Back In Peru

We will update our trip around the world as soon as we get chance but I (Mark) just wanted to let you know about an amazing testimony that Alfredo told us today. Alfredo has recently decided to move to Ventanilla so that he can have a greater presence there among other reasons. Alfredo is also currently living in the school so it isn't robbed or vandalised, as the last caretaker decided to leave recently. Alfredo, his wife Rosa, and son Francis were staying in the school last week when an invasion happened in the next block. An invasion is when several hundred families move into an area overnight. This is officially classed as illegal here, but is the way that most shanty towns are planted. This is then followed by the local government selling the land to the people that have invaded, and then others buy this land, as Alfredo did. However there is a loophole in this very strange law, that if the people can be evicted within 24 hours they are illegal immigrants and have to move on. Alfredo's neighbours didn't want these people to live there and to move on as they had moved in on on land that is classed as park land for the future. (I am presuming much further in the future as all of Ventanilla is currently 100% sand!) Anyway the only way (according to locals) to evict these people is to do it by force. This could be described as a mob, as truncheons, pistols and stones are used to evict people. I have visions of Gangs of New York! (Alfredo told me that the women collect the stones to give to thier husbands to use, this is organised violence)
This mob was unsuccessful and so they had to return the next night with the police and these people were successfully evicted. Alfredo said they heard all of this and it was quite exciting!!! The story however doesn't end there however as many of these people were told there was space to buy land near the school, and some people did this. Others however saw the land owned by Alfredo's organisation and not yet being used by the school and made a decision to invade this.
Alfredo said to them, this is private land. I am however a pastor and will not use violence to kick you out, but as you will be on my land you will be giving me permission to preach to you night and day.
The next day Alfredo woke up and no one had invaded their land!
(All the pictures were taken last year in and around the school)