The recent trip to Peru was great for me and my colleague Wayne! We arrived late at night in Lima, but it was as bright and active as any major city of the world. Lima is a city of some 10-12 million people and is diverse in its architecture, socio-economics, ethnicity, and spirituality. Lima proper is a modern city with skyscrapers, huge malls, and many familiar business signs showing U.S. and European interest. It is a contrast of eras though as you move from the modern and up-to-date, to a walled area that contains century old Inca ruins that are still being worked by archeologists. The traffic was constant, and if you wanted to survive, you had to be an aggressive driver or you might not get to your destination or at best it would take you a long time to get there. There was the usual socio-economic spectrum, but one thing that stuck us was the shanty communities, and many of them were built on the side of the mountains. Many of these people are from the mountains migrating to the city in hopes of finding a better life. Though squatting is officially illegal, it takes place. The government does not seem to enforce its laws unless squatters try to occupy government land, but the ironic thing is once squatters occupy an area, the government will provide certain services for them. Go figure! Consequently, the average citizen and business owner is forced to protect their property by building walls around their property, so squatters cannot squat on their property. This was an usual site to say the least.

Lima is located on the coast but there is no rain except for a little mist from time to time. It is arid with no vegetation around the city unless it has been planted and artificially watered. We were there at the end of their fall season and it was starting to transition into their winter. The temperature was mid to high 60s in the day with no more than a 10 degree drop at night. The sky was mostly a milky white overcast of clouds and we only saw the sun partially on one day. Then the final day we were there it was sunny and blue skies. I understand that their summer months is when they have the bulk of sunshine and clear skies.

The food was delicious! Rice is a staple served with chicken and fish. Fish is a major industry as one would guess with Lima being a coastal city. We had to try the Civiche, a fish dish where the fish is literally cooked by being soaked in lemon and lime juice. It was very good! We did not try any beef or pork although it is available. Argentina is the country in South America that is supposed to have the best beef. I am sure there are some that might dispute that claim, but that’s what they say and I have read. There is a heavy asian influence in the food dishes, and one can study the history of Peru to find how that came about.

The people are wonderful with their unique spanish dialect! We were well received by the people and had an enjoyable time with them. The religious faith of Peruvian people is predominately Roman Catholic, although there are many faith groups spread throughout the country including pagan practices that are rooted in the ancient Inca faith. We of course were working with an evangelical ministry that we have supported for 15 years. It is a mission work that is multifaceted including La Roca Church and Alcance Mundial Peru, the mission outreach of World Reach. The ministry includes a church with its various ministries, a medical clinic, Pregnancy care clinic and ministry to pregnant women in crisis, church planting, Bible Institute, and a Christian school. We had the opportunity at the invitation of Juan Barrientos, the Pastor and Mission Director to come to train the staff, area national missionaries, and Christian school teachers. We maintained a busy schedule of teaching morning and afternoon, a couple of night sessions, and preaching in the church on Sunday. The people who participated were fully engaged and eager to learn soaking up all that we could give them. And we were excited and more than willing to pour into them the training that they desired, so they might be more effective in their ministries.

It was an exciting and encouraging experience to see what the Lord has done there through those people these 15 years. It was also humbling to put it in perspective, when I was reminded that our church was one of the first two churches that took the Barrientos on for financial support 15 years ago. That was conveyed one night to the ladies group of the church by Eva Barrientos, and some of the women wept as they realized that our partnership with the Barrientos was what brought them the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ! Praise God! That is what partnering in missions is all about…fulfilling the Great Commission of our Savior-Matt. 28:19-20! May we never lose sight of our purpose. I look forward to returning sometime in the future to minister to them again, and hopefully a number of others can go with me.

Flew into Lima, Peru last evening for a week of mission work. We will be teaching all week to their Bible Institute students, missionaries, and teachers in their Christian school! Pray that this week will be an encouragement and profitable to the work here: Alcance Mundial Peru!

Welcome to the new endeavor of our website! I want to encourage you to check the blog regularly each week for I will be posting various articles, announcements, recommendations regarding books to read and reviews, and a variety of other things that relate to our church  ministry and your Christian walk. I hope this will be another way to help you to grow spiritually and impact the world by being the salt and light of Jesus Christ! By His Grace, Pastor Matt