Goodbyes

By far the most difficult part of coming to Peru was leaving our family and friends behind.  Fortunately, over the past four months, God has provided a group of people that have become our family and friends in Peru.  With this group we have shared good times, hard times, good meals, and LOTS of laughs.  Of course nothing can replace our relationships in the States, but this group comes close.  Unfortunately, not everybody made it into this photo. There are people not shown that we have grown close to as well.

Today brought another goodbye not so unlike the one we experienced 4 months ago.  The first four 40/40s and their support family left Arequipa to begin their ministry training.  In the last 4 months we bonded as we have shared many of the same experiences.  We are proud of this group and we will miss the extra life they brought to Arequipa.  We will pray for their safety and success in the coming years.

What's wrong with this picture?

Our friend, Brian Tibbs, likes to tell the story of "How you can tell what term a missionary is in."  

Goes a little like this: 

A missionary in his first term is eating at a restaurant and finds a fly in his soup.  He asks the waiter for a new bowl of soup.

A missionary in his second term is eating at a restaurant and finds a fly in his soup.  He just takes his spoon, quietly scoops it up, and places beside the bowl.

A missionary in his third term is eating at a restaurant and finds a fly in his soup.  He doesn't bother anymore and just eats around it.

A missionary in his fourth term is eating at a restaurant and doesn't find a fly in his soup.  He pauses for a moment, looks around, and grabs one out of the air and puts it in his soup.

Needless to say, we are in our first term.  I threw this cup of coffee out and started over!

Mike's First Peruvian Business Trip

This past week I made a trip to Cusco and Puerto Maldonado.  The purpose of this trip was to establish contact with the local pastors and begin preparations for the groups of North Americans that will be arriving the next 6-10 months. 

Me with the pastor in Cusco and the pastor and his wife from Washington.

Along the way I was able to experience some pretty interesting things.  I had a little time to explore Cusco which was the capital of the former Inca Empire.  I also had the experience of racing to the airport as the 4^th person on a motorcycle in Puerto Maldonado. 

My group spent our evening in Puerto Maldonado in one of the many red-light districts in the city.  There we purchased time with 3 different prostitutes to learn about their situation.  The 40/40’s assigned to Puerto Maldonado will be focused on ministering to this group of people.

I really did not know what to expect when I decided to take part in this but I can still say that it was not like I expected, if that makes sense.  One girl in particular was willing to remove herself from the brothel and speak to us at the church where she was freer to speak openly.

Me  and Freddy, the pastor in Puerto Maldonado.

She told us a story of how she found her way to Puerto Maldonado through an employment agency.  She had come from Lima work as a “host” at a hotel.  Upon arriving at her new job all her identification was taken and she is not allowed to leave the brothel without paying a significant amount of money for each hour she is gone.  Like most countries, one is not able to do much of anything in Peru without identification.  I believe I was talking to a modern day slave. 

We told her about how there is a church community in Puerto right now that wants to help girls like her get of this situation.  She went on to tell us about how there are many other girls in the brothels  that need help much worse then her.  She also told us that she must continue doing this so that she can send money to her older brothers in Lima.    

Extreme Nazarene will have 8 40/40 missionaries, 4 Americans and 4 Peruvians, on the ground in Puerto Maldonado by this November.  One of the tools the tools these missionaries will have is the Hope House.  The Hope House will be a home for ex-prostitutes.  Here they will be able to be removed from this sad situation.  Our goal is to give them the opportunity to change their lifestyle and live a healthy life.  

The brothel where the girl mentioned lives and works.

Here are 2 links to more pictures from my trip:

Cusco: http://www.facebook.com/album.phpaid=16120&id=1617957725&l=3d72cb16b1

Puerto Maldonado: http://www.facebook.com/album.phpaid=16122&id=1617957725&l=ea2ba82ec9