Misericordia group to help people in Peru

DALLAS TWP. – A group of Misericordia University staff and students is heading to Peru for 10 days this month to aid in several humanitarian projects.

The group of 12 will work in a hospice center and a domestic violence shelter and help natives during visits to their homes that will be set up through a parish ministry.

While in Peru from May 18 to 28, the group will also assist in the early stages of the Peru Water Project, which is just in the beginning stages of operation. The vision of the project is that churches, families, schools and businesses in the U.S. will come together to finance the operation of a well-drilling rig that will provide the less fortunate of northern Peru with drinking water.

Students and staff gathered Friday in Mercy Hall to get more details about their trip and hear some warnings, including those about water. Potable water sources have been contaminated, so they will only drink bottled or boiled water.

Plus, all fruits and vegetables have to be peeled or washed with disinfectant. The trip is organized by Campus Ministry.

Among those making the trek to South America is accounting major Rachel Roa, a junior from Lancaster who has family in Peru and has visited five times before.

“It’s really important to me to have this opportunity to go where I have my own family and get a chance to help the individuals in that country,” she said. “Luckily, my family that lives there is employed and live in apartments with livable situations. When I used to go there, I would see less privileged people in the streets and just all that poverty. Everywhere I went down there it’s surrounding you.”

Her grandfather will greet the students at the airport. She may get to visit other relatives during her stay in Lima and Chimbote.

Misericordia instills in students a sense of service to others. It is vital that students graduate not only with the knowledge of their chosen field, but that they graduate as compassionate, caring citizens who are concerned about the welfare of others and empowered to act on their behalf, according to college spokesman Paul Krzywicki.

Caity Bryson, of Gettysburg, a senior physical therapy major, is part of the mission and has already studied in Barcelona, Spain.

“I’ve always had the strong drive to be submerged in different cultures and gain different experiences and see what the world has to offer.”

She said seeing and experiencing different cultures and living situations opens a person’s eyes to the interconnectedness of the world.