Village Preaching

Peru Krohns	Loving Life and Ministry in Abancay, Peru

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Posted by: jeffkrohn Original: 12/10/2007 6:41 PM Comments: 0 eProps: 0 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

Monday, December 10, 2007

Yesterday we traveled to a village called Huanipaca. It was a 2 hour drive from here in Abancay--the first part on paved roads, the 2nd on dirt. It afforded us some stunning views as usual. I preached on the holiness of God (first picture), using Mark 4.35-41 as the primary text. It was a great time of encouraging God's people. They are all hard-workers, most of them farmers and shepherds. The pastor has been to some of our Bible Institute classes. The second picture is of the town, nestled in a pretty valley.

Speaking on the holiness of God is always good to remind one of the need for reverence in our relationship with Christ. How reverent are we in our worship? Last week an unbeliever, on hearing I was an evangelical pastor/missionary, launched immediately into a couple stories surely meant to scorn/defeat/deflate me. She said she visited an evangelical church many years ago in the capital city, and after being herded into a special room with other new-comers, and hearing the distinctives of the church, she was given a packet of information, that included an envelope. Later that day, as she was looking through the material, she opened the envelope, and was shocked to see 500 soles inside (over $100). She obviously concluded that that is how evangelical churches get members. She sarcastically remarked how she thought she would "need" to go back there once in awhile! Then she said another time she went to a basement of an evangelical church where there was a prayer meeting. People were praying-- not together, but individually, but by no means in silence. Many were calling out very loudly, calling on God for various things, repeating over and over again in loud voices their requests. The woman concluded, "they seemed like deranged people" and also asked, "So is God deaf?" Reminds one of the need for worship in a "fitting and orderly way" (1 Cor. 14.40). And for reverence before the Almighty.

The road from the opposite valley: The view of some 19,000ft peaks as we traveled:

Brandon had a good time in Sunday School-- held outside on the grass, since the church has just one room-- the sanctuary. The younger two boys didn't pay attention real well, and just played. Stacey's parents are visiting us, and sat patiently through the 3-hour service, without understanding much.

Teaching the Sunday school in the picture below is Mario, who has graduated from our Bible Institute's basic program, and is a humble, gentle man committed to teaching children God's Word. Mario's parents live in another town deep in the mountains. Though Mario is well-educated, and will graduate from a technical university this month, neither of his parents went to school-- not even to elementary school! Not even a day. They do however have very good memories-- as oral learners, they retain alot! The second picture is Brandon reading the lesson with a couple new friends. The third is him listening intently!

During the Sunday School, a need arose-- dull pencils. For some reason, no pencil sharpeners were to be found, so an "hermana" just whipped out the knife and got some pencils sharp. The second picture is one precious, little girl!

Picture of Stacey with her parents, and a nice family picture of us with the boys!

Zoomed-in picture across the valley of a man working on a steep hill doing some "plowing". Such hard work!

Same hill, with no zoom. Working-man is in bare spot, middle, just above the road. I love the zoom.

Upon leaving, we were presented with a gift of gratitud for coming-- a couple of "cuys" (guinea pigs). Again, this is a common yet special part of the diet here. They were in a bag (with some alfalfa to munch on for the long journey home), and then when we arrived home, were given to a neighborhood lady to cook. Before and after pictures:

Jonathon having a little fun:

Back in Abancay, we came across a man digging into the street for a sewage pipe. Nothin' like a sunny sunday afternoon hacking away with a pick-axe on an incredibly hard dirt road in bare feet! Good night dude-- don't let that thing slip!