Children in the Work Force
Elsa is twelve.
She hasn’t seen her mother for 1 ½ years.
Her 19 year old sister works as a maid in a home in Lima and her 16 year old brother is away from home going to school.
She is from the highlands where her mother still lives.
Elsa watches, Renzo who is 2, does laundry, cleans, and chops food for the Senora to cook with. One day as Kelsey and I were hanging out together in the living room, Elsa came down the stairs of the home we are blessed to stay in.
She said, “Senora, buenas tardes.” as those who are servants would address someone in respect.
We have been living together for 3 weeks now and I noticed that she looked sad.
I replied, “Buenas tardes.
Como estas?” in response.
She told me that she was good, “Buenas”, but it was obviously not the case.
I mentioned it to Kelsey who was able to ask her how she was really doing.
Elsa said that she was sad because she missed her mother and began to cry.
Kelsey tenderly spoke with her about it and asked to see Elsa’s picture again of her mom that she’d shared previously.
She also shared with us that she wants to go to school but doesn’t have the money to get the uniform and had already missed a semester of classes.
She had talked with Cecelia about it who had promised to buy her one piece of the uniform within the next few days.
Talking with her when she felt sad seemed to build a bridge between her, Kelsey and I.
Reading this brings tears of joy to my eyes knowing how much Kelsey must have helped Elsa, and remembering how much Kelsey helped me. You and Bob must be so proud of your daughter. I’ll be praying for the three of you in church today. Peace and love to you all and all those who come into contact with you.
I just discovered your blog. It’s good for me to have a “picture” of what you are doing. As I read the stories of the children, I am reminded of what drew my heart to Peru years ago – the children who face such hard circumstances. I’m so glad that you are there to love them and to introduce them to the One who can love them most deeply.