Volunteering in Lima, Peru
This past March, I crossed something off my list that was life-changing, expansive, and invaluable. That experience was volunteering abroad with MEDlife.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”
Although a week of mobile health clinics and community development projects is a small amount of time in the grand scheme of things- I felt we made a difference in the communities we worked in, as well as further instilling a love of working with those in need within me.
An overview of my March trip:
For starters, I volunteered for Medlife in Lima, Peru which is a large city on the Pacific Coast. The Medlife crew and I stayed at a hostel in Mira Flores, an upper class, somewhat ritzy part of town but worked everyday in makeshift settlements located about 45 minutes away. As you can see, that right there causes a rift. A bunch of westerners living in the ritzy part of town, coming in for just 8 hours at a time to experience life in poverty. But for a beginner’s volunteer trip, it was our time and effort that counted. Another upside is that the experience was locally centered- meaning that the main staff and health workers are Peruvian rather than Western outsiders- which I am always a fan of. Locally-centered organizations ensures a greater sustainability for future endeavors, usually are culturally appropriate, and creates a greater understanding and assimilation between health workers and the communities they serve.
At the end of the week with Medlife, a few friends and I hoped over to the city of Cusco and experienced Machu Picchu! And lastly, we got stuck in the murder capital of the world, El Salvador, for 3 days in a layover. For more information on part 2 of my March trip, hop over to my blog post:
Things I have learned while on this trip:
Beauty is everywhere but in different forms. Sometimes you have to take off your Western shades to truly appreciate your surroundings and see the Lotus in the mud.First impressions are protective and mostly wrong. Open-mindedness unlocks a world of potential. There is no such thing as Ultimate Reality- it changes with each person and their mindset and perception. The only safety in this world is perceived safety. Anything can happen at anytime and anywhere. When you feel out of your comfort zone, things are usually not so bad or different as they seem. Someone’s nightmare, can be another’s paradise. EVERY country in the world has a good and bad side. A yin and a yang. Stay level- headed in chaotic situations- you draw chaos when your mind is chaotic. Humbleness and graciousness is key to living a happy and fulfilled life. Travel helped me learn that I have choices and endless possibilities on how to live my life.
Lima:
I am so very grateful for this opportunity to give back to the world and to be an active participant in the global health community. Many thanks to MedLife for the amazing experience
