Finishing the Greenhouse and Farewell

by Mitch McKinstry


After 2 grueling weeks of hard work and a lot of fun, we finally finished the greenhouse on Thursday August 21.  As normal in the Quilla Huata village, we celebrated the completion of the greenhouse by breaking a bottle of Pisco (an alcohol widely used in Peru) that was hanging from the doorway.

We also received an awesome farewell from the kids.  They showered us in confetti and gave us all big hugs.  The teachers and mothers of the community thanked us greatly expressing how much we have helped the community.  At this point we also gave the school our donations and all the kids held up their new frisbees as they were excited to practice what we taught them.

At this point we were very tired, but the ceremony that the kids gave us helped rejuvenate us.  We were ready for another soccer match against the fathers.  But first we ate some potatoes that a community member for whom we made the green house for made for us in an oven made entirely from dirt.  This oven is used widely by the community when they take their animals up in the mountains.  

After a surprising victory against the fathers in our soccer match, we were ready to pack up and head back to our place of stay to get ready for an early trip to Machu Picchu the following day.  It was a bittersweet moment to see the greenhouse finally finished but know that this was our last time in Quilla Huata.  We are sad to leave but wish the best for the village!