Well, we made it safely to Huancane and just had a marvelous dinner with the Grady's (local missionaries to the Aymara). Travel was LONG! We landed in Lima Peru at 4:30 a.m. this morning, but our next flight was not until 2:35 p.m. So what did we do? Explored Lima for a bit. We took a very safe cab (green cab) to "Mira Flores" and visited the beach and coastline. Of all things to be in the shopping center, we found a Tony Roma's and a Chili's (but they aren't open at 6:00 a.m.) After breakfast at "Cafe Z," we traveled to a park and saw a very pretty cathedral / Parrish church (pictures to come of all of this, by the way). I will post more about this experience when I return.
We were met by a large group of drunk people when we arrived in Huancane. This is the tail end of one of their BIGGEST festivals of the year celebrating "The Cross of May." Alcoholism is rampant among the Aymara. Recess in the elementary schools consists of teaching the children the dances they will eventually do as adults ... as they drink. Sonia Grady even had a difficult time finding eggs to make us cornbread today because all of the stores are closed due to the festival - no one is sane/sober enough to run their business.
This is part of the culture we are entering into in order to share the gospel with them. There is a small house church in Huancane w/ Pastor Reuben, but the bulk of the Aymara are lost. We are praying for more evangelism and for Pastor Reuben and a few other house churches scattered around this time.
Our hope as FBCWP is to be able to help train these men. We may not be able to have the most consistent presence with the Aymara when the Grady's leave in the Fall, but with the Holy Spirit being poured out and moving among these few house churches, and with willing people to reach the Aymara and train the pastors, we could see more and more come to Christ, thus growing the Kingdom of God (the ultimate goal of all of us).
It's bed-time, because we're all exhausted. Tonight we're staying in the hostel next door to the Grady's and will be falling asleep to the sound of the music of the festival. Tomorrow, we head to Conima - the town our church has adopted for the next 3 years, and where our Summer Missionaries and team in July will be staying and ministering. Continue to pray for us.
Psalm 96:2-3, 10
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
Until He Comes,
Jonathan
We were met by a large group of drunk people when we arrived in Huancane. This is the tail end of one of their BIGGEST festivals of the year celebrating "The Cross of May." Alcoholism is rampant among the Aymara. Recess in the elementary schools consists of teaching the children the dances they will eventually do as adults ... as they drink. Sonia Grady even had a difficult time finding eggs to make us cornbread today because all of the stores are closed due to the festival - no one is sane/sober enough to run their business.
This is part of the culture we are entering into in order to share the gospel with them. There is a small house church in Huancane w/ Pastor Reuben, but the bulk of the Aymara are lost. We are praying for more evangelism and for Pastor Reuben and a few other house churches scattered around this time.
Our hope as FBCWP is to be able to help train these men. We may not be able to have the most consistent presence with the Aymara when the Grady's leave in the Fall, but with the Holy Spirit being poured out and moving among these few house churches, and with willing people to reach the Aymara and train the pastors, we could see more and more come to Christ, thus growing the Kingdom of God (the ultimate goal of all of us).
It's bed-time, because we're all exhausted. Tonight we're staying in the hostel next door to the Grady's and will be falling asleep to the sound of the music of the festival. Tomorrow, we head to Conima - the town our church has adopted for the next 3 years, and where our Summer Missionaries and team in July will be staying and ministering. Continue to pray for us.
Psalm 96:2-3, 10
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
Until He Comes,
Jonathan
3 comments:
Thanks for the update. Sounds like it has been quite an adventure already. We are praying for you guys and the work that yall will be doing this week and beyond. Trey, Luke, and I will miss you on Thursday. If you hear a flute riff, be on the look out...
We are praying for you and the others in Peru! Keep us updated.
The Sims' Family
Thanks for the update. We are praying.
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