F2F Questions and Answers
1.
Padrinos
2. Peruvian family names
3. The pastor in Piura, Peru
4. Quarterly container shipments
Q1. Our adopted family calls us “padrinos.” What does that mean?
A1. “Padrinos” means benefactors. A “padrino” is a male benefactor and a “madrina” is a female benefactor. Another meaning for these terms is godparents, godfather, and godmother. Deacon Lee actually baptized the daughter of his adopted family and at the same time became her godfather. Perhaps he could be called a “padrino padrino.”
Q2. How do I understand the names of my family?
A2. Peruvians use two last names, the first is their father's last name and the second is their mother's last name.
Their mother's last name gets dropped when passed on to the children.
Their father's last name is the predominant name.
Q3. Who is the pastor of Santísimo Sacramento parish?
A3. Fr. Joe Uhen grew up in Oklahoma City and attended Christ the King parish. He has a very unique biography which you can read here.
Q4. How do the container shipments to Piura work?
A4. Currently, we ship about four times a year around the third Saturday of the month beginning with the August/September shipment. Family-to-Family (F2F) items and boxes always take top priority when we load a container (a semi-trailer truck load). Shipping day usually begins around 7 am and continues to around 11 am or until the container is totally loaded and on it’s way to Houston where it is loaded on a ship. The ship travels through the Panama Canal and on down to Lima, Peru. From there the container is transferred to another ship that takes it 600 miles north to the Port of Piata where it is unloaded and inspected by Customs. Inspection may take 3 to 4 weeks. From there it is trucked to the church in Piura. It typically takes our shipments 8 to 10 weeks to actually arrive in Piura.
There is a regular group of volunteers that meet at the warehouse on Tuesdays to work on the inventory from 8:30 am to 10:00 am. This dedicated group of volunteers sorts and bags clothes, box-donated housewares, repair donated bicycles and wheelchairs, and just generally keep the warehouse clean and in order. More volunteers are always needed.
Occasionally we hold Saturday workdays, either at the church loading boxes and transporting or at the warehouse preparing the inventory. These workdays are frequently scheduled near a shipment date. We also need help once or twice a month picking up donations (at the church or from individuals) and taking them to the warehouse. Generally, volunteers are called or emailed since there is very little time to let everyone know that help is needed.
The warehouse is located one block north of Wilshire Blvd between Walker and Classen. To get there from Edmond, take Broadway extension south to the Wilshire exit. Turn right (west) on Wilshire to Walker. Turn right on Walker and take the first left hand turn. The warehouse is the 3rd door on the right (#117). If you go past the railroad tracks, you went too far!
