Why are they here?
July 28th, 2010Here is a little insight into the men’s lives. I will not be using their real names to protect their privacy.
First, to let you see the economic position many of the men are in when they first come, I will tell you about my recent conversation with Roque. Roque is a gentle, honest man just starting his first contract in the USA. In his small town in Peru he was constantly looking for odd jobs to support his family. He could earn $5 a day, when their was work, working in his neighbor’s field, otherwise he constantly was on the hunt for odd jobs to supplement the provisions of the family garden and cows. The other day as we were about to have lunch I asked Roque what his family ate in Peru. He hesitated then meekly replied. ”We are a poor family.” ”We cannot afford much meat.” I asked what they would eat for breakfast. ”Some milk and a potato.”
Sosimo, also from Peru, and I had a great time together the other evening. As we hugged I was amazed by his rock solid build. Later when he showed me a picture of his wife and daughter I asked him who the man in the picture was. ”That’s me.” he replied. I couldn’t believe the “body builder” beside me was the same man in the picture who was so thin and drawn. He is about to finish his first three year contract. He told me that he has known men that have worked here in the USA for many contracts and have nothing to show for it. He has seen these men come home and throw grand parties, with the best bands and lots of beer. Soon their money is gone and they return for another contract. Sosimo was clearly disgusted that men would waste their opportunity here and waste their lives.
His father was a mean alcoholic and left him nothing but a determination not to be like his father. His wife’s father was not happy with this poor young man’s interest in his daughter but Sosimo married the girl telling her father that he knew how to work and he would take care of her. He and his wife have one child, in her teens now, and his wife and daughter live with his father-in-law until they have their own home. He is also the god-father for a boy in his community who lost his father so now when he sends money home for clothes or school supplies for his daughter he makes sure that an equivalent amount goes to his god-son.
Sosimo has been careful with his pay. He has sent money to an older brother who has been his agent to buy a prime lot located between two schools. His goal is to have a five story house that will include a floor for computers and a photocopier for students to rent and thus provide he and his family with a future income. At this time the first floor is ready for windows and doors but that will have to wait till next Spring during his second contract. Meanwhile his father-in-law, who has been very critical of him in the past is now asking him for loans, after all he is the man with that good job in the USA.
These two examples are fairly typical in my ten years of experience. I have had the opportunity to visit with one of the former shepherds who returned to Peru about five years ago now and is making it in Lima with his business there. Life as a shepherd is not easy but it has been providing hope and opportunity for many generations of men who have come to the deserts and mountains of Colorado.
PICTURES FROM RECENT TRIPS
Thanks to Shannon Palmer for the first picture.





