The 20 hour trip

This is Yauyos, a small town at the top of a mountain, about 7 hours from Lima.


When we began our trip yesterday we thought that this was the final stop and we would discover why the Lord was calling us to go there to help. When we arrived the town seemed to have little damage from the earthquake. Jaime went to find the civil defense minister of the town to find out who had the greatest need. He wasn't there, so we had some lunch and returned to the defense ministers office. He informed us that there was another small town close by that had a lot of damage and very little aid. He said that Cusi (Coo-see) needed the most help. We all were a little confused why the Lord had brought us to Yauyos and then to another place instead. Anyway, we purchased some food for the people and began our journey once again. The mountain trip was beautiful, but he roads were rough and hard to pass. A couple of miles would take 30 minutes to travel. We traveled for nearly an hour more before we came to the turn for Cusi. At this point, the time is nearly 5:00pm and we began our journey at 5:00am. We were beginning to not understand this trip, the time, the money, it seems that this was a waste of valuable resources. Shortly after, we arrived in Cusi, at the top of another mountain. When we arrived the people in the town looked like they were waiting for us. They were all gathered in at the base of the town, distributing some food that someone had brought earlier. When we pulled into the square the people begin to cheer.

Brian and Jaime talk to the men of the town, to tell them why we came and to find out what the need was. The people in this village were poor and didn't have a lot of supplies. They had some rice and sugar that was brought in a few days ago, but no one else had come to help them. During the earthquake the town's school was demolished and the people of the community came together to build a new one. After talking to them and seeing the need, we realized that what they needed was the love of Christ. Christ sent us here to encourage the people and remind them that He loves them.



Here the people wait for the food to be distributed. They had a couple of guys who were distributing the food by using a microphone and a scale. A name would be called and each person would receive their measured portion. The people were calm and waited their turn.

After looking at the demolished school and walking through the town, it was time to distribute the blankets, food and bibles that we brought. They had a system that kept peace, so the town officials handed the microphone to Jaime and he explained why we came, because Christ loved them. He was able to share to a whole village using a microphone. What an awesome opportunity. After sharing that these items that we brought were from the Lord and not from us, we began to bring out all the items. We made a large stack of blankets in the center of the square and returned the microphone so they could distribute the items. Beautiful.

We also met a baptist preacher (Peruvian) in the village. Maybe the Lord sent us to encourage and remind him to keep on pressing forward.

When it was time to go, each person in the town wanted to say thank you and give us a hug and a kiss. They were so appreciative for the love and to know that they had not been forgotten.

Glory to God, because he knows the end of all things. He knows exactly what we need and how to perfectly orchestrate a plan. In the end we returned to Lima at about 1:30am, making about a 20 hour day, but it was worth it to see the joy that these people had while we were there, and to know that the glory of God shown brightly in the small village of Cusi. Pray for this small village and other opportunities to take small groups of Peruvians to minister there.

Robin

Jaime has some more photos of the trip to Cusi. Check out his blog: http://koinonia-canete.blogspot.com/

Aid to Yauyos

Robin, Brian, Angie, Jaime, and another guy from another church went together this morning to Yauyos. That's a place in the sierra that got effected by the earthquake and isn't receiving as much attention as some of the worse hit places. Brian has been feeling led to go there and see what the Lord is going to do there. They brought 15 very thick, heavy blankets and some other sorts of provisions to give to the people in need there. They will be returning sometime on Wednesday.

If you live in the U.S. and would like to send a financial donation, please send it to:

Calvary Chapel Missions
P.O. Box 19-0708
Miami Beach Florida 33119

Write the check out to Calvary Chapel Missions and send a note in the envelope stating that it´s to be used for earthquake relief. Don´t write anything else on the check. Thanks.

Some photos in Canete...

From Jaime's roof

More food and clothes came yesterday. We passed it all up in a line.

Jaime's house is full of food, clothes, medicine, and other provisions. Praise the Lord!

We went to las vinas and there was a ton of people hanging out at the soccer court. They were so convientely assembled that we were able to do a little presentation (and I mean little, we only 15 minutes before we had to leave!) But, I saw some new faces that maybe we'll get a chance to get to know a little better in the future.

This is a make shift tent across the street from the church. Many are staying in tents because their houses aren't stable enough, and sometimes because the children are too afraid to sleep in their houses.

Making plans... I am so blessed by these guys. The servants in Jaime's church are from around 16 to 20 years old. I love these guys.

The outskirts of Canete.

Canete late Wednesday night.

Hello friends and family.

First of all, we are all ok.

There was an earthquake of 8.0 on the richter scale Wednesday night. The epicenter was a little northwest of Chincha, not far out into the ocean. It was pretty much right between San Vicente de Canete and Chincha. We live in Lima, Peru, about 2 hours north of that. Robin and the kids were at the church working with some people visiting here on a short term missions trip. I was in San Vicente de Canete (very near to the epicenter) with 12 americans from the group and Angie, Luz, Krystel, Lina, Jaime, Sylvia, and their kids (they are all peruvians). We were getting ready to leave to go to the church to have service when the earthquake began. It lasted about 7 minutes, it was really more than one right after the other. The power went out almost immediately. The house shook terribly. We all began to pray outloud all at the same time. You could hear people screaming and unidentified things falling outside. After what seemed an eternity, the shaking ended. We were amazed that everything was still standing. We waited very still and quiet. Then we sang the Peace that I feel and prayed once again. After a few minutes of stillness, we carefully went down and out of the building. Once gathered outside, there was another earthquake. We made our way to the central park to wait it out, the safest place we could think to go. We prayed again. We went and retrieved some guitars, tracts and invitations to the church and began to sing some worship in the park. Soon after that we went to try to retrieve all the bags to try and head back to Lima. There was another quake. There were 2 oficials there saying only 2 could go back in. Jaime said he could feel the stairs wavering beneath him. At the time we didn't know what had happened in Lima, if it was stronger or weaker or if they felt it at all or even knew what had happened. And all the cell phone lines were down. It was an intense night, but we all made it back to Lima eventually, safe and sound. There have, of course, been many aftershocks since then, but here in Lima they are very small. On Thursday Brian, Jaime, Angie and 2 americans went to check on those that attend the church there and evaluate how we can help the people there. Pastor Jaime is staying there to help where he can.

I have talked to many people in these last days. Even the taxi drivers are willing to tell about how it was for them. Today one told me he thought it was the end of the world. Which I saw as an open door. Two days before the quake, I happened to find a stack of invitations to the church in Lima and took them and rubberbanded them to my little pad of paper that I always keep with me as I learn new words. The morning of the quake, while traveling to Canete, I had 2 opportunities to invite someone to the church and I shared my testimony with one of them (that's what happens when you sit next to me on the 2 hour bus ride!) Sometimes opportunities abound. I know enough of the language now, that I feel secure talking to people (even to strangers that might not have as much patience with me!) We love the people here. This is our home now. And I can feel the sense of urgency. An urgency to love the people and to get to know them so that I may have an opportunity to share with them.

Hear are some photos I quickly took while walking from the church to the bus station after 4 of us went there to get a couple of things before leaving Canete for the night. The pictures are not the best, it was hard to see and there was very little light anywhere.

These people are gathered around a lady selling alcoholic beverages in a little rolling kiosk thing.

People were out everywhere, many were taking refuge in the parks or in the streets with blankets and sometimes chairs. They were preparing to stay the whole night outside. No one knew how many more earthquakes there would be or how stable any of the buildings were.

I can hardly even believe these are standing up on end.

Please pray for the people, that their hearts would be softened. Pray for the ministry in Canete, I think the adults there have been hard to reach. Pray for the believers in the midst of the crises, that they would shine the light of Jesus Christ. Pray for Jaime and his family that their house would remain sturdy and they would be safe.

Some pictures of Canete (last week)

Silvia and Maria Fe walking to the church.
Angie walking to the church
And this is the way to church...


Now we're at church...
jumping...
puppets...
and Pastor Jaime.

Some pictures with Calvary of the Triad

We've been pretty busy lately. Last week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, we went to Canete with a missions team from the states, the whole family. Canete is 2 hours away. Jaime Inga is the pastor there. We helped out a little bit with his outreach ministries.

You drive through a desertous sort of area to get to Canete. There are lots of foothills, or mountains, or whatever they are. (I don't know what they are -I'm from Florida, the only hills we have there are the overpasses for the interstate!)

I'm just terrible. I brought the camera, and we were so busy that I forgot to take any pictures. I copied this one from Jaime's blog! Anyways, Robin is helping make balloon animals for the kids. We had a nice time there. We are praying about how often we'll be able to go there to help in the ministries.

Sometimes the kids are so cute. Today, I had to put Kilaine in time out for misbehaving during school time. Liam was upset about her being in time out, so he wanted to go and sit with her. So cute!


Here is a random picture from my apartment window. I have no idea what this guy does, but he often walks through my neighborhood with this wheel thing blowing this loud squeaky noise thing. I think he is selling something, or offering a service, or trying to collect something, like the guy that collects glass. I still haven't figured it out. That's the way it is here. Sometimes you have no idea what's going on, but eventually you figure it out. Or somebody tells you. Somebody will probably tell me in one of the comments. At least I hope. Because I really have no idea... I think he saw me taking his picture, too. What do you think?