A 44,000-Strong Family

Before she left for a two-week trip to Bolivia, we asked our colleague Reka if she'd be willing to blog for us about her experiences. Little did we know that one of the most eye-opening parts of her journey would happen during her post-work holiday time in neighbouring Peru, where she discovered the true meaning of "family" and unconditional love.

Read her remarkable account in her own words below – you may want some tissues at the ready!

By Reka Gencsi, Sponsor Visits Coordinator, World Vision UK

Machu Picchu is one of the wonders of the world I’ve wanted to visit since I was a little girl. It looked so huge and mysterious with all the mist and clouds surrounding it. I spent the past year thinking about this trip, planning every second of it perfectly. Doing my job, I knew what I had to do and I did it with great attention to detail.

The long-awaited day finally arrived; I landed in Peru after a wonderful trip to Bolivia (more on this in the weeks to come – don’t miss it!) and managed to find my boyfriend, Carlos, in the massive crowd of excited tourists.

Imperfect dream

It was 3 o’clock in the morning on the second day of our holiday when I woke up to some really painful stomach cramps. The next four hours went painfully slowly as my body got weaker and weaker. Before I knew it, I felt really faint and started being sick, which hardly ever happens to me. Something was wrong.

Not long after, I had a really nice doctor arrive at the hotel to examine me. She told me I was very dehydrated and since I couldn’t keep anything down, they needed to carry out various tests and put me on a drip immediately.

I was scared. Me, going to hospital? In a foreign country? What if the facility is not hygienic enough? The ambulance arrived and I realised I didn’t actually have the strength to walk any further; Carlos had to carry me to the ambulance.

I soon found myself in a hospital bed with a large needle in my arm, through which the rehydration solution and antibiotics were getting into my vein. I had a severe case of salmonella poisoning along with parasites and other infections.

How did I get here? Why me, of the million tourists who come to Peru every year?

Missing out

The following day, we had the first day of the four-day-Inca trail booked, which we had been really looking forward to. I knew there was no way I could go on it but I told Carlos he was going no matter what. He didn’t like the idea but he did it for me. We said an emotional goodbye as we had no way of being in contact for the next four days.

Now it was just me and the four walls of my hospital room. I felt frightened and lonely. It was a long night of trying to sleep without moving my arm with the needle in it. The next morning came and I knew my group was on the bus to start the Inca trail... without me. After a whole day of medication and failed attempts to get some solid food down, they discharged me.

I went back to the hotel where instead of my mum waiting for me with some lovely home-cooked meal and a warm house, I found the hotel room empty, dark and cold.

I had to eat but even the thought of food made me feel ill. My emotions got the best of me and I just started crying until I fell asleep. I spent the whole night constantly waking up until I admitted that it was not happening.

I went down to get a bite to eat. The hotel staff were really unfriendly and with the diet I was on, I was only allowed to eat a piece of bread. I felt really sorry for myself. I burst into tears. I couldn’t stop, as much as I tried.

I was still cold and lonely, and I was having a panic attack in the capital of the Incas! I started praying. I asked God that He would come for my rescue and make me less miserable and strong again.

A true family

I heard a knock on the door.

It was two ladies I had never seen before from World Vision Peru. I didn’t even know there was a World Vision office in Cusco. Plus, how did they know I was there?

As soon as they found out I was ill, they came to find me. They brought me some chicken soup to eat. We had a really nice chat and I found that, with the ladies being there to keep me company, the tears stopped and I started feeling better.

I thought they just popped in for a quick visit but not at all – they left their busy day jobs behind to stay with me. They also called the World Vision doctor to examine me to see if I was recovering well.

Why do these people care so much? I have never met them before, they don’t know me and we don’t even have any projects in their country. I had to ask.

They told me I was their sister and brothers and sisters of the World Vision family care for each other unconditionally. This thought just blew me away. Would I do the same if a random Peruvian I’d never met got sick in the UK? I hope so.

I was physically and emotionally exhausted by now, I found it hard to even speak in sentences that made sense. Nelly and Maria suggested that I took a rest. They prayed for me and they held my hand until I fell asleep.

Guardian angels

In the afternoon, another lady came to check up on me and suggested that I visit the World Vision office to take my mind off being poorly.

They took me to the office where I met some other members of the team. They were all really welcoming and friendly, all truly sorry that I was unwell. I got a call from the National Director of World Vision Peru who ordered his staff members to get me anything I need. The office manager asked if I would like to stay in his house instead of my cold, lonely hotel. I could not believe it.

Unfortunately, I was very weak and mentally exhausted which meant that I started feeling dizzy and more and more poorly. A decision was made that I needed to go back to the hospital where the doctors and the nurses have the expertise to look after me.

Nelly drove me back to the hospital to be admitted yet again. The medical staff took over from there and Nelly asked me to let her know how I was getting on and what more I needed.

How can some people be so kind, caring and selfless? I prayed for God’s comfort and He sent me guardian angels to help me through three tough days I spent poorly in a foreign country while my boyfriend was on the Inca trail.

The World Vision family

The welcome and care of these amazing yet total strangers really made me think of what is important in life. I had a sense of belonging, care and love overwhelm my senses and it reminded me once again of why I work for World Vision.

We don’t just improve the lives of the world’s poorest children and their communities but also look after and care for each other... I am so blessed and grateful for being a part of the global World Vision family – 44,000 amazing individuals who make the world a better place.

Thanks to the care and love I had from my World Vision brothers and sisters, I was eventually well enough to make my way to the end of the Inca trail to witness what I wanted to see so badly: Machu Picchu.

What else is there to say? We are so humbled by our colleagues in Peru for taking such good care of Reka and returning her to us safe and well. But more than that, it's served to show us in the UK office exactly what Reka describes – this is why we work for World Vision. Not just for the children, not just for our wonderful supporters, but for each other. Head over to our Facebook page and tell us about the best eye-opening experience you've had.