Mick Jagger Named Perú's Environmental Ambassador

Music legend Sir Mick Jagger has been drawn into a bitter row over an ‘illegal gas grab’ in the Peruvian Amazon.

Peru’s government has provoked fury from indigenous groups after it was discovered that it is attempting to explore for gas in an Amazon reserve despite explicitly promising never to do so.

The reserve is the territory of several vulnerable uncontacted tribes, and a crucial buffer zone for the Manu National Park, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for having a biological diversity that ‘exceeds any other place on Earth.’

After visiting the Manu region Mick Jagger was made an Environmental Ambassador by Peru, who described him as a ‘great support in our fight to protect our ecology’. Survival International has written to the Rolling Stones’ frontman, saying ‘Peru’s last uncontacted tribes are in imminent danger… please ask the Peruvian government to stop endangering their lives.’

Peru’s plan to expand its massive Camisea gas project has been clouded in secrecy. Nine years ago it confirmed it would never expand the project eastward into the Nahua-Nanti Reserve, home to several uncontacted tribes, and passed a Supreme Decree confirming the pledge.

More...

Mission Opportunity

Sharon Presbyterian Church's Western North Carolina Adult Mission Trip will take place from October 4 - 7, 2012. We will partner with the Bryson City Presbyterian Church to conduct mission work in and around Bryson City, NC. Bryson City Presbyterian Church has identified families in poverty and with poor health who need assistance with basic repairs to their homes.

The group will depart Thursday, October 4, at 12:00 noon and return Sunday afternoon, October 7.

Anyone can participate, regardless of prior construction experience or skill level. We are planning for a team of 16 Sharon volunteers for this trip. If you are interested in participating please contact David Spivey at spiveys_@msn.com for additional information.

Mission Trip Update

Hola Everyone:

I am extremely happy to report that international flight reservations have now been made for all participants. WE ARE GOING TO PERU!!!

A very, very special THANK YOU to Amanda Boelke who introduced me to a new website over the weekend, www.tripadvisor.com. This website searches airline as well as discount airfare websites. I purchased tickets for the six (6) Charlotte participants via this website at an average of $500 less per person than those published on Delta.com.

I will be circulating a trip travel memo in the next few days that will include the international travel arrangements for all participants.

Sara and Rusty are in Ayacucho and Huanta this week with teams from the San Gabriel Presbytery in southern California. These teams are continuing their efforts to bring safe and affordable drinking water to our brothers and sisters there. They send greetings and hugs to each of you.

Just a little over nine weeks before our adventure begins!

Randy

2012 Perú Mission Trip News!

With the help of a few dedicated friends, (Natalie Schramm, Janat Schramm, Robin Shealy, Brenda Paredes, Connie Dale and Randy Ross), we were able to complete the packing of the additional donation bags for our upcoming 2012 Perú Mission Trip.

All 12 bags were packed with YOUR donations of shirts, dresses, shoes, sweaters, coats, small toys, balls and candy.  Each bag was weighed and packed to the 50 pound limit!

Each year, we often have to meet for 2 to 3 times for sorting, packing, weighing and packing again.  But this year with the wonderful help, we were able to complete the job in 1 afternoon.  Thank you to all!

Perú 2012 Mission Update

Dear 2012 Adult Mission Team:

I wanted to give you a quick update on our upcoming trip to Peru , now just a little over twelve (12) weeks away!

The members of the 2012 team are:

Amanda Boelke
Rose Boelke
Connie Dale
Van Dale
Cheryl Judd-Magee
John Magee
Wes Manus
Randy Ross
Sarah Ross

Sara Armstrong, Rusty Edmondson and Brenda Paredes will join us in Lima.

I am checking daily airfares between the U.S. and Peru from Charlotte , Washington and the gateway cities ( Atlanta , Miami and New York ). International airfares have been stubbornly high this year and only in the past two weeks have shown any sign of decreasing. We have traditionally purchased tickets for the international portion of the trip from 12 to 18 weeks from the date of travel. At the present time, the best airfares between the U.S. and Peru are just one month from the date of travel. I am not confident, however, that I have the intestinal fortitude to wait that close to our trip to purchase tickets!

The majority of the team will depart for Peru on Friday, August 3, 2012, and return to the U.S. Monday, August 13, 2012.

Cheryl and John will depart for Peru prior to the mission trip to visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. They will join the rest of the team in Lima Saturday morning, August 4, 2012.

That Saturday will be a low-key day. We will probably visit the Larco Herrera Museum or the National Museum of Peru. We should then be fairly well rested for our ten 10 hour overnight bus trip from Lima to Huanta.

Amanda, Rose and Wes will travel to Cuzco after the mission trip to hike the Inca Trail, ending up at Machu Picchu .

I am looking forward to seeing pictures from the pre- and post-mission trip excursions!

Just in case you missed it, there was an article about Cuzco and The Sacred Valley in the April 29, 2012 edition of the Charlotte Observer.

Our hotel accommodations in Lima , Huanta and Ayacucho have been made. Daily breakfast at the Hostal La Posada de Marques in Huanta has been confirmed. Chapla and salt cheese, anyone?

Our project this year is to assemble, sand and paint 40 tables and 160 chairs for the churches in the Presbytery of Huanta for use in their children’s programs. Rusty is checking to see if the tables and chairs will be assembled prior to our arrival. That was such a blessing last year when we only had to sand and paint the bookcases and lecterns. I am sure that pre-assembly (by the Peruvians and not the Americans) made for a better piece of furniture!

We are also donating the funds to the Cristo Rey Church in Huanta to allow them to purchase 50 new mattresses, replacing those that were purchased 23 years ago. Quickly, what were you doing 23 ago?

The mattresses will be used by the students of the Huanta Bible Institute and by others who gather at the Cristo Rey Church for training, seminars, synod and presbytery meetings and other programs.

Our donations of clothing and shoes will be used by the Presbytery of Huanta to establish a community outreach program. Our ministry will in turn, enable their ministry.

This will be the fifth consecutive trip to Huanta. For me, each year I travel there becomes even more special than the year before, in part, because I am in awe for the blessing that I have yet another opportunity to go.

I am looking forward to our week together, one of faith, fellowship and service to Jesus Christ.

Sara and Rusty were in Ayacucho and Huanta during the Easter weekend and report that the members of the Cristo Rey Church are looking forward to our visit with much anticipation.

I have received the second trip payment from most, but not all team members. If you could arrange to have that sent to either me or the church (if the latter, clearly mark your check “Adult Mission Trip”) that would be great.

Oh, I was just kidding about the overnight bus ride. The plan is to fly between Lima and Ayacucho.

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

Grace and peace to each of you!

Randy

Peruvian Cuisine

I've honestly never thought of Peru as a place where foodies visit, but here's a guide from Frommers: http://www.frommers.com/slideshow/?group=1037%20

Connie Dale

Perú Mission Network Meeting

The Peru Mission Network will meet in Lima, Peru, November 12–14, 2012—with an optional pre-conference opportunity, November 9–11, as well as post-conference options.

Contact Maria Arroyo, (800) 728-7228, x5315.

Congressmen Send Letter Criticizing Doe Run

Eighteen congressional representatives from the U.S. sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner, to criticize the dealings of Doe Run in Perú.

More...

Living Waters For The World

The digital copy of the February 2012 issue of Water of Life, is now available in a new "Flipbook" format. This first issue of 2012 is full of wonderful stories about the Living Waters mission throughout the world, as well as articles about some innovative ways our water teams are raising support for their mission projects.

Here are a few of the articles you will find:

• Looking five years down the LWW road
• Lessons learned in Peru (see Rusty Edmondson and others at the church in Maynay)
• Haiti two years later
• Pumpkin patch is mission winner for church in New Jersey
• A profile on LWW volunteers Mark and Sally Vanciel, First Presbyterian, Visalia, CA

and much more!

Link to Water of Life

Mission Help From PC(USA)

Mission Crossroads PC(USA)
Expanding Partnership in God’s Mission

The Junction website helps coordinate mission trips, events for greater impact

If you are looking to promote a mission trip opportunity or mission event your organization is sponsoring, The Junction is your one-stop shop for sharing details and getting the word out there. The Junction is a new online database that allows you to connect and serve with churches, Mid Councils, individuals, mission networks, and others to post and search for information about upcoming mission trips and mission events.

Make a listing for:

• Special week-long events related to mission you are sponsoring
• Mission-related conferences
• Consultations
• Mission fairs
• Mission network meetings
• Mission study group tours
• Clean-ups for camp and conference centers
• Posting lodging availability for groups and individuals who are in town for mission-related events
• Groups to help with your Vacation Bible School

Go to the Junction

Read more about the Junction

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Andy Rector

EQUIPPING FOR MISSION INVOLVEMENT
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, USA
andy.rector@pcusa.org

Visit Mission Crossroads PC(USA) at: http://missioncrossroads.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

PMN Conference Invitation

Hi All,

Your Peruvian partners invite you to join them here in Lima next fall for the first PMN conference to be held in Peru.  Link

Saludos fraternales de Sara y Rusty

Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Coordinadores de Alianzas y Delegaciones con las Iglesias Reformadas de Peru'

What's The Rush?!

148 days to go!?

What's the rush?!

Well, as we've mentioned before...  If you take off time for a whole day waiting at the DMV, anniversaries, personal apathy, birthdays, concerts, genuine daily disinterest, a disregard for coming events, Doctor appointments, rainy day do-nothingness, a feeling of dullness, mowing the yard, family reunions, days of fishing, graduations, halfheartedness in your future, happy hours, (ooops) church, Sunday school, holidays, hours of hunting, idleness, hours of inactivity, lack of interest, a lackadaisicalness, languidness or lassitude from workouts, spring break, laxness of planning, prayer, plain laziness, seasonal lethargy, homework, your inability to recover from listlessness, meals, sickness, naps, meetings, movies, procrastination of mission trip planning, renewing your passport, kid's school, your school, your Dog(s) school, searching for food, shopping, shots & vaccinations, slackness, sleep, slothfulness, slowness, sluggishness, sporting events, supineness, washing the Dog(s), washing the Cat(s), cleaning the house after trying to wash the Cat(s), an uncaring attitude, unconcern about what is coming, vacations, volunteering, walking the Dog(s), walking the Cat(s), looking for escaped pet(s), weddings, weekends, or even work...

You MAY have a week to PACK!!

Project Proposal

I received the 2012 trip project proposal from The Presbytery of Huanta this morning. Samuel Montes, Secretary of the Presbytery, titled the the proposal "2012 Twinning of Sharon Presbyterian Church and The Presbytery of Huanta." Twinning is defined as "when two become one." The theme of the importance of the relationship continues!

The Presbytery has asked that we consider purchasing the materials for 40 small tables and 160 small chairs (and assembling, sanding and painting them) which will be used by the Presbytery churches to bolster their Sunday School programs for children.

The Presbytery has also asked that we consider providing the funds for the purchase of 50 mattresses to be used by the students and faculty of the Huanta Bible Institute. Samuel states that the mattresses they purchased 23 years ago are in very poor shape.

We are so fortunate to be able to share our blessings with such humble and faithful Presbyterians!

So, how many mattresses will fit into a checked piece of luggage. How about a carry-on?

148 days will not arrive soon enough!

Randy

2012 Perú Mission Trip Deadline

The deadline to submit applications, deposits and passport copies for the 2012 Adult Mission Trip to Huanta, Peru is Sunday, March 11, 2012.

Trip information and applications can be found in the Peru Mission Trip Mailbox, located on the top row of mailboxes just outside the church office.

If you have any questions or need additional information about the trip, contact Randy Ross at 704-552-5573 or at mrandallross@aol.com.

Pictures can be found in the album links, reflections and other information about past mission trips to Peru can be found in previous posts.  Spend some time and check some of the older posts!