Shining Path Murders

 

Iquitos Joya del Amazonas

Iquitos Joya del Amazonas from Niels Ahmes on Vimeo.

Good Morning Belén

Sonidos del Perú ◊ 1 ◊ GOOD MORNING BELÉN from Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes on Vimeo.

Belen Iquitos, Perú

belen Iquitos. Peru from Dani Rodilla - Filmmaker on Vimeo.

Iquitos From Above

Iquitos From Above from Niels Ahmes on Vimeo.

Follow Your Way - Perú

Follow Your Way - Peru from Iść Swoją Drogą on Vimeo.

Desire - Perú

Desire - Peru from Video Bros. on Vimeo.

Trouble On The Amazon... X 3

We miss these little guys from our mission trip to Gallito in 2002.

Perú: Dedicated To The World

Beautiful Perú

Contrasts Of Perú

Contrasts of Peru from Sebastian Klinger on Vimeo.

Perú Flooding Latest

Dear Friends,

Many of you have been asking how we are, and how you can help, in light of the nation-wide flooding and regional states of emergency in Peru.

First. All four Mission Co-Workers and three Young Adult Volunteers are safe. We write to let you know how we are responding, and to offer the link to those who want to give.

NEWS
All but one of the 25 provinces of Peru have experienced unusual flooding. The normal occurrence of ‘huaycos’ is 60 per year. (These are the flood waters that come with little warning and a lot of destruction.) We have already had 600 huaycos this year. The historic city of Trujillo has been underwater six times in the last few weeks, as have many coastal communities, particularly in northern Peru. The flooding in Lima got everyone's attention. There are amazing videos which you can find if you Google ‘Peru Floods 2017’. Peruvians have turned out to volunteer and give.

RESPONSES

The PC(USA) signed an agreement with Red Uniendo Manos-Peru (Joining Hands-Peru) that would allow us (Rusty & Sara) to work together on a new program called PERUSA; short-term mission teams with partner organizations that belong to the Red UM. We started “official” work with the Red last week as the news was breaking about all the disasters. Disaster relief became our focus. Working with the Red staff, we have developed a way for you to give through the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance directly to the work that the PC(USA) will be participating in with our partners here in Peru. The work of the Iglesia Evangélica Peruana will be in Paramongo four hours north of Lima. The work of Paz y Esperanza will be in the valley of the Carretera Central heading east out of Lima into the mountains. There is extensive flooding and damage in that area.

GIFTS

Here is the link to make a gift: Presbyterian Mission Agency

THE TOLL

Obviously the toll of damages continues to rise as roads are reopened to rural communities and as rivers overflow their banks in new areas. The unusual rains in the coastal desert and in the jungle are expected to continue for two more weeks. But here are the stats as of today, April 1st from the National Institute of Civil Defense (Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civll - INDECI):

LIFE AND HEALTH

• 101 people have lost their lives
• 353 people have been injured
• 19 people are missing

DAMAGES

• 149,848 persons have suffered severe damages and are in need of immediate humanitarian help (los damnificados)
• 950,498 persons have suffered minor damages, illness and are possibly in need of humanitarian help
• 18,269 houses have collapsed
• 16,315 houses are uninhabitable
• 208,076 houses have suffered damage

SCHOOLS

• 48 schools have collapsed
• 106 schools are uninhabitable
• 1,748 schools have suffered damage

LOCAL HEALTH POSTS

• 13 health posts have collapsed
• 25 health posts are uninhabitable
• 597 health posts are damaged

HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES

• 2,443 km of highway are destroyed
• 5,991 km are damaged
• 264 bridges are destroyed (both pedestrian and vehicular)
• 418 bridges are damaged
• 1,702 km of rural roads are destroyed
• 10,302 km of rural roads are damaged

IRRIGATION AND CROP LOSS

• 4,460 irrigation canals are destroyed
• 9,224 irrigation canals are affected
• 53,656 Hectares of crops are affected (132,582 acres)
• 20,656 Hectares of crops are destroyed (51,040 acres)

As of today, our work will go forward with the Red UM, planning for both short-term relief and longer term recovery. We also will continue with work for all of the 2017 mission teams with the Iglesia Evangélica Peruana.

Thank you for your ongoing interest in Peru and in the work our church shares here. Please pray for the reconstruction and for the strengthening of our ability to respond to disasters.

Saludos y abrazos de Sara y Rusty

Misión Presbiteriana Mundial

Lima, Perú

Sara-Celular: 998 845 847

Presbyterian Mission Connections {Sara Armstrong & Russell Edmondson}

Perú Flood Update

Hello Van!

Here is some news for the Peru Mission site:

This has been a year of crazy extremes weather-wise. Between the unusual coastal rains and flooding, much of the coastal infrastructure has failed and damages are in the millions of dollars. This is the rainy season in the Andes and the jungle. However, the rains are heavier than usual this year. The Amazon River is close to overflowing and more flooding is expected in the Loretto province.

Here is recent data from the National Institute of Civil Defense (Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civll - INDECI):

• 78 people have lost their lives
• 263 people have been injured
• 20 people are missing
• 101,104 persons have suffered severe damages and in need of immediate humanitarian help
• 643,216 persons have suffered minor damages and possibly in need of humanitarian help
• 11,519 houses have collapsed
• 12,440 houses are uninhabitable
• 141,149 houses have suffered damage
• 27 schools have collapsed
• 62 schools are uninhabitable
• 1,194 schools have suffered damage
• 10 health posts have collapsed
• 16 health posts are uninhabitable
• 399 health posts are damaged
• 2,148 km of highways destroyed
• 4,554 km of highways damaged
• 175 bridges destroyed
• 290 bridges damaged
• 872 km of rural roads destroyed
• 4,884 km of rural roads damaged

We have been working with our partners to identify how Presbyterians can help. Presbyterian Disaster Relief works globally with the ACT Alliance and ACT Peru has received $150,000 for direct disaster relief. Peruvians are also showing up in astonishing numbers to volunteer and provide help. As in all disasters, some communities are inundated with help while many other communities have been totally cut off and have received no aid.

We (the PCUSA co-workers in Peru) are collaborating on relief efforts with our Peruvian partners, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and other relief agencies. Within a few days we will let you know how you can help, and which communities will be the focus of the relief work for the Red Uniendo Manos partners, and the Iglesia Evangelica Churches here in Peru.

If you want to be amazed and awed at the power of nature, Google Peru Floods 2017 and look at the videos.  Following are two links to view:  Climate State and Business Insider

Sara Armstrong y Rusty Edmondson
Misión Presbiteriana Mundial
Lima, Perú
Sara Celular: 998 845 847
Presbyterian Mission Connections {Sara Armstrong & Russell Edmondson}

Iquitos News

Dear Friends,

I’m sending this email on behalf of Todd Garrett, President of Medical Missions.

Last night Iquitos experienced an unusual storm with hurricane force winds which have left widespread devastation around the city. Among the fatalities resulting from the storm is former U.S. Marine Bill Grimes who has been a long time tenant of Medical Missions; he has operated a restaurant as well as his “Dawn On the Amazon” tour business out of the Boulevard building. Bill was thrown three stories to the street below when the wind blew out the floor-to-ceiling glass windows on the third floor where he resides. Please pray for Bill’s wife, Marmelita, as well as his family here in the U.S. as they grieve.

The Boulevard building has sustained extensive damage. Downed trees inside of El Jardin have damaged the roof of the house. Margarita and Villa are still assessing damage to other MMI properties as well as trying to determine to what extent the churches may have suffered as a result of this storm. They are awaiting news from Tamshiyacu, Nauta and other villages along the river.

Please keep the people of Iquitos and the surrounding areas in your prayers. The churches and the mission in general will need both prayers and financial support to recover from this tragic storm.

Medical Missions is setting up a fund dedicated to Iquitos for those who would like to help in the recovery process. Please write “Iquitos” on the memo line of your check.

Checks may be mailed to:

Medical Missions, Inc.
P.O. Box 2745
West Columbia, SC 29171

Contact MMI at info@medicalmissions.net for additional information.

Blessings,

Pam McAbee McCraw
www.diapersanddumptrucks.blogspot.com
Young Living Essential Oils, Independent Distributor
Thirty-One Gifts, Independent Consultant

Essential Questions Series

Presenter and Affiliation: Dr. Dennis Smith, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Regional Liaison, Brazil and Southern Cone

Presentation Title: “Essential Questions in Faith and Communication Series, Interview No. 9, Dennis Smith” (Moderated by Mark Fackler)

Date: 9/14/16     Time: 6 - 7 PM, EDT

Description:  This 9th installment in the “Essential Questions in Faith and Communication Series” features Dr. Dennis Smith, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Regional Liaison, Brazil and Southern Cone. Join Dr. Smith as he answers foundational questions such as: How do we define human communication? Why do we communicate? How do we communicate effectively? What’s wrong with human communication? What communication challenges does the Church face today? How does social media make communication better and worse? This webinar is free and open to the public.

Webinar Registration Link

A Dream In The Peruvian Amazon

Presbyterian Mission

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Argentina Oil Company Leaves Perú Town After Protests

Results Of Oil Contamination Reported In Amazon Region

Resource:  BBC

Sent to us from Tom Skinner

An Argentine oil company says it will withdraw from an area of the Peruvian Amazon where it has been prospecting for gas deposits.

The company, Pluspetrol, was asked to leave by the government after the death of a demonstrator in Junin province, during four days of violent protests.

The demonstrators, mostly indigenous people, accused the company of contaminating local rivers and soil. Pluspetrol denied causing any environmental damage.

It said it had met all legal requirements for exploratory work, including getting consent from more than 2,000 farmers in the area. The company said it would remove its remaining equipment from the area, known as Block 108, near the municipality of Pichanaki in the coming days. A spokesman denied the company was being forced to leave, saying it was going because it had finished its work in the area. He said the company had met all legal, environmental and social requirements for exploratory work in the block, including securing consent from farmers and communities.

Pluspetrol started exploratory activities in Block 108 last year with the approval of the government.
Energy and Mines Minister Eleodoro Mayorga said he believed the company had complied with its contract but was asking it to leave the block so that the government could evaluate its activities.

On Tuesday, a crowd of protestors stormed a military base being used by Pluspetrol as a storage area. They were driven back by police firing tear gas but a 25 year-old man was killed and 20 injured, police say.

Reuters news agency says the interior ministry is investigating the illegal use of firearms by police during the demonstrations.

Pluspetrol is also struggling to end conflicts in the northern Amazon, where indigenous protestors have taken control of oil wells and stopped output in the country's biggest oil block. Protests and demonstrations have continued for a decade in Peru in many areas of the country where foreign oil companies are prospecting and mining for oil and minerals.

Related story

Called To Be A Bible Translator

Calvin Hubbard, 90, Still Works With The JAARS Group

Resource: The Charlotte Observer
By John Anderson

The JAARS family celebrated Calvin Hibbard’s 90 birthday Nov. 14.

Hibbard is among the few remaining living members of an early group that worked on Bible translation.

That work continues to be supported by the former Jungle Aviation and Radio Service, now known as JAARS, which has its headquarters on Davis Road, five miles south of Waxhaw.

JAARS uses pilots and mechanics, software developers, media specialists, maritime workers, purchasers and shippers to support those who do translation and literacy work worldwide.

Hibbard was born in Chicago on Nov. 11, 1924. He joined the Army at 18, and went to France and Germany during World War II.

He married in 1948, and together with his wife, Cornelia, went to the jungles of Peru in early 1952, where he worked for 23 years at the JAARS base in Yarinacocha, Peru.

In a series of reflections on his life, Hibbard tells a fascinating tale of devotion and faith.

He has spent the last 64 years as a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators, about 32 of those years as administrative assistant to founder William Cameron Townsend.

“Without a doubt, the greatest call of God on my life was when he put me to work as Cameron Townsend’s administrative assistant in September of 1950, just four weeks after we joined Wycliffe,” Hibbard said. “It was none of my doing, but God brought circumstances together, with the result of my serving with Townsend over a period of 32 years.

Read more...