Taquile Island and the Puno Quechuas (Day Three)

I finally made it Taquile Island, home of a group of Puno Quechuas, the best weavers around!  In this island, weaving and cooking are chores for both men and women alike.  Taquile has about 2,000 people living in it.  There is one leader for every one hundred.  All of them profess a form of religion which is a mix between the Catholic church and the anismistic worship of their ancestors... they have not been presented with any other choice. 

There are several arches along the main roads of Taquile.  This is the first one.  It had taken us about three and half hours to get there by boat, and from this first arch, we had to walk for almost one hour.  The altitude and the steep hills made it a challenging hike, but it certainly was worth the effort!

This picture was taken in the main square. Even though we were able to see the outside of their Catholic/animistic temple (it had a lock and chain on the door), we were not allowed to go near their ritual sites where they practice an even more pure form of the Inca religion.  Some animal sacrifices are still performed.  They do believe that there is a higher god whom they call the Creator (Viracocha), even more powerful than Inti, the Sun god and any other gods. They just don't know yet that this Creator, left a book that is ment to show them how to have a personal relationship with Him...

The Puno Quechua carry heavy loads on their backs as they get supplies from the main land.  There are close to 500 steps in the island and many steep hills.  The physical loads are in plain sight, but their spiritual needs are as real as the loads on their backs.  The following are prayer requests for the Puno Quechua...

 

• Pray that the Puno Quechua will have the opportunity to hear the truth of the Word of God, and that they will realize that the God of the Bible is the Creator, and that they will trust and worship Him alone.
• Pray that God will burden some of His children around the world to pray for the Puno Quechua.
• Pray that God will give His children creativity and wisdom to share the Truth with the Puno Quechua in such a way that it will be received gladly.
• Pray that the eyes of the Puno Quechua will be open to the Truth, and they will be able to see the Devil's deception behind their animistic practices.
• Pray that as the Puno Quechua come to know Christ, they will use their uniqueness in culture, color, dance, music and art to express worship, thanksgiving and love to their one-and-only God, the Creator of the universe and the Savior of their souls!

The Floating Islands of Uros (Day Three)

I am so amazed at the creativity and resourcefulness that God has placed in people.  The floating Islands of Uros, are exactly that, floating creations of people trying to survive and use what is around them.  The Aymaras, a friendly, open and skillful people!

The Aymara people make their houses (and almost everything else they use) out of a plant that grows in the lake called Totora.  They even eat it!

We were welcome with a kiss on both cheeks as they greeted us by saying, "kamisakari", which means "how are you?" We were told to answer, "waleki", which means, "I am fine".  As our boat left the islands, our friendly hostesses sang in their native Aymara, French and Spanish... and then they shouted, "hasta la vista, baby!" 

I hope to have the opportunity to return to Uros.  In my next blog, I will tell you about the Puno Quéchua... We stilll had to reach Taquile Island, about two and half more hours by boat into lake Titikaka.

Puno, Peru (Day Two)

Puno curbs around the edge of a lake, Lake Titikaka, which is the largest high altitude body of water in the world.  I am now at 12,421 feet, even higher that Cuzco!  I have been taking my altitude pills and my Coca leaves tea, and so far, so good.  In Cuzco I was welcomed with tea, in Puno (the folklore capital of Latin America), I was welcomed with dance!  A mix of Aymara, Quéchua and modern Peru.

Like a good missionary, I usually eat everything I am served, but tonight in Puno was really hard!  I ate Guinea Pig, a popular dish here.  I kept telling myself, "Pretend it is chicken, pretend it is chicken...".  I did not help that they serve the whole animal - head included!  I started eating it the best I could, and then I was told, "you have to eat 'cuy' (guinea pig) with your hands!".  Well, I survive the cultural culinary experience... and I am not sick...

It looks like a big rat!!

Tomorrow is a special day.  I will be going to the Uros Islands (Aymara indians) and finally to Taquile to find the Puno Quéchua, an unreached people group.  Pray for safety and health during the trip.

Cuzco, Peru (Day One)

I completed my second of three trainings in Lima, and I have a space of five days before the next one starts.  So, my backpack and I are now traveling thru Cuzco and Puno!

This is the sight of the beautiful Andes mountains from the airplane. What a Creator!!

I was welcomed in Cuzco with "mate de coca" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca_tea), a tea made with Coca leaves, not the drug!  Everyone drinks, chews on them or eats the leaves in the form of candy to help with the discomforts of the altitude (11,200 ft).  It didn't work for me though... I over did it the first day and I ended up with a bad headache and nausea when I returned to the hostal that evening.

This is the Cathedral... The local guide said something very interesting.  He said, "This is not a Catholic church only.  Our people have mixed the religion of the Spaniards and the religion of our ancestors, and that is what is practiced here today".  I already knew that, we call it syncretism. It is the same throughout Latin America, but this is the first time I hear that statement from someone local.

I visited three archeological sites on my first day in Cuzco... Bad idea!  Too much for the first day! This picture was taken by a lady from Colombia.  We were both traveling alone so we decided to make each other company.  We spent a lot of time together, so, I had the opportunity to share my faith with her... Mention Amparo in your prayers today! Please pray for me as a travel.  Pray especially for my health during the trip.

On Steady Ground

Some had asked about this article published by The Commission Magazine in 2000.  Here it is...

Learning in Lima!

Even though I have been a church planter for 24 years and a missionary for 13 years, missions mobilization is a new ministry for me.  Although I have such great conviction about this new direction in my life, and a great passion to lead Latinamerican Christians to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel, I admit I still have so much to learn!

I am so grateful to be part of an organization that allows me to adquire the knowledge and skills required to do my job well.  That is the reason I am here in Lima, Peru.  The main offices for

the Americas affinity is in this beautiful city by the beach.

 

I have had the privilege to meet so many amazing people from different mission agencies and countries.  Such inspiring testimonies and challenging lives. As mobilizers in the Americas, our job is to walk along side these wonderful people and their organizations to help them send missionaries to the world.  They have an awesome responsibility and I consider it a privilege to be a part of they are doing.

Please pray for me as I continue to learn here in Lima.  The first of three trainings is over and I have had the day off to read, walk by beach and write this blog.  My second training starts tomorrow.  Pray that I will have the wisdom to apply everything I am learning in the context of the countries I am serving (Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua).