Perú's COVID Crisis

Thoughts And Prayers Needed

Thoughts and prayers needed for our friends and family in the Ayacucho region of Perú.

• Perú's Shining Path Rebel Group Kills 16
• U.N. Condemns Murders

Shining Path Murders

 

Happy Learning

You Are Invited To An Event In Honor Of Molly F. Greene

Please join us in celebrating the joy, integrity, and generosity that defined the life of Molly F. Greene, co-founder of Water Mission, Thursday, March 18, 2021.

Seating begins at 5:30 p.m. Program begins promptly at 6:00 p.m.

Join us in person at Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant or virtually via an interactive livestream of the celebration.

Learn More & RSVP. Please RSVP by March 5. Childcare is not available.

COVID In Perú

I heard from Brenda today and learned that COVID has struck the Paredes family. Kiara tested positive yesterday, but it's not clear yet how severe it is. She lives at home with Alfredo, Miriam, Kevin and Sébastien so they're all at increased risk.

Brenda lives in her own apartment and is very careful about visiting family. She had been back in the office for a few weeks, but is now working home again because of the national lockdown. One of her office coworkers tested positive shortly after they returned to work, so I'm thrilled she's not going to the office at least until Feb 14.

We all know how the Peruvian healthcare system struggles. Brenda told me about 2 weeks ago they had only recently ordered the first million vaccine doses. This link shares a bit more information about the current situation. Brenda requests prayers for her family and for all of Perú.

Connie

Julia And Samuel Health Update

I talked to Pastor Samuel this morning.

Fortunately, both Pastor Samuel and Julia are feeling better. He said they've recovered with Andean herbs and lots of rest. Their sense of smell is back, so that's a good sign.

Please stay well and safe y'all too! This virus is not going away and we need to protect ourselves.

Love,
Brendita

Julia And Samuel Health

I got the following message from Samuel today:

I'm already getting better from COVID. Me and Julia were sick. Thank God we are better. How is your Health?. How are they going?

Connie

Perú Day

Dear Peru Crew,

As part of World Communion emphasis month, tomorrow will be "Peru Day" in worship at Sharon. Khris has reached out to Miriam, Samuel, Chenoa, and Jose to lead the multilingual service. Khris showed me a quick preview this morning. Chenoa and Jose will do the Call to Worship. Miriam will lead the Lord's Prayer. Samuel will read from I think Psalm 106. Khris is also incorporating two videos he made when he was there with us, one when we worshipped in the hole in the ground at VRAE II, and one when we partied and worshipped with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Huanta in the courtyard of La Posada, where Gamaliel led the singing. (I saw Beverly sitting on the front row). Randy and I make a token appearance at some point doing a Minute for Mission (sorry to say, our part is not multilingual).

You can catch the online service either through the church website, Facebook, or You Tube. Personally, Linda and I have gotten quite spoiled attending these online services at a time of our own choosing, and sometimes in our pjs' with a mug of coffee in hand.

Saludos! I miss you guys. The quick preview Khris showed me brought back a flood of wonderful memories. Please stay in touch.

Take good care!

Ton

More Good News!

Good Morning Van! Thank you for sharing on your network! What good news!

If you want to you could post some more news.

• At the IEP seminary for Quechua speaking students where Presbyterians have worked south of Cusco in Sicuani, the Director Santiago Condori, his son and the watchman have recovered but his wife Ana Maria is still quite ill with COVID.
• Pastor Leopoldo who worked with churches here in the US to build a seminary near Quillabamba in the jungle had a stroke and is recovering with family in Cusco. Even thus impaired he is working to serve members of his church in Cusco.
• The Mission Co-Workers are well but Jose’s father died in Bolivia and he was not able to go back.
• Gabi is in her last semester of college (Halleluia!) She is still working for Living Waters but there is not much work now. Urpi is in Cusco. They have been apart since mid-March. Urpi has been working on building her house as she can but again it is difficult without being able to leave her house and work. Her Mama Eva is well. Urpi is applying for a job this week. She got to put all the fun word we did together on her resume.
• Rusty and I are well. You can imagine that this shutdown has killed most of his plans for retirement travel. It is the first Sunday in Cortez that seems like fall. I love it here although the challenges of COVID pastorates often seem horrendous. We are taking time off in October to participate in a CREDO conference put on by the PCUSA Board of Pensions. Since its virtual Rusty and I will get a Vrbo house in SE Arizona for a week and have fun when I am not online. I’m counting the days ’til we leave!

It was good the hear from you. God bless you and Connie as you enter into the joy of fall in NC.
Abrazos de Sara

Message From Gamaliel

"My mother was infected with the virus but thank God she recovered and returned home...  Daniel, Kenny, Raquelita, Jeimy and I are healthy..."

Walking With Puriyninchik

Dear brothers / sisters!

Receive our affectionate greeting from Perú, in the love of Christ, for which we are brothers and family in the Lord, our Father. Today I am writing to greet you and through you to your family and all the sisters and brothers of the church.

We are going through a difficult and complicated time with this virus, however, we are happy to announce the Puriynichik website, finally, we successfully completed the construction of this website, where we will share news about the association, our projects, actions and reflections from Ayacucho - Perú.

Who can we thank for this blessing? Only to God, our Father who, in his infinite love, prepared this precise moment for the website to be ready. But we also want to thank you, brother, who always supported us with your offerings, your prayers and your words of love and encouragement. Many thanks!

So brother, we want to invite you to review the link and share it with the church, your friends and family.

The website is: https://puriyninchik.org/ has the option of being read in Spanish and English, just click on the United States flag for the English version, or follow this link: https: // puriyninchik.org/en/home

Please let us know your opinions and comments, we would love to receive your messages by email: puriyninchik@gmail.com

I say goodbye to this Bible verse from Romans 8:28:

"We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good."

This time in captivity helped us to strengthen our faith, to read the Bible, to pray and to work… Now, when we see the web page made, we feel so happy, truly ALL THINGS HELP US WELL.

I say goodbye, also encouraging you to remain in the love of the Lord, because apart from Him we can do nothing ...

In the love of Christ,

Yesenia Montes

Puriyninchik - Perú

Just Breathe - A Letter From Chenoa Stock

Lent 2020

Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a Light to my path.

I lay on the floor of our living room, listening to my two-year-old son enjoying “tubby time” with my husband, and took a moment to breathe after a busy day. These are rare months of sun in the desert city of Lima, and it does not disappoint neither in ferocity nor beauty. Breathing in, I looked up at the wall and noticed how the rays of the setting sun were illuminating our wedding banner—a rainbow-colored Chakana Cross, with the Earth image of North and Latin America in the middle, with its organic colors of blue, green and white. Breathing out, I remembered the words of our wedding bulletin explaining the Chakana as: “traditionally the cross of the indigenous Andean Inca Civilization of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Over the years, The Chakana has become more universally recognized as a symbol of the wholeness and interconnectedness of all life and of all of God’s creation.”

With each breath, I can imagine that in these past weeks we have all felt the powerful interconnectedness of life, with the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world. We are all facing similar disruptions to our daily routines and challenges in finding a “normal” amidst so many life changes and fears. Here in Peru, President Martin Vizcarra declared a military-enforced, national state of emergency on March 15th for 15 days. The borders are closed. Every citizen is required to self-quarantine. All schools and establishments, except grocery stores and hospitals, are closed. More recently, a curfew has been imposed.

Though the different measures taken by governments may physically separate us as a society even more, perhaps it will truly give us the time and space to breathe, to spiritually and emotionally draw us together, and to interconnect on another level with ourselves and with Earth. In the Spanish language, quarantine is cuarentena. Lent is Cuaresma. On the surface (I am not claiming a degree in etymology here), these are such similar words for similar times. Perhaps this time of darkness, both for the world and during this church season, feels endless, makes us feel like we’re walking life alone, and creates doubt in ourselves and in each other. A Lenten quarantine, if you will, for our global village.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the World Mission Crisis Management Team (CMT) has been monitoring the situation and effectively communicating information and decisions with staff. Due to the uncertainty of the spread of the virus and what future measures might be taken by governments, the CMT announced a work travel ban for all staff, including Mission Co-Workers, while also strongly encouraging everybody to work from home. This recent decision, as well as the many other factors, called for deep reflection and faithful action. We decided to cancel our medical mission team in May and postpone or perhaps cancel other church groups scheduled for later this summer. This is disappointing news for both our Peruvian partners and our U.S. church teams. We have, however, come to the mutual understanding that the health and well-being of everyone involved is our greatest concern and responsibility.

Although the physical presence of the mission teams might be absent this summer, our call to partnership and solidarity with our partners is not. Our solidarity is made stronger through prayer and mutual accompaniment as we faithfully walk this Lenten cuarentena together.

The journey is always one of alternating darkness and light. During this time of darkness and ‘fasting’, we can use this time to ‘feast’ on things that bring us closer to God: God-given gifts within ourselves, the silence to connect with ourselves, and deeper consciousness to connect with those around the world in order to, as the Chakana reminds us, feel our oneness with all of God’s Creation.

One light for us now is our son, Leandro. Though our apartment is not as exciting as a park, his friends, or his scooter, we are digging deep into our creativity to ensure that our confined days provide time and space for learning, fun, imagination, and love. In our tight quarters, he continually reminds us of the simplicity of life, the importance of connecting as a family, the little joys of dancing and singing, and taking the journey one day at a time.

It is not always easy, but darkness never is, and we, as a people of faith, were never promised it would be. Maybe these difficult times will bring a better world for our son and his friends. After taking the time to breathe, we can hopefully look up at the clearer skies. We can give thanks that the Earth is being given this chance to heal from excessive auto emissions and pollution. Perhaps we will begin to change our habits for the good of God’s Creation. There is always light amidst the darkness.

Thank you for walking with us on this journey during these unique and challenging times. Please keep our Peruvian and PC(USA) church partners and the world in your prayers.

May this Lenten cuarentena journey reveal to all of us God’s love, wholeness, and healing light, one breath at a time.

Peace and hope,

Chenoa

Link to Chenoa Stock's entire letter including pictures.

News From Yesenia

Connie and Van!

Receive our affectionate greeting in the love of Christ, for which we are brothers and family in the Lord, our Father. Today I am writing to greet you and send you all our love.

Receive greetings also from my family: My father Samuel, my mother Julia who always think and pray for you, also receive greetings from Denilson my brother, and from Misael Lunazco who is already like another brother and member of Puriyninchik.

We want to announce that we have finally successfully completed the construction of the Puriyninchik website, where we will share news about the association, our projects, actions and reflections.

Who can we thank for this blessing? Only to God, our Father who, in his infinite love, prepared this precise moment for the website to be ready. But we also want to thank you, brother, who always supported us with your offerings, your prayers and your words of love and encouragement. Many thanks!

Therefore, we want to invite you to review the link and share it with the church, your friends and family. The website link is:  https://puriyninchik.org and has the option of being read in Spanish and English, just click on the United States flag for the English version, or follow this link: https://puriyninchik.org/en/home

Please let us know your opinions and comments, we would love to receive your messages by email: puriyninchik@gmail.com

We encourage them, with the faith that, as Romans 8:28 says: We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good. This time in captivity helped us to strengthen our faith, to read the Bible, to pray and to work… Now, when we see the web page made, we feel so happy, truly ALL THINGS HELP US WELL.

I say goodbye, also encouraging you to remain in the love of the Lord, because apart from Him we can do nothing ...

In the love of Christ,

Yesenia Montes