Peru Missions Trip June 2008

Monday, June 23rd 11:00 am

This is the first opportunity to sit at the computer and write. One of the most important things taught and learned by a missions team is the need to be flexible!!

We arrived in Lima, Peru without incident. Both flights were on time and lines were short. All of our luggage was slightly underweight and this was after David Hodges has packed additional items for the family and the church. It is a blessing we were able to bring so much of their things along with our tools for the week.

Once we landed in Peru, though, things started to change. Felipe was not allowed to enter the country because; being a citizen of Honduras he needed a Visa, which he was not aware of since he has traveled many times to Latin American countries and this was not needed. He was flown back to Panama where he will try to get a visa and return. Once Felipe returned to Panama the airline admitted that they should have caught this in Miami and because of their error they have put him up in a 5- star hotel with food vouchers until he can get his visa on Monday! Please pray, Felipe is trying to get his visa today and return to Peru. We know that God chose Felipe to be part of this team, he is still part of this team and we expect that he will be returning shortly to Peru.

After regrouping we set off to claim our baggage and go through customs. We got three red lights and two green lights. Red lights mean that they want to check your baggage and could tax you on items such as tools. The good news is we received favor, we were questioned on the tools, but they did not tax us!

We then went to the hotel, David had already checked us in so we went right to our rooms and had a few minutes to get ourselves settled. Then it was off to Maria´s (Cesi´s) sisters home for a wonderful Peruvian meal. Rice, potatoes, mixed beef with vegtables. Then back to the hotel for a good night of sleep.

We need two generators to work at Jicamarca. David came down early to purchase one and rent one. The purchased generator was not in stock when he got here but will be on Monday. The rented one was supposed to be available for pick-up on Saturday but later this changed and would not be available until Sunday. So with no power it would be difficult to accomplish much in Jicamarca on Sunday. So a new plan was developed.

We went to Jicamarca first thing Sunday morning after breakfast at the hotel. Jicamarca - WOW. No words can explain it. Lots of rock, dirt and mountains. The team spent time looking over the job site and walking the property. They discussed plans and laid out the work for the week. I too walked the property while the men were stratigizing. When near the base of the mountain you look around and there is so much poverty. Poverty I have never experienced like this before. Through tears the Lord spoke to me and said it is not about the job site we have spent so much time concentrating on, it is about what is around the job site. The people need this church and David and Cesi´s ministry in a mighty way.

After we left Jicamarca we went to a mall on the beach. Gary, did not want the culture shock to get to us too bad and treated us to Tony Roma´s! What a blessing. Then it was off to get the rented generator an hour away and we did some sight seeing on the way along the beach.

The generator was not in good order. So we decided not to try to fix it and use it for the welding not knowing if it would be able to handle the job. So an unexpected purchase was made of a 2nd generator. More blessings though as several of the men pitched in to purchase the generator which will give opportunity for David and Cesi to rent it in the future and will give them additional funds for the ministry.

This morning the men have gone to the job site and I am at Maria´s cooking spaghetti to bring to the men at noon. We have been stretched in the last 48 hours but the Lord is good and we have seen God´s hand in all of it. The team is great, they have been so helpful and funny! They have laughed a lot and have enjoyed one another while working through the challenges. God knew what He was doing when He put this team together.

Please pray for Felipe´s return to Peru-TODAY, that the generators do what is required for this week of work and for David who was not feeling his best this mornng (chills and aches).

God Bless