Carlos

Yomira is 2 years and 5 months old.  She came with fears of her feet touching the floor, shoes being put on her feet, or anything to do with stairs.  We think this may have been due to a bad fall when she was a baby.  We are working on these fears, and gaining her confidence to take that step from standing to walking. 

Yomira

 

Brisayda is 8 months old.  She has had very little advancement compared to that of a normal baby's growth, and we have just discovered that she has Hydrocephalus.  Her head growth is in the 90 percentile, while her body is in the 10%.   She has muscle spasiticity, where her muscles are held tight into her body, or her legs straight out and the joins unbendable, and she doesn't follow movement with her eyes.  She will need a very expensive operation soon.  Her physiotherapy appointments up until now have been with a focus of strengthening her neck muscles so that she can hold her head up, and to gain more flexibility in her muscles through gentle massage and other techniques.

 

Brisayda

 Three afternoons a week, I've been helping our three school children with homework.  You would be surprised at the amount of homework Fabricio and Guadalupe bring home every day from their Pre-4 class!  In grade 1, Angela has been learning to read, to hand write, and to do addition and subtraction of large numbers.  Right now they are studying for year-end evaluations and exams. They have about two weeks of classes left, and will start their two-month summer holidays through to February.

 

Fabricio

 

 



Guadalupe

  


Angelina

When our team was here a few weeks ago, at first I wasn't sure how it would go with four men (well, five, with Walter) and our children.  But, it was soon apparent how powerful the male presence is amongst those without fathers.  The older kids were so unusually attentive with Walter's help with homework!  And all of the kids just lapped up the attention playing outside with the men, and with my friend Julie who also came.  Fabi cried and cried when they had to go.

 

Walter helping Angelina with homework

Kyle getting attacked-  not sure who's side Larry was on!?

The girls won!

Julie giving Yomira some walking support

 

Fabi with Daryn- she was not happy that the team was about to leave

 

Please pray for all of these little ones: health, adoptions in progress, and families for each one.

Please contact me if you would like to help financially with Brisayda's operation needs.

 

You can always read more about the kids and the Casa on the website: http://www.josephinehouse.org/  New packets for a "sponsor a child program" have just become available.  Let me know if you are interested and I can have a full package sent to you or your family.

 

 

The small amount of time I spend at the El Arca orphange once a week is always delightful.  These days I mostly help one of the staff with dental hygiene and bathing of their youngest children.  Last week we went on a short paseo (outing) out near the creek.  (Beautiful, but lots of mosquitoes!)

 

Bryan and Joel showing me their animal in play-dough creations

Bryan & Marco

Mariposa (means "Butterfly" in  Spanish)

Brushing teeth at the tap outside.  (Early cavities are often a problem in children homes, though have usually begun long before the children come into their care).

Eating tomatoes on our paseo

 

Their progress of building in the jungle, outside of Puerto Maldonado is coming along.  I don't know how much longer the whole El Arca family will be in their current home, here in Cusco. 

Their biggest need right now, is for one or more large generators that can run lights, etc. for their new living accomodations that they will be moving into soon. 

After spending some time with them, I know that there are also ongoing monthly financial needs for food, new clothing, schooling fees, etc.

 

Check out their beautiful video on youtube here: El Arca video

and their website: http://elarcafam.org/ (where donations can be made online).