Welcome to Christian Emergency Relief Teams International - Mission Trips - Peru

QUECHUA INDIANS
Andes Mountains - Peru
Population: 5,000,000
Location: Andes Mountains and Foothills
Language Family: Quechua

The Quechuas are the descendants of the Inca empire which was conquered by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. Since long before the conquest until the present, the Quechuas live dispersed throughout the Andes mountains. There are some thirty languages and dialects in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina, many of which are as different from each other as Spanish and French. A number of the dialects are spoken in the jungle.

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The people are able to use Spanish a bit as a trade language and as a status symbol, but the real language spoken in the homes is Quechua.

Quechuas live in adobe houses with no windows. At night they close the one door but in the daytime it is left open to provide ventilation. Near the main house is a lean-to or another smaller house which is used to do the cooking and eating. Often it is also used for raising guinea pigs, a food saved for special occasions.

"Cancha", a toasted corn with large sweet kernels, is a staple in their diet, as well as potatoes. Many types of potatoes are found in the mountains of Peru and are served in a variety of ways. Boiling the potatoes is the most common way to prepare them. Soups of different kinds are an important part of the diet along with "api", a pudding.

Most Quechuas live in a cool climate and wear heavy clothing. The women spin the woolen thread from sheep, llamas, and alpacas. The men weave the material to make trousers, ponchos, heavy colorful skirts, and "mantas", similar to a shawl. Women wear several skirts at the same time - as many as fifteen for special occasions. The number of skirts worn may indicate one's relative importance in the community. Many people wear sandal-like shoes made of discarded rubber tires.

These people tend their small farms. The men do the farming and the women the buying, selling, and herding of sheep, llamas and cattle.

Generally, the Quechuas believe in a god, but he is not personal. They transfer their worship to many saints who are responsible for their daily affairs. Drunken fiestas are often held to appease them or to assure desired success in some activity. They are strongly gripped by fear and superstitions. A complete set of do's and don't's regarding sickness and its treatments is widely accepted and used by the Quechuas, along with herbs and other remedies.

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ff2004 Trip Calendar

fffff- Mar 8 - Mar 24
fffff- Mar 5 - Mar 20
fffff- Mar 26 - April 10
fffff- July 9 - July 24
fffff- July 31 - Aug 14
fffffff- Sept 24 - Oct 9
fffffff- Sept 17 - Oct 2
fffffff- Nov 5 - Nov 22

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Peru Mission Trip Resources: (Downloadable forms - PDF Format)

Preparation Checklist (Check off list of items to pack for mission trip)
Travelers Checklist (Essential items for health and safety in the field)
Field Operations Rules and Procedures (CERT International's rules for operating in the field)
Post Trip Evaluation (Print this form, complete and mail to CERT Office)

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