A Grandfather and a Friend

It's another Sunday morning. They wake up, clean the room, grab their work supplies and head to the market. During the 15 minute walk they don't talk much, but occasionally they share a glance and smile, knowing they can count on each other. They are mates. They are friends. They are also family.

Miguel (8) and his grandfather Victor Soto (70) have lived together since Miguel was 1-year-old. The boy's father abandoned his family; his mother remarried and moved far away, so Miguel, his older brother Edwin and his younger sister Abigail were sent to live with their grandparents.

In order to support her grandchildren, Grandmother Rosa worked for neighbours peeling potatoes. The children's grandfather worked at the main street market where he helped carry bags or heavy merchandise for the stores and shoppers. However, they didn’t earn enough money to adequately look after the children so it was a great relief when a Compassion project was set up nearby and the children could be registered.

However, as the years went by, Grandmother Rosa suffered from chest pains, stomach aches and tuberculosis. The project helped them with food and medical bills, but sadly she passed away in March 2010. AS a result, two of the children were sent to live with family in the countryside, but Miguel stayed under his grandfather's care. They now live in a room with two beds and a cooker but no running water .

But Miguel was extremely sad because he was separated from his siblings and he greatly missed his grandmother who he'd been very attached to. Compassion has been working hard to support the pair in whatever way they can, financially but also through emotional support. Slowly but surely, the help seems to be paying off…

"For a time Miguel was a disobedient child. He didn't help much in the house and was unruly. Now he helps out in the house, helps me selling in the market and goes to church with me," said Victor, Miguel's grandfather.

"He changed his behaviour; he is happy again. He is very responsible and is one of the best in my class. He collaborates with his grandfather, he washes his clothes, he does his homework, he is obedient; his grandfather says that he has changed a lot," explains Elizabeth Reynaga, the project tutor. Miguel also receives lots of support from the project with his homework since his grandfather only speaks a local dialect called Quechua so he has difficulty helping.

On Sundays, Miguel and his grandfather sell hot peppers and lemons at the local market. "I go to the market on Sunday mornings from 8 to 1 o'clock with my grandfather, or sometimes alone when my grandfather goes to a neighbourhood meeting," says Miguel. Even though they have to work on Sundays, they don't miss church as they attend a nighttime service and they are both very committed members of the congregation.

"It's a great happiness for the project to see Miguel's faithfulness to God,” says project worker Delicia about Miguel’s growing Christian faith. “Little by little he has overcome his grandmother's death. It's a privilege to have Miguel with us."