A Letter From Rusty Edmondson In Perú

December 2011

Speechless!

Maynay Presbyterian members preparing for the dedication ceremony.

The Presbytery of San Gabriel / Living Waters for the World team arrived in Peru and were on their way to completing a project/dream that was set in motion over two years ago to install a water purification system with the people of Maynay.  Like many rural, Quechua-speaking, indigenous communities in the Andes mountains, Maynay struggles with water-borne health issues such as parasites and hepatitis.  The task was clearly laid out and things were progressing well.  They were highly motivated to work for clean water.

The first day of training, in three languages, went forward with a mixture of laughter and puzzled questions.  A focused group dedicated themselves to purchasing needed building supplies in small local stores.  We were grateful that all the needed supplies for the system were available nearby.  Then the electricity went out and the water stopped.  This rarely happens in Maynay because the power is secure and the water is piped directly from a large lake.  Power tools, testing and progress stopped.  On Day Two the installation team with their Peruvian partners worked into the night making great headway.  On Day Three the celebration and dedication of the new system was scheduled at noon.  Clean water production from this system was moments away with lots of anticipation.  Then the electric power went out again.  We could not produce clean drinking water for the dedication, and yet the celebration went ahead anyway.

Early that morning dozens of women arrived from all over town to start cooking for 300 expected guests.  Potatoes were boiled in huge pots over wood fires and then peeled.  Men helped to cut up a large pig in a wheelbarrow and hang it over the fire to sizzle and slowly cook.  Fortunately the lady with the blender was able to grind up all the spices for the puca picante (sliced potatoes in a bright red sauce of beets and chiles) before the power went out.  The Maynay Presbyterian church members were busy decorating streets and city buildings with palm branches and ribbons.  The medical staff from the local clinic arrived, as did the local "press corps."  All of the children were released early from school.  But the ceremony could not go forward without the mayor.  We played games with the children in the street and waited. “O Mr. Mayor . . . dónde está?” could be heard from the gathered crowd, hungrily sniffing the smells of the feast.  Women with buckets of chicha jora, fermented corn beer, circulated through the crowd serving drinks with dippers.  The Protestant minority in Peru does not drink as a witness to their faith, so we all stuck with our water bottles.

Rusty carving and serving roasted pig.

About an hour later the mayor arrived and started the celebration with introductions and speeches.  The San Gabriel folks were showered with rose petals and received bouquets of flowers.  A bottle of cider was smashed over the doorway of the new water room.  The children sang the songs they learned about using clean water. Prayers were offered.  The feast was served and several hundred people enjoyed the meal.  We were content with a wonderful celebration and assumed we would be heading out, to return when the power was restored to finish the systems process and begin producing clean water.

So we were puzzled and curious when we saw community leaders struggling down the dusty street carrying a huge stainless steel bowl with a whole roasted pig on a bed of toasted corn.  Behind them were people carrying six two-liter bottles of Inca Cola.  This procession was led by three elderly ladies in traditional dress wailing a Quechua song at the top of their voices.  Then we realized they were headed for our table.

What to do?  What to say?  Overcoming her speechlessness, Sara hurried over to the pastor who helped us overcome every obstacle over the last two years as this project developed.  She whispered, “Samuel, what do we do with this pig?”  He explained quickly that both the gift and the songs were traditions going back 500 years to Inca times.  This was the community's way of thanking us.  We were to take the pig home and eat it. “But, Samuel," she gasped, “we are staying in a hotel.  Is there another option?”  He assured her that the community would be delighted to share the pig with us.

You never know when the hunting skills you learned growing up will come in handy!  Rusty took out his pocketknife and began carving up the pig.  Community members laughed in amazement as they helped us to enjoy and celebrate this special moment.

Later in the afternoon the electrical power was restored and clean water flowed into the awaiting cups of joyful people. We were privileged to witness again what joys God has in store for His people when they work together as one community.  Dreams are fulfilled and prayers are answered.

Rusty

Pray For Puchana

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2012 Perú Mission Trip Meeting

The 2012 Mission Trip to Huanta, Peru promises to be one of witness and service to Jesus Christ. Do you feel God’s call to participate in this year’s trip?

Informational meetings will be held at Sharon Presbyterian Church, 5201 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC  28210, on Sunday, February 12, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. in the Annex basement and Sunday, February 19, 2012, promptly after the 10:30 a.m. worship service in the Heritage Room.

The trip is open to adults and a limited number of youth. Youth participants must be at least a rising high school junior this year. At least one parent or legal guardian of each youth participant must also participate.

The trip is scheduled to take place from Friday, August 3rd through Monday, August 13th.

Trip information and application forms will be distributed at the meetings. Forms will also be available from the Peru Mission Trip mailbox (located on the top row of mailboxes in the hallway just outside the church office) on Sunday, February 12, 2012, or by contacting Randy Ross at 704-552-5573 or mrandallross@aol.com.

Trip applications, deposits and passport copies are due Sunday, March 11, 2012. Please contact Randy if you are unable to attend either meeting but are still interested in participating or learning more about the trip.

La Oroya Health

Our environmental study of La Oroya was finally published! It is the only independent study done in La Oroya since the plant stopped operating -- showing the continued and extremely high public health risks the contamination continues to present to children.

Jed Hawkes Koball

Lead, Arsenic, and Cadmium Contamination and Its Impact on Children's Health in La Oroya, Peru.

Roberta News!

Sarah and I Skyped with Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson this evening. Guess who is recuperating in the apartment next door? Yes, none other than Roberta Tello! She looked great, good color, great spirit and big smiles. She sends her love and gratitude for all the thoughts and prayers and is looking forward to seeing everyone in Huanta in August.

Randy

From Yesenia Montes!

Hi my dear friends!

I write this little letter to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, is already a bit late, but I could not write before because I was traveling with my family during this time, we will spend incredible!

We were visiting my grandparents and enjoyed it very much!

At Christmas we went to visit my grandparents, they live in a small community Huayllay an hour north of Huanta, very cold and snows although there was much fog, so it was a white Christmas! Cook chicken, sang, prayed and walked around the farms of my grandparents, it was fun!

In the new year, we went to my paternal grandfather, who lives alone in a small community Ccaranacc geographically located in the department of Huancavelica, but is two hours west of Huanta, but cars do not come to the same community had to walk 8 miles to get there, but it was great fun, from there you can see the beautiful valley and the mountains Huanta! It's very nice! These days we had our first meeting of the Montes family cousins, we went almost all the grandchildren of my grandfather and prepare a special meeting of reflection and communion between us. We barbecue, a typical Peruvian food is prepared in special moments and hope the New Year with lights and campfire songs and everything! It was very nice!

You see, I really enjoyed this time, and I learned and understood many things that were on my mind, I realized that to achieve our goals we can not stop one bit, we can slow down when we get tired, but never stop to reach the goal, and I'd like to share this with you, to encourage them to do that this year, not detain us achieve our dreams, maybe we can slow down when we get tired, but we do not stop until our goals, we appreciate much to pray for me and my dreams and encourage me when they think I am tired.

Thank you for your friendship and brotherhood!
I'm really happy to know friends who are like brothers ... to feel your love, your presence, your support makes me understand how great is the love of Christ for us, thank you very much for that!
I hope this new year is a great blessing to you and their families.
Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

With much love and appreciation,

Yesenia Montes Ñaupa
Int. Psicología - UNMSM
Cel: 945234204
Huanta, Ayacucho

Happy New Year From Samuel

Dear brothers in Christ.

Please receive my greetings.  I hope with the coming year that we will do well under the grace of our Creator.  I just want to tell you some very important actions that have taken place.

At the end of the year, we had the renewal of the Huanta Presbytery Board.  Thanks be to God that a decision for the new Board for 2012 - 2013 was decided after much discussion from the leaders;

• President - Ps. Orlando Bell
• Vice President - Ps. Huicho Gaspar
• Secretary - Ps. Samuel Montes
• Treasurer - Pb. Bellido Moses (father of Orlando)

After the election, we immediately had a meeting and agreed on the following key things:

1. To strengthen our task of training for church leaders through the Presbyterian Bible College as a strategy to reinforce peace and deal with the uncertainty of our young people today.  (beginning with the preparations for the monthly cycle February).
2. Developing a strategic plan as a priority to guide Presbytery IEPRP institutionally - Huanta.
3. Rekindle a relationship that is intended to increase again the Presbyterian Churches of the Andes in partnership with Radio Amauta, other Presbyteries, Synods and PCUSA friends.  (many people need the Word of God).
4. Reinforce the twinning or union with friends, PCUSA churches, PCA and GZB.  It is our hope to further strengthen the ministry of Christ in the midst of a society that suffers a crisis of values.  Work with the faith in Christ by following his example and by being open and honest.

We have completed a year and started a new one as a family together.  We spent Christmas in the mountains with the parents of my wife.  They are in good health so far.  For the new year, we had planned to visit my father with all of his grandchildren.  He lives 80km from Huanta in the region of Huancavelica.  With all of the grandchildren, it was a very happy time to be with him on Saturday, December 31 and Sunday, January 1, 2012.  We had many activities with the children.  Their grandfather told stories, we sang, we prayed, burnt dolls before the new year and had barbecue for lunch.

With much appreciation.

Ps. Samuel Montes

What Lima Has To Offer

One of my favorite “best of” categories, the Biggest Surprise award goes to the destination that surpassed expectations or defied preconceived notions. And in 2011, Lima, Peru certainly fit the bill.

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Greetings From Samuel Montes

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,


Receive my warm greetings and greetings from my wife and children in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I want you to know that thanks to God, we spent the year of 2011 without any major problems. We are confident of the love of Christ and we thank you for your caring and your support from the very first day we met.


I thank God that he has given me the privilege of visiting and interacting with many of my fellow believers and nonbelievers. I have been trying to guide them, encourage them spiritually and find material support for their families and churches. As a result of this, the Cristo Rey Church in Huanta finds itself wanting to work independently as zoned by geographic location. I hope it that all of this will prove for the glory of God. I am supporting the process with monthly outreach visits which fills me with great joy. I see the work we have done with and for them (pews, pulpits, shelves, pastoral bibles, and sleeping bags). All are a testimony of love that remain from your visit.


Brothers and Sisters in Christ, my whole family wishes that this Christmas will be days of peace and love in the family. We renew our commitment to Him. We pray that 2012 will be full of blessings and achievable commitments.


God bless you and a BIG HUG FOR EVERYONE.


Samuel Montes

Roberta Tello Update

Sara and Rusty met with Yesenia Montes earlier today and received an update on Roberta Tello. Roberta’s left leg was amputated earlier this week. Yesenia reports that Roberta is in good spirits despite the trauma that she has experienced over the past couple of weeks. After a few more days in the hospital’s intensive care unit and additional recovery time, Roberta will begin physical therapy. Sara and Rusty hope to schedule a time to visit Roberta this weekend, but visiting hours for intensive care patients are very limited.

Radio Amauta held a fundraiser for Roberta two weeks ago and raised S./5,000 (approximately US$1,800) for Roberta’s medical expenses.

Please continue to keep our dear sister in your thoughts and prayers. As I hear more news, I will pass it along.

Yesenia sends hugs to all!

Randy

Prayer Request

Please Pray for Roberta Tello

It is with great sadness that I tell you that Roberta Tello, a member of Cristo Rey Church in Huanta, has a cancerous tumor under her left knee. Her health is deteriorating. She has limited resources for medical care.

Participants on the 2009 and 2011 mission trips to Huanta will remember Roberta for the delicious lunches she prepared each day for the students and faculty of the Bible Institute and for mission trip participants.

Samuel Montes writes: “We pray to the Lord for the health of our sister Roberta Tello, a woman with a long history in the church and at Radio Amauta. She is like our mother and has a tremendous amount of faith in the Lord and in us. We are praying for a miracle from God.”

Please keep Roberta, her family and all of our brothers and sisters in the Presbytery of Huanta in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Randy

Whitening Peruvian Andes

Perú’s Country Brand

Perú has moved up three places in the world ranking of ‘Country Brands’, rising from 47th to 44th position and placing it in the top five countries in Latin America according to the new Country Brand Index report (CBI).

The ranking, by the Country Brand Index (CBI), is based on awareness, familiarity, preference, consideration, advocacy and active decisions to visit or interact with a place.

Perú also remains in the top five countries worldwide in the category of ‘Cultural Heritage’ and was the only Latin American country to make it into the top twenty countries in this category.

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Perú’s Travel Treasures

If you want to see something truly indescribable, go to Machu Picchu in Perú. One of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu is an Incan city that remained unknown to the Spanish conquistadors and to outsiders in general until it was "discovered" (I use this term loosely because the local people knew of its existence) by Yale professor Hiram Bingham in 1911.

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