Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings to each one of you in the worthy name of Jesus! In Ephesians we are to told to walk worthy of the vocation (or calling) by which we have been called, that has been my desire over the last six months here in Peru. Worthy;…though in many ways I feel unworthy of the privilege it has been to serve among the Quechua people one again, I do thank the Lord for His grace in my life to give testimony of His salvation. It has been only through His life in me that I have in any way been able to live worthy of such a high calling of proclaiming the gospel. It is mind-boggling to think that God uses such creatures as us to make know His plan of salvation! What a great privilege it is to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20); what a great responsibility as well!
I am finding it hard to think about leaving in only a few short weeks, I say that despite the fact the I am very excited to be returning to so many meaningful relationships back in the States. But how can I, who have seen the extent of the needs here ever live without a sense of obligation to such compelling needs? Can I not say, the love of Christ constrains me to live in light of His desire to bring all men to repentance and salvation? And if such is the compelling motivation of my life, and my calling, how would He have me to walk worthy of that as I board my flight to the USA on July 6th? You were probably not expecting an update to be full of self examining questions, but sometimes it seems that questions are among the most accurate ways of describing what is going on in my life. Not that I feel an insecurity with where the Lord has me, neither am I doubting His leading, rather I feel a greater confidence than ever that He is accomplishing His will in my life. At this point that includes going back to the US of an indefinite period of time. That is not to say that I feel free to accomplish my own desires while back in the States. As much a I feel a responsibility toward God for souls here I trust that He has a work for me there also.
The Lord has worked in my life in so many ways over my time here. I am not about to try to mention all of what that entails, but as I stated earlier, I am not wanting that call to be diminished in any way as I return to the United States. Rather, I trust God to work His will out in my life as I enter into all that He has for me back in North America. It is tempting at times the think of the work here as something greater than any opportunities I may have back home. Such thought is unworthy of God's omnipotence! Whatever He may be calling me to do is always the most productive thing in light of His purposes. To think that God using me to the fullest measure possible depends on my geographical location is a fallacy. His greatest purpose is, and only can be fulfilled as I walk in unswerving obedience. As the hymn writer put it, "Ready to go, ready to stay; Ready my place to fill…" and truly that place is only found when we are, "Ready to do His will."
Not that I feel that I need any kind of justification for heading back to the States: or maybe I do! Not so much from the perspective of all of you do I seek justification, but for the sake of my own conscience before God. It is not a light thing before God how I use this speck of time that He has lent me. I want to remember in every decision I make that life is only a speck, and that it is not my own. If the reality that the decisions we make have eternal consequences were etched on our hearts, I think we would find ourselves much more on our faces imploring God for His guidance and direction. As I look toward the future and all that God has for me, that is where I have increasingly found myself.
Now for that is going on outside of this heart of mine in relation to the work here! Internally, I have at least not been without fruit during my time here, I hope externally it has been equally productive! Sometimes I am not sure if it takes more faith to see the Lord's working in my own life, or in the lives of others. Progress can appear discouragingly slow at times in either if our focus is not in the right place. Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith is the only safe place to cast our gaze as we run the race set before us. Otherwise, we will either grow discouraged thinking that we will never attain, while looking at the ground yet to be covered: or, looking back on all that we have attained we will fall in pride. The only safe place for a pilgrim's eyes is the example of His Lord. Looking to Him in all things needs to become more of a habit in my own life.
So, what has the Lord been doing over this last month in Velille, Chumbivilcas? The last few weeks have passed very quickly, I am expecting the next few weeks to pass even more quickly! We were blessed by the visit of some brothers from Cambridge Ohio the second week of this month. That, along with some extra traveling that I have been trying to fit in, has made for a very full month. A very rewarding one as well. Here are a few highlights from this last month:
June 1st I got back from spending a weekend at a series of meetings in Cayarani. Brother Nicholas, a native evangelist has been working there for the last year and a half with a small group of interested people. On Sunday, I was privileged to witness as a group of them committed themselves to the Lord in baptism. Besides those represented from the local area, a large number showed up from outlying congregations as well. Most of the preaching was in Quechua as was all of the singing, so I did not get much out those aspects of it, but I was blessed to see the Lord's working in the lives of people there. It also was an added blessing that Bob and Noel Rich from Arequipa were able to be there as well. Though the time seemed very short, and at times the preaching very long, it was still a very good experience. (Nearly six hours of preaching in Quechua can get rather tiring, that is, if you can't understand more than a quarter of what is being said!). Cayarani is a place that, if time permitted, I would be desirous to keep track of what is going on. Please do pray for the strengthening of the new believers there, and that they would remain faithful in all things. Brother Nicholas could also use your prayers as he continues to travel, at times great distances, in establishing rural congregations.
As I mentioned before, it was a blessing to have some brothers from Ohio here for a little more than a week. Christian fellowship is always very much appreciated when in such an isolated place. Besides enjoying all of the good English fellowship and singing, there was also ample time for prayer and discussion concerning the work here. The church in Cambridge has always had some connection in the work here since Gordon's in-laws attend there, and Gordon and Betsy did after they were first married. Helena, Betsy's sister, who is here for six months, is also from the church there. They all seemed very blessed to be with old friends, and I was blessed with the opportunity of making new ones!
This last weekend I had the opportunity to visit a few different towns on their market day. I went primarily to sell Bibles, but also for the chance to interact with some new people. I sold quite a few Bibles and passed out a lot of tracts to those that came to see what the "gringo" was trying to sell. A few times I had rather humorous experiences trying to explain that I could not sell the Bibles for any cheaper. It is funny to have someone haggle you down from an already subsidized price and still want you to go lower when you are already selling at half the price that you bought it for yourself! None of the towns I sold in appeared to have Christian/evangelical churches in them. It is unfortunate that most of the people who bought from me, and showed any kind of interest in spiritual things were Seventh-day Adventists. I guess I need to trust that God's Word, can, and will change lives as it is studied by those who have open hearts. It did give me a burden though for the many people lost in the deception of false religion. Besides the Adventists, there where a few people who had been influenced by some Jehovah's Witnesses who had previously been in the area. What a grief that deception, rather than truth, seems so much more readily accepted by so many people.
Though I really didn't go that far in kilometers, it takes a good bit of travel to reach some of the places I went to on the back of cargo trucks with roads as rough and steep as they are. Traveling in a foreign country is always an interesting experience, but it has become more and more natural as I have gotten used to the ends and outs of Peruvian life. Getting up at 2:00 am to catch a ride, waiting around as the driver refuses to leave with only ten people in the mini van (twenty-five is tight but not impossible!) and being exposed to the freezing cold air as the driver opens his window to try to minimize the amount of ice build on the inside of the windshield are only a few examples of traveling down here. Oh yeah, the ice was because it is dropping well below freezing where we crossed at 15,000 ft and the "combi" doesn't have a heater that works! Such are just a few examples of what traveling down here looks like. Need I say more?
Even in far off towns it was amazing how many people recognized that I am one of the missionaries that lives in Velille. We have been here long enough that there is a good repute even in the more outlying areas. It is nice that people know about us here, but hopefully our influence goes deeper than all the people that just recognize us as the ones that sell cake and popcorn on the buses! It is always encouraging when the people acknowledge me as one of themselves. Though there are some obvious differences, some that would be impossible to change, I am always glad when people look beyond those, and see that I truly have endeavored to make myself one of them. Things like traveling by their methods, eating their food, working like they do and living economically go a long ways in making friendships.
This Saturday will probably be my last time eating watia, that is, harvesting. When asked to harvest, work is never mentioned, it is assumed. What they ask is, "do you want to come and eat baked potatoes with me?" If you want to get a sore back, blistered hands, filthy, and as many dry baked potatoes as you can eat your answer would be, "yes, I would love to eat watia with you!" Such has been my usual answer. By way of explanation, watia is made solely during harvest by constructing a dirt oven in the field, heating it with cow dung and them collapsing it on the potatoes. The potatoes are always eaten without condiments, but you are served a hunk on cheese to go along with them. It going to be sad to return to the States and not have any more watia to eat, I say that only half sarcastically! During harvest is a great time to be down here in Peru. If you don't believe me, come down yourself, it really grows on you! Baked potatoes in the US don't come close to watia, "¡Rico es!"
Due to an uprising in the jungle there have been strikes all over Peru. Gordon had to escort the visitors from Ohio back to Cusco by a different route, since the main road through one of the cities has been shut down. I will have to wait and see what things are like the end of this month, as I plan to leave here the first of July and spend some time in Arequipa before I leave Peru. It could be exciting trying to leave if the strikes get any worse! You can pray that all of that would work out as the Lord sees best. I am hoping that all of this will be resolved by then, but it doesn't look too likely at this point. At least if I can make it to Arequipa I could fly, rather than bus to Lima, since none of the major airports have been effected by the strikes. Politics down here can sure be interesting at times, but I guess it keeps life exciting!
I plan to send at least one more update around the time I leave Peru and am headed back to the United States. It is with much anticipation that I await seeing you all in such a short time. My apologies to all of you back in Washington State as I plan to spend some time in Florida, and then in North Carolina before heading home. I look forward to seeing you all eventually though, and trust God to work out all of my travel plans according to His purpose.
God bless you all richly, and thank you for your prayers for me, as well as for the work here in Peru. To God be the glory, Great things He hath done!
Sincerely, Nels
"If sinners be dammed, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one GO there UNWARNED and UNPRAYED for." - Charles Spurgeon"
"Revival is the people of God constrained, gripped, overmastered, and overwhelmed by the love of Christ, so that they are feverishly restless to win souls for Christ." – James A. Stewart
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