Fiesta Espíritual in Huancaray (October)

This is our ride.  Martin Leon loans it to us and other ministries to get out into the country.

This is the kitchen, where they are preparing breakfast when we arrive.

At breakfast.

Everone loved this little guy with his carrot!

Mike was teaching about the Holy Spirit.  There is a huge amount of confusion  up here because of  people who call themselves apostles going around telling people they haven't got the Holy Spirit unless they give it to them.  

Cayo Cardenas translating in Quechua

Cayo and his wife Maritza leading singing.

Singing with the traditional harp.

Lunchtime!

On the way back home.

Strike Losing Favor: Pray for an End

Last week everyone here was optimistic about the strike.  (Including us.) Today a radio call-in show on Agricultor (Farmer) Radio was asking people if they were in favor of the strike and the response was an overwhelming "NO."  There are three big reasons:

1.  Violence erupted Thursday afternoon and left close to 40 people injured in confrontation between protesters and police.
photo: larevista.aqpsoluciones.com

2. The original organizers (marching in photo above)have declared that they are satisfied with  government actions  and have quit the strike unless the government does not keep promises to ban mining in the district because of a serious water pollution problem that has been killing birds, fish, and crops.  However, more extremist groups that have infiltrated the protest have decided to continue the strike indefinitely.Photo: actualidad.azumare.com

3. With these guys and their sticks and whips keeping businesses closed and  shutting down  transportation,  food is starting to run out.Photo: actualidad.azumare.com

Our plan is still to leave Monday for Lima, if it is at all possible.  However, God will have to move in a mighty way for this to happen.  Please pray for a peaceful resolution to the situation.

Strike (again)

Okay, we have about a week before we leave Andahuaylas for our visit to the US, family, and US churches.  And everything is complicated by a general strike.  We can only do business or travel to Andahuaylas in the morning before 9 am or after 4 or 5 pm.

Image: xedos4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
And we are in agreement with this strike.  The strike is to protest the large amounts of money that have been funneled into the hospital and road paving projects with no result.  The road between Ayacucho and Andahuaylas is close to completion.  The road between Abancay and Andahuaylas----nothing.  The new hospital has vanished into thin air, and the director of the current hospital has changed possession like a basketball.  Who knows who it is?  AND there is a report of the privatization of the water system, coupled with constant cuts in water.  So we want to support the strike, because there are not a lot of other ways to call the government's attention to problems.
We have gone through strikes before, and it was traumatic.  And although this strike is reasonable and nonviolent, I have to say that it is much easier for us because we have learned a lot about how you live through them:

1. Don´t try to go anywhere during strike hours unless absolutely necessary.
2. Get up early and do your shopping before the strike starts, and go out in the evening to add to your supplies.
3. Listen to information from everyone.  Taxi drivers are really well-informed and are a great source of information during non-strike (treaty) hours.
4. Listen to local radio and ask all your neighbors what is going on. 

All the same , we hope it is over soon, so we can get on with preparations for our trip.

Marriage retreat

We had a great time teaching at a marriage retreat this week in Andahuaylas.  Eighteen couples from the Andahuaylas IEP church attended.  The highlight was (unfortunately) when I decked Jorge (a large policeman who goes to our church and is  a student at the seminary) during the volleyball game.  I was going for the ball and he hadn't called it.  I still can't believe I actually knocked him down.
A lot of better things happened.  Several couples seemed to really connect and give their marriages to God.  Everyone had a good time as well, even Jorge.