"Missions within missions."
There is no better way to explain Peru. We were in Peru for a month. It started with a boat from Colombia to Iquitos. We went from Iquitos to Lima to the Juncun to Farrenafe to the mountains, Incawasi, to Farrenafe to Lima to Cusco to Machu Picchu to Puerto Matarani to Arequipa to new country: Chile.
I think it is safe to say we travelled in Peru and that we had many different ministries and ways of serving. We had school ministry, a church was planted, preaching, school programs, programmes for teachers, dramas, songs, teachings. Even the Germans in the team knows Jabulani off by heart- with moves.
Something interesting happened in Peru- the Hidden World team had four Peruvians join the team. It wasn't the biggest adjustment to have them join the group since we also spend two months training with them in the beginning of the year in South Africa at training. Leadership was placed in the hands of Laura Zurita.
Now we have Peruvians, Germans and South Africans in the team. What a team. Let's hear more what the team thought about Peru.
Q: How was it joining Hidden World?
Laura: It was really exciting but also very difficult because I thought all the time: "Now, how am I going to lead them, how could I say to them: please, do that or not, I'm afraid what I say sounds like orders, I don't want to look like a boss, I would like to be a friend for them but... I don't know them actually, oww nooo... (Hahaha). Finally, I could experience several kinds of feelings such as: happiness, frustration, anxiety, guilt but I'm so glad and thankful to God because I didn't understand what happened before however, now I start to understand that this is the medium God wanted to use in order to remind me that I'm really not shy and teach me that He put in me an encouraging Spirit and He will always glorify in my weakness, of course! God is so good, I can't understand how can Jesus give us many chances and how He loves us, because He choosed us even knowing our faults and His Holy Spirit is Who gives us the strength that we need. Our God is the BEST.
Q: How would I explain Peru to someone who have never been to Peru?
Talita Spies: Full of colours. Surprise of landscape in the whole country (from desert to mountains to jungles.) Plates full of rice. Very short people. Crazy taxi's. Long busrides. High altitude and freezing weather.
Q: How does the church function in Peru?
Simom Dilger: We experienced the church in Peru as a really diverse church. On one hand we've seen a strong CHURCH UNITY in Iquitos / Amazonia, where all churches seamed to aim together for the kingdom of God, meanwhile in other towns churches where only focusing on themselves.
We've been part of a local church reaching out to a small mountain village, planting a new congregation there through evangelism and Gods amazing presence.
And we could see, how a local church in Chiclayo started to aim, to send their own missionaries out and in this brake through the white spread Peruvian "receiving-mentality".
Over all I can see how God is doing great things in his body in Peru.
Yaelin-Rue Tate: The churches in Peru are more structured. The ones that we have been to have a set 'programme'. They are very excited about missions and missionaries and want to send out their own missionaries. They value evangelism and bringing people to the church.
Q: What do you think about Peru?
David Schöllhorn: Peru is a country full of surprises. Not just the different landscape (jungle, mountains, coast) is incredible, but also the people! I never thought that we would have such a amazing time in Peru.
Q: What do you think about Peruvians?
Thulani Mabila: I love Peruvians. They are very friendly people.
Jeanette Snyders: I have never seen a culture smile as much as Peruvians. I can barely remember a situation where they don't smile or laugh. The best is that their smiles reach their eyes. They are always ready to serve and to bless. Peruvians also have a culture of giving. They love it when their gifts are received as freely as they give it.
Q: What was the weirdest thing you saw in Peru?
Johannes Häring: Breakfast-gathering at 4 a.m of 20 wild dogs on a rubbish pile. Wild dogs are everywhere, they don't have an owner. Then where do they get their food from? The people just put their trash early in the morning in plastic bags in front of their houses, that means breakfast time for these dogs! The poblem is that the dogs don't clean up afterwards, so after this feast meal half of the street is full of rubbish!
Q: What is the weirdest food you ate in Peru?
Valerie Hopf: The weirdest food I ate in Peru was on the way to baptize Johannes in the amazon river. We went through a street market ate worms/ catepilars (which look like maggots and taste like braaied chicken skin) on a stick. Then shortly after that we ate some braaied aligator foot, the parts near the claw nails were especially tender yum yum. This also tasted like chicken. Unfortunately we didnt get to try cuy (guinea pig) or alpaca. This is some traditional mountain village cusines.
Q: What is the most exciting thing you did in Peru?
Ashleigh Smart: The boat trip from Leticia to Iquitos on the Amazon! Not moving from your hammock doesn't sound very exciting, ÂÂ but trust me, it is exhilarating. Also climbing Machu Picchu. The 2000 steps to the top weren't even enough to dull the excitement that had been building up for 3 years prior to the experience.
Q: What was your favorite moment in Peru?
Clirese Erasmus: When we worshipped and prayed together as a team, because it has power and strengthen the bond in the team. It made me feel loved and cared for.
Two of the Peruvians, Laura and Emanuel, will continue travelling with the group. They are part of our team and it's amazing having them with us.
Q: Why do you want to continue traveling with the team to Chile and Bolivia?
Emanuel Idrogo: I would like to continue travelling with the team to continue learning from them and getting better at serving Jesus.
Peru was full of adventure and new experiences. God worked personally in each of the teams lives and hearts. We have three countries left and each one holds great treasures for what God wants to do in this side of the world.