There is one step for me here in Peru that I must give God all the glory for. There is one thing He has done for me that I must praise Him publicly. Tonight my heart sang in Spanish and I had sincere affections for Christ in another language that a year ago was too foreign. I imagine the glory of Heaven when we may very well sing in a new language, with full understanding, and with full affections. It goes beyond understanding the words. Tonight my soul sang in Spanish not because it could, but because the words meant more to me than any English song at the time. There wasn't a service or even a Bible study (I wish, really). No, tonight I sang in my home by myself. I'm learning to see God in more things-- especially the things that are difficult to see Him in: affliction.

The song is by Jesus Adrian Romero and is called Te Veo, or I See You.

Te veo en los momentos de dolor te veo en la noche cuando en la vida se apaga el sol te veo en la luz te veo en la sonrisa y el amor te veo en mis sueños veo tu mano guiandome siempre estas tu siento tu abrazo tu expresion eres tan fiel y no hay razon que me haga dudar de tu corazon siento tu mano sobre mi siento tu amor y puedo oir tus palabras y tu vos siempre eres fiel te veo en el desierto y la afliccion te veo en el valle veo tu mano tapando el sol cubriendome te veo en cada paso que yo doy te veo en mis planes veo tu mano guiandome siempre eres fiel

I see you in the times of pain I see you in the night When in life the sun goes down I see you in the light I see you in a smile and in love I see you in my dreams I see your hand guiding me You are always here I feel you embracing me, your affection You are so faithful and for no reason I doubt your heart. I feel your hand over me I feel your love and can hear your words and your voice You are always faithful I see you in the desert and in affliction I see you in the valley I see your hand hiding the sun covering me. I see you in every step that I take I see you in my plans I see your hand guiding me You are always faithful

 

Here is a poor-quality version of it I found on YouTube:

I keep reminding myself that I need to be better about blogging and updating our friends and supporters. It's a disciplined task and certainly not one that comes naturally to me. However, I hope your Christmas season is joy-filled and please do me a favor and eat a candy cane for me (since apparently Peru hasn't discovered them at all).

The Amazing Joy of Ministry and the Juxtaposed Sacrifices

I know that ministry is not always a joyous profession. It's no doubt that any deeply involved minister faces a share of struggles and trials that can be quite unique to their calling. Worldly speaking, the life of a minister can look more like prison than anything joyous. This applies to missionaries even though I look at my own circumstances and struggles and know things could be a lot more difficult. However, there are also some struggles and little sacrifices that aren't even questioned because of a great joy that comes from doing ministry.

If I could encourage you to do anything right now in your life is to consider the ministry you have with others. More boldly, I would ask you, "What are you doing in your life routinely to improve the lives of others?" The joy in helping others should be paramount to any sacrifice you give. We don't even realize it, but most of our biggest sacrifices are mere temporal inconveniences. Thankfully, though, the joy is just as sweet and it lasts much longer.

Now, it's time for me to share two examples of small sacrifices for great joy so you don't think I'm some looney who has lost 'it' on the mountain.

Ututupampa

This small village maybe has 30 families and sits very high up above another village called Juana. The road to get there has been washed away through years of rain and so for us to get there, we have to take a taxi ride to Juana and then hike upwards about a mile (feels like 10 miles!). When Crossroads Church sent a team to Peru in 2006, our group went to Ututupampa and we learned that through our visitation this village heard the gospel for the first time. While knowing of Jesus through Catholic visitations, they had never heard that Jesus died on a Cross. Now I have the privilege to return there each week and visit with them. I'm no longer a strange foreigner who visited once, but a friendly face.

Normally, Larry Rockwell goes with me and impresses me each time with his ability to speak Quechua (I've got 4 words down). However, this past Monday I made my trip to Ututupampa alone. I had hired a taxi driver to drive me to Juana and stay there until I returned from my trip. I even reminded him three times to not leave me at the top of the mountain. He agreed, but demanded that I pre-pay for part of my trip. We agreed on 30 soles, but all I had was a 50 sole bill. My first mistake was letting him hold onto that bill. I then I made my up to the village to find that they were just beginning their ceremonies for the end of the school year (their school vacation starts next week). Upon seeing some familiar faces, I was warmly greeted and invited to stay and eat lunch with them. It was 10:30 and Peruvians don't eat until 3:00!

The closing ceremonies were almost exactly what you'd expect an elementary school graduation. The village children are young, so the star students were showing off writing their own name and pointing out colors. Apart from attending (and even participating at some points), I had the joy of spending a few hours with a handful of men from the village talking about the differences between our beliefs and what the Catholic church here teaches. Notice I did not say the "difference between traditional Catholic theology." What the Catholic church teaches here is quite far from what my Catholic friends and family from home believe (and even then we have differences, don't we?). Based on the persistence and the thoughtfulness of the questions, I could tell these men were very interested in hearing what the Bible says.

Then they fed me way too much food.

It was around 3:00 when I realized that there was a good chance my taxi driver left me. I said my goodbyes and headed on down the mountain when it started to drizzle. Sure enough the taxi driver took off with my 50 soles and I had to walk about 5 miles down the mountain to the main road in some light rain. However, these people make this trek every day-- why can't I? In the end, I didn't care that the taxi driver stole my money and left me to walk in the rain. My time in Ututupampa was very well worth the 50 soles and some extra exercise. To be invited to stay, to talk with them, and to eat with them is a pleasure beyond monetary value. These people have seen one cult and religion after another visit them and to be treated differently means a lot.

(hopefully you don't think I'm just another cult or religion!)

Juana

Juana is a much larger village than Ututupampa and is where we have to travel before we get to Ututupampa. Every Thursday and Saturyda, the Huaraz team visits there. Like Monday, today I went alone since Larry is in Lima for the week. I hired a taxi driver and at least this time I knew he would be parked in front of me the entire time I spent in the village. I also decided to never give any money up front. I purchased oranges and brought a game for about thirty children since the week prior there were only about fifteen children that showed up. I knew this figure would be a safe bet since many of the children recognize Larry's car and come only because they know we're there. With me arriving in a taxi, there was a good chance that they wouldn't even know I was coming.

We arrived to the center of the village and it was like Six Flags theme park just let out. There were well over a hundred children waiting and most of their mothers sitting around the edge (the fathers were most likely working in the fields or in town). I could not believe it. I thought what I am going to do with 30 oranges and a small game? I told the cab driver, "This is incredible. There are normally 15-20 kids." (it was in Spanish though) The children ran to the car and while they were most likely anticipating some kind of fruit, it was so encouraging to see them excited to see me. That said, the relationship with these children and the people in the villages has been built through years of dedicated hard work by the Rockwells-- we are simply hanging on their coattails. To join them in their work is a privilege and joy.

What do I do with over a hundred children? Well, I certainly didn't hand out 30 oranges. It would be offensive to only give some kids an orange. However, I had them all sit down and and we discussed the meaning of Christmas, the importance of Christ's birth and more importantly even, his death. "Why is the cross important?" I asked knowing it was a theological answer a little above their level of understanding. One child answered, "Because it's heavy." Right he was even though he meant a physical weight! Those ten minutes has to be one of the most enjoyable moments I've had here in Huaraz. Because of the sheer number of kids, I had to almost yell so that they could all hear me, which in turn I'm sure reached the many ears of their parents sitting around the plaza. (there were many parents, not that each parent has many ears) It was a true opportunity to share good news that while we may wait patiently for Papa Noél's gifts, there is a much better gift available to us now and for eternity. Oh if they knew... oh if they understood. I believe some do, but these people have experienced many unfulfilled promises.

I have seen so many that are very confused about what the Bible teaches. One child, for example, afterward asked me if Jesus lived during the era of vampires. (I of course told him the truth and that vampires lived around 200 BC). It's not that he is a Twilight fan, he just doesn't understand because he hasn't been taught well-- he sincerely thought there was a time when vampires roamed the Earth. Two weeks ago Larry and I heard from a man who was taught that the bible teaches that: first there was God the Father and he has died, now we live in the time of the Son, Jesus, and one day we'll see the time of the Spirit. It's dispensationalism meets Friedrich Nietzsche. Imagine then, the importance of having good relationships with the people. Saying a man who lived 2000 years ago in a far away land is the most important thing in their life can appear quite cult-like without having a good relationship with them first.

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This has been an eventful week and I am continually encouraged by its events even though at times were some of the most inconvenient. The joy from this week's ministry hits us at a time when being away from home can be the most difficult. We covet your prayers during this time, by the way. Pray that we would have more opportunities like this week and that they would grow to be great relationships with villages. Pray also for the people of the hills of Ancash region. That the hope and saving grace of Christ would come soon and be a blessing to many.

Today we left Arequipa with no definite plans to return. Language school has ended and our next phase begins as we will be in Huaraz by Sunday morning. We have mixed emotions about it all because we left some really good friends and at the same time we're preparing to devote more of our time to ministry-related things and using the Spanish we've learned.

There is a Friend Who Sticks Closer Than a Brother

Before arriving in Arequipa for language school, we really didn't know what it would be like. To be honest, I know for myself, I had thoughts that it would be 7-8 months of grueling difficulty with no one to turn to. I knew none of the other missionaries and at the same time also knew that if I did get to know someone, it would only be for 7-8 months. That kind of pessimism can really limit how well you let someone even get to know you. The Lord has plans, however, regardless if we acknowledge them or not.

A few days after we arrived in Arequipa, another family arrived with five kids. At meeting them, I thought, "They seem nice, but with five kids, they must be one of those families that doesn't get out much." Not that we're nightlife people, but sometimes it's not easy trying to spend quality time with other adults with seven children to watch after (their 5, our 2). It wasn't long, however, maybe two weeks, that the Listros and us became good friends. Our children became an extra brother and sister to their kids and we each became an extension of the others' family.

Eight months later, we had to say goodbye to them knowing it might be a long time before we get to see them again. But it wasn't the same as when we said goodbye to friends from the States. Saying goodbye back in January wasn't easy either, but at least there were expectations of us returning to Delaware. Saying goodbye to the Listros seemed much more depressing only because we really don't know when we'll see them again.

With that said, and like I said, God has plans for our lives regardless of whether we recognize the plan, the architect, or the promise of a future. While we don't have any expectations of seeing the Listros again, I really feel like there is more to the blessing of our friendship with them-- like this is just the beginning. If we never saw the Listros again, it would still be a highlight of our time in Peru. However, I feel like a kid at Toys R Us in November, I don't know whether the toys I'm looking at are going to be given at Christmas, or I'm just wishful thinking. They are the kind of people you can't wait to work alongside in ministry.

I realize that making good friends isn't why our supporters are faithfully giving to us. We didn't come here to make friends, per se. However, the impact of the Listros in our lives is worth writing about because it gives us a better vision for what the Church (big C) looks like being a blessing. The reality is, there is a doctrine of Friendship that very few theologians talk about. There really is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Moving Onward

We left Arequipa this morning and arrived in Lima. We're here for three days to look for some furniture for our new home in Huaraz which is completely empty of all furnishings and appliances. We're looking forward to getting settled in in Huaraz and seeking God's will for His people there. He is a good God.

Friday night I (Scott) had dinner with a friend here who is soon moving on to spend his next few years in Ecuador. We were talking freely and without prompting about how different Peru is when it comes to safety. For example, I try to walk on the sidewalk towards traffic so that I limit the possibility of being attacked by a taxi by surprise from behind. And when in markets, my wallet is secured in my front pocket only. Most of these small safety conscious habits come from observation and some from other Peruvians and other missionaries. However, the diligence in practicing these habits comes from fear alone. My friend and I discussed our good friends who were burglarized and other friends who have been assaulted or pick-pocketed, but we both conceded that we didn't fully understand because neither of us had experienced direct theft or assault. For us, we felt some of the weight and anguish of these issues, but it wasn't our own pain.

Today we came home after church to a our home broken into. The door had been locked, but the door jams are made of thin soft wood and therefore easily splintered. The apartment doors aren't meant to keep people out as much as privacy. Before our apartment door there is a glass door and a metal fence door for the entire building that are both keyed and kept locked by the tenants. The glass door had been pried open, but the metal fence door untouched. Therefore, the criminals have a way of getting inside the grounds or they have a key. The apartment above us was also broken into but the tenants recently moved across the street.

Looking around the apartment, it is quite clear that they left scared and in a hurry. They only took a few items and left one room completely untouched. An HP laptop, a digital SLR camera (and its flash), and a video camera were the only things taken. However, these items add up to a big loss as all three had saved information that is now irretrievable. Documents, photos, videos, etc. And as of this writing, that is all they took.

A more shaking thought is that the thieves were greeted by the elderly lady who lives below us. She left her apartment hearing the noise of them breaking into the door. When she asked the two heavy men why there were inside our apartment (she hadn't seen that they broke the door jam), they explained that they knew the "gringo" owners and were there because a "desk had fallen." Not only did they leave in a hurry leaving behind more items that they would love to carry with them, but this was not a random break in. They knew we are Americans before they arrived as there aren't any family murals on our walls. Do they intend on returning to get the remaining loot? How do they know us? These are questions I am dying to answer.

Immediately on finding out that the house had been broken into and assuring that the thieves were no longer there, I called Julio, one of the co-founders of the language institute. He called both the number for general public emergencies (the Peruvian 9-1-1) and the number to the police department, but no one answered the phone at either services. No one answered the 9-1-1 line! Julio then drove to the police station to pick up an officer (they do not have their own cars) and brought him to our apartment. After inspecting the house I went to the police station along with Julio and the officer. We filed the report and I answered the same question four or five times. We then had to wait at home for the "CSI" detective to come and take fingerprints. The detective finally showed up around 8:30 to waste some time as there were no spots good enough to remove prints. Tuesday I have an appointment to complete the report with more details about the models and values of the items stolen.

At this point in time we are doing okay. Meghan and the kids are spending the night at our friends' house, the Listros, as there is no way to secure our apartment. We have a huge support base here of friends who have helped us and been here for us. For that, we are extremely thankful! Tomorrow the door will be fixed and we'll be talking with the owner about securing the apartment and the building a little better. We did not realize the threat of being robbed living on the third floor and we won't make that mistake again.

You can keep us in prayer as this is not the easiest thing to accept. We have lost things, but more than that we have lost privacy and gained a lot of questions and concerns about protecting ourselves in the future. We are not overwhelmed in worry, but we certainly have had anxious thoughts and at times fight to remain calm.

I will make an effort to update our website (soarchrist.com) this week as more things transpire and I begin to look for our computer and camera in the market. This is the exact method that our friends, the Listros, found their stuff after being robbed. I hope we have the same success!