But only humanly seen
It is hopeless. “All roads and routes to Cusco are blocked. No one can get through today!” Our contact from the ranks of cab drivers is up to date with the latest developments. But we have long been on the road in our thoughts. Administration manager Louis Fischer rented a car in Cusco and takes five members of a family towards Curahuasi. Next to him in the passenger seat, nurse Amelie accompanies him. We want to conclude a purchase contract in the evening in the office of a notary. And these five have to somehow get to Curahuasi and sign the documents.
Pit Werner and I leave the mission hospital grounds around noon to meet Louis. We are still 125 km apart. The interurban road is empty. Of course. Countless roadblocks do not allow any passage. We’ll try anyway.
At the barriers, I jump out of the car waving leaflets and a press article from Diospi Suyana. “We have helped nearly 500,000 poor patients. Please let us through!” The magic word “Diospi Suyana” works. On our back seat is an infant with jaundice. His mother is eager to go to the insurance hospital in Cusco. Since she has insurance, the treatment would be free for the little boy. So our media center’s Hilux is right now a regular ambulance. Pit and I say a prayer. Louis and Amelie in the other car notify their circles of friends in Germany by phone, “Please pray!”
Above Limatambo there are boulders on the road. The campesinos are undecided. At first they want to help us, but then the mood tips. Aggressiveness is in the air. Finally one of them gets into the car with us and shows us a “secret” dirt road through the mountains. Over this winding path we gain almost 10 km.
At Ancahuasi, Louis and we are only a few hundred meters apart. Now we perform a flying change. The family with the sick baby walks purposefully to the other side of a roadblock to Louis’ vehicle. The five of Louis join us in the Hilux. For me, the only place left is in the trunk.
Pit Werner tries to remember all the sneak peaks. In the back, I’m on the phone non-stop. For the purchase contract it is necessary that the sellers pay a tax in the state bank “Banco de la Nación”. However, the bank closes at 5pm and we will hardly make it to Curahuasi before 6:15pm. War council over the phone. Minutes later, my wife Martina and our financial advisor Edgard Montalvo are negotiating with the head of the bank in Curahuasi. The result: even after hours, they want to help us.
Around 20:30 the deed is done. All payments have been made and with the new property Diospi Suyana has space for another 60 large tents, i.e. for 600 young people. This would allow us to accommodate a total of 1800 campers.
Last Friday we jumped through a slamming door, so to speak. Actually, the action was impossible, but God’s blessing rested on us. /KDJ
