Peru Journey Day 3

We started the day(Friday, August 19) by delivering school supplies sent by FRESH Fellowship to three different schools.  This shot was with the teacher in charge for the day at the local high school.

As we left the high school I stopped to pose with some of the boys who really were not interested in posing for a picture.

As we drove into the town of Chaquicoche we saw a field where lambs were being slaughtered.  Apparently that is standard procedure for market day.

The market had plenty of fresh produce that was as good or better than it looked.  Robin on our team wanted to find a way to take some of the produce home with her.  Of course vegetables would have been confiscated as we returned to the US, but it was a nice thought.

This market was much larger than the one we attended the day before in Usibamba.  Robin said it was the super Walmart of markets with almost anything available.  One of the unique items we found for sale were ribbons for your cow.  I suppose it is a way to identify your cows.

This gentleman was one of the local church leaders whom we found working in his yard.  He was actually digging to find sand that would be suitable for making the mud bricks for a building.  We talked at length about his church and his ministry and finished with a word of prayer.

As we drove away from the pastor's home we ran across this celebration that included music and dancing.  It is a celebration in honor of St Santiago that is widely celebrated in the mountains.  This lady was coming over to invite us to join in the celebration.

I am appreciative of Amber Smith Uruchi for taking many of these pictures.  On many ocassions, I simply handed her the camera while I tried to talk to people.  She did a great job!

We spent the day trying to locate local pastors in Chaquicoche, Independencia and San Jose de Quero.  Some we were able to talk to, others we were not able to find.  There were several times we asked about a pastor and the reply was, he was just here!  We did spend a lot of time trying to build bridges with pastors from many different evangelical traditions.  Impressions are that there is a lot of competition.  Many churches have been started with splits from other churches.  Most of them are small and struggling.  I feel that continued efforts will bear some fruit and will break down some barriers.  If we can encourage them and train all the pastors then perhaps the message of salvation will be preached across the valley.


Philippians 1

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.