Ayacucho Approach And Landing

Never Completely Home...

Dear 2014 Perú Mission Trip Team:

Last Friday, July 25, 2014, I was on a flight from Minneapolis to Charlotte, my thirteenth (13th) airplane ride since June 29, 2014! During the flight, I had an opportunity to catch up on some of the mail that had found its way to my home during our time together in Perú.

One of the letters I received was from Nancy Dimmock, a Presbyterian Church (USA) mission worker who has recently returned with her family from the mission field after many, many years of dedicated and faithful service on the African continent. The Dimmock family is the most inspiring family I have ever met.

In her letter, Nancy shared her thoughts about the most recent (albeit short) chapter in her life in Zambia and saying “farewell to deep friendships, a continent, a way of life, home.” Nancy also shared the following quote that someone had sent her. The quote is attributed to Miriam Adeney.

“You will never be completely home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”

I couldn't help but think about not being completely home from Perú. We shared some very special moments during our time there: the love, fellowship and food shared in the kitchen and around the table of the Bellido family; the warm and enthusiastic welcome we received from the congregations of the churches we visited; and the food, friendship and music shared in the home of the Montes family.

Ms. Adeney’s quote rings so true for me.

Thank you for your participation in and contributions to the trip and the personal sacrifices that you and your families made to enable you to love and know people in Perú. I hope the trip was both meaningful and inspiring. Please know that each of you is loved by so many of the people we encountered there.

I quote MJ Shetron’s recent and insightful statement, “God was showing off when he created Perú.”

Indeed He was.

Randy

Peruvian City Of Ayacucho Remains A Museum Of Memory And Sorrow

An Andean Woman Looks For The Coffin Of A Relative

Resource:  The Star

By Oakland Ross

Published 2/10/13

A colonial gem, Ayacucho remembers its long years of suffering, when the terrorist insurgents of Shining Path haunted the Andean region.

They say the past is a distant land and people are different there.

But Adelina Garcia Mendoza recalls the events of Dec. 1, 1983, as if they were part of a film that’s unreeling still, as if she were the same woman she was then — a young wife and mother, just as helpless, just as afraid.

“I remember it all as if it were a moment ago,” she says.

Those were terrible times, the long, dark years of the 1980s and early ’90s, when this handsome colonial town high in the central Andes of Peru was haunted by two murderous forces — an eerie Maoist insurgency known as Sendero Luminoso, or Shining Path, pitted against the Peruvian police and military.

Now a woman of 50, with her long black hair streaked with filaments of grey and pulled back from her bronze, oval face, Garcia huddles at a small wooden table on the second floor of a building that houses the aptly named Museum of Memory. The structure stands on a street called Liberty in the western reaches of Ayacucho, the city where the Shining Path was born, where it thrived for more than a decade, and where it finally collapsed amid a poisoned legacy of murder, grief and enduring loss.

Just now, Garcia is recalling the night three decades ago when Peruvian soldiers in balaclavas burst into the home she shared with her husband and their two infant daughters at 282 Avenida Arenales.

It was after midnight, a curfew was in force, and Garcia and her family were asleep in their beds.

The soldiers seized her spouse of four years, a self-employed welder, aged 27. His name is Jose Zosimo Prado, or at least it was. They muscled him out of the house.

Read more...

2014 Perú Thoughts

Huanta Sunset

Another rewarding and blessed mission trip has come and gone.  The memories of this trip will remain with us for the rest of our lives.  Thanks to everyone that participated and a special thank you for everyone here at home for their prayers, donations and support.

Once again we are indebted to Randy Ross, Sara Armstrong, Rusty Edmondson, Samuel Montes and Brenda Paredes for the trip planning, translating and leadership.

To Randy and Brenda, the "Followers" are sorry for going astray, not listening, not paying attention, borrowing extra money, refusing to shovel Huanta snow and creating unnecessary headaches.  We ALL thank you for your patience.

To the members of the 2014 Perú Mission Team... we are now mission veterans.  We will be asked more questions about the trip than we can imagine;

• "How was it?"
• "Did you get sick?"
• "Was the air hard to breathe?"
• "How was the food?"
• "Did it snow?"

It will be up to us to help spread the word of Jesus Christ and by HIS love we will share the wonders of Perú and it's people with everyone.  We did feel the SPIRIT in this place!

Can you tell that we are excited about 2015?

Senior High Mission Trip

Resource:  Sharon Presbyterian Church

The Senior High Mission Trip participants leave Sunday July 6, for Cosby, Tennessee, where they will be making home repairs for elderly and disabled homeowners.

Please keep these young people and their leaders in your thoughts and prayers:

• John Shealy
• Nick Stukey
• Buck Stukey
• Alex Mack
• Holden Parker
• Audrey Droppelman
• Grace Droppelman
• Christine Dawson
• Harris Milkey
• Mikayla Hailey
• Elizabeth Chappelear
• Ryan Tutwiler
• Mason Armstrong
• Jacob Price
• Natalie Schramm
• Meredith Lewis
• Denton Clark
• Shelby Rose
• Kurt Edwards
• Aman Hyrams
• Matthew White
• Will Harvey
• Katie Lee
• Megan Talley
• Andrew Foard
• Martin Pruitt
• Bill Mathers

The group will return Sunday, July 16.

Mission Update

Resource:  Sharon Presbyterian Church

Nancy Dimmock and the four younger children are leaving Zambia in the next two weeks, heading to a new life in Louisville, where Frank is already working for the PCUSA World Missions Board.

Nancy will be serving with Frank this next year. Please continue to pray for their safe travel home and for their adjustments to a new life in Kentucky.

How To Pack Light

Resource:  US News

By Liz Weiss

Packing requires practicality: Not only must you carefully plot what items to bring, but you must also strategically organize them into one compact carry-on. With steep checked-baggage fees increasing already lofty flight costs, experienced globetrotters often suggest stripping down to the absolute essentials in order to hold on to some dough. Add the burden of shouldering a bulky bag along spread out terminal walkways and you can see why savvy travelers are taking advantage of smart, minimalist packing.

While carrying less cargo certainly has its benefits, even the most seasoned travelers agonize over how to limit excess baggage. But never fear: No matter where you're headed, these nine handy techniques will help you pack as efficiently as possible for your next trip.

Size Up Your Carry-On

You'll run the risk of paying a hefty sum if your bag exceeds your carrier's size requirements for carry-on luggage. Before you consider which particular suitcase to take, check your airline's carry-on baggage restrictions to avoid extra fees. Carry-on bag size dimensions vary by airline. Most domestic carriers allow you to bring luggage as large as 45 linear inches (the total length, width and height of a bag) on board; however, some smaller international airlines like Ryanair impose much stricter dimensions. By opting for a suitcase that doesn't exceed 20 inches in length or 20 pounds fully packed, you should have no problem boarding domestic carriers. New, cutting-edge luggage designs are rolled out every year, but you should stick to the style that suits you. A roll-aboard with soft sides that can be easily laid into an overhead bin allows you to breeze through the terminal on wheels, while a lightweight duffel bag allows you to traverse a variety of terrains.

Make a Checklist 

It may seem like a no-brainer, but making a packing list forces you to differentiate between what's necessary and what's not. Write down exactly how many shirts, pants and shoes you will need, taking into account the climate of your destination. Also, don't forget to use logical numbers to determine necessary clothing — for example, the number of shirts you bring probably shouldn't exceed the number of days you'll be away. And while you're at it, pare down your list once more if you'll be able to wash garments on your trip. After you've thoughtfully calculated what to bring, cross off each item as you lay it next to your bag, and ignore the urge to add any extra articles of clothing at the last minute.

Read more...

I Think I Heard Something

I think I hear a sound...  Is it a groan?  Is it me?  Is it the house?  Is it a dog?  Is it something in pain?  Is it outside...  or is it inside?  I hear a stretching sound.  I hear a tearing sound.  It sounds like a zipper!

It's Time To Get Out The Duct Tape!

I Guess You CAN Stuff Too Much In A Suitcase

Recent News From Huanta

Hola:

Samuel Montes sent a revised proposal late Sunday night. In addition to attending the early evening Sunday School celebrations Monday – Friday and providing funds for the rewriting of the Bible Institute curriculum, we will be painting the living areas for the Bible Institute students.

The old kitchen and bathrooms near the outdoor sinks will also be demolished with new ones constructed. We will be providing funds for the new ones. It’s unclear exactly if we will be involved in the demolition or construction or both. The plan is to have the kitchen and bathrooms completed before the Bible Institute students arrive in August.

Now I am excited!!

Randy

Water Of Life

Resource:  Living Waters For The World Newsletter
By Suzanne Allen

News From Our Partners in Peru

Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson are Presbyterian Church, USA Mission Co-Workers in Peru who have been essential to the success of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Nashville, TN’s Living Waters Ministry in that country. They have translated for us, advised us, traveled with us and introduced us to other Presbyterian congregations. They have worked alongside us as we built water systems and taught hand washing and germ theory and developed relationships with our partners in Peru.

Sara and Rusty are wonderful people, representing our denomination in a powerful way and doing God’s work every day in Peru. They are also the means by which we stay in touch with our Peruvian partners when we are not in the country, and sometimes they even do repairs if needed!

Recently, Sara and Rusty attended a meeting of the General Assembly of the IEPRP, the Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church of Peru (our PC-USA counterpart in Peru). Here is what they told us happened at that meeting:

“After a brief annual report on our work at the IEPRP General Assembly, Elder Ulderico Castro stood up unexpectedly and asked the Assembly for permission to speak.

He told them that, through our offices, the Westminster PC LWW team installed a system in his church in Suyobamba last November.

He said, “Brothers and Sisters of the IEPRP, I want to tell you in more detail about the LWW system. This group spent over a year writing the agreement. They visited Suyobamba several times to design the system. When it came to the installation they did what they said they would do. The system gives fresh water. More important it has become a social ministry for the church. (Ministry to the community around the church is a new idea in Peru). Now our church sells water at 2 soles per bidon (about 60 cents). We now provide water for our community, the school and the clinic. It has become a wonderful social outreach for our church. It is a blessing. Their work is more than what Sara and Rusty said (referring to our brief report). It is deep and profound. The PCUSA and LWW are profound ministries that help us be in social ministry in our community.”

He added that other churches should take advantage of it. Westminster, Living Waters, Rusty and Sara were given applause for the work they do.

Read more...

Drugs, Healthcare And Poverty In Peru

Hi Van!

We just had a 5.4 scale earthquake that sent us flying into the street. But everyone is fine. We had a hot tea to calm down and are back at work.

• Interesting article here:  Peru Changes Anti-Drug Program.  The man mentioned at the bottom, Ricardo Soberon, was one of our speakers at the Peru Network Conference in 2012.
• Here is the latest today on health care in Peru, still frightening but better:  Peru Praised For Progress In Healthcare
• And here is a thoughtful but complex article on poverty reduction:  International Analysis: The End Of Poverty?

Bendiciones de Sara

2014 Mission Update

Hola Everyone!

With just a little over six (6) weeks until our mission trip, I wanted to provide everyone with an update.

The 2014 team consists of:

• DeAnna Booth {Bryson City Presbyterian Church} Bryson City, NC
• Laura Booth {Bryson City Presbyterian Church} Bryson City, NC
• Connie Dale {Sharon Presbyterian Church} Charlotte, NC
• Brenda Paredes {Amen Presbyterian Church} Carabayllo, Lima, Peru & {Sharon Presbyterian Church} Charlotte, NC
• Randy Ross {Sharon Presbyterian Church} Charlotte, NC
• Annie-Kate Sahlie {Christ the King Presbyterian Church} Wilmington, NC
• Marsha Jean ("MJ") Shetron {Sharon Presbyterian Church} Charlotte, NC
• Tom Skinner {Sharon Presbyterian Church} Charlotte, NC
• Beverley Vickrey {Christ Episcopal Church} Charlotte, NC
• Van Dale {Sharon Presbyterian Church} Charlotte, NC

I look forward to serving with each of you and getting to know you better during our time in Peru!

All international and domestic flight reservations have been made. Brenda Paredes and I are currently working on our ground transportation in Lima, Ayacucho and Huanta. Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson are working on our accommodations in Lima, Ayacucho and Huanta.

We will again ask each participant to take an additional checked suitcase this year which will be packed with children's clothing, shoes, craft items, etc. The donations will most likely remain in Lima as we have been made aware of an area church with impoverished members with tremendous needs for such items.

If you are in Charlotte on Sunday, June 8, 2014 and would like to help sort and pack the donations, we will meet at Sharon Church at 3:00 pm in the basement of the Barbara Ward Building, formerly known as the Annex Building. Let's plan to go to dinner afterwards at Genaro's Peruvian Rotisserie or Monterrey Mexican Restaurant, both located on Park Road near Highway 51.

The 2014 trip promises to again be one of witness and service to an amazing Christ. Thank you for participating in this journey.

Blessings to each of you!

Randy Ross

A Letter From Sara And Rusty

Dear Friends at Sharon Presbyterian Church

We just heard about your February gift of $500 to our ministry here in Peru.  Thank you!

A friend is headed to the U.S. today and so we are jumping on the opportunity to send you mail.  As you know, we work with teams.  This year we will travel with nine of them and assist others such as the team Randy Ross will lead to Huanta in July.  It was really good to see him here on his brief visit in March too!  We are placing volunteers in several new locations this year.  We'll be in the U.S. for five month this fall and winter.  As you can tell, it will be a full year.

We thought life would be slower in the sunny summer months so I signed up for Quechua language classes.  Many of our partner churches have members whose first (and only) language is this ancient Inkan dialect.  It has been really interesting to see how language study has opened the culture to new understandings of these people who have been our partners for 6 years now.

Our dream of a long slow summer (January to March) with beach days never really came to fruition.  We had a lot of visitors, and we finished many chores on the "to do" list.  We also attended the General Assemblies of both of our partners denominations and caught up on all their news.

Now we are readying for eight teams in ten weeks.  Six of them are new to Peru and several of the locations where there will work have never received teams.  Everything is new!  The logistics are a huge exciting challenge.  But this is our work;  to be a bridge between PC(USA) churches and their Peruvian partner churches.  We help both sides to new understandings across the gaps caused by different business, church & work cultures.  Add to that barriers caused by four languages and native cultures and it gives you some idea of why we love the challenges.

We enjoyed our last visit with the church.  We'll be back in the U.S. on interpretation mid August.  We plan to be on the east coast through the end of September.  We'll be visiting Charlotte so let us know if there is a possibility of visiting you.  We are just starting to plan our trip now.

Thank you all again for helping me in this challenging work.  You make it possible for so many Christians to work in new and unexpected ways, establishing the kingdom of God.

Saludos Fraternales de Sara Armstrong y Rusty Edmondson
dos_zapatos@yahoo.com

Iquitos Gets High Speed Internet

Resource:  Peru This Week

By Hannah Vickers

The jungle city has had 11 new antennas installed, giving it an internet connection that’s 10 times faster.

Residents of the jungle city Iquitos now enjoy an internet service that’s 10 times faster, thanks to 11 new antennas in the area, reports El Comercio.

The new service was officially launched today with a ceremony. Regional president of Loreto, Yván Vásquez Valera thinks that the service will make a big difference to the city that’s not accessible by road. “It’s the first time that Iquitos will stop being isolated,” he said at the ceremony.

President Ollanta Humala promises that the new higher velocity internet will bring more investments to the city. The new bandwidth is the result of a S/. 180 million investment from Peruvian telephone company, Telefónica del Perú.

Despite being the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest and fifth largest city in Peru, the location and difficulty of access can make Iquitos somewhat isolated. The rubber boom of the early 20th century caused a huge influx of people to the city, which also brought wealth and social development.

Now, Iquitos is a popular tourist destination and many tourists’ first stop when visiting the Peruvian amazon. Iquitos is only accessible by plane or boat, so visits to the capital of the Loreto region have to be more carefully planned.