jesus, chowfa, and my first email not about cow shit - March 18, 2004

Date:Thu, 18 Mar 2004 11:07:28 -0800 (PST)
From:"Melli Knee" <melliknee@yahoo.com>
Subject:jesus, chowfa, and my first email not about cow shit

Hola chicos y chicas from Peru--land of the bright yellow 'Inca Cola' and peruvian-style Chinese food called 'chowfa' guaranteed to make you very very very sick.
Many people can say they really changed during their first year out of high school but I can safely say that I have changed the most--from a nice Jewish suburban girl with a bright future to a cow milker in the middle of nowhere to finally a Roman Catholic missionary in South America.
Apparently, unbeknowst to me, a former member of a YMCA where neither the Y, the M, or the C parts of the name really have anything to do with the programs anymore, and unbeknowst to the program coordinator in NYC who assured me this definitely wasn't a religious program, in South America and especially Peru the 'C' is a really big part of the organization.
Last year at this time I was organizing Spring Convention, now I find myself helping to lead songs like 'Celebrate Christ' 'G-d is in my heart' and 'It's Not enough Just to Praise Jesus.' We have morning prayers and evening prayers and before each meal we say grace all together. I'm getting pretty good at saying 'El Señor que Esta en el cielo' (Our father thou art in Heaven).
For the past week I have been working at a fresh air camp with the cutest kids from some of the poorer areas of Lima. The kids are so cute and the camp is in the middle of nowhere in the desert on the coast. The work is great-we take the kids sand-dune sledding and climbng through caves and into tide pools and everywhere I go I have four or five kids hanging on each arm saying 'señorita did it hurt when you got your nose pierced?' 'señorita this' and 'señorita that'.
But the whole Christian aspect is definitely a little uncomfortable and will take some getting used to. No one here knows that I'm Jewish--which is the fist time I've ever been known by people without Judaism being a large part of my identity if you know what I mean. The program itself I can handle--I think it's pretty funny that I'm teaching Jesus songs.
But the other volunteers are all VERY christian. One of them actually said to me 'what is your REAL reason for being here, apart from seeing peru? because we (the other volunteers) are here for Jesus.' umm, ok...
One day I walked into our room at the camp and three Germans were sitting on their beds reading (by the way Rose you picked a good language germans are GORGEOUS) and they were ALL reading the bible separately. for fun. What is a nice Jewish girl like me doing here?
I'm not sure which I'm more upset about--the fact that I'm going through severe Jew Crew withdrawal or the bullshit that is being fed to these kids in the name of religion. During a prayer session a few days ago on of the volunteers said to the group 'G-d knows everything about you--your favorite color, your favorite sprot. G-d also knows when you don't have enough food in your house, and He knows when you're hungary, but if you just have faith in G-d's love, everything will work out.'
If you just see these kids, who never ever leave a scrap of food on their plates, some of whose elbows are thicker than their upper arm--you have to wonder if faith is really going to fill their bellies every day.
But I'm learning so much while I'm here--this week I've been working in one of the poorest sections of Lima called 'Independencia.' In the morning we do religious stuff with the mothers (bible study, Jesus songs) which they really enjoy, and in the afternoon we do sports and games with the kids. Living at the Y means I can take any class I want so I take salsa, Afro-Peruvian, Brasilian, and Latin dance almost every day of the week.
I'm slowly getting acclimated to the food, the water, the culture, and the whole Christian aspect. Although it's going to take a lot of adjusting (Orthodox Kibbutz where I wasn't Jewish enough to Roman Catholic missionary where I am WAY too Jewish) I'm really excited to be here.
I've already done my share of embarassing 'gringo' things like getting electrocuted (severely) by the shower, mixing up the words for 'comb' and 'penis' (payne and pane, who wouldn't make that mistake?). Well, we're off to see 'El Pasion de Christo'--it opens today in Peru how could any true volunteer for Jesus not go on opening day so I guess I'll be going today...
Please please keep in touch to remind me that there are Jews in the world... e-mail access is sporadic so snail mail is the best: Asociacion Cristiana de Jovenes del Peru Melanie Lidman, Voluntario Attn: Paco Sambrano 635 Avenida Bolivar Puebla Libre Lima Peru
Again please please please please help me keep my sanity... atlease write back by e-mail... Hope spring break was a blast for those of you who did that and everyone is happy and healthy.
Miss you all sooooooooo much!
Love always,
Melanie
Kibbutz people: I cannot tell you how much I miss you guys--and even the snobby kibbutzniks and even even even the yucky Friday night dinner and especially those 5 hour naps on Shabbos afternoon (and the cows!)
Elihana: so sorry I missed your call--I don't have your e-mail so Esther or Debbie can you give her this message for me?
Lindsay: 'mayoneza y chocolate' 'suavemente' and all our other paraguay songs are still popular!! I always think of you and Mbocayaty when I hear them (and when I get sick from the food and water :))
Andrew: I really HAVE turned into a Jesus freak! the notes on our band music came true!
Israelis and Nesiyaniks: miss you sooooooo much. please keep in touch and help me remember my hebrew.
Carine: I'm going to your family's house for shabbos!!!
Rose: answer your cell phone stupid.
sorry this e-mail was soooooo long!