September Newsletter: Adventure, Romance and Potential in Peru

Adventure, Romance and Potential in Peru

From the jungles of the Amazon to the desert coast to the high Andes, we were met with adventure, promise and gratitude across Peru. During this month-long hearing mission, we partnered with more than 70 Rotary clubs from the United States and Peru to provide more than 20,000 hearing aids to people in need. Along the way, dedicated volunteers and sponsors helped deliver hope and joy in addition to the gift of hearing. 

After helping more than 1,000 patients in Iquitos, the team traveled south on the Amazon River to provide follow-up care for the villagers of Tamshiyacu. The entire village came out to meet us, including individuals in need of hearing care.  After the warm welcome, we got to work setting up registration, fitting, counseling and AfterCare stations. By the end of the day we had fit 48 new patients and provided AfterCare as planned.

For the second leg of this month-long hearing mission, musician Matt Nathanson and Disney actress Caroline Sunshine joined the team to experience the life-changing impact of the gift of hearing. In lieu of a making a traditional music video for his new single, Nathanson made a donation to the Foundation and filmed a video at the hearing mission. He formed a special bond with one young patient. Eight-year-old Jesus spent his entire life in silence, struggling to share his bright spirit with the world. When he met Nathanson, it was clear that something extraordinary was about to happen. Once Nathanson found the correct hearing aid power level, Jesus’ face lit up, and he began to try to find a way to communicate his gratitude, moving his parents, Nathanson and much of the team to tears of joy.

Romance was also in the air in Peru with our first marriage proposal! After finishing up our hearing mission in Cajamarca, our sponsors took a day trip to explore the landscape and ancient architecture of Machu Picchu. This breathtaking backdrop created the perfect moment for sponsor Marco Breton to get down on one knee and propose to his girlfriend, Isabelle, and she said, “Yes!” 

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