Peru trip 2011 - Final Thoughts

Matt and I loved this Peruvian Pop

Well, the flight from Lima to Atlanta went great and we made it back to the States on time. Coming from true, biblical churches in the middle of nowhere in Peru and stepping foot into the Atlanta airport was almost a reverse culture shock. How different are these two places. It is amazing to find the true Bride of Christ high in the Andes mountains. These people have nothing but Christ. They have no treasure on earth but much in Heaven. Compare these people with America. In America we have every treasure on Earth but almost none in Heaven. We have money, power, safety, security, vacation, retirement, jobs, health care, convenience, luxury, time, affluence and so many other distractions that keep us from knowing Christ. I praise God that He has a people among every tribe, tongue and nation that truly worship Him. The world has never heard of the handful of Inca Christians that we had the privilege to worship with but their weakness shames the wise. God uses the weak for this purpose:

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

(1Co 1:27-31)

Doing tricks for kids in Lima

We were very humbled to see the true and simple dedication of these people who are driving 3 hours every Sunday to pastor a church and wondering why we were surprised by it. Or when they walk from neighboring towns so worship together on Sunday morning. There is no complaints, it is just normal to do this. It is sad that we can't get people to walk across the street or drive 10 miles in their warm car. This is what true Christianity is supposed to look like. Oh what a joy to find such a treasure as this small group of sold-out Peruvians of whom the world is not worth of.

They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - of whom the world was not worthy. (Hebrews 11:37-38)

What an amazing trip and what a privilege that God has called us to. We look forward to moving to Peru soon.

Here are a few of the things we learned:

1. Language is life and death. It does not matter if you know something in your head if you can't get it out of your mouth in the Language of the people. I will spend all my waking time in Costa Rica mastering Spanish.
2. It is making more sense now, why God would send a weak person like myself who lives in the middle of nowhere in Montana to the middle of nowhere in Peru to minister to a handful of people that the world has not even heard about. God uses the weak things in the world to shame the wise so that He will get all the glory. 
3. God continues to confirm that He has His people in every tribe, tongue and nation and that He will use the preaching of the Biblical Gospel to sweep them into the Kingdom. While gathered in a small community in the middle of the Andes mountains, we worshiped in two languages with the people of God. It was very humbling and embarrassing for most American Churches. If we spend the rest of our lives laboring for a handful of people in the Andes, then we will count this the greatest privilege in our lives.
4. The simplicity of Truth. We found Walter Isse in Lima  was so sound in doctrine that it was unbelievable. He explained the deep things of God to us exactly like we explain it to others and Walter simply just said, “Well, that's what the Bible teaches.” Both Walters just simply study deeply the Word of God and then believe it.
5. There is so much work to do in Peru still.  After talking with Walter Isse at Heart Cry and discussing where work is going on in the country we discovered there is so much more to do.  Heart cry is doing a lot but mostly in Lima.  There are so many places across the country that have nothing.  For instance;  it was surprising for us to hear that in the city of Cusco, which has 350,000 within the city limits only has 4 Baptist churches.  In Helena, MT which has around 40,000 people or so (guess), there are probably 40 "evangelical" churches.  We could spend the rest of our lives planting churches in Cusco.  Outside of Cusco pretty much every little community is without a biblical church, with a few exceptions.  Most people here walk everywhere so trying to get someone to come to church 30 miles away is almost impossible, so biblical church planting is needed in a big way.

Lastly, if anyone wants to help the growing little church in Curahuasi, let me me know.  They have mostly Quechua people and they pack people in the little church like sardines.  They have many older people who can't hear very well nor read.  The only time they get fed is at church and if they can't hear, they don't eat.  To buy some little speakers and a microphone in Peru it costs about $500 US.  If anyone wants to help them, email me and I will explain how to get the money to them. 

I want to first thank God, who is our Sustainer and Upholder and went before us on this trip and then I want to thank all of you who have been fervently praying for us on this trip.  We went into the well but you held the rope.  We are in this together and your prayers are the means that God has ordained to accomplish His end.  Thanks you so much for your prayer and support.



I figured I better post this before Matt does.  It is me sleeping at the airport, something Matt was unable to do.