Greetings from the Peru Mission Team and your brothers and sisters in Christ. Here is the information on the weekend and the beginning of our week.
On Saturday the team traveled to the small village of Huancal where we have been blessed to be connected for many years. The people here live very simple lives and over the years we have been able to help them grow by supporting their efforts with the guinea pig farm, repair of their chapel, upgrades to the fixtures in their community toilets and the purchase of a cow!! This time, we got to visit with the current litters of guinea pigs (which get sold as a food source), we helped with a big project to restore water to the village, helped a bit with the trout farm, repaired and painted some playground equipment and created a mural on the bathhouse wall. The villagers are always warm and welcoming and show their hospitality with a meal of potatoes, corn and homemade cheese!
This is also the day we made our visit to the Beneficencia – playing volleyball with the children and visiting with the retired seniors. This is a warm and caring environment. The “orphanage” side is not what we typically think of. Some children are taken there as infants or toddlers and raised there until family or adoptive parents are found. But more often, parents take their children there during times of economic distress, when they simply cannot afford to feed, clothe and school them. They stay for a period of time – a few months, maybe many – until there is enough stability to bring them back home. While it is strange to us, it is normal to them. The families maintain contact and the adults caring for the children are devoted and loving.
The seniors are cared for in a home environment, getting meals made for them daily, according to their dietary needs and preferences. Visiting there is like walking into someone’s home. We are blessed to be a blessing and help both of these groups financially – with gifts that are small to us but so meaningul to them.
Sunday was all about worshipping together and the wonderful time of fellowship that followed. What a blessing to be able to worship with this community of SOTW and see the light of Christ in Tarma and beyond. On Monday we “traveled down the mountain” to Lima, a winding 9 hour bus trip. Tuesday was a down day in Lima and then we flew to Cusco in the evening. Today we journey to Machu Picchu, which is a train ride and then a bus – planes, trains and automobiles!!! – and we fly home Friday! We are so grateful for all of your prayers for safe travels.
Peace/Paz
Pastor Peacock
