I have now been in Peru for over a month. I am almost settled into my apartment (I still lack some furniture) and language classes are going well. I have taken over teaching the children’s Bible class, and have begun planning the curriculum for the children’s events with Megan. As I look back over the last several weeks I have discovered several things. First, being on the mission field for an extended period of time is vastly different from a short campaign or even a summer internship. In my past experiences with short term mission trips there were always activities planned and things to do. While this structure limited my freedom, it heightened the experience and I always fell asleep at night knowing I had accomplished something worthwhile.
ICDU View: Project Planning
During the planning process of our ministry here we decided early on that any project we would implement would be two things reproducible and sustainable. You might say those are the ‘core values’ of our development projects here in Arequipa. Of course our reasons for doing this type of ministry are based in our beliefs on the ministry of Jesus and our duties as his followers, but when seeking to start a new project we always check the project against those core values; reproducibility and sustainability. Our simple definition of these two points is that we do not want to execute any project that can- not be sustained/continued/maintained by Peruvians or reproduced/copied/multiplied by those same Peruvians. Oversimplified? Yes. Important? Absolutely.
Missionary Mom: Fertile Soil
What does evangelism look like to you? I believe that evangelism has many forms. God gives his children gifts, and he expects for each of us to use those gifts in evangelizing others. Before coming to Peru I could not give you a specific name of anyone I had “brought to Christ.” Sure, I am certain that I may have influenced people in a positive way. I attended a Christian college, participated in a Christian drama group, purposefully taught middle schoolers with a Christian attitude and perspective. There were many relationships that I wanted to deepen so that I could connect on a spiritual level, but I fell short of investing the time or energy into it. Since being here in Peru I have changed my view on evangelism somewhat.
Crossing Cultures: Lots to Learn
We live in the southern hemisphere. This causes some interesting differences in life that I did not realize be- fore we moved here. For example, the sun is strongest in the morning and gentler in the afternoon, which is the opposite of the States. More significant is that the seasons are also the opposite - June, July and August are the winter months, while January and February comprise our summers. Thus, when schools let out for Christmas, it’s also summer vacation until the first or second week of March.
Mark as Gospel: Preface
During one of our less gratifying fund-raising experiences, the committee reviewing the team lined us up and asked each member how many people we had baptized. I looked self-consciously down at my belt to find not even a hint of a notch. The implication was clear: “You expect us to send you to evangelize in a foreign land when you don’t even do it right here?” It was a question already bouncing around in my own heart, though, causing no little indigestion. I had heard often enough that aspiring missionaries shouldn’t expect the mission field to be the cure for a lifestyle devoid of evangelization.
It was worrisome, to say the least.
The Apprentice: Arrival
I arrived in Arequipa, late Wednesday night, February 10th after what seemed like an endless journey. The journey began when I left Tucson, AZ on the 25th of January to travel to Memphis and Tullahoma, TN to visit with friends and the wonderful people at Cedar Lane once more, before leaving the country for the next two years.
Missionary Mom: Like a Child
It has been a humbling experience to live in this culture and not exactly be able to communicate how I would like. I am a people-person. I love to talk to people. But with my poor language skills (learning Spanish has not been my gift), I know that I sound like a child to so many. This has made me feel inadequate in so many ways. There have been many times that I question if I am really cut out for this role, but God has a way of using us despite our inadequacies.
Crossing Cultures: The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
One of the cultural differences that I have come face-to-face with on multiple occasions is dancing. While living in the States, if someone said they “went dancing” or were at a party where they danced, my mental image would have been of colored or flashing lights, heavy rhythmic music, and body movements that, for the most part, would be inappropriate for me to duplicate. Only those who are trained and participate in some sort of dance group would be able to execute the more “acceptable” forms of dancing, such as ballroom styles, tap or ballet. You know, the “nicer” dances.
This is not the case in Peru.
Missionary Mom: All in a Year's Time
This month is a very special month on my timeline. It marks one year from last January. I realize that January is the beginning of a new year, but that isn’t the reason this month is special. So many things happened last January, and it is neat to see what has happened and is happening one year later.
CUDA View: The ICDU Team
Since the words ‘holistic ministry’ first left our mouths we’ve been explaining, and sometimes defending, our position on the work here in Arequipa. Taking our cues from Jesus’ own ministry we seek to reach those around us in a holistic way. We can no more just preach the news to people than only provide clean water to a new community.