Elizabeth
Sánchez
[Studies] [Work Experience] [Hobbies]
[Autobiography]
§PERU§
STUDIES:
February 19th, 1990 Bachelors in Education with a speciality in Linguistics at the Inca Union University, Peru.
March 24th, 1990 Radio and TV announcer at the Department of Social Projection for the San Martˇn de Porras University, Peru.
September 3rd, 1990 Licensed in Education with a speciality in Linguistics at the IncaUnion University, Peru.
May 22nd, 1994 Master's Degree in Education with a speciality in Administration at the Montemorelos University, Mexico.
May 1994 First Aider in the Medical Cadet Club of Montemorelos University, Mexico.
June 1st, 1995 ESL at Caribbean Union College, Trinidad and Tobago.

 WORK EXPERIENCE:
1990-1992, teacher of Language and Literature at Bagua Adventist High School, Peru.
1990, Anouncer at Bagua RAdio, Peru.
1994-1995, Spanish teacher at Caribbean Union College, Trinidad and Tobago.
1994-1996, Spanish teacher in the Continuing Education Department at Caribbean Union College, Trinidad and Tobago.

HOBBIES:
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
I was born the 16th of August of 1967 in the village of San Marcos. My parents are Javier S nchez y Lidia Vallejos. For some reason I grew up with my grandparents --Julio Vallejos and Gregoria Roque, my mother's parents. I studied my primary school in the first primary school of San Marcos. Even though I grew up in a very closed environment I always thought that one day I would like to study secondary school. However, it wasn't easy. Once, after I finished my primary school, my grandfather told me that if I wanted to study secondary it would be my parents decision. Such a declaration shocked me because for me they were my parents. It was then when I became aware that they weren't my real parents. So I asked my parents to send me to study secondary in Soritor where my older brother was already studying, but they told me that there wasn't money and that they would probably send me the next year. Because I didn't want to waste time, I insisted on it until they decided to send me to Soritor.

I finished my first year in Soritor. Next year (1981) was again a challenge since my parents decided not to send me to study. They said there wasn't money, I insisted again, but this time it was so difficult to convince them. A few days later, when my father went to look for a place for my brother to stay in Soritor for his third year, Mrs. Mela¤a Lucana --a very nice lady whom I had met the year before-- asked him about me. My father told her that there wasn't money to send me to school, but the major reason wasn't that. So Mrs. Mela¤a asked him what was the reason. My father said that there were two girls who finished their fourth years of secondary school and that they ran away with their boyfriends. My father concluded saying that to give education to a girl is not good business, it is a waste of money. Nevertheless, for Mrs. Mela¤a that wasn't a good excuse. She told him, "Not all women have the same ideas. Please give her the opportunity of getting her education. If you don't have money, bring her and I will feed her if she can help me with some of the housework." Then my father went back home and told my mommy to go to my house --my grandparents' house--to tell me that I would be going to school in Soritor.

Thus it was that in 1981 I went to Soritor to study my second year. In August of the same year my Uncle Crimo--my mother's brother who was already working at the Adventist Institution in Lima-- asked me if I would like to go to Lima to continue my studies. Without hesitation, I jumped up and said, "This is what I was waiting for. Of course I would."

Even so, it was not just my decision. My father couldn't send me without asking my grandparents. My grandmother said that I could go, but the next year in March when my Aunt Salom‚ --my mother's youngest sister-- would go for vacations.

Thus, in 1982, I took a trip to Lima (my country's capital) where I had to work very hard in somebody's house to get food and room and in the bakery of the school to pay for my studies. This trip to Lima definitely marked the difference in my education. I had to work very hard, but that didn't matter, because I was doing what I had always wanted to. There were many times when I was about to give up, but at the same time there were people around me who always had an extra dish of food for me.

When I was finishing secondary school, the struggle of following a career didn't let me sleep. I was working very hard to pay my expenses in Lima, but the idea that my studies in the university would be harder made my dreams nightmares.

Once my uncle called and told me that he wouldn't be able to help me anymore. That made me sad. For a while it seemed that was the end, but I wanted to study and I thought about how hard I had to work to finish secondary. So I said to myself, "My uncle was helping me by giving me room and food, but I had to do everything at home to get it and I was working so hard to pay my studies, so I was paying my expenses all by myself. There is not much difference; I can continue working and study my career. What's more, my grandfather gave me a little calf. I can sell it to pay some of my studies." I jumped out of my bed and I wrote a letter to my father asking him to sell my cow and send me the money. That was it, once more one strong decision made the difference. From then on I worked and lived with different families who by one way or another helped me to build my future.

One of the greatest things that happened in my life was the way how God led in achieving my goals. It so happened that I wanted to study education with a speciality in English. The Adventist University wanted to offered that, so they advertised it. One year after I started my career and I was supposed to start my speciality courses, the specialty was canceled. I got so frustrated. It seemed that was the only thing I wanted to study. After striving a lot about what other specialty to choose, I decided on Linguistics. It was difficult for me to adapt to the idea, but later on this speciality gave me more than I expected of it.

In 1987 I started living with the first American missionary family --Allen and Judith Jaminson--I met at the Adventist University in Peru. They knew I really wanted to learned English, but I couldn't take advantage of learning English. When I was at home the family wasn't there and when they were there I wasn't --I was still working in the bakery from Sunday to Wednesday from 2:30-7:00 am. and Thursday and Saturday from 11:00 pm. to 7:00 am. However, living with people who spoke English kept me thinking about learning it.

In October of 1988 my brother was about to give up school for lack of money. I thought if I could go to work in the day student's cafeteria I could have food for him and for me, so he wouldn't leave the school. Leaving this American family was very hard for me, but there wasn't another alternative.

In April of 1989, when the Jaminsons knew I was going through a very difficult situation they told me that they would be leaving for the US anytime, but that they were praying for me to find a good place where I could stay till I finished my career.

My situation was already so difficult--I couldn't even make ends meet for myself. Once more, I was about to give up. I promised myself that if I didn't find a house where I could work to have food and room, I would give up school and I would go some where else to work. This was one of my crucial situations. It was my last year, but with no way to go forward, I thought.

One day I met Pastor Jaminson and he asked me to go talk with his wife about it. I went and she had a solution for me. She told me. "Up in the Sinaˇ --one of the areas of the university--there is an American family who might need someone to help them. The girl who was working with them doesn't want to study and they want somebody who wants to study, so they can help her too.

Thus, my Aunt Goya and I went to see this new American family. I was scared when we knocked at the door . I was afraid to get a negative answer. My aunt said, "Don't worry, she is my friend and she is very nice, she will understand your situation. What's more, I'm sure God has something for you. He can't forsake you now that you are almost to the end." My aunt knocked on the door once more and soon a beautiful lady, called Becky Gates, opened the door. My aunt told her our purpose for being there. The lady looked at me and gave a sweet smile and said, "We are already waiting for the daughter of one of our friends who asked us to help them. However, we can do something meanwhile; I need somebody to take care of the children Monday and Wednesday nights, if you want you can help me with this and later you can correct some translations I will do for the Union. Moreover, you can help me in the mornings till the other girl comes." I agreed with that alternative.

Monday morning I went to help her. I worked all the morning and then I went to school. After finishing classes I went back to her house to take care of the children. Tuesday, the second day of work, seemed so different; I already know how to do some stuff. Wednesday came with a wonderful gift for me. I worked in the morning and I came back at night to take care of the children. A few minutes after I got there, somebody knocked on the door. I went to open it, and there was Mr. David Gates. He greeted me very cheerfully and nicely. Later on, they left for the choir practice. About fifteen minutes later, they came back home. Mr. Gates told me, "Eli, my wife and I were talking about you, so we decided to tell you that we want you to work with us. The children like you. They already talk about you." I thanked them for giving me this opportunity. Now I would be able to go forward.

So that was how I started living with a family who in very few days would fill my life with many unforgettable experiences. I always say, "They changed my life." Since I started living with them my life has new meaning. They helped me to develop my qualities. They made me think that I was able to do more than I expected of myself. In others words, they helped to improve my self-esteem. They were with me even in the dark times. Later on, because of the very close relationship we have, I started calling them Daddy and Mommy.

In December of 1989 I finished my career and on February 18 of 1990 I got an invitation to work in a secondary school of the Adventist organization. Next day February 19 I defended my thesis, "San Marcos: Diagnostic Social-Linguistic" with which I got the Bachelors Degree. In March of 1990 I took a trip to Chiclayo --a city in the Peruvian North--. Then I was sent to Bagua where I worked until my resignation in April of 1992.

March 3rd of 1993, almost one year after I gave up working, I went to the Montemorelos University in Mexico to study a Master's Degree. On May 22 of 1994, I graduated with a Master's Degree in Education with a speciality in Administration. At the same time, during this year I belonged to the Medical Cadet Club from which I graduated as a First Aider.

Immediately after, I decided to take advantage of leaning English before going back to Peru. My dream came true when once more my Daddy David Gates and Mommy Becky opened a door for me in Trinidad and Tobago. On June 1st of 1995, I graduated from the ESL Program.

Even though the first days at Caribbean Union College were so hard, I will always remember the great things I learned. Here I had the opportunity of teaching Spanish for College and for Continuing Education. Both the great moments and the hard times helped me grow in different aspects of my life. Once when I was so sad, my mommy Becky came home and told me, "I was praying for you all these days, I don't like to see you frustrated. This morning I got a very clear impression, it was like a voice, telling me that God is preparing you for something great and wonderful. So please don't feel that you are wasting time here. I'm sure God wants you to do something special, but you need first to be prepared. Remember Moses, he had to spent 40 long years taking care of the sheep before he guided the Israelites into the Promised land."

In December I went to Peru, and the idea of the school came into my mind stronger than ever. Now, a few months after I came back to Trinidad, the idea is on paper. I already realized that my Mommy Becky had reasons to say that God was trying to show me what He wants me to do. Thanks to the opportunity of being in Trinidad without much work at the school I could take time to read about administration and in that way I increased my knowledge in that area and I got more wonderful ideas for writing this project.

My dreams for the future are: To have the school to help students who are striving to make their dreams come true, study a Ph.D in Communication and Organizational Behavior or Administrative Leadership, and spend time giving seminars not only in educational institutions, but also for companies.
Contact us by: E-Mail Gates@andrews.edu or Loide@Uinca.edu.pe
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Home Page created by: Joel Sanchez
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