We´re Here!!

Hey everyone,

I just wanted everyone to know that the group arrived safely. What we have seen so far in Peru is absolutely beautiful. Everyone in Matucana is very nice and very gracious, and they are enjoying our stumbling over our communication difficulties. Once we arrived, there was still a group from the University of Florida staying (they left today), so we had a great time listening to what God did through their trip and finding out what other things need to be done.

Thus far, the only real frustrations that we have had are the altitude and the language barrier. The translators were still helping the UF group, so we didn´t have access to them very much yesterday. Many of us expressed how we longed to talk to people and conversate, but found it almost impossible since our spanish is so weak. The altitude is higher than most of us have ever experienced. Matucana itself is over 7,000 ft. No one is sick, but the simple things like climbing stairs prove to be more of a challenge than it ever would back in the flat state of Florida.

One of the things that we found happening once we arrived was the group from UF was helping the missionaries here show the movie ¨Facing the Giants¨, and we wanted to help with the promoting and everything. We all got together and met at the town square and sang and played our instruments in order to draw attention so we could invite them over to see the movie. It worked out great, and there were many opportunities to share the gospel via translators while many of our group went through the crowd and gave bracelets and other trinkets while also explaining a little bit about Jesus. It was a great way to introduce our group and give first impressions. It was amazing to see the crowd and even the response to coming over to see the movie. Unfortunately, since Peruvians are not as bound by the clock as us Americans, the movie did not start for another 3 hours! But, we still used that time in between to bond with the children and youth. Many of these children will be at the same schools that we´ll be teaching at.

So what´s next?

Well, we are splitting into 4 groups. One of these groups is travling up right now to the mountain village of Marachaca and will be roughing it out for 3 days before returning to Matucana. They will be doing much of the same missionary work there as here, but the soil is even fresher as there has been less work done in Marachanca as has happened already in Matucana, so the group has their work cut out for them. Pray for them that they would follow the Spirit´s leading, build healthy relationships, and preach the gospel in both word and action. Pray also for those who they will be discipling. The guys that are going are Joel, Tim, and Matt (plus a translator).

Another group will be leaving tomorrow for the mountain village of Corillana. This village is a little tougher as the UF group was not able to make as much headway here as in Marachanca. But we will be returning with one of the same missionaries that went last time, so we´ll be able to follow up on the work already laid out. Pray for strength (as we will be working in the fields with people), pray for guidance, pray for opportunities, and pray for strong stomachs. Both groups going into the mountains will be experiencing Peru the most authentically. Hopefully we won´t be served one of the dishes that was served to the last group, which was a soup that consisted of cow intestines. :) This group is myself (John), David, Tiffany (the missionary), and our translator.

Of those that are staying in Matucana, one of these groups will be working a lot in the schools teaching english as a second language. The schools like us doing this because the teachers who teach english can´t even speak it, so having authentic english-speaking Americans is really helpful. While they teach, they can incorporate Bible stories and such so that the gospel can still be preached even if it is more subliminal. Pray for perseverance, the ability to keep the kid´s attention, wisdom and discernment. Pray also for protection. This group is Miss Janet, Celine, Katie and Alnardo, plus Britney (one of the other missionaries).

The last group will be consuming their time working with those in Matucana, building relationships, discipling and evangelizing. I don´t think they even realize all that will end up being on their plate as they continue throughout the day. Many of the things that they will also be trying to do is connect with the children and youth after school hours and setting up times for discipleship training. Pray for opportunities, pray for protection, pray for guidance and for strength. Pray also that they will not do anything of their own power, but everything by the Spirit. This group is Dan, Joe, Chad, and their translator.

Well, that´s it for today. Hopefully we´ll be able to post more in a day or two.

In Christ Alone,

John