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).

Garang Athian Serving in South Sudan

Garang and I participated together in a mission´s conference at Vida Abundante Baptist Church in San Miguel, El Salvador.

Getting to know missionaries like Garang Athien is an added blessing to my ministry of mobilization.  Garang was born in Sudan but was raised in Cuba and Guatemala.  This is a story that exemplifies the awesome grace and sovereignty of our God.  Sometimes is strange to hear a man like Garang speak Spanish so well and quote Mexican popular TV shows... African body but a Hispanic heart!  Please pray for Garang as he serves in the newly formed nation of South Sudan (www.goss.org).  This new country calls itself "Christian", but according to Garang, the title only means that they are not Muslim and want to separate themselves as much as possible from North Sudan (strictly Islamic).  The reality is that out of the eight million of South Sudanese, less than 2% has a personal relationship with Christ.  Please pray for me as I mobilize workers from Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua to serve alongside Garang in South Sudan... Pray for this new country...

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

A planning meeting with some pastors members of AMBAH, a recently formed missionary agency in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and Dave Clines, IMB Mobilizer in Panama.

Training for mobilizers from local churches in San Pedro Sula.

Introducing myself during the monthly pastor´s meeting of the Baptist Association in San Pedro Sula.