Doe Run Peru's La Oroya Restarts

The administrator of the Doe Run Peru company, Rocio Chavez, announced Saturday that operations will resume at the smelter in the city of La Oroya, 185 kilometers (115 miles) from Lima, which was shuttered three years ago due to the company's financial woes and failure to comply with environmental clean-up requirements.

"We have come to La Oroya to tell all the people of La Oroya and Peru that on this memorable date we announce the restarting of operations at the metallurgical complex of La Oroya after its being shut down for three years," Chavez said on RPP radio.

Full story...

Outrage Over Death Squad Decision

Peruvians are reacting with widespread anger to a Supreme Court ruling that could allow the imminent release of military death squad members who took part in notorious 1990s killings under the government of Alberto Fujimori.

In the 3-2 ruling, seven members of the so-called Colina death squad created under the auspices of then-spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos may now apply immediately for parole, legal experts say.

Full story...

Perú Visits Peru

Hola!

People continue to ask us why we love Perú and we answer "es la gente" (it's the people).  This video will give you a glimpse into the passion we live with "aqui en Perú" (here in Perú).

saludos de rusty y sara

What happens when Perú brings its culture to the small town of Peru, Nebraska?

The new ambassadors of Perú — including chefs Gastón Acurio and Javier Wong, surfer Sofia Mulanovich, writer Rafo León, comedian Gonzalo Torres and folklore singer Dina Paucar — eat ceviche, dance huaynos, drink pisco and more with the 569 residents of Peru, Nebraska.

Sharon Youth And Advisers Travel To Hamilton, Ohio

While in Hamilton, the group helped with repairs to homes of area residents. The group will share their story and photos with the congregation on Sunday, August 26, at a covered dish luncheon following the worship service.

Row 1: Audrey Young, Brooke Stanford, Ally Butler, Brittany Stanford, Anna Shealy
Row 2: Grant Parker, Tim Brown, Katie Lee, Mason Armstrong, Christine Dawson, Elizabeth Chappelear
Row 3: Randy Butler, Andrew Foard, Josh Greer, Shelby Rose, Chandler Schramm, Ryan Tutwiler, Alex Mack

Perú And Chile Tensions Flare

LIMA, Peru — Historical tensions between Chile and Peru are on the rise ahead of a keenly awaited ruling on the South American nations’ disputed maritime frontier.

The latest source of friction has been a leaked draft of Santiago’s national defense strategy, published in Peru, in which Chilean President Sebastian Pinera warns that his country must be ready for armed conflict.

Full story...

Loreto Perú Visits Loreto Italy

Avondale Group Returns To Charlotte

Hey Van!

We had an amazing time in Sicuani and I think all the youth were in some way transformed. It was definitely out of their comfort zone and some of them didn't speak any Spanish, but they did great and made new friends and came home with a new outlook on life. I think we all feel more connected to the world. They witnessed the warm spirit of the Peruvian people and it was good for all of us to see the strength of their evangelism. I think our time there and our work did make a real difference to the people of the seminary and for future students as well. But it's impossible to ignore the impact that they've had on us as well. I pray that this experience will stay with these youth for a long time. And I really hope that we can continue to support a bridge between us and them in the future.

We will probably do a presentation to the church at some point and I will let you know when I find out.

My love to the Sharon crew!

Thanks,
Shea Chambers

A Perú For Each And Everyone

Greetings From Perú

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Lima, Peru. So many of you enjoyed the first Marca Peru video about Peruvians trying to show their culture to the people of Peru, Nebraska that I thought you might enjoy the next video created to promote tourism in Peru. We have been here three-and-a-half years now and there are many things we enjoy about living here. One is the sense of humor so evident in these videos. I hope you love them too.

We head out again tomorrow with our eighth team this year. These youth from LA will enjoy the Andean highlands around Ayacucho and Cusco over the next two weeks. The second week we will leave them to come back to Lima and prepare for one more team and then 10 weeks of itineration in the States. We wish we could see all of you but we are trying to keep the travels to 6,000 miles this year.

Our best to all of you!

Sara and Rusty

Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Coordinadores de Alianzas y Delegaciones con las Iglesias Reformadas de Peru'
www.puentesperuanos.org
http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/armstrong-sara-and-russell-edmondson/

Avondale Senior High Mission

The mission group from Avondale Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, North Carolina has returned back home.  We all are glad they are back safe and sound.  We look forward to hearing about their wonderful trip to Cusco, Peru and the 4 day trek on the Inca trail.

Port Orange Mission

The mission team from Port Orange Presbyterian Church of Port Orange, Florida will be leaving on their trip to Esteli, Nicaragua early tomorrow morning.  The group of 16 are working with Young Life and will return on July 29th.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers for a wonderful spiritual journey and a safe return!

GOP Panel Rips Donor's Business Practices In Perú

A Republican-controlled House panel on Thursday took the highly unusual step of slamming a U.S. company's environmental and trade practices abroad.

The Foreign Affairs Committee's human-rights panel held a hearing on the mining practices of Doe Run Peru, which is accused of running smelting operations that have caused massive environmental contamination. The company is a unit of the holding company Renco Group, whose billionaire CEO Ira Rennert is a longtime Republican donor who contributed more than $50,000 to House Minority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.)'s reelection this year.

Full story...

Reaching Out

Rose Boelke has shared with us the following message. Thank you Rose.

Psalm 16:8-11
8 I keep the LORD in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely.
10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay.
11 You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

Dear Rose,

Do you know what it's like to be overwhelmed by the world? Do you know what its like to be brought down to your knees, feeling powerless to help someone in need? Have you ever felt like you have a broken rudder and feel helpless to navigate yourself through the stormy sea of life?

Of course you have, because we all experience the feel helpless, overwhelmed, and powerless at times. But in those moments we have a choice to be left handed or right handed.

"He Dexiá" is the Greek word for "God’s right hand" and it is a symbol of his POWER. It is symbolic of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The Messiah is referred to in the Passover Haggadah as the right hand of God. In His right hand, God shows His Character, His Power, His Love, His Grace, His Mercy and His Guarantee of Security. In times of stress and trauma, when the horrors of living in this world overwhelm us, those who abide in "He Dexiá", will rest securely, because the ONE who defeated death and the grave, Jesus/Yeshua, possesses all the POWER to save you, redeem you, and walk you through the storms.

Rose Take a moment to praise God today. Ask Him to be YOUR right hand. Then put your faith and hope in Him...God's right hand, not in your own.

Pastor Elliott

Poison Harvest: Deadly U.S. Mine Pollution In Peru

A U.S. Congressional Subcommittee Hearing on La Oroya hosted by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ), with Presentations by Archbishop Pedro Barreto, Rosa Amaro and Dr. Fernando Serrano

This Thursday, July 19, 2:00 p.m. EST

You can watch online!  Link

Can A Metropolis Die Of Thirst?

LIMA, Peru — The Santa Rosita kindergarten appears like an oasis of color amid the grays and browns of Huaycan, a grim Lima shantytown sprawling upwards into the dusty Andean foothills.

Yet appearances could not be more deceiving. The only water at Santa Rosita is that brought in buckets by the parents of the 30 toddlers, ages 3 to 5, enrolled here.

They use it to drink, wash their hands and flush the toilet in the outhouse behind their classroom, a glorified shack with wooden planks for walls and a corrugated metal roof.

Some of the water is treated, brought by parents with running water at home. But some is not.

Full story...

Young Adult Volunteers - Mission And Ministry

Volunteers are placed through the Uniendo Manos Contra la Pobreza, the Perú Joining Hands Network. The desire to address the root causes of poverty is what pulls the 12 Peruvian institutions in the Perú Joining Hands Network together. Each institution has its own work in different communities in Perú, but together they do advocacy in environmental justice, economic development and human rights.

Full story...

U.S. Returns Artifacts

Washington - US authorities returned 14 stolen and looted paintings and artifacts to Peru on Thursday, including four archaeological items more than 2,000 years old.

Full story...

The Amazing Andes

The mysterious grandeur of Machu Picchu and timeless village life calls out to the adventurous.

Perched on a high, rugged Andean mountain ridge, the Inca site Machu Picchu took my breath away. I'm sure American Hiram Bingham would have felt the same when he "discovered" this engineering and archaeological marvel in 1911. Huge terraces line the mountainsides on the 30-hectare site; a veritable metropolis of residences and temples sits atop the mountain. I could sense in the whistling wind the spirits of those who once lived here.

Full story...

2012 Perú Mission Trip Commissioning

Buenas Noches!

Perú mission trip participants will be commissioned during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, July 29, 2012, at Sharon Presbyterian Church. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend if your schedule permits.

Sarita has been communicating with Samuel Montes and Gamaliel Berrocal this past week via Facebook. It appears we are not the only ones counting the days until we arrive in Huanta!

We have been asked by the Reverend Dr. Harry Horne if we would transport some of his books and other materials back to the United States from Perú at the end of our mission trip. Harry and his wife Debbie are retiring this year after nearly 30 years of faithful service in the mission field with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

I invite you to read about Harry and Debbie via the following link:

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/horne-harry-and-deborah/

Now less than three (3) weeks before our trip begins. It finally seems real!

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information regarding the trip.

Peace.

Randy

Avondale Senior High Mission Update 2

Teamwork

Hi everyone! We are finishing up our third work day at the bible institute. You all would be so proud of our youth. We have torn out sidewalks with pick ax and done lots of electrical work and are putting in new sidewalks and a concrete and plaster facade on their sanctuary building. Of course it takes about 3 Americans to do the work of one Peruvian! But there is a good crew of people to help us! A local youth group is going to join us for a bonfire tonight with songs and games. We are doing pretty well with the language barrier. We love and miss you all. We will work a half day tomorrow then go see the Aguascalientes (hot springs).

Shea

Machu Picchu Visits

A few of our Sharon Presbyterian mission group this year will be visiting Machu Picchu.  One team will be leaving Charlotte early and joining us in Lima.  Another team will stay behind after our mission trip to enjoy a 4 day trek on the Inca Trail.  Please keep both groups in your prayers for safe and wonderful journeys.



View Larger Map

Avondale Senior High Mission Update 1

We made it to Cusco this morning after a full night of travelling.  Explored the city a little and then tested out the beds with a siesta! Having dinner tonight with Rusty and Sara Armstrong and leaving in the morning for Seminario Bíblico Iep Sicuani Cusco. What great youth we have... Reid Parler, Tracie Hayes, Emily Shannon, Nate Tomey, Joshua Oswald, Keely McKenzie, Jack McKenzie, and Erik Thomson! And Jessica Blackmon, Zach Chambers and Todd Oswald are pretty cool, too! And happy Birthday to Nate! Our love to our family and friends back home. Thanks for your prayers and support!

Shea Chambers

Avondale Presbyterian Church

Charlotte, North Carolina

PS  Cusco and Sicuani are located in purple on the map at the bottom of this page!

My Favorite Place

This may look like a commercial for Ayacucho and Huanta, but even if you do not speak the language, it shows the beauty and the warmth of the region. Each of us that have been fortunate enough to travel to Huanta, have witnessed only a portion of the magnificence of the area and the people... and we can't wait to return!

Avondale Senior High Mission Trip

July 8, the Senior High School Youth group from Avondale Presbyterian Church in Charlotte will be leaving for a once in a lifetime trip to Perú.  The 8 high school students and 4 very brave adults will be enjoying time together in the Peruvian highlands.

In the days preceding their Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, everyone will be working at the Biblical Institute of Theology in Sicuani and Cusco. The group will be working alongside students and members of the local Presbytery to help repair and expand the seminary facility.

The team is scheduled to return to Charlotte on July 22.

Please keep these young people and adults in your prayers. We pray that the coming few weeks will be a rewarding and wonderful experience that will help shape our future leaders.

Perú Trip Information

Hola All:

I have updated the information memo for this year's trip.  I hope you will find it helpful and informative as you begin your final trip preparations.

Four weeks and a couple of hours and we should all be in Peru for our week of fellowship!

Thanks and blessings to all!

Randy

Counting Down

We Can't Wait To Stretch Out On The Plane

Probiotics this morning!

With the temperatures here in Charlotte over 100°...  we are staying inside with the dogs and packing for Perú!

Only 32 days to go!!