One aspect of the trip that deserves special mention is our connection to the people of Belen. Belen (Spanish for Bethlehem) is one of the poorest villages in Lima. The homes are built high up on the mountainside, constructed of anything from scrap metal to cardboard and everythign in between. The have a chapel, pictured here, and their faith is what joins them. Holy Cross priests come here to say Mass each week, and during our trip we spend lot of time here. Last year we mixed and poured concrete by hand and made a floor. We also helped rebuild their roof. Most importantly, we get a sense of what that original Belen was like, where Christ was born in the same midst of poverty and faith.
