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After two years searching for land, one year designing the orphanage, and then waiting for permits that were supposed to be issued in March, Casa Chapi is under construction. Marcus Whitman , an alpaca breeder from Oregon, is managing the project on the ground.
 Marcus and his wife Cathryn have traveled to Peru with Quechua Benefit's dental team many times. Earlier this year, I was having lunch with Cathryn discussing fund raising ideas and the possibility that she might join the charity's board of directors. At the time, I was frustrated in my search for a project manager for Casa Chapi. Another prospect had just told me he did not think he was up to the task. As I confided my disappointment to Cathryn, and mentioned that, my fantasy candidate was her husband, Marcus. She responded without hesitation, "He'll do it." "Really," I said, "are you sure, maybe we should call him, or take some time to discuss it." "No," said Cathryn, "I can't honestly think of anything Marcus would rather do. He loves Quechua Benefit, Peru and the kids we meet on the dental trips."
And so on September 22, Marcus and I boarded Continental Flight 500 in Huston headed for Arequipa. Once there, Marcus met the architect, numerous contractors, the city officials in Chivay, walked to the land and assumed responsibility for the day-to-day management of Casa Chapi.
 Marcus will be living in Chivay in a $45 per month room, sleeping on a $25 mattress and hoping that he can find a supply of hot water for showers. This might seem extreme, but he has lived in remote areas of the world before as a scuba instructor and yacht captain. He knows the solitary nature of life at 130-feet below sea level. Now he will experience the daily chores at 13,000 feet above sea level.
Marcus is uniquely qualified for the task ahead. He owns a construction company that specializes in renovations and majored in horticulture and land planning at the University of Maryland. He is also an accomplished alpaca shearer in the Pacific Northwest who packed his shears to Peru, along with the dream of shearing at Accoyo.
Cathryn will join him in late October and then participate in the Medical Mission being organized by Quechua Benefit and alpaca breeder Dr. Dwight Bailey, for November 6-17, 2009. Marcus will be sending updates, photos and progress reports for future newsletters.
If you are a qualified mason or concrete contractor, you might want to join Marcus as a volunteer on the first phase of construction, which we hope will wrap-up by Christmas 2009. If you are interested, please contact me by email at mike@alpacas.com. After Christmas, we will be looking for volunteer carpenters, plumbers and electricians. The work is hard, the air thin, and living conditions are rudimentary. But I believe it will change your heart and reward your soul.
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