A Peruvian Welcome Of A Lifetime

We received a warm welcome in 2013 from our hosts at the church in Huancayocc, Perú

A Note From Samuel Montes

I wanted to share with each of you an excerpt from a letter that I received from Samuel today in which he also confirmed receipt of this year's project funds.

" I send our gratitude to each of our brothers and sisters of Sharon who accompanies us and motivates us with an example of how to love God and our neighbor."

Randy

Brenda Paredes' Education Fund

I am Brenda Paredes from Lima, Perú, an international student at UNC Charlotte currently earning my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish with full financial support from a local church. I will graduate in December, 2016 with this degree as well as a certificate in Spanish Business Language. I have earned high honors throughout my time here, have been inducted into multiple honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi and will graduate with a GPA of at least 3.8.

Having been born and raised in Perú, I have seen and experienced extreme poverty and the struggles females face in a male dominated culture. While I’ve been fortunate to realize many of my dreams, I want to set an example that women have significant value and can contribute equally in helping a family rise above poverty. A woman with an advanced degree is uncommon in Perú, but is given opportunities to impact lives in ways other women simply can’t.

I have been accepted into the Masters of Arts in Latin American Studies program at UNC Charlotte and will start this curriculum in January. I plan to use what I learn here to start a Non-Profit Organization that will focus on helping and empowering low income Latin American women to reach their full potential.

Unfortunately, my family in Perú is unable to help me financially and my local sponsors have done all they are able to do. Being an international student, I must continue to pay “out of state tuition” and simply don’t have the resources for this. My per semester tuition, fees and books (estimated) will be $7,500 after a small stipend from the graduate school.

Thank you for any help you are able to provide. I promise to continue to work hard to earn the donations you send.

https://www.gofundme.com/brenda-education-fund

College Scholarship Fund For Mission Partners

Several years ago, the Session of Sharon Presbyterian Church approved a Scholarship Fund for Mission Partners based on the following in order of priority:

• An international student from an economically challenged family identified through Sharon Presbyterian Church’s mission connections who is enrolled for study at an accredited college in the United States
• A member of Sharon Presbyterian Church who is enrolled in one of the PCUSA’s seminaries
• A member of Sharon Presbyterian Church who is enrolled at an accredited college or university who is preparing for a church vocation (i.e. Christian Education, Youth Ministry, Church Music, etc.)
• A member of Sharon Presbyterian Church who is enrolled in a college or university affiliated with the PCUSA

This award is also based upon scholarship, community involvement, and strength and determination of character. For Spring Semester 2015, the recipient of this award is Brenda Paredes. Many in our congregation know Brenda through her extensive volunteer work with our annual Adult Mission Trip to Perú, including interpreter since 2009, and primary group leader during the 2013 and 2014 trip. She will again be working as our interpreter during the 2015 trip.

Brenda has completed three and a half years of study at the University of Caesar Vallejo in Lima, Perú, two semesters at Winthrop University, and just completed one semester at UNC Charlotte. During her semester at UNC Charlotte, she had five challenging classes and earned an A in each one. Look for her on the Dean’s and Chancellor’s lists when published.

From her application: “My long term goals are to perfect my English skills and become stronger in French and Portuguese. I hope to pair these skills with my Christian beliefs and perhaps work in missions.”

Scholarship funds are based on availability and are paid directly into the recipient’s college account. The congregation is encouraged to support this fund by making checks payable to “Sharon Presbyterian Church” clearly earmarked “Scholarship Fund for Mission Partners”. Applications are being accepted for 2015-2016 school year.

Questions may be directed to David Beers, Chairperson of the Serving Committee.

Congratulations to Brenda Paredes for her continued dedication and hard work!

Lessons From A Peruvian Jungle

Tommy Larner Teaches The Importance Of The Great Commission

Resource:  Baptist Press

By Tommy Larner

Iquitos, Peru (BP) -- In August 2011, I saw the Amazon River for the first time. It was while I was traveling from Lima, Peru, to Iquitos, a city of approximately 700,000 people located in the Amazon Basin of Peru. 

The city is surrounded by rivers and is only accessible by air or boat. Little did I know that during the next two years I would fly into the small Iquitos airport 13 times and with repeated opportunities to look at the world's largest river.

Every two months, my wife and I go to a jungle camp two hours outside of Iquitos to train national believers in cross-cultural missions principles. Beth and I also have been involved in two conferences for pastors and leaders in towns outside of Iquitos. One of these was down-river on the Amazon and allowed us a much deeper understanding of the life of our Peruvian brothers and sisters as they labor to proclaim the Gospel among the people living in villages in the Amazon Basin.

During the two years that we have continually visited the Iquitos area, my life has been deeply touched by the lives of those we go to teach and train. Those with whom we work in this jungle area see me as their teacher. They show me great respect, which in itself is very humbling. But as I listen to them and observe their lives, they teach me some very important lessons about what it means to follow Christ -- and I believe I learn more from them than I could ever teach them.

Several powerful traits in their lives have become obvious to me. Foundational to everything else, many of these servants of the Lord demonstrate a single-minded devotion to Christ. Jesus is at the center of their lives. They are simple and humble people who are motivated by pleasing their Master. It is common to see well-used Bibles, and prayer is an important part of their lives. In times of corporate worship they sing with great enthusiasm and listen attentively as the Word of God is proclaimed.

Read more...

Remembering Roberta Tello

Roberta Tello In 2012

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I tell you that Roberta Tello, our dear sister and deacon of the Cristo Rey Church in Huanta, Peru, has lost her twelve year battle with cancer. Roberta is now with her Lord and pain free.

Roberta was a woman of great faith and optimism. She was a frequent and tireless volunteer at her church and for many years helped prepare meals for the students and leaders of the Bible Institute of Huanta and Sharon Church mission teams. Even after losing one leg to cancer two years ago, Roberta continued to work in the kitchen at Cristo Rey, convinced that her call from God was to help feed those called to serve others and take the gospel to the people in the Andes Mountains.

Roberta will be missed by all of those touched by her.

Randy Ross

Veterans Day Concert

Resource:  Jim Harrill jharrill@martinandharrill.com

The Annual Veterans Day concert for the community at South Mecklenburg High School, Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 PM in the auditorium.

The public is invited!