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Happy/Sad: How is your Quechua? and Haitian prayers

This week we have a huge team here in Arequipa doing a surgical outreach at hospital Goyeneche where I work. It's weird because I'm working with Americans and Canadians, but sometimes I feel most comfortable siting down and chatting with my Peruvian friends in Spanish. It's very exciting to be a part of this project and see people come in for surgeries that they wouldn't be able to afford unless these surgeons volunteered their time.

Here is some snazzy fun for those of you who are linguistically inclined. Can you match the Quechua word with it's English equivalent? There are tons of words in Quechua that start with the "ch" sound. See if you can mix and match them correctly.


1. Chancho                                                                         A. A volcano

2. Choclo                                                                            B. Work

3. Chichani                                                                         C. Chinese food

4. Chicharon                                                                      D. Fried pork

5. Chicha                                                                           E. Pig

6. Chakis                                                                            F. Corn

7. Chamba                                                                         G. Hands

8. Chifa                                                                             H. Corn drink







I also have some really sad news to share. If you came only for the happy, get out now.



Baby Daniel, the abandoned 4 month old who needed heart surgery, passed away last week from pneumonia. My heart is still trying to figure this one out. Even though I knew it was a desperate case from the start I still struggle with the how and why of babies dying. Here is my attempt to process this.


"Love" you said is the most important thing.
Love those who have nothing,
Love those who have everything,
Love the ones who abandon, and the ones who abuse,
The same way you love the ones who love you.

And I thought that work was all I had to bring.
Something to do, something to fix,
The songs that we sing with the morning team.
When works are not enough,
When death grins,
Maybe that is where you meet us and where real love begins.
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Comments

  1. Amanda RoweJuly 25, 2012 at 10:23 AM

    The key to the Quechua quiz is as follows:

    1. E.
    2. F.
    3. A.
    4. D.
    5. H.
    6. G.
    7. B.
    8. C.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shancedAugust 8, 2012 at 11:16 AM

      Amanda, I'm overwhelmed w/ all the happy, sad, longing, giving, love you are experiencing. So much packed in every day. I love you and your blogs and my heart goes out to you, and it hurts sometimes from so far away... But God is doing SO much and it's so fun to think of you there with Him :) But can't wait for you to get back...selfish I know...

      Delete
    2. shancedAugust 8, 2012 at 11:24 AM

      In response to my new-found knowledge of Quechua: Our chakis chamba muy hard to feed our pink chancho muy choclo so ella can be muy gordo and make a bueno chicharon burrito or chifa, unless the chichani blows...

      Delete
  2. April J.July 31, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    You are so fun!

    ReplyDelete

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