Pedregal

Ginger Isenhour

     A shack, a shanty, a lean-to, woven walls and dirt floors- a steamy sun beats down on this desert and very fine layer of dust covers everything.

 It covers the walls that are makeshift from old vinyl or plastic table cloths; it covers the broken chair or two that occupy the room; it covers the church pew that will hold our patients as they wait and it covers them.  

It fills in the folds of the numerous petticoats that make rather small wrinkled women appear plump and much older than they really are. The dust covers the children’s shoes and clothes and hats that sport a brim all the way around.  The children wear sweaters and coats and scarves as if it’s cold- it is winter and a mere 78 degrees.

Babies look like they will suffocate as they are packaged so close to their mother’s backs or breasts that you sometimes miss that they are even there at all.

The dust is pressed into the crows feet of the old women and around the mouths of the codger-like old men who make an effort to come to us. Their lips are white and cracked and dusty-like everything here. 

The dogs roam and kick up dirt with each and every step their paws take in this utter dryness, this baroness that is Pedregal.

There is not one flower, not one green bush, not one fertile tree.  This place is forlorn, lonely, bone- dry and seemingly God-forsaken….

The clinic begins really without any fanfare; just an announcement over a battery-operated loud speaker and a hand-written sign.  People shuffle in among a cloud of dust and wait to be seen.  The need is so great- perhaps, greater than even they realize. 

So what can we offer them? 

For souls that are dry, cracked and crumbly, we offer a drink- a drink of Living Water.  It is a luscious, wet, thirst- quenching drink from the only well manned by God Almighty.  In John 4:14 Jesus says, “… whoever drink of the water I give him will never thirst again….” This water will become in him a bubbling spring of eternal life.  Where there is a bubbling spring there is growth and luscious signs of it even in a dessert. 

For eyes that are expressionless and arid, we offer vision- crisp and clear.  Glasses to make their sight fresh to read God’s Word to know Him, to learn of Him and to have the eyes of their heart opened, refreshed and rejuvenated by the great Healer. 

For bodily ailments, we offer man made medicine and antidotes, but we offer more- we offer a touch from the Great Physician.  Everyone who is touched by Him is changed eternally.

Is there no Balm in Gilead?  Is there no Balm in Pedregal?  For it is a dry and thirsty land….but it certainly is NOT God- forsaken!

God Almighty, the Comforter, the Creator, the Living Water incarnate, the sustainer of all life IS in Pedregal. 

Although its dryness, its sandy soot, its arid sky, its parched ground is prevalent, but the clear, refreshing, rejuvenating, life-altering Living Water can be heard in the laughter of children as they hug a doll, or throw a colorful Frisbee or wear a beaded bracelet.  He can be seen in the sweet, brown, dusty faces of those who now know our God. 

{Thank you, Ginger, for allowing me to complete this blog with your beautifully written article.}

Why we should return

We might be accused of holding an idealistic picture of our time in Peru when we are enthusiastic about returning. Indeed, we have talked of next year as if it is already planned. But there are some compelling reasons that Hickory Grove Baptist Church should continue to send teams to Arequipa and Pedregal.

Several members of our team noticed an openness to the gospel where ever we went. Those who handed out tracts sensed a desire among the people to read about salvation. People who started resistant changed their attitude in the time it took to present a simple gospel message. People received Christ every time the gospel was presented. I see three factors that contribute to this openness:
1) Peruvians have had about five hundred years of awareness of God and Jesus Christ. Catholic teaching has been in the area for a long time, and has been dominant for most of that time. Gaby observed that the way Christianity was introduced to the area was not the best-conquering colonists forced their faith on locals, but that the way people are now being introduced to the true God was a good thing. A basic knowledge and acceptance of faith in Jesus is in place. Some ideas will need to be corrected, but those will be adjusted through discipleship, and Baptists are taking the correct good news approach now and it is being well received.
2) There is a positive attitude toward change. Change of any kind is usually good for the gospel, but the Peruvian government has initiated some positive changes in the area. Both cities are expanding and people are planning for a bright future. Rebar is sticking out of their roofs in anticipation of building a new floor on their house. Irrigation projects in Pedregal give people hope for new jobs and income. This willingness to change opens the door for considering the gospel.

3) They have hope for the future. Again rebar sticking out of the top of houses indicates plans and hope.

Another reason we should continue to send teams is that the Peruvian Baptist are evangelizing their people themselves. This means we can come along side them and offer aid, but not take over. Peruvian Baptists support missionaries to other parts of their country and to international locations-I heard of missionaries to North Africa and to Canada. Some might say, "Let's leave them to the work and go somewhere else." But we can help them and move the work on faster. When a farmer has a bumper crop he calls in extra hands to help with the harvest. We can be the extra hands needed for the harvest in Peru.

A corollary to this point is that the work of mission teams will be followed up. Baptist churches in Arequipa and Pedregal are equipped with leaders and members who are ready to contact and disciple new believers. When several people in one of our clinics received Christ, Elva wrote down names and addresses and gave them to the pastor of the church. They will be visited.

The excellent Christian translators make the work of American mission teams effective. Four different Peruvian Christians translated for me and there was no hesitation between my phrases and their translation.

Finally, our team members came home changed by the LORD. We have a more clear perspective on spiritual things after serving for a week full time. We have a renewed boldness and confidence about sharing the gospel with people here at home. This trip was as much a growth experience for us as it was for anyone we ministered to in Peru. We all thank the LORD, our sponsors, and Hickory Grove Baptist Church for this opportunity.

David

Pastor Pablo

Meagan

Lindsey

Elva and April

Dawn

Juanita

Emily

Jose and Ginger

Catherine L

Angie

Judy

David and Kurt

Catherine R

Pastor Pablo and Dolly

Walker and Adrian

Andrea

Gaby

The Team 2013

Opposition

From the first chapters of Job we learn that the only way Satan can oppose us is if the LORD gives him permission. God is on our side and will never give us more than we can handle. According to James 1:2-4 these trials make us complete, lacking nothing. And yet, we wonder why He allows Satan to seemingly get in the way and even incapacitate us.

Earlier I mentioned opposition that came before we left for Peru: David's mini-stroke, April's back pain. Well the Devil didn't stop when we were on the field. Shortly after we arrived we all became concerned for Ginger. She was weakened by an intestinal bug to the point of bed rest from Monday until Wednesday. It attacked David too, but he was 'bein' the man.' If you caught him not looking, you could tell he wasn't 100%, but he was pushing through. David was a wrestler in High School, but this bug had a Full Nelson on his digestive system and it wasn't letting go. Now for you who don't know wrestling lingo, a Full Nelson is an illegal wrestling hold (not a country music star of years gone by-that's Willie Nelson). Half Nelson is ok, but Full Nelson is not, but Montezuma's revenge doesn't play by the rules and neither does Satan. But fear not God is Satan's Referee and Master.

Just about everyone on the mission trip tag teamed with David and Ginger in this wrestling match, but by the time their symptoms started we knew what it was and how to combat it. The only ones on the team that I know of who were spared were Judy and I. She came away with a cold, I had some allergic response to dust and diesel fumes. I still feel like I'm blowing Peru out of my nose. Maybe we have some latent immunity leftover from our time in Thailand. Maybe the Peruvian bug saw our immune systems show off a few Thai kickboxing moves and forfeited the match.

But back to the wrestling match with Montezuma: David put up a good fight for Sunday and Monday, but soon realized he needed rest. At that point Pastor Pablo stepped in with some advice. He said he had experienced the same symptoms a few years ago and took some medication that cleared it up. David was game. He took two large yellow pills and got a good night's sleep and felt much better in the morning. Judy looked up the ingredients, they were approved for use in Europe.

Satan's attempt at germ warfare didn't hinder our ability to minister. I mentioned earlier that Emily and Dawn took over Ginger and Juanita's jobs in the clinics. No one got grumpy or whinny. I was especially impressed with Meagan and Lindsey. Their ability to serve was not hindered by their mother's illness. Every chance they had they checked on her, and they were concerned, but they trusted the Lord and the medical personnel to care for her, and because of their trust they were able to effectively sing and perform in skits and love on children. By faith they made Satan's disruptions unproductive.

The day we left Pedregal to return to Arequipa Ginger was still sick. The two hour bus ride must have been very hard for her. She was trying to rest in a single seat with her head against a window. Catherine lent her a sweatshirt to use as a pillow. I was sitting behind her, and concerned that with every right turn momentum would carry her out of her seat into the floor I put my hand on her shoulder to steady her.

We believed the best option was to get her on the next flight home. Sending Emily home along with her would give her a Spanish speaking companion to expedite travel. Dawn, David, Pastor Pablo and Emily were working on travel plans. While the rest of the team ministered in Central Baptist Church Arequipa on Wednesday evening, David, Pastor, and Emily took Ginger to the airport to get them on a plane. When the airline attendants saw Ginger in a wheelchair they required a doctor's note saying she was not contagious. They would not allow her on a plane without it.

The next morning before office hours a doctor friend of Pastor's saw Ginger. She was willing to process the papers, but it would take 24 hours. By that time she would be traveling with us. Another complication that sending Ginger off would have cause involved Meagan and Lindsey. They could travel with their mother, but as minor children special documentation was needed for them to travel with unrelated adults. Thank the LORD that He spared us from that wrestling match. Montezuma's revenge is a much preferable battle to government red tape.

Because we had tried to change Emily and Ginger's flights our group travel plans got messed up. Ginger started feeling better after seeing the doctor. At one point the rest of the team was leaving for a program and she saw us off, waving at the window of her room. After a trip out we returned to find her touring the orphanage with a young man who had been raised there and was now working there. She was able to participate in ministry to the orphans Thursday afternoon and ministry and touring Friday. When Emily and Ginger's tickets were again confirmed for the Friday flight home with the group we were all on the same flights into Miami. Their tickets for the flight from Miami to Charlotte were on a flight five hours later. Some of us offered to trade with them, but it seemed nothing could be done.

Ginger is feelling better!

On Friday our first 'tourist' stop was in square front of the Monastery. Pastor took David, Emily, and Ginger to the LAN (airline) office off the square. Elva and Catherine (the Peruvian one) were supposed to show the rest of us around, no one was sure what we were supposed to see. There was shopping there, but Pastor had told us the prices there were three times higher than where he would take us later on. Some of us ended up buying snacks, and by then the others were calling us back to the bus.

Emily said they walked into the LAN office and Pastor greeted everyone, then someone from 'upstairs' listened while Pastor explained the problem with Ginger and Emily's tickets. The person acted like it was not a problem, made a change on the computer and we all traveled home on the same flights.

The Lord uses Satan to teach us to trust in Him and to see His infinite power. He took care of illness, and red tape, what a mighty God we serve! In addition, we went to Peru to share Christ with lost people there. Each time someone trusted in Christ's death on the cross, He said, "Paid in full, paid in full." I'm sure each team member, when thinking over the hardships of travel, lodging, and illness we faced, and then seeing people trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, we too say, "Paid in full." It was all worth the trouble if only one person came to faith in Christ, but our efforts and our inconveniences were answered by the Lord as several trusted Christ and we can say over and over, "Paid in full, paid in full."

Personal Notes

Judy is a nurse, and there were clinics planned on this mission trip, that's why I suggested we go to Peru. I even entertained the thought that Judy might go without me since her role was so well defined, and mine seemed auxiliary. Even up to our departure it was hard for me to be too excited because I wasn't sure what I would be doing. I prepared shotgun style: evangicube, wordless frisbee and Ninja star, about one and one half sermons, and lots of prayer. I went to Peru trusting that God would use me, and He did, what a blessing.

Early in our discussions about whether we should go to Peru or not, I mentioned to Judy that the dates included our anniversary. That was not at all a glitch for us. Don't get me wrong, our anniversary has always been important to us, but all that matters is that we celebrate in some way together. Serving in Peru would be a memorable way to celebrate our 36th anniversary.

During team planning meetings our important date came up. I joked that I was looking for an exotic destination to celebrate.

In Pedregal at dinner on July 29th I heard some discussion between David and Pastor Pablo about special food for the next day.

When we got up on July 30th in the hostel in Pedregal, and wished each other 'Happy Anniversary.' I suggested to Judy that we wear matching tee shirts. She agreed and that was our little celebration. She gave me a card she had brought from home, I forgot to get her one. I thought the special food happened at lunch when Gilmer served each person half of an avocado with sort of relish made with beets-it was delicious. Lunch was too. On the way to dinner the bus made an unscheduled stop at a bakery. David and Pastor Pablo returned with a cake box. Written on the cake top was "Happy Anniversary, Kur and Judy."

Dinner was even more special that night, and then we gathered around the cake for Pastor Pablo to make a little speech and pray. Then I suggested he say, "and now you may kiss the bride." And I did. Judy didn't want to blow out the two candles on the cake because she was getting a cold. Spontaneously I picked out both candles, joined them into one flame and then blew them out symbolizing our lives together. The cake was caramel and delicious. What a blessed way to celebrate 36 years of God's blessings.

On Wednesday we visited the alcohol and drug rehabilitation center. To keep the grass trimmed they had two Alpacas, Maron (Brown in Spanish) and Natasha. After the program while waiting for lunch we were visiting with the residents. Outside one guy was feeding candy to the Alpacas. He would put a lemon candy between his lips and move close to Natasha. She would gently take it with her lips. Walker and I tried the trick, and pictures reveal Lindsey did too. There were llamas at the orphanage-no kissing, only spitting-Catherine L received that indignity.

Matching Shirts

Avocado appetitizer

Cake-yum yum!

Happy Anniversary

What happens in Peru, doesn't stay in Peru

Arequipa Impressions

Monastery at night, impressive!

Arequipa is an old city by American standards. Old European-style structures and narrow streets of the original city date back to the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries. But modern development has produced new neighborhoods around the old city that are self-contained. Peruvians can live very comfortably in their neighborhoods without the need to travel to the old city.

In these newer parts of the city everything seems to be in phase one of construction. I already described the airport's arrival lounge-a permanent roof is not yet in place. Business buildings and houses are occupied, but still not complete. Steel rebar sticks out of the top of pillars, indicating the direction of future additions. Brick walls are often unfinished waiting for plaster, and later paint. Some roads have curbs, but no pavement. Growth happens when funds are available. But everyone seems to know growth is happening. There is a positive attitude about the future.

The attraction of the old city is its completeness and modern upgrades. Some streets are paved, some are cobblestone, most are narrow. The streets in the old city were put down before anyone thought about cars. Now that cars exist the narrow streets are barely adequate, unless you're driving a nano-cab (see next paragraph), then you're good. Our bus filled those little streets. In fact Catherine LaHaye (that is the American, well North American Catherine, you know the one from Charlotte-we had Peruvian Catherine too) said that she felt she could reach out the bus window and grab a bottle of coke of the shelf in a store. Being an honest person she didn't do it, but that gave a good description of the narrow feel of the streets.

Thoroughfares are few and filled with vehicles, especially 'nano-cabs.' Mini-sub-compact cars are painted bright colors and patched with advertising. Jeff Foxworthy would have a heyday with nano-cabs: 'If your cab and two others are traveling side-by-side between the dotted lines of one lane, you could be in a nano-cab.' 'Don't you mean dashed lines?' 'No when you're traveling that fast the lines look like dots.'
'If your taxi driver just passed another car by sliding under a moving semi trailer, you could be in a nano-cab.'
'If the fourth member of your family is strapped to the roof, you could be in a nano-cab.'
'If the horsepower rating on the horn is greater than the horsepower rating of the engine, you could be in a nano-cab.'
'If your driver uses the horn instead of the brakes for emergency stops, you could be in a nano-cab.'
Nano-cabs make up for their smallness by sheer numbers; they are abundant. I would be willing to guess (you thought I was going to say,'bet.' I don't bet, I digress, but I don't bet); I would be willing to guess that by weight the all of the nano-cabs in Arequipa together would out weigh all other vehicles in the city. They are small, but they are many.

Arequipa's modern upgrades include McDonald's, Burger King, and Starbucks, if you consider those upgrades. But the best attractions are the arts and architecture. Old world construction in the square in front of the centuries old convent meets modern buildings in a beautiful way. We were privileged to attend a free concert of the Arequipa symphony-especially privileged because Gaby is their flutist. Several times we heard her instrument floating freely and flawlessly above the others. After a week of ministry it was delightful to do some touring in this interesting and beautiful city.

Nano-cab (SUV-style) almost eclipsed by a compact car

Nano-cab (circa 2012) in front of Monastery (circa 1621)