PeRu-ViT (vIta JC)

After the previous entry depicts we finally arrived in Chiclayo, Peru! With overwhelming Roman Catholic and withcraft influence, we could only wonder what lay ahead! 

We began the much anticipated Touching Hearts course offered by a South African lady, Caroline Thorpe. The impact of the course was noted by all and each participant walked away with experiencing either short term or long term life lessons!!! Being translated form English to Spanish we sadly didnt get to finish the course but even so we were moved!

With 2 days before the trip to Incawasi we got to sight see a little in Ferrenafe. The trip up also saw us being part of a baptism! The views were spectacular and all had high hope for the time to come. I, however, caught a bout of food poisoning from a snack that I had hit in my backpack for an undisclosed number of months... My usually strong stomach had met its match!!!

Entering Incawasi was nothing short of experiencing a "Movie Magic " moment. It seemes surreal. A kalidaescope of colour exploded before us as the ladies seemingly paraded their extravagent traditoinal attire. It was a sight! Being able to spend time with the Groenewald family in the house they lived for many years previously was a blessing beyong belief. The Pastors were nothing short of fantastic and throught the time in the mountains showed us what a true love through Christ is!

We began our ministry in Incawasi with a schools program which genearlly ran as follows:

* parasite awareness and the handing out of deworming pills (often the gateway)

* dance or drama (modified for age groups)

* explanation of the above

* the gospel

* handing out of bibles

Often we had so little time to minister that the program was cut short. Walking frm village to village took much time but built character beyong belief. It was only but the strength o fthe Lord that some of made it. Sometimes breathy singing could be heard as 'the joy of the Lord' was our strength! I dont think anyone can truly understand when I say we trekked through the Andes Mountains!!!!

The spiritual heaviness was evident and the enemy was going bananas! With team members suddenly becoming sick and a pot exploding in our leaders face, he did everything to stopm us teaching that JESUS in THE ONLY WAY, TRUTH and LIFE! (John 14:6)... But that did not stop us!

We each experienced God in very different wasy throughout Peru but the fact reamins is that God was moving in us, around us, and through us. So many lessons were learnt and we were blessed again and again. What an honour to be part of God's plan!!! What a privalege to get to know Oom Hendrik, Tannie Ronel, Celice, Nyasa and Barrend. Pastor Jorge and his entire amazing family were nothing short of a gift from God! We can never say thank you enough!

Thank you Jesus for an amazing time, amazing messages and amazing people! We all picked up a bit of Spanglish (except Sam who could easily be the light of Jesus in the Ketchwa community).... Wow! We ended our time in Peru in Mancora in a beautiful beach town with needed RnR. With the opportunity to tyruly spend time with the Lord, we took to our seperate ways and met up in Ecuador... Have I told you lately we serve an amazing God?!!!