Life: an adventure, a journey with Jesus!
September 6, 2010


USA Labor Day 2010 -- We enjoyed the day, but not with the typical celebrations of those we have known in the past. The day dawned sunny and warm, just beautiful. We boarded the bus and found no seats available for the first few miles, but since it wasn’t a holiday here in Peru, soon people were disembarking for various reasons and a gentleman pointed two open seats to us for our enjoyment. We were glad to accept his offer and sat watching the passing scenery that has now become familiar sights to us on this trip. About 40 minutes later we arrive at the bus stop where we surrender our seats to others patiently waiting. We join the crowds as they hurry and scurry to wherever it is they are going. The stores are beginning to open up, and it’s not uncommon to see folks picking up the morning newspaper at the corner stall, or greeting others they see with a kiss on the cheek, or waving to someone across the street. It is obvious they have all gone this way before many, many times.

After walking several blocks, we arrive! Downtown Lima! But our destination is just past the Palace and the Plaza de Armes in the next block, on the way to the Indian market, where we come to a favorite place of ours, which has a touch of home – Dunkin Donuts! It is here we enjoy ‘traditional’ coffee and splurge on a donut named ‘delirium’. The second floor dining room is cozy and there is a table for two (or 3 or 4 or more!) by a window where we can often be found. The double window opens wide, and soon we have the feeling of being in an outdoor café. The street noise below rises up just enough to give us that feeling and the busy sidewalk has people coming and going at a brisk pace, and others meandering along window shopping.

With coffee in hand, we sit and chat for a few minutes before Jasmin arrives. We arranged to meet Jasmin here to share a little with her and learn more of her plans as a missionary. Jasmin is a Peruvian young lady (early30’s! in fact today is her birthday!) we met a couple of years ago. She is bi-lingual and has helped the American Team as a translator. This summer we spent more time with her and learned of her plans to be a missionary in Africa, with Wycliffe Translators. Her dream is to help translate the Bible into a foreign language! She has completed her education in linguistics, speaks and translates in four languages (Portuguese, French, English and Spanish) has completed jungle training and is raising support for herself. She is looking forward to January and her first assignment. In speaking with Jasmin, we learned this is a 20 year committment on her part, as it takes at least that long to complete the task of her passion. Wycliffe missionaries have a two month furlough every two years according to what she has learned from the division she is going to be working with. It was amazing to sit and listen to her chatter about her experiences to date, her upcoming challenges of raising support, and of course, her plans -- living her dream through Christ! Jasmin is a strong Christian and knows her stuff! She talked about the need to translate the Bible in its entirety, not just portions or one of the testaments. What a great morning for us, just hearing her talk; a young lady on fire for Jesus, and moving forward with a life-long commitment.

After Jasmin headed out to return home, we walked the historical city blocks and captured some of the old architecture on camera. The government buildings, cathedrals, and other old buildings are such a contrast to the modern banks, restaurants, and some department stores. It was interesting to see them from street level and the second floor of a coffee shop! The old and the new; there is a beauty in each of them, distinctively different, to be appreciated individually, much like the generations of Christians today.

The next part of our walk may not be very exciting to most people, but it was for us. We stopped for lunch at a new, thoroughly modern McDonalds - that's a rarity for us because it is so very expensive compared to a chicken and rice dinner in a Peruvian restaurant. Really. But this place was unbelievable. Clean. Sleek. Leather chairs. Two floors. The bathroom was ultra modern - very cool. There were huge plate glass windows looking over the walking street. It had a “McCafe” on the 1st floor, similar to Starbucks and WiFi throughout the building. We sat and chatted and people watched for some time. Simple pleasures!

Early in the afternoon we met Amalia and Evelyn as planned. Amalia and her husband Nelson are pastors of a recent church plant and have had several exciting experiences she shared with us. One reason we were meeting today was to give her some paperback Bibles for some of the new Christians who have been coming to their church. Recently they held a children’s festival in celebration of Peru’s ‘day of the child’ and they had over 125 people come to celebrate with them. Of course, many came that one time, but they know the planting of the seed, sharing the gospel, has been done. Who the reapers are, no one knows at this point in time. She and Nelson are shepherding this little flock on a shoestring. They are planning a leaders retreat and are so excited to be able to take about 10 from their little congregation – away for a while to pray, plan and project for the church family. Amalia and Nelson have a heart for God and a heart for good. They only want His will in their lives and seek God’s guidance in all they do for Him. They are a testimony to everyone they meet. They are not rich by any standards, have a small and young group of believers to nurture, work very hard, and yet are so very happy to be serving Jesus without all the glamor and glitz of a gorgeous building and large numbers!

Evelyn is a friend of their son, Isaac. He attends Southern Nazarene College on a full soccer scholarship. Evelyn has come to Peru to visit, enjoy the historical sites, a little anthropology and archeology. She is praying and seeking God’s will for the next step in her young adult life.

Spending time this particular afternoon with these ladies was a nice interlude in our holiday trip to the city. We bid farewell to them and began our walk (a half dozen city blocks) back to the main thoroughfare to catch the bus back home. This time we secured seats immediately and paused to acknowledge it had been a good day. Thank you, Lord.