From 2012 Perú

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 29 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Matthew 2:7-12
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 28 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Luke 2:6-7
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 27 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Matthew 2:1-6
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 26 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Luke 2:15-20
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 25 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Hebrews 1:6
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Hebrews 1:14
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Monday, December 24, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 24 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Luke 2:1-5

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Merry Christmas From Perú!


We celebrate our fourth fun and challenging year here and the incredible blessings continue.

In January we traveled to Urcos, in the state of Cuzco, to attend the General Assembly of the Iglesia Evangelica Peruana (IEP). The IEP and the PC(USA) signed a covenant that begins a new ministry partnership focused in the southern synods of La Convencion, Cuzco and Puno. During much of 2012, we worked with the IEP national and local leaders, building bridges between our denominations.

In February we returned to Huaycan with a team from First Presbyterian, NYC. This huge impoverished suburb of Lima was settled by war refugees in the late ‘80’s. We worked through the non-profit AGAPE and a local church, addressing poverty issues that keep women and children of Huaycan in its binding grip.

During March and April we visited partner churches and prepared for the nine mission teams scheduled to work in Peru from May to August. We also took some vacation time to revisit Machu Picchu and to see Lake Titicaca with family. We spent Holy Week with friends in Ayacucho-an incredible celebration!

In May we traveled north to San Martin province with Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Living Waters for the World team (LWW) from Nashville, TN. The group visited with many church partners en route about future locations for installing water purification systems. One of the trip highlights was the opportunity to visit Kuelep, an archeological site that rivals Machu Picchu but is much older and has not been developed. Amazing experience! In May we also traveled twice to Ayacucho, once with a LWW team from San Gabriel Presbytery, CA to install a water filtration system, and again with Port Orange Presbyterian Church, FL as they visited Emanuel, their partner church. It is always good to return to Ayacucho.

In July Sara traveled south to Peru’s second largest city of Arequipa with a group from Laguna Hills Presbyterian Church in CA. They worked with partners there while Rusty prepared for the remaining teams and our upcoming U.S. itineration. A first time team to Cuzco, a youth group from Avondale Presbyterian Church in NC, traveled to Sicuani and restored buildings and infrastructure at Sicuani’s Quechua speaking seminary. Our 3rd team in July was a youth group from San Gabriel Presbytery, CA who worked in two remote pueblos and then enjoyed a Synod wide youth conference in Ayacucho. It was fascinating to watch these two youth cultures work together. Gabriela came with us and was a huge help with translation and integration.

If it is August, then we’re in Huanta with Sharon Presbyterian Church, NC. It has become such a joy to work with Sharon and their partner, the Presbytery of Huanta. And yes, Sharon won soccer’s esteemed Huanta Cup…again.

Aug 17 we left Peru for 10 weeks of itineration in the US. For three months last year, we flew to all of our US engagements. This year, we bought a friend’s car (The Cañonero) and drove; way better idea! Driving 9,000+ miles, through 23 states, visiting partner churches, friends and family (and every National Park Rusty could find time to visit) seems a bit daunting. But actually, driving across most of America was quite renewing for us. We were reminded of how beautiful our home land is, how gracious its people are, and how fortunate and blessed we are.

On Oct 31 we returned to Peru and made the final preparations for the 2012 Peru Mission Network Conference in Lima November 12-15. The conference was well attended with 25 US and Peruvian delegates excellent speakers and challenging topics.

For more on the conference, see our latest news article soon to be posted on our PC(USA) website.

December is summer in Peru, so here Santa Rusty wears shorts, tee’s and flips flops while he and Sara close administrative duties for 2012, visit Peruvian friends, reflect on this past year activities and prepare for 2013.  Here in Peru there are Christmas programs and celebrations like those in the US. Carols to sing, readings of scripture, gifts to give, sweets to taste and special drinks to enjoy. Here too, we are reminded how beautiful Peru is, how gracious its people are, how fortunate and blessed we are.

As the Christians of this world prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, may you, your friends and family reflect upon and enjoy His blessings.

FELIZ NAVIDAD Y PROPERO AÑO NUEVO

From all of our household;
Sara, Rusty, Urpi, Gabriela, Jenni el perro y Cinco el gato

Countdown To Christmas - Day 23 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Matthew 1:18-24
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Peruvian Village Destroyed By Fire

Resource:  Hispanically Speaking News

A huge fire destroyed some 150 humble dwellings in a poor section of the Peruvian Amazon city of Iquitos, the police said.

Gen. Jose Cespedes, director of the Peruvian National Police’s East Region, said on the local Canal N television channel Thursday that the blaze had been brought under control by volunteer firefighters, who had difficulties in reaching the area on the banks of the Amazon River.

According to media reports, firefighters and local residents had to get water from the nearby river to douse the flames and, at the same time, had to keep a number of criminals from looting their belongings.

“All the fire departments took part as did the National Police with a great many officers. We don’t know the causes, everything is under investigation,” Cespedes said.

The head of the regional National Defense office, Robert Falcon, told the official news agency Andina that the fire devastated one of the poorest districts of the city, where the houses were made of wood.

Falcon declined to give an official report of the damages, though he did say that at least 100 homes were affected in the Iquitos district of Belen.

Countdown To Christmas - Day 22 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Luke 1:26-33
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Friday, December 21, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 21 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Isaiah 40:3-5
3 A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Luke 3:15-16
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 20 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Micah 5:4
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

Luke 15:4-7
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 19 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Micah 5:2
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Matthew 2:4-6
4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 18 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Isaiah 63:7-9

7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good thing she has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. 8 He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. 9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried the mall the days of old.

Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 17 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Mark 15:16-20
16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 16 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Isaiah 53:4
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

Matthew 8:16-17
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 15 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Psalm 118:22-24
22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

1 Peter 2:4-7

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

Friday, December 14, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 14 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Jonah 1:1-6

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. 4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”

Matthew 12:39-41
39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 13 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

1 Chronicles 17:16-24

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. 18 “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19 Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises. 20 “There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. 23 “And now, Lord, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, 24 so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

Matthew 20:30
30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 12 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

1 Samuel 16:6-12
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

Isaiah 53:2
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Landfill Harmonic

A short documentary that will open your eyes and your heart.  Thank you to Sara Armstrong.

Countdown To Christmas - Day 11 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Joshua 2:2-21
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” 14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 10 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Exodus 17:5-6

5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

John 7:37-39
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Perú's Capital At Risk

Shack Homes Overlooking Lima
Resource: CTV News

Written by Frank Bajak And Carla Salazar, The Associated Press

LIMA, Peru -- The earthquake all but flattened colonial Lima, the shaking so violent that people tossed to the ground couldn't get back up. Minutes later, a 15-metre wall of Pacific Ocean crashed into the adjacent port of Callao, killing all but 200 of its 5,000 inhabitants. Bodies washed ashore for weeks.

Plenty of earthquakes have shaken Peru's capital in the 266 years since that fateful night of Oct. 28, 1746, though none with anything near the violence.

The relatively long "seismic silence" means that Lima, set astride one of the most volatile ruptures in the Earth's crust, is increasingly at risk of being hammered by a one-two, quake-tsunami punch as calamitous as what devastated Japan last year and traumatized Santiago, Chile, and its nearby coast a year earlier, seismologists say.

Countdown To Christmas - Day 9 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Exodus 19:7-9
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

Romans 8:34
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 8 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Exodus 11:1-7

1 Now the Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” 3 (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.) 4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again.7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

John 1:29
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Friday, December 7, 2012

We Will Survive


Resource:  Amazon CARES

By Molly Mednikow
Founder and Executive Director

We wish to apologize for the delay since our last blog. Amazon CARES has made incredible progress during 2012, and we want our work to continue long past 2013. However, financially, like many charities, we are suffering greatly. I am sad to state that for the first time we will not be printing an Annual Calendar. This keepsake had always doubled as a form of an Annual Report for CARES. Despite Sponsorship money to pay for the actual printing, we had to measure reality vs. the costs and reality won. Amazon CARES, it seems, is always hanging by a thread. I can assure supporters that our costs are low. I do not earn a salary and 90 cents of every $1.00 donated goes directly to our animal and human welfare projects. This year, due to the destruction of our jungle shelter facilities due to flooding and the resulting influx of abandoned animals, we utilized all our resources.

Countdown To Christmas - Day 7 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Genesis 37:23-28

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. 25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. 28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Matthew 27:1-4
1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Abused For Bearing Female Children

Resource:  allAfrica
Written by Mantebaleng Ramokhele

My name is Mantebaleng Ramokhele and I live in the Mohale's Hoek district in Lesotho. I was married to a man that I was dearly in love with. Even today, I still do not understand what happened to him and why he changed so much. He was like somebody new to me, I really did not know him anymore and when I asked him about it, he would get very angry and start to beat me up.

My husband abused me like he was forced into our marriage. We fell in love and we were so much in love that I did not understand what really went wrong, but he did not want anything to do with me. He wanted to have a kid as soon as possible, but it was a challenge because I was not able to conceive. It was really difficult and he was not ready to see a doctor in order to determine what was really wrong.

Countdown To Christmas - Day 6 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Genesis 25:29-34

29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.  So Esau despised his birthright.

Matthew 4:4
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 5 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Genesis 22:1-13
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied.  2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”  3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.  4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.  5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”  6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

James 2:21-22
21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 4 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Genesis 12:1-3
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.  2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;  I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Galatians 3:6-8
6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”  7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.  8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

Monday, December 3, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 3 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Genesis 3:23-24
23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Isaiah 59:2
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;  your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

3 Acclaimed Chefs Killed

Peruvian Chef Ivan Kisic

Resource:  ANDINA

Lima, Peru
Prominent chefs Ivan Kisic, Lorena Valdivia and Jason Nanka, along with local chef Maria Huamani, were killed after their car violently crashed against a truck on the road to Huanta, Ayacucho, on Friday.

Kisic, a Peruvian, who studied and worked in several countries, was currently working as a gastronomical advisor at restaurant La 73 in Lima's Barranco district, and was planning on opening his own restaurant.

He had also been chosen as a Peru Brand (Marca Peru) ambassador, and participated in the ‘Peru, Nebraska’ promotional campaign, website Peruthisweek.com reported.

Valdivia, a Peruvian, and her Australian partner Jason Nanka, had recently opened their restaurant ‘Nanka’ in the Lima district of La Molina.

The chefs had been invited to Ayacucho this weekend to attend an event aimed at promoting local fruit produce.

News of the chefs’ passing shook the Peruvian cooking world. Renowned chef Gaston Acurio took to his Facebook account to share his thoughts on the accident.

“Too sad as to do justice in describing the greatness of their souls,” Acurio said.

Countdown To Christmas - Day 2 of 29

Resource:  Bible.com

Genesis 3:1-6
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 "You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Countdown To Christmas - Day 1 of 29

Reference:  Bible.com

Romans 1:20
20  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Lesotho Largely Forgotten

Resource:  The Guardian

International donors are under pressure to provide more money for Lesotho, where 725,000 people – one-third of the population – are short of food following the worst harvest in 10 years.

Representatives from the US and the EU, including Irish Aid, are scheduled to meet in Maseru, the capital, next week to consider the lack of follow-through on pledges of aid made earlier in the year, after the UN launched an appeal for $38.5m (£24m) for September 2012 to March 2013.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Operation Christmas Child

You can rest assured that Sharon Presbyterian Church was well represented by volunteers to pack shoe boxes at Samaritan's Purse / Operation Christmas Child.

Charlotte is one of many regional hubs for sorting and repacking Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.  Each box of millions is opened, checked for age appropriate gifts, taped and then packed into a larger box.  The larger boxes are loaded onto pallets, then to trucks for the next leg of their journey.

Many of the boxes have scan codes attached.  At each stop along the journey the boxes are scanned and the giver receives an email advising the location of the box.  The gift box giver is able to track the individual boxes all the way to the final destination.  How exciting to follow the journey of a box that you pack as it travels to share the joy and love of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Thank you for a wonderful experience.  A special thank you to Roz Walker for organizing and scheduling this yearly event!



Do You Know A Young Adult Looking For The Next Step?


This holiday season, you may run into a young adult home from college who is about to graduate and is looking for the next step in his or her life. Be sure to tell them about the Young Adult Volunteer Program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

The Young Adult Volunteer Program offers opportunities for mission service and learning for people age 19 to 30. YAVs are challenged to put faith into action and to explore God’s call in their lives. There are 15 different places to serve for a year nationally or internationally in a variety of fields.

More information or call Richard Williams at 888.728.7228 x5539.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Unanswered Prayers?

Resource:  Got Questions

Question: "How should a Christian respond to unanswered prayer?"

Answer: How many Christians have prayed for someone, only to see their prayers go unanswered? How many have prayed and perhaps have “given up” because either they have become discouraged through a weakness of faith or have come to the sometimes presumptive conclusion that whatever they have been praying for isn’t God’s will? Nevertheless, how we deal with unanswered prayer is not just for our own benefit but for the benefit of others as well. When we pray, we are engaging in the most precious and God-given act of communication with the One to whom we are accountable in all our affairs. We have been truly bought at a steep price—the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ—and therefore we belong to God.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Upper Class Warfare In The Hamptons

Resource:  Mother Jones
Written by Josh Harkinson

Illustration: Martin Kozlowski

With twin 2,520-horsepower engines and up to 19 seats, the Sikorsky S-92 is among the world's most powerful civilian helicopters. "Helibuses" typically service offshore oil platforms and the like, but two years ago billionaire industrialist Ira Rennert acquired a posh version to shuttle himself between Manhattan and Long Island's exclusive Hamptons, where he owns a 63-acre, 110,000-square-foot villa complex. One of the first to notice the giant bird was Frank Dalene, founder and CEO of a successful luxury homebuilding company, who lives on a ridge along Rennert's flight path. Its whumping rotor was like "a lightning bolt striking nearby," says Dalene, a fast-talking 58-year-old with a long nose and narrow-set eyes. He blames the vibrations for "literally damaging my home."

We apologize in advance for the language

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Humala Resumes War On Shining Path

Resource: Bloomberg
Written by John Quigley

As an army captain in the early 1990s, Ollanta Humala fought the Shining Path guerrillas in the Peruvian jungle to end one of Latin America’s bloodiest civil conflicts.

Now president of the region’s fastest-growing economy, Humala is looking to finish the job, re-equipping the nation’s armed forces and police to capture holdout members of the Maoist-inspired insurgency and deal a blow to the cocaine trade that funds their activities.

The government will boost defense and counter-narcotic spending next year as it taps record tax revenue from copper and gold exports to halt a boom in the coca crop that the United Nations says now rivals Colombia’s as the world’s largest. In Humala’s sights is the valley of the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers, or VRAEM, the last bastion of the Shining Path. The group has stepped up attacks against companies working on a natural gas pipeline crossing the country’s largest coca-growing area, threatening $1.5 billion in annual gas exports and 40 percent of the country’s power supply.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Zimbabwean Ivestigative Reporter Tsitsi Matope

Resource: Investigative Africa

NEW YORK: Lesotho based Zimbabwean investigative journalist Tsitsi Matope has beaten over 900 other journalists to become one of the 27 finalists in Africa’s most coveted journalism prize, the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards.

The names of African journalists who made it into this year’s round of the hotly contested competition were announced last week by Joel Kibazo, the chairman of the prestigious title’s judging panel.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Lesotho Women Prosper

Resource:  New Agriculturist
Written by Tsitsi Matope

The Phecha Mphelise Association, comprising 20, fiercely-determined women rearing poultry and pigs is one of Lesotho's cooperative success stories. Situated in the tiny village of Phecha close to Lesotho's capital Maseru, it was established in 2009, an enterprise born out of desperation. With half its members single mothers, the women realized the need for collective efforts to create a sustainable supply of chickens, eggs and pork to a formal market that, for years, had shunned local farmers due to their unreliability. But, by coming together for bulk purchase of feed and for group marketing, the women transformed their production, reliability and income, and were recently awarded further funding to expand their business.


See also: AGRA

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Service In Huanta

Resource:  Goshen College
by jerrellrr

Huanta, the “Emerald of the Andes,” is situated at 2,627 meters (over 8,600 feet) above sea level. Despite the high elevation, the sun shines almost every day in this protected valley and the daytime temperatures are warm. Home to over 80,000 people, this small city feels more like a mountain town. Most of its inhabitants moved here to escape the violence between the Shining Path Maoist terrorist movement and the Peruvian government in the 1980s and early 90s. These rural transplants have settled into the many neighborhoods that surround the business district. Here they have tried to make a new life — building homes, finding work and enrolling their children in school.

Check the pictures on her post...  you will most certainly recognize people and places that are familiar!

Read more...

Volunteers Needed


There is an urgent need for volunteers at Crisis Assistance Ministry to sort warm clothing and other items for families in need. Adult groups of any size are urgently needed on weekdays and Saturdays in November and December. No experience is necessary, just a willing heart and some enthusiasm.

To sign up for a volunteer shift, contact volunteer@crisisassistance.org or call 704-371-3001.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Little Food Aid Forthcoming For Hungry Lesotho

Resource:  Business Day Live
By Khulekani Magubane

A food crisis in Lesotho has left its people especially vulnerable to decreased cereal production in the Southern African Development Community region (SADC), while aid organisations have received less than a quarter of the funding they need.

In September, Lesotho and the United Nations (UN) issued a flash appeal for $38.5m from donors to address the needs of those most affected by the dire food situation. By October 12, the appeal had generated $8.5m — about 22% of what is required.

Read more...

Monday, November 12, 2012

The Perú Mission Network Conference



The Perú Mission Network Conference
 Begins Today In Lima, Perú!

Please take time out of your day for prayer:
  • Pray that all that are attending the conference will see and feel the peace of Jesus Christ in each discussion and decision.
  • Pray that each participant will feel the love of fellowship with our Peruvian and U.S. partners.
  • Pray for those that are traveling long distances and making great sacrifices in order to attend this wonderful event.
  • Pray that all attending will witness and spread the love of Jesus Christ.
Gracias y bendiciones a todos! Saludos de Sara

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Room In The Inn

Sharon Presbyterian begins hosting our homeless neighbors through the Urban Ministry Center Room In The Inn winter shelter program on December 7 and continues every Friday night through March.

Much help is needed:
  • Set-up helpers
  • Friday night preparing and serving dinner
  • Friday night pick-up drivers
  • Overnight hosts/hostesses
  • Saturday morning return drivers
  • Saturday morning preparing and serving breakfast
  • Saturday clean-up crew
Please, prayerfully consider signing up for one of the above slots.  Descriptions for each of the duties will be available in the narthex on Sunday.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Lesotho: A Nation Struggling To Feed Its People

Resource: Business Day Live
By Khulekani Magubane

LESOTHO, grappling with food shortages, is banking on South Africa to make good on its pledge to assist its landlocked neighbour.

Lesotho is in the throes of a food crisis, the result of weather shocks including flash floods and drought over the past two years. South Africa undertook to assist the mountain kingdom following a visit by Prime Minister Tom Thabane last month. However, the amount and extent of the pledge is not yet known.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Perú Coffee Output May Gain 20%

Resource: Bloomberg Businessweek
By Marvin G. Perez

Coffee output in Peru, the third- largest producer in South America, may rise 20 percent next year as trees enter the higher-yielding cycle of the biennial crop, an industry group said.

“Production may increase to 4.56 million bags from 3.8 million estimated for this year,” Eduardo Montauban, the head of Peru’s Coffee and Cocoa Chamber, said yesterday in a telephone interview from Lima. In 2011, output rose to a record 5 million bags, he said.

Coffee-export income in 2012 may drop to $950 million from the all-time high of $1.578 billion last year, Montauban said. Germany is the biggest buyer, followed by the U.S., Belgium and Colombia, he said.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Lesotho Pins Hopes On Conservation Farming

Resource:  Business Day Live
By Mamello Masote

With Lesotho in the grip of a food security crisis - declared an emergency by Prime Minister Tom Thabane in early August - conservation agriculture is being expanded aggressively in the country.  Matshidiso Mojake, head of the national disaster management authority in Lesotho, said food production has fallen 77% in a year.

About 725,000 people, or 40% of the population of 1.9 million, are said to depend for a living on subsistence farming.

Read more...

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Alpaca

Resource: redOrbit

The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a South American camelid that is similar in appearance to the llama. Its range includes the Andes Mountains, in areas of Ecuador, northern Bolivia and Chile, and southern Peru. It is a domesticated animal that is kept in herds in flat, grassy areas at altitudes of up to 16,000 feet. For many years there was confusion concerning the classification of the four species of South American lamoids, including the alpaca. Until 2001, it was accepted that this species derived from the llama, but this was changed when DNA testing showed that it was more closely related to the vicuña. Its current scientific name reflects this.

There are no records of wild alpacas in history, but it is known that they have been domesticated for thousands of years. In northern Peru, the Moche people used the alpaca in their art. In the Andean culture, the alpaca was once thought to be a delicacy, but today it is mostly used for its fiber. Illegal smuggling of the alpaca has become a problem due to the increased demand for its fibers. Crossbreeding has been found to produce highly valued half llama, half alpaca individuals, known as huarizo, that have fine hair and good dispositions.

The alpaca is smaller than the llama, reaching an average weight between 106 and 185 pounds, with an average height of up to 3.2 feet at the shoulders. It comes in many different colors, but these are classified in different numbers in different areas. In the United States, there are sixteen registered colors of alpaca, twelve in Australia, and fifty-two registered natural colors in Peru. This species is bred specifically for the production of its fine fleece, which is used to make many items such as clothing, blankets, and other similar products. Typically, the term “alpaca” is used in the textile business to denote fibers shorn from Peruvian alpacas, but this term has broadened to mean fleece made from other alpacas and even wool from sheep.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Prominent American Businessman Ira Rennert Faces Extradition To Perú

Ira Rennert's House

Resource:  DC Bureau
By Angel Paez

Lima, Peru – American Ira Rennert, known for his lavish lifestyle and operating companies that have polluted whole communities, may soon face an international arrest warrant followed by extradition to Peru if a judge has her way.

Rennert faces charges relating to alleged financial and business irregularities involving the La Oroya lead smelter, a notorious facility accused of poisoning thousands of children and adults living near the infamous complex. The facility is one of the most contaminated industrial sites on earth where local children were exposed to high levels of lead for decades.

Rennert’s lawyers have tried to prevent his return to Peru to face official questioning in his role in managing the La Oroya metallurgical complex. The Peruvian government claims Rennert’s company, the majority shareholder of Doe Run Peru (DRP), made billions of dollars in profits off of La Oroya and never kept agreements to clean-up the huge site.


Thank you Sara!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Governments Apologize For Amazonian Rubber Boom

Horrific Scars Of The Rubber Boom
Resource:  Indian Country Today

A century after thousands of indigenous people died and were displaced in one of the most brutal episodes of the Amazonian rubber boom, government officials publicly apologized for the tragedy and the victims’ descendants urged them to ensure that it never happens again.

“If the lesson is learned from the death of our ancestors, their death will not have been in vain,” an association of indigenous people of La Chorrera, in Colombia’s Amazonas region, said in a statement issued on October 12.

The statement coincided with a public apology by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, directed to the Huitoto, Bora, Okaina, Muinane, Andoque, Nonuya Miraña, Yukuna and Matapí people of the region.

Read more...

See also:  Survival International

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Perú May Invest In Water & Wastewater Projects


From Sara Armstrong...  Thank you.

Resource: Perú This Week
By Randall Hackley for Bloomberg

Peru is aiming to improve access to potable water in cities including Lima and rural areas with about $5.2 billion of projects and investments over the 2010-2016 period, the state news agency Andina said.

Drinking water coverage in Peru’s cities was about 89 percent two years ago and the government aims to increase that to 92 percent by 2016 with infrastructure upgrades, the Housing Ministry said.

The government also hopes to improve wastewater treatment access with $521 million in projects during that period, Andina said in a statement.

The government estimates 1 million people in Lima, the country’s largest city and capital with 10 million residents, don’t have access to running water. The government said it hopes to boost potable water coverage in rural areas to 57 percent from 39 percent two years ago with the investments.

Read more...

Room In The Inn Returns In December

In one month, Room in the Inn begins. Room In The Inn is an overflow shelter for our homeless neighbors sponsored by the Urban Ministry Center and involves over 100 churches and colleges over the four month winter season. Sharon Church will is a host site every Friday night and will provide 204 beds over a 17 week period.

Needed are many volunteers to help with set-up, driving, food preparation, dinner serving, spending the night, breakfast preparation, and clean-up. If you are interested in helping, please call or e-mail David Beers, dbeers22@bellsouth.net, 704-552-2201, or contact the church office. Specific instructions will be sent to you before you commit.

Also needed are bingo prizes - socks, gloves, hats, fast-food gift cards, wallets, playing cards, men’s and women's deodorant, umbrellas, Tshirts, men's boxer underwear, handheld games, shaving kits, etc.  Items may be placed in the RITI box below the mail boxes in the choir room hallway.

Thank you for making this most worth-while ministry possible.

David Beers

Are Lesotho Hospitals Safe For Women Living With HIV?

Resource:  Informative News
By Keiso Mohloboli

MASERU- There is an assumption that hospitals are healing places where people living with HIV receive medical services in a safe facility, from trustworthy heath practitioners.

While this can be the case, there is no shortage of documentation regarding the struggle of women living with HIV to access basic care, support and treatment.

According to International Community of Women (ICW) living with HIV regional coordinator Promise Mthembu, there is lack of remedies and of justice.

“Talking to women who are members of ICW – Lesotho, I have learned that women living with HIV are often mistreated in hospital settings. I found out two cases where our members lost their wombs in hospitals without their consent,” said Mthembu.

Monday, October 29, 2012

The Champion Of The Wari


Resource:  The Wall Street Journal
By Judith H. Dobrzynski

As Susan E. Bergh walked through the special exhibition galleries of the Cleveland Museum of Art one day last week, she was surrounded by wooden crates—some empty, some opened, some still locked. Inside were many of the objects with which she will reveal an ancient culture that is all but unknown to most Americans but is now recognized as the first great empire of the Andes.

Long before the Incas walked the peaks and valleys of Peru in the 15th and 16th centuries, Ms. Bergh's subject—the Wari—reigned over land stretching from the highlands of central Peru, centered near the present-day city of Ayacucho, to the Pacific coastal zones below. Her exhibit, "Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes," is the first North American exhibition devoted to this people, who thrived from about 600 to 1000. "I want people to understand that civilization in the Andes way predates the Inca and that the Wari was a very complicated, sophisticated civilization," she says. "And I want people to see how beautiful and enchanting it is."

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Ghosts And Hauntings

Resource:  Got Questions

Question: "What does the Bible say about ghosts / hauntings?"

Answer:  Is there such a thing as ghosts? The answer to this question depends on what precisely is meant by the term “ghosts.” If the term means “spirit beings,” the answer is a qualified “yes.” If the term means “spirits of people who have died,” the answer is “no.” The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are spirit beings, both good and evil. But the Bible negates the idea that the spirits of deceased human beings can remain on earth and “haunt” the living.

Hebrews 9:27 declares, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” That is what happens to a person’s soul-spirit after death—judgment. The result of this judgment is heaven for the believer (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23) and hell for the unbeliever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:22-24). There is no in-between. There is no possibility of remaining on earth in spirit form as a “ghost.” If there are such things as ghosts, according to the Bible, they absolutely cannot be the disembodied spirits of deceased human beings.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Riot At Wholesale Market

Resource: The Sacramento Bee
By Gonzalo Ruiz Tovar

LIMA, Peru -- Two people were killed and close to 110 people, including 50 police officers, were injured in riots that caused damage worth millions of dollars in the Peruvian capital Lima, authorities said Friday.

The riots broke out late Thursday around the wholesale market La Parada, which was closed by the government of Lima Mayor Susana Villaran for not meeting security and hygiene requirements. The riots broke out as police placed fences around the market to prevent trucks from entering the site.

According to reports, police were overwhelmed by hundreds of rioters and police were attacked in some cases. National television broadcast footage of the beating of one police officer, who was seriously injured.

Rioters later were said to have moved to another market, looting shops as well as attacking passers-by.

Read more...

The other market that the rioters moved to was the Gamarra Gamarra Market...  Better known to all that visit Lima as the "Indian Market"!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

What Is My Spiritual Gift?

Resource:  Got Questions

Question: "How do I identify my spiritual gift?"

Answer:  There is no magic formula or definitive test that can tell us exactly what our spiritual gifts are. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). A common problem for Christians is the temptation to get so caught up in our spiritual gift that we only seek to serve God in the area in which we feel we have been gifted. That is not how the spiritual gifts work. God calls us to obediently serve Him in all things. He will equip us with whatever gift or gifts we need to accomplish the task He has called us to.

Identifying our spiritual giftedness can be accomplished in various ways. Spiritual gift tests or inventories, while not to be fully relied upon, can definitely help us understand where our gifting might be. Confirmation from others also gives light to our spiritual giftedness. Other people who see us serving the Lord can often identify a spiritual gift in use that we might take for granted or not recognize. Prayer is also important. The one person who knows exactly how we are spiritually gifted is the gift-giver Himself—the Holy Spirit. We can ask God to show us how we are gifted in order to better use our spiritual gifts for His glory.

Read more...

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Clinton To Boost Women's Entrepreneurship In Perú


LIMA — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Peru on Monday (October 15) to push for greater access for women to capital and know-how to start their own businesses and become a motor for economic growth.

Clinton was to meet with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala late Monday for talks, followed by a dinner at the presidential palace in the capital Lima.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Western North Carolina Mission Group Returns

The 2012 Western North Carolina Mission crew consisted of:
  • Don Presson
  • Reese Presson
  • Roz Walker
  • Phyllis Acton
  • David Spivey
  • Stephanie Spivey
  • Bob Moore
  • Lisa Moore
  • Ann Cannon
  • Ray Cannon
  • Mark Earnhardt
  • John Harvey
We departed Charlotte on 10/4/2012 around 1:30 pm arriving at the Bryson City Presbyterian Church around 5:30 pm. We had dinner with Terry and Mark Hanna and some of their congregation at the church and discussed the projects for the trip. We had 6 projects lined up to work on. After dinner and discussion we traveled to the Sabbath House where we were staying during the trip. We worked on Friday and Saturday on the projects below. We had a cook out with the BCPC congregation on Saturday Night, which we enjoyed a great deal. On Sunday we packed up and left the Sabbath House around 9:15 am, headed into BC and had breakfast at the local grill. We attended church services at BCPC and took part in the World Communion Sunday. It was great. We had a fantastic trip and accomplished a lot. Our crew worked and played well together. We worked with Mark and 5 others from the BCPC. They were a great bunch to travel and work with. Hopefully we will have more participants next year.

The people we assisted and the projects we worked on:

Brenda & Junior Ledford, 70s, live in a well maintained single wide trailer with a front and rear deck. Front deck is high and has too many steps for them to navigate daily. Rear deck has 3 to 4 steps but is rotten and needs to be replaced. This deck is approximately 8' x 8' with a roof.
Work: We replaced the 7 ' X 8' deck, steps and roof, and prepared the deck for another group to build the ramp. We furnished 90% of the lumber for the ramp, but did not have time to complete it.

Louise Ward (We finished her roof and replaced her back deck last year. She heard we were coming back and asked if we could pressure wash her front deck (covered in slippery green algae) and build a roof over it.
Work: We Cloroxed and pressure washed the deck.

John & Janice Cole (we laid the tile floor in their kitchen last year) They still do not have a working kitchen. They need some clean up in the yard and some fire wood stacked like last year.
Work: We insulated and enclosed the kitchen walls with plywood, corrected some faulty plumbing, ran some wiring for electrical outlets, installed kitchen cabinets, counter tops and appliances. Some of our crew assisted John in yard work and stacking a load of fire wood.

BCPC - Several of the ladies also cleaned up the flower beds, mowed the lawn and painted the benches for the BCPC. It looked great Sunday morning....

Thanks,
Dave Spivey

Perú Doctors To Suspend Strike Over Pay

Resource:  BBC

Thousands of doctors in Peru have agreed to suspend a strike that has left many poor people without medical care for more than a month.

The leader of the doctors' union, Cesar Palomino, said they would return to work while they consider government proposals for a pay rise.

The doctors had complained that their pay was not increasing despite strong economic growth in Peru.

The strike caused huge backlogs in hospitals and clinics.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Summary Of The Dallas II Mission Consultation

Dear colleagues,

The Dallas II global mission consultation, held October 5-7, 2012, brought together more than 200 grassroots and national mission leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as well as ecumenical and global partners. Together, participants determined that Presbyterian mission work should be centered on the critical global issues of addressing the root causes of poverty, engaging in evangelism, and working for reconciliation, and refined core values and priorities for responding strategically to those issues with concrete, measurable, global initiatives.

Following the consultation, participants agreed to form continuing working groups (of which Presbyterian World Mission will be a part) to:
  • Coordinate the next steps coming out of Dallas II;
  • Communicate with participants of Dallas II and others who wanted to be at the consultation but couldn’t attend;
  • Edit the key messages, suggested action plans, strategies, and statements into a “mission trail guide” for Presbyterians involved in mission.
World Mission has drafted a document that distills the specific mission strategies and priorities from Dallas II and combines them with our Regional Liaisons’ strategies representing the voices of global partners and mission co-workers. This document assigns each strategy to one or more of the three critical global issues. World Mission will present this document to the coordinating working group as it plans next steps.

I invite you to read this summary of what happened at Dallas II and share it with others.  Link  The collective energy and excitement coming out of Dallas II shows that God’s vibrant mission movement is already underway!

Grace and peace,
Hunter

Hunter Farrell
Director
Presbyterian World Mission

Perú Healthcare Feels Strain Of Doctor's Strike

Perú Hospital Managers Walkout

Resource:  BBC

About 90% of hospital managers in Peru have resigned in support of doctors on strike over pay, union officials say.

The head of Peru's medical federation, Cesar Palomino, told the BBC that more than 300 managers had quit in the capital Lima alone.

The walkout by 11,000 doctors, now in its fifth week, has caused huge backlogs in hospitals and clinics.

Doctors say that despite Peru's recent strong economic growth, their pay has not been increased in years.

Read more...

Friday, October 19, 2012

Western North Carolina Hospitals Lay Off Staff

Resource:  Asheville Citizen-Times
By Julie Ball

ASHEVILLE — Citing lower patient numbers, three Western North Carolina hospitals recently laid off more than 80 employees.

The hospitals in Haywood, Swain and Jackson counties are part of MedWest, which formed in 2010 when WestCare-affiliated Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva and Swain County Hospital in Bryson City became affiliated with Haywood Regional Medical Center. MedWest has a management agreement with Carolinas HealthCare System.

Read more...

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Citibank To Take Over "Perú's Chernobyl"

Resource:  World War 4 Report

Mon, 10/15/2012 - Creditors of the troubled Doe Run Peru company voted to sell the controversial metal smelting complex at La Oroya, Junín region, to Citibank, Peru's Energy and Mines Ministry (MEM) announced Oct. 11. The New York financial giant will have responsibility for reorganizing the smelter's debts and environmental management plan, as well as those of another scandal-ridden project that will be transferred, the Cobriza gold and copper mine in neighboring Huancavelica region. After three years of being idled by government order over pollution concerns, the decrepit Oroya smelter, which has been dubbed "Peru's Chernobyl," resumed limited operations in July. The local dispute over the issue bitterly divided the local community, pitting campesinos who oppose the smelter against residents employed by Doe Run, who were laid off when the plant was ordered shut. 

Last year, Doe Run Peru was cited by MEM for resuming construction of a tailings containment area at Cobriza without approval. The mine is still officially halted pending an environmental impact review.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Rural Women In Perú Cope "Where Life Is Very Sad"

Resource:  Inter Press Service News Agency

LIMA - When the crops in her rural highlands community in southern Peru were covered with a thick layer of ice one night, Felícitas Quispe, 43, organised her neighbours to make an effort to keep people from starving to death.

It’s been two years since the 2010 freeze left her and dozens of families without corn, potatoes or beans to cover their needs, and without pasture to graze their animals in the rural town of Chare, more than 3,500 metres above sea level in the Andean department of Cuzco.

“There was no food, so the women went with the leaders of the community to the civil defence institute and the agriculture ministry. We got new seeds that are still producing our food today, and we continue to burn manure to produce smoke to protect the crops from freezing,” she told IPS.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Keeping Malnutrition At Bay

Resource:  UNICEF

By Rafahela García Lapouble

LIMA, Peru, 9 January 2012 – In the Andean community of Rosaspata, in Vinchos District, a community health promoter has invited children, their parents and a health centre representative to the local community hall for the area’s biweekly nutrition surveillance programme.

Villagers here are eager to talk about the UNICEF- supported programme, which has helped reduce cases of malnutrition and anaemia among Rosaspata’s youngest children.

Full story...

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Has The Bible Been Corrupted?

Resource:  Got Questions

Question:  "Has the Bible been corrupted, altered, edited, revised, or tampered with?"

Answer:  The books of the Old Testament were written from approximately 1400 B.C. to 400 B.C. The books of the New Testament were written from approximately A.D. 40 to A.D. 90. So, anywhere between 3400 to 1900 years have passed since a book of the Bible was written. In this time, the original manuscripts have been lost. They very likely no longer exist. Also during this time, the books of the Bible have been copied again and again. Copies of copies of copies have been made. In view of this, can we still trust the Bible?

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Monday, October 8, 2012

If Its More Convenient...

Everyone also has an invitation from Rev. John Odom of Starmount Presbyterian Church in Greensboro to hear Hunter Farrell.  Hunter will be speaking at their location on Saturday, October 12, 10-11 AM for those who can’t make the Saturday evening or Sunday morning events at Alamance Church.


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