Heading Home!

Hello Friends,

Our journey is winding down. We had our last day of work on the enhancement we designed to improve their water delivery at Elohim School. We found that, yesterday (Friday) morning, the water truck came for the delivery, and used the system, testing our handiwork. The system worked well! This should make it easier for the delivery truck to bring water to the school, ensuring a consistent supply upon which to design the cleaning system we described in our Living Waters Covenant with Elohim School.

Part of our mission for this trip was to review systems already in place near Arequipa. The system in La Iglesia Primero de Junio seems to be working well, and requires only an upgraded check valve introduced since the system’s installation. The system at the Orphanage on the other hand does require some repair, as its water supply is not good by our preliminary testing. In the interest of empowering the local community in taking ownership of their systems, we instructed Adan, the church and mission caretaker, in the procedure to replace a faulty valve set. It will be interesting to hear how this goes in the next week or so, and to continue the excitement Fr Alex and Fr Francis feel in our helping them continue to provide a more healthful environment for the children of Arequipa.

Before departing Arequipa, Fr Alex shared a little more with us about Peru and her history, as well as his Mission as part of his Community of Saint Paul. He began his ministry in Afghanistan and Libya, spending some time in India, working with Mother Theresa of Calcutta, and arriving in Peru for work with only a pickup truck and a guitar. He has built his mission to include over 37,000 people, and is planning to continue to grow by moving farther up the mountain, and starting yet another church serving the poor of Arequipa! The work of his ministry allows those who have little or nothing to receive meals, education and medical attention at a rate far reduced from those provided by the government, or at no charge if they cannot pay. It is the ministry which is continued through the network Fr Alex has created , and which allows us the privilege of learning about service from the children and teachers of Elohim!

After this inspirational history and perspective of our mission in Peru, we bid a farewell and headed to the airport for our short flight back to Lima. Upon our arrival and return to the Manhattan Inn, where we spent our first night, we met up with Sarah Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson, the representatives of the PCUSA in Peru. We had a wonderful time talking over tapas about Faith and Ministry. They shared their mission and challenges in setting up partnerships in Peru, providing a means for those we partner with to meet us in mission for those they serve. Our mission is not to just give money, but rather to help them help themselves – much like the model of teaching someone to fish as opposed to just giving them one.

We are now in Miami waiting to board. I will be loading more pictures in another blog soon.

Thanks again for your prayers and support!
The PCB-LWW Team