Greetings from Peru on this fourteenth day of the New Year! I
trust that all of you are thankful for this New Year and are excited
at the prospects of new opportunities to make Christ know! I am
certainly anticipating the coming year to be a year of growth in my
christian life as I seek to know more of Christ and seek to make Him
more know. Between those two things, I think I will have plenty to
keep me plenty occupied. That is, as that passion (for really, the
second is the spontaneous result of the first) grows may it truly be
the one and only occupation of my life. That is my desire not only as
a missionary here in Peru, but also as a Christian regardless of where
I may find myself geographically. Colossians 3:16-17 is a fitting
summery of a few of my desires for 2009. Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by
him.
There is no doubt that it is the rainy season here in the Andes.
Since arriving to Velille on the 24th of December, it has rained more
days than it has been dry. That is not to say that between the rains
we have not had any nice weather, in fact most days start out clear
and at times reach over seventy degrees. The weather at times can
change rapidly, so one must always be prepared while in the country.
Once the warm rays of the Sun at 12,000 ft. above sea level are
covered and the rain starts to fall, it really gets cold fast! One of
the main differences in the weather here and that in Washington, is
that after raining for all this time, we will go for several months
without a hardly a drop of precipitation. As far as the crops are
concerned, the more rain the better, since that is the only form of
"irrigation" that they have. (Though right now, they are working on a
major irrigation project….have patience, it takes awhile using only
picks and shovels! Unfortunately, the canal will only service the
fields that are alongside "Rio Velille"). Besides the rain, there
have been quite a few hailstorms, which at times can be severe. A
local custom is to start a fire when you see a storm coming, it seems
like the most absurd logic, but the smoke from the fire is supposed to
act as shield from the crop damaging hail. Traveling becomes a little
more difficult in the rain since all of the roads are nothing more
than dirt, which, as you might imagine, very quickly turn into mud.
Even with the hail, from what I hear, the weather and roads here are
still to be preferred over those at home!
There is not a lot of work to do in the fields at this time, but
I have been able to help some with cultivating the potatoes. It is
amazing how much work goes into one potato field! The fact that
everything is done by hand here, makes farming in the States seem
easy. Here progress is measured by yards, at home, by acres! Most of
the fields are inaccessible to tractors, leaving the present
generation with the legacy of using the same methods as the succeeding
generations. Sometimes while working the soil it is interesting to
think of the all of the people who have received sustenance from the
very same ground that I am cultivating. History seems so real while
working in such an environment, especially when you are surrounded by
the constant jabber of the Quechua language. In so many ways, life
has remained unchanged for generations for the majority of the people
here in Chumbivilcas. This is not only true agriculturally, but
spiritually as well. May the greatest advance in this district be that
of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Besides fieldwork, I have started helping with the making and
selling of "tortas" (cakes) and popcorn once again. Not only does in
bring in a little more money than fieldwork, (still hardly worth
mentioning by US standards) but also gives many opportunities for
personal interaction. Unfortunately, there are only two days that
one can sell enough cake and popcorn to make it worthwhile. Monday is
market day, which always brings in a lot of people, and Wednesday has
a full schedule of busses coming through town in the afternoon, so
those are the only two days that we sell on. At times we will still
set up a stand in the market with Bibles and literature, but usually
what we have been doing is carrying them in our cart with the cake and
popcorn. We also make some sales from the house, as people come
looking for Bibles. The room where I am staying just happens to be
where we store our Bibles, which make keeping inventory pretty easy!
As for the spiritual side of the work here, we have four services
a week on average. Two of them are here in Velille while the others
are at various places in the surrounding country. One thing which is
a great help in this, is the use of a motorcycle. After using the
"moto" for a while, it is hard to think of only traveling by "bici"
again! At this point Gordon and I are taking turns preaching while
the other moderates. My Spanish is definitely being taxed to the
limit, which, I guess is a good thing! When I realize how pathetic
the efforts of my own ability are, it makes me all the more realize
how great my dependence on God is. I hope that never changes, even
with the improvement of my Spanish. Please do pray that those which
come to the services would have a true longing to not only listen, but
to be changed! Pray also that more people would take an interest in
the state of their soul, and be drawn to the services.
Daniel and Maria, (which were baptized here in Velille a little
over a year ago) are once again making plans to get married. If
everything works out (pray that it would!) they should be getting
married the end of next week. The Wengers are more than a little
anxious that it would work out before they leave at the end on the
month. Last week Gordon and I were able to have a serious talk with
Daniel and Maria that seems to have produced fruit. We were able to
spend some time in prayer and they seem to have gotten clear on some
issues, which had been definite hindrances to their spiritual lives.
They are still in need of much prayer as they make this step. They
also need prayer for the strength to make other changes in bringing
there lives and relationships in accordance with Scriptural
guidelines. Please do continue to pray for them!
One area of ministry, which we are planning to start soon, is
radio broadcasts. At this point, I want to contract an hour in which
I could play a prerecorded message, a Scripture passage in either
Castillano or Quechua and a few hymns. It has been over a year since
we had time on the local radio station. Besides some of the positive
feedback we were getting at that time, we have been encouraged by
individuals asking about it more recently. Do pray that the Lord
would give wisdom as I proceed into this ministry that has great
potential to reach many lives.
As I sit here typing I am repeatedly confronted with a large
topographical map of the area directly in front of me. May the
districts, towns, communities and individuals, which it represents, be
made a constant reminder of the many around me in need on the
transforming gospel of Christ Jesus. Let us not be ashamed of that
gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who
believes, to those in the United States as well as in Peru! Thank you
all for your prays and the part which you play in the work here.
IN CHRIST, Nels
"God delver me from the dread asbestos of other things. Saturate me
with the oil of the Spirit that I may be aflame... Father, take my
life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping
fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it,
Lord, have it all... Pour out my life as an oblation to the world...
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God!"
-- Jim Elliot
Nels R. Klewin
Correo Central
Dept. de Cusco
Yauri, Espinar
Peru SA
