Not traveling far from last weeks stop in Uripa, this week I am sharing some faces from a small, small town up a hill about 45 minutes past the large city of Andahuaylas. We traveled up to Nueva Esperanza in order to host a children’s programs and visit the people of the town.
One girl I will never forget is Jazmin. She has a hilarious laugh and tried to talked with a funny American/French accent. She clung to me and as a leader of her friends, her friends followed suit. I was sad to leave that afternoon because I would have loved to visit her family and to see where she lived. I would have enjoyed talking with her more. But the end of our day arrived all too quickly and we had to board the bus which went back down the hill to the big city. Her memory is in my heart and her laugh is preserved in this photo to remember forever.
Part of our time in Nueva Esperanza was spent handing out scarves and beanies to some of the families. We visited one family in particular. The kids had come with filthy faces to the event, but were all incredibly happy. After our time was finished in the main event, we asked these children to take us to their home. Their mother had died and their father could not work because of a physical injury. His family had taken them in and the children were being cared for by their aunt. Here, their aunt is seen just after the children and father received scarves to fight the chilly breeze of the Andes mountains. I realized as I looked for an adult photo of joy that it is nearly impossible to see adults with truly joyul faces. This seemed to be her only way of expressing joy for what her family members had received.
These faces are being submitted to I Heart Faces – Week Three: Joy contests for adults and children being judged by Craig MacCubin.
I really look forward to seeing what pictures you bring each week. It is so neat to see faces from other cultures, and the stories behind the pictures are fantastic!
Yours is one blog that I truly look forward to every week ~ the love that you have for the people of Peru is reflected in everything you do! The story of the child’s laughter was wonderful and hearing of the aunt’s appreciation (even though it might not look like it in the picture so much) was very touching.
~Angie, co-founder of I ♥ Faces
That is really, very sweet. Thank you! ~Gretchen
I love your pictures. SO pretty! I saw your pictures in the collages and I was proud of you. You take the most lovely face pictures. Beautiful people with huge stories. What a blessing : ).
Thank you so much! ~Gretchen
your photos are amazing. You surely capture their expressions so well
Even without the stories, both of these photos are joyful and show the beauty of the soul. Gorgeous photos. So happy you have these each week.
Thanks so much Tanna. I am enjoying posting them too. ~Gretchen
Your adult entry is lovely – She’s not overtly joyful in this photo, but she emanates it from every fiber of who she is. I LOVE her!
Thanks! ~Gretchen
Oh, I love that adult photo. Her face… her eyes… they tell such a beautiful story. Love your pictures.
Thanks so much! ~Gretchen
[...] someone else considered the picture as part of the top ten for the week! Yippee! You can see my Faces of Peru for this week, or visit the award winning [...]