Moving On Before Things Come to a Standstill in Cajamarca
Foreign companies mine gold and other minerals and metals in the mountains outside of Cajamarca. The people of Cajamarca are objecting to the large quanties of water the process uses, among other environmental challenges.
Tomorrow begins a general strike in the city of Cajamarca and the news reports are that it will last indefinitely until there is a resolution to the concerns about the mining companies in the State of Cajamarca. I’m concerned that the strike will close the roads and airport, so Udelia and I are leaving here on Wednesday to go to Lima, to make sure I can travel to the States on June 13.
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Lots of Tracts, Udelia and Upcoming Travels
Since entering into a strategic alliance with Christian Triumph Co. to print and distribute literature in Peru, we have distributed about 20,000 tracts – surprising even to me!
Udelia’s health is particulary bad just now and we are making frequent trips to the clinic. Prayers please.
Also, I have an upcoming trip to the U.S. planned – June 16 to July 2. I will mostly be in Texas with maybe quick trips to Oklahoma and/or Arkansas. Please contact me if you’d like me to visit your church in one of those states. I’ll need to nail down my schedule by the end of this month. In Texas, John Anderson, an accomplished young opera singer, is going around with me to offer a few songs of praise to go with my speaking. Should be interesting! Here’s a video of a performance of his.
Sad News from Paraguay
Join us in prayer for Norberto Kurrle and his daughter Anahi as they mourn the loss of wife and mother Julie and son and brother Timmy who were killed in an automobile accident this morning. Anahi was hospitalized at last report. Julie, an ordained minister and missionary to Paraguay with the Church of God, initiated, developed and directed the Children of Promise sponsorship program in Paraguay from 2004 – 2010.
You may want to visit the Kurrle’s blog and read what Julie was up to on the day before the accident. And please consider a gift to help Norberto during this time of loss. There is a donation button on the blog, you will need to designate the donation for Norberto Kurrle, as the donate link goes to a missions organization.
Children of Promise is also accepting memorial gifts. Julie Kurrle Memorial Gifts for special health needs of sponsored children in Paraguay; local administrative support for the program in Paraguay; resources for the spiritual formation of the sponsored children in Paraguay; and other sponsorship program needs in Paraguay as determined by the Kurrle Family and Children of Promise.
Timmy Kurrle Memorial Gifts for unsponsored children in the Children of Promise program in Paraguay for food, education, and health care for these children until new sponsors are secured. In this way, the fund provides continual care for Paraguayan children.
It is at times like that that we are so very thankful for the hope of the resurrection!
This week: It’s all about the Mensajero de Esperanza
I was in Chota working in the Bible Institute, but I got home to Cajamarca on Saturday night. I brought with me several boxes of the periodical El Mensajero. We left one box in Chota and Bambamarca which was handed out personally to the pastors and churches of the area. This morning I took a suitcase full of packages to the post office to send the Mensajero to other subscribers and still more will go by bus. Then I will also personally deliver others to the churches in Porcon and five other churches in Cajamarca. It’s getting interesting how many subscriptions we have and we’re happy that the pastors here have this material to help in the spiritual growth of their congregations.
Working with the Mensajero
Preparing the periodical for shipping throughout Peru. Udelia helps any way she can but her vision is poor, which limits what she can do.
In February 2012 we had an evangelism seminar to teach the local churches how to plant other churches. There were 27 church leaders present. In an upcoming meeting, we expect to have 35 church leaders in attendance. Before the end of this year, we are hoping to see the first fruits of our focus on church planting. Keep us in your prayers, Narciso.
16,000 Tracts Seemed Like a Lot
I travelled to Chota last week and preached the night I arrived. There are a lot of youth in that church and it’s growing all the time. Then on Friday we had a church planting training from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and there were 27 people in attendance. Twenty-two of them committed to working with home churches – starting Bible studies in houses – and after a year we should see some new congregations.
We are about to print another 16,000 tracts – different ones from the last printing. When we printed the first time, I honestly thought that 16,000 was a lot, but it all fit in two boxes. We have already distributed about 12,000 of them throughout the country. We’ve given them to pastors and we even have a radio station that is offering them to their listeners who request them.
God is blessing this effort by adding saved lives to our congregations and this is comforting.
These Spanish tracts we are distributing are available to download and print at Christian Triumph’s Web site.
Up Early at Granja Porcon
This morning I spoke to two groups of workers at Granja Porcon. Services there start at 6 a.m. – they start each day out this way! I have to get up and going by 4am to get there on time because traffic is bad going up the mountain if I leave any later and have to compete with the commuters to the gold mines.
Tomorrow I leave for the mountains with two other men. We’re taking literature and the projector and films with us to help reach the people there. Pray for us!
Burning the Midnight Oil
Last night, we visited three churches up in the mountains. I went to two in towns and Pastor Jorge from Chota visited one out in the countryside. The congregations were very happy to receive teaching and our help. We took tracts and 30 copies of Mensajero de Esperanza for each congregation. We got home at 12:30 a.m. this morning.
This weekend, I’m travelling to Bambamarca and from there into the mountains to visit some other small groups and to receive a new group of brothers who wants to join in our fellowship.
Women of God at Work in Peru
Women Working for God in Peru
Every day the church continues to grow in this region and we are so happy for that, but now I have a lot of work to do because I need to visit the different places each week where new churches are starting.
We are starting two new churches in the mountains, and in March, I am going to travel with Pastor Jorge from Chota eight hours into the mountains –up and down and there is one part that lasts for three hours where the road is about a half-mile above a drop to the river down below. If a driver were to go off that road, he would be a goner. In one of the new groups there is a high school teacher and a nurse, as well as some high school students. We meet in a room provided to us by the local clinic – interesting.
Last Saturday we had a meeting of the region’s pastors to plan the work for this year and how to reach new areas. Soon we will have 20 churches in this region. When Udelia and I arrived four years ago, there were just eight or ten congregations. God is really blessing now! I am preparing Bible lessons to send to the local church leaders for them to use.
I also have to prepare the missiology institute materials. Every other month the group gathers for one week of intensive classes then they take home lessons to study in the interim. This year, we have 14 students who came to the on-site classes and four others who could only study from home. There were three professors. We were encouraged that some of the new students are young people who we believe will be ready to go into these new churches when they finish their studies. It was also a surprise to us this year to have three women among the students. In years past, there has only been one. God is calling women this year.
We are so grateful to Christian Triumph Company for the offerings that pay for the professors’ room and board, the course materials and to hire a cook for the week. And we are now stocked up with literature for use in edification of the church, El Mensajero de Esperanza, as well as tracts for evangelism, thanks to CTC.
Good Start to 2012
Cajamarca region Sunday school leaders receive didactic materials at the 2011 regional gathering
We are starting this semester of missiology and ministerial studies on the 10th. Additionally we have a group of Sunday school teachers that we are going to train in a two-day event.
My wife Udelia’s health is better now and thank God, my 10-year visa to the U.S. was renewed.
Adding More Churches to the Cajamarca Group
I am in Chota now; I got here last night and today Pastor Jorge, another brother and I are taking literature, films and Bible courses to work with during the day as we invite people to attend an evening service.
Last week I was going through the mountains, travelling toward Trujillo, in a town called Magdalena that produces fruit and sugar cane. It’s between the high mountains. I walked up the mountains to visit a man had been with the Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) a long time ago. But when my wife and I left for mission work in Ecuador and Chile, no one ever came again to visit this man. There were three churches in this area and I met with the three leaders and they told me, “We are from the Church of God, but we’re all alone up here. No leader has ever come to visit us. We have received visits from pastors from other churches, but nothing from the Church of God.”
So in talking with these leaders and one other, they decided to join us. We are incorporated separately from the other Church of Gods (Anderson, Ind.) in Peru. To do that, we had to change our name, so we are actually recognized as a new movement, which is why the Church of God leaders in Peru have told me they don’t recognize our organization as being as part of theirs. But in actuality, each region has its own corporation, and ours is the largest of the Church of God in Peru. There are three churches in the jungle, two in Lima, five between Chepen and Chiclayo on the coast and we have 16 churches in Cajamarca. And we have a plan for each congregation to plant another church within the next two years, working in conjunction with other denominations if we need to. We are praying that God will provide leaders to continue this growth.
Previous Post
It’s rainy all throughout the region now. I have been in the mountains this
week, taking literature and new testaments to the people there. I also was able
to conduct some Bible studies in different homes. While I was travelling through
the mountains, I met up with a man who had been in a Bible study last month and
he told me, “Pastor Zamora, I have decided to accept Jesus and I hope that next
month my children can come and hear the Word of God.” It’s always interesting
how so many people need Jesus.
Here Comes the Rain Again
This picture of the recent mission group working with the children in Cajamarca show the tin roof we're having problems with now that rainy season has begun.
Well, the rains have begun in Cajamarca and they are complicating our meeting in the church in Cajamarca, because rain comes in everywhere with just our ill-fitted tin roof. I think we will move evening services to twice a week, one in one home, another in another home. While it doesn’t rain in the mornings, we will continue to have Sunday school for the children who come to sing, pray, do crafts and Bible Studies. We’re hoping these rains bring the blessing of funds for a proper roof.
In October, I will travel to Piura to visit a man who is asking for 10,000 tracts from Christian Triumph – I hope to be able to find his home! Then the following week, I will be travelling to a new place where we will hand out testaments and tracts and have some meetings in a school for some Bible studies. We’re praying that God will give us victory and that people will accept Jesus as their savior. The place is far from here – four hours by car then two on foot. We will have to carry the literature on horseback. It might also be possible to take our projector and show a film – that brings people in.
Back to Chota and then to the Coast
Outskirts of Chota
I have been in Chota again, but this time out in the county, to help a small church. This Monday, I’m leaving again for three days out in the country to have evangelistic services and see about possibly helping a new church that is starting up in the mountains. On Sept 3, I travel to the coast to do a seminar on evangelism and do an evangelistic campaign. Prayers, please.
Narciso Zamora
Estuve nuevamente en chota pero por el campo, para ayudar a una iglesia pequeña. Este lunes salgo nuevamente para el campo por 3 días para tener cultos con gente inconversa y ver las posibilidades de ayudar a levantar una iglesia que esta levantandose por las montañas. El 3 de septiembre viajo a la costa para dar un seminario sobre evangelismo y hacer una campaña evangelsitica. oraciones por favor.
Narciso Zamora
Shop till You Drop on Market Day at Caraz
Here’s the last of the videos we produced for our presentation at Hilltop Bible Church following our mission trip to Peru. Enjoy this colorful walk through a Peruvian market. BTW, there is an error in this video, that is, something is not quite right about the whole thing. Would love for someone to bust me on it! Look and listen.
Suffer the Children?
Hard to believe there are actually people who feel they have to suffer the children. Take a look at this sample of shining faces we met in Cajamarca, Chota and Bambamarca. Toward the start of the video, you’ll see us working on materials. We took some things folks in our church had leftover from years gone by, but while there, we also printed out three months worth of lessons for four age groups, and made flannel graphs. We made 30 sets of lessons and 15 flannel sets, including 9 stories for each congregation. We only completed one of the seven do-it-yourself flannel lessons (see Jonah story in video), and then provided all the materials for the congregations to finish the other six. The other two flannel sets each church got were “store bought” (donated by Dorothy Kennedy and our church). May not sound like much, but those brief flashes of our work day are actually representing a 12-hour work day times four people, plus Bill and Baltazar helping out for about three or four hours each, plus random good Samaritan Daniel (pictured in flannel board making scene) plus about five hours times two people in Cajamarca one day buying supplies and getting copies and printouts made, plus time to find and download all the materials, plus more! All in all, about 100 combined hours of labor of love.
We gave the leaders a brief (!) demonstration on their use, but I’m thinking it was much too brief. Just got word from Narciso today that he would like us to return next year and do a two-day workshop on children’s ministry. We also left a fund of 500 soles with the regional pastors group to reimburse churches who make photocopies of the lessons. If each of the churches used the materials each week, the fund would probably last about four months. Really doesn’t seem like much and when you see these faces… just makes a body want to do MORE!
The View from the Andes
Thanks to Jill for sharing regarding our ministry
opportunities in Trapiche and Granja Porcon, and indeed that was the purpose of
the trip, but as Narciso said of me more than one, “A esa Hermana Dana le pican
los pies,” which means loosely, I can’t sit still. In fact, I coined a motto
for the trip during a planning e-mail: “We can sleep back in the States.” I
wanted everyone to be prepared for a maxed out schedule – taking advantage of
every waking moment we had.
Whereas there were those dull brushing teeth moments, and we
did need some sleep, this trip did not disappoint. From sharing meals with new
friends, to hitting the road at 4 a.m. with the Walking Man, to seeing, smelling,
sampling and singing, every day was brimming with sensuality in its purest
form. Really, it’s kind of hard to describe… But here’s a short video from days
2 and 3 of the trip to give a glimpse of what I’m talking about.
Enjoy, Donna Lee Schillinger
Granja Porcon
We´ve just finished our week at Granja Porcon. Monday-Wednesday was a pastor´s conference. Donna had two speaking sessions and Jeanene and I enjoyed meeting the conference attendees and also the Porcon people. During the teaching sessions we three would sit in the near back rows so that Donna could translate for Jeanene and me. They were excellent topics and I´m glad God placed me there.
On Wednesday evening Donna and I, along with Narcisso, Udelia and Alberto, a Chilean pastor rode back down to Cajamarca. Thursday morning the two of us were off to shop for children´s supplies. This was great fun. Our first stop was an internet cafe were Donna printed off Bible lessons she had previously downloaded. This took over an hour and our bill was enough to make the man behind the counter smile. Then to the print shop. Donna had two print shops busy printing a total of 2000 copies. Again we left with smiling shop owners. Down to the liberia. In a small book store, we hardly had room to stand. Colors, glue, markers, and the like were on display in a glass case. It was much fun to shop this way. Ask to see a product, ask for the price, agree on the item and then ask for 14 more. The shop lady had to run upstairs to her store room several times. She happily did so. We left Cajamarca with our arms full.
Thursday-Saturday was another conference, the 24th convention of the iglesia de dios in Peru. I believe we were close to 100 in attendance. And this time we had work to do. Friday was work day. Donna, Jeanene, Evelyn and I worked from 8:30 am to 11:30 pm organizing Bible lessons and making flannel figures, only stopping briefly for lunch and dinner. Donna´s father Bill, Baltazar, and a friendly helper Daniel also helped making the flannel boards. At the end of the long day Jeanene said with a smile, ´`It feels like Christmas Eve!“
Today we passed out teaching material for children ages 3-12 to 15 different churches. Donna gave a brief instruction on how to use the lessons and flannels. It is our understanding that most churches have limited to no resources for the children in their congregations. We sent these lessons out with prayer that they will be used to teach children about our God and his Word and change lives.
This evening we are all back down in Cajamarca at the Zamora´s home. Total capacity this evening is 15! I´ve been told this is not unusual, their home has been used for many years as a welcoming respite for hermanos y hermanas en Cristo.
Granja Porcon in itself deserves a full post, but it´s late and we have an early start tomorrow. Google it. It´s a Christian cooperation. A farm and tourist spot and community of 2000 people living simple lives harmoniously.
I have few pictures of Porcon. The latter are of this afternoon in Cajamarca.
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Trapiche
This trip took about 1 1/2 hours from Lima. It seems almost half that time was spent driving out of the city. It is large, with an abundance of traffic. Many cars, taxis, buses and horns, horns everywhere. As expected we passed many deprived neighborhoods. This was very humbling.
When we arrived in Trapiche we were greeted with hugs and kisses. This caught me off guard and it took me several minutes to regain my composure. I was touched by their sincerity.
Two years ago when Donna, Jeanene and others from our church visited Trapiche their church building was constructed of cane mats for walls and a tarp roof. They are now in four bricked walls and a tin roof. And I believe I saw two light bulbs, which were turned on after dark.
The church sang a song with a tambourine and a drum and enthusiastic hand clapping. Donna, Gerson (Narcisso’s son) and the two men who came with us all spoke briefly. As did Evelyn, Donna’s younger sister. Jeanene said a few words and Donna translated. I wanted to contribute so I led them in “God is so Good” because it has few words and is easy to sing in Spanish.
We then passed out glow sticks to the kids. This was exciting and new for them. Also, we passed out individual packages of soap, toothpaste, colors, etc. that were given to us by members of our church.
During the meeting the older women were busy outside preparing a dinner for us over a wood fire. They served us chicken noodle soup and a semi popped corn. It was all good.
As we started to leave the children kept asking when we would return. We could only answer that we didn’t know. How I wish it wasn’t so far to get to them. Our goodbyes were the same as the hellos. Kissing and hugging and utterances of hermana (sister).
My heart is full and heavy for these people. We all serve the same God and yet our lives are so different. What do I take away from this experience, what can I do?
Jill
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Lima
We have arrived. The flights were non eventful and we made it to our hotel beds around 1am.
Lima is a large city of about 8.5 million. I am thankful Donna is here. She is fluent and experienced in Latin America.
This morning we awoke to the preparations of a parade outside our hotel. Many uniformed policia and business men preparing to march. To my disappointment we missed the procession. But we visited a very nice and modern shopping area in a district called Miraflores. The shops were overwhelmingly American. I think we are saving our tourist dollars for the authentic Inca items.
Next we took a typical double decker tour bus through the city. During the tour we visited cloister San Fransisco, a very ornate church, monastery and catacombs. No pictures were allowed in the catacombs.
We are now waiting for our ride out to Trapiche, a small pueblo (no electricity) and a small congregation.
Gerson (Narcisso’s son) has just arrived. Travel note: they kiss the cheek upon greeting. 
Hasta pronto.
Jill
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Help Us Gear Up to Go to Peru
On July 28, Jill Van Buren, Jeanene Burns and I will be travelling from our church home at Hilltop Bible Church, along with William Anderson and his daughter Evelyn, from Houston, Texas, to visit Walking Man, Narciso Zamora in Cajamarca, Peru. Among a variety of mission-related activities, we’ll be visiting areas where Pastor Zamora is trying to plant churches, or has recently established small congregations. And we don’t want to show up empty-handed!
Pastor Zamora suggested that the most useful thing we could bring is materials to work with children. Lots of these new congregations begin with a Sunday school children’s ministry, then eventually, the more reserved, if not skeptical, adults follow. We would like to invite your collaboration with us to bring children’s Bible lessons in Spanish, coloring pages, crayons, glue sticks, scissors, flannel board and flannel patterns and more to the fledgling churches that are located in some of the poorest regions of an already poor country. Even in some of the more established congregations, typical Sunday school materials might consist only of paper and pencil.
Between the three of us leaving here from Arkansas, we can bring about 120 pounds of materials. Will you help us reach this goal?
If you live in Clarksville, Ark., you could drop your donation of materials or money at Hilltop Bible Church on Hwy 164, two miles east of Horsehead Lake. You can also mail a check to Hilltop Bible Church, 10257 Hwy 164, Clarksville, AR 72830. Please put “Peru trip supplies” in the memo. If you prefer to pay via PayPal, send your payment to info@thequilldriver.com, and add the message “Peru trip supplies”. We cannot provide a receipt for tax purposes for donations made through PayPal, as The Quilldriver, publisher of Walking Man, is not a nonprofit. Or, if you know Jeanene, Jill or me personally, feel free to give us your donation in person. We are bringing back remembrances of either an Alpaca hat, socks or gloves for anyone making a donation of more than $20 (or $20 worth of supplies). The images below are representative of these cuddly one-size-fits-most hand-made goods. Please specify in a note which you prefer: hat, gloves or socks. Colors will vary. Also, anyone making a donation who would like to learn more about the ministry of Narciso Zamora, I would be happy to provide you with a copy of Walking Man: A Modern Missions Experience in Latin America.
For donations of $20 or more, please select a remembrance: gloves, hat or socks, all are one size fits most and handmade of Alpaca wool. Colors will vary.
Thanks in advance for your financial support, and regardless of your ability to support this effort monetarily, we ask that you lift us up in prayer. Here are some specific ways we would appreciate prayer: That God would make our path straight as we prepare for this journey; give us competency to prepare well and keep us healthy and our families healthy throughout the timeframe of this trip. Jill, William and I are leaving minor children at home with spouses for the two weeks we’re gone, so we ask for your prayers for their care and safety, as well as ours, and that there won’t be too much “missing” going on. Please pray that we would humbly interact with the brothers and sisters we are going to meet in Peru, and that our spirit would be one of servitude. Please pray that we would remain constantly cognizant of our purpose, and that all differences in culture, changes in altitude and possible travel glitches would be cause for joy, as they remind us of our great privilege of bringing glory to God through this trip. And of course, we pray that our presence and presents will be of spiritual blessing and bear fruit in His time.
Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to get updates when Jill, Jeanene or one of the others post updates about experiences and the way in which God is working before, during and after this trip. Subscribing is free and just means you get an email notification of the posts, instead of having to check the blog for updates. Convenient!
Thanks for starting this journey with us!
Donna Lee Schillinger, Publisher, The Quilldriver
Peru’s Earthquake / Terremoto en Perú
I’m been in Peru since June and I go back to Chile September 15th. Currently I’m working in this area laying the foundation for the work my wife and I will start next year with the opening of the new Inter-American Missiology and Theology Ministerial Bible School.
There aren’t any ministers who belong to the Church of God in this area and there are numerous towns and communities that don’t have churches. There’s a need to start working in these places.
I want to ask for your prayers and let everyone know about the natural disaster that occurred in the south of Peru. In January of this year, my wife and I visited the cities of Ica, Pisco and Chincha to plan for future churches in the area. These are impoverished places and we need your prayers for the victims.
The earthquake happened last Wednesday night. It was pretty strong, 7.8 on the Richter scale. All Peru cried when they witnessed the disaster; two streets in Pisco were left full of dead bodies. It was a terrible wake up call that God sent to Peru in order for people to repent. A Catholic church was celebrating mass when the earthquake happened and the wall and the roof fell off and many people died. The fields, the highways and the roads are full of cracks because of the intensity of the earthquake.
They have found 510 dead people, 1080 severely injured and 150 thousand victims in Ica, Pisco, Chincha, Ancash and Lima so far; in the cities of Pisco and Chincha 75% of the houses fell to the ground. The epicenter was about 62 miles out in the ocean. The deceased have been buried in common graves. Today, August 19th, they are still removing debris from the cities and the number of dead people could rise.
The Bible says all things work for good; never has anyone seen Peruvians get together to help victims and now we are all united to help them. We are at about 930 miles away, but today the local government is gathering nonperishable food and clothes. The trucks with the provisions must go out in the morning; it’s a 30-hour trip from this area to Ica.
All Peru and the countries in the Americas have joined as brothers to help the victims get back on their feet: helping hand in hand. As many as 10,000 big and small trucks are arriving from the north and the south with help daily to the affected cities.
The first country that sent help and rescue workers was Bolivia. They sent an airplane with food, medicine and linens; soon a second airplane will arrive with more food and medicine from the Bolivians. Then, an airplane from Panama arrived with water, medicine and food. Next, Chile sent a Hercules airplane with humanitarian help; also, an airplane from Argentina arrived with medicine and tents and a group of rescue workers and paramedics. A second plane with more humanitarian help will arrive from Argentina within the next few days. Brazil sent three Hercules airplanes with humanitarian help, and rescue workers and firefighters specializing in this sort of disaster. A ship will arrive with more help and heavy machinery soon. The U.S. sent doctors and specialists. Mexico sent a ship with humanitarian help, doctors and water. Colombia sent an airplane with food, medicine, water and tents. Germany sent $269,000. Spain sent 14 tons of food, blankets, milk, tuna and water and we are expecting a second airplane with help pretty soon. Venezuela has offered to help with food, medicine and doctors. Canada and Morocco will help with money to rebuild the houses of the victims. The inmates of the Callao’s penitentiary donated two days worth of their own food to help the victims. Japanese scientists arrived to make an investigation of the earthquake.
These are a few facts known as of August 19th, it is possible that within the next few days we will have more news. We are just praying so God will have mercy on this people and they can be saved. In the future we will establish churches where the earthquake affected people the most.
In Jesus, Your Servant
Narciso Zamora
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Estoy en Perú desde el mes antepasado, y regreso a Chile el 15 de septiembre. Actualmente estoy trabajando en esta área y colocando la primera piedra del trabajo que realizaré con mi esposa el próximo año en este lugar al iniciar la escuela Bíblica ministerial y de misiones plantadores de iglesias.
No hay pastores de la iglesia de Dios en esta área, y hay numerosos pueblos y comunidades que no cuentan con iglesias. Hay una clara necesidad de iniciar la obra en estos lugares.
Por intermedio de está misiva quiero pedir oraciones y comunicar al pueblo cristiano del desastre que sucedió en el sur de Perú. En enero de este año, estuve con mi esposa haciendo un poco de turismo y conociendo Ica, Pisco y Chincha para en el futuro plantar iglesias en estas ciudades. Ahora son lugares asolados y necesitamos de sus oraciones por las personas que han quedado damnificadas.
El terremoto fue el miércoles pasado por la noche. Fue bastante fuerte, de 7.8 en la escala de Richter. En realidad todo el Perú llora al mirar el desastre; dos calles en Pisco quedaron llenas de cadáveres. Fue terrible la llamada de atención de Dios al Perú para que la gente se arrepienta. Una iglesia católica estaba realizando su culto cuando el terremoto ocurrió y las paredes y el techo se derrumbaron y mucha gente murió.
Los muertos llegaron a los 510, 1080 heridos graves y 150 mil damnificados en los lugares de Ica, Pisco, Chincha, Ancash y Lima. En las ciudades de Pisco y Chincha el 75 por ciento de las casas se cayeron. El epicentro del terremoto fue a 100 kilómetros adentro del mar. Los muertos han tenido que ser sepultados en fosas comunes. Ahora es 19 de agosto y todavía están moviendo los escombros de las ciudades de tal manera que puede incrementar el número de muertos.
La Biblia dice que todas las cosas ayudan para bien; no se ha visto nunca a los peruanos unirse para ayudar a los damnificados, y ahora todos estamos unidos para ayudarlos. Nosotros ahora estamos a unos 1500 kilómetros de distancia pero este día la municipalidad está haciendo una campaña acá para recaudar víveres no perecibles y ropa. Los camiones con los víveres deben salir mañana; son 30 horas de viaje desde este sector hasta Ica.
Todo el Perú y los países de América se han unido como hermanos para ayudar en esta catástrofe y poder sacar adelante a los damnificados: uno dándole la mano a otro. Los campos, carreteras y caminos están llenos de grietas por la fuerza del terremoto. Están llegando hasta 10 mil camiones grandes y pequeños desde el norte y el sur con ayuda diariamente a las ciudades donde ocurrió la catástrofe.
El primer país que envió ayuda y rescatistas fue Bolivia. Envió un avión con alimentos, medicina y ropa de cama; pronto llegará un segundo avión con más alimentos y medicina de parte de los Bolivianos. Luego llegó un avión con agua, medicina y alimentos desde Panamá; en tercer lugar Chile envió un avión Hércules con ayuda; también llegó un avión de Argentina con alimentos, medicina y carpas, y un grupo de técnicos rescatistas y paramédicos. Un segundo avión con más ayuda humanitaria llegará desde Argentina en el transcurso de estos días. Brasil envió 3 aviones Hércules con ayuda y técnicos en rescates y bomberos especializaos en estos casos. Llegará un barco con más ayuda humanitaria y maquinaria pesada pronto. Estados Unidos envió doctores y especialistas. México envió un barco con ayuda humanitaria, médicos y agua. Colombia envió un avión con alimentos, medicina, agua y carpas. Alemania envió $269 mil. España envió 14 toneladas de alimentos, frazadas, leche, atún y agua, y se espera que llegue otro avión con ayuda humanitaria. Venezuela ha ofrecido ayudar con alimentos, medicina y médicos especialistas. Canadá y Marruecos ayudarán con dinero para reconstruir las casas de los damnificados. Los internos del penal de la provincia del Callao donaron su comida de dos días para ayudar a los damnificados. Llegaron científicos sismólogos japoneses para hacer una investigación sobre el terremoto.
Estos son algunos datos hasta hoy día 19 de agosto, es posible que en los días siguientes tengamos más novedades. Sólo estamos orando para que Dios tenga misericordia de toda esta gente y lleguen a salvarse en algún momento. En el futuro tendremos iglesias allá en esos lugares donde fue la catástrofe.
En Jesús
Vuestro consiervo
Narciso Zamora
Our New Project / Nuestro Nuevo Proyecto
The new project I’m starting in 2008 with my wife Udelia, as I mentioned in my last blog, is to open a new Inter-American Missiology and Theology Ministerial Bible School. I’ve already started familiarizing myself with the place and talking to the communities in the north of Peru. We want to prepare missionaries to plant churches all over the area. The other day we walked to the outside of the city to see about 3 km of land for the school, but we are still working on getting it.
We hope to have opened the school by the beginning of the spring and to have it fully working by next July. Our plan is to offer a major in Missiology and a major in Ministerial Theology. I feel that the Christian movement has sufficiently matured in Latin America so that we can prepare our own people as missionaries. After all, Latin Americans have a distinct advantage in the Latin American mission field in that they know the culture, something missionaries from other places may struggle with for years.
In this remote area of Peru close to the Amazon jungle there aren’t any bible schools and we need to work hard to send missionaries to all the communities in this part of the country, and then move on to other countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, among many others that need our help.
Right now we don’t have any money to begin our project, but we believe that God will help us when we begin.
God bless,
Narciso Zamora
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El nuevo proyecto que iniciaré en 2008 con mi esposa Udelia es abrir una nueva Escuela Bíblica y de Misiones para preparar misioneros plantadores de iglesias. Ya empecé a familiarizarme en el campo y a platicar con las comunidades en la zona andina norte del Perú, sobre las montañas cerca de la selva amazónica. Hemos caminado afuera de la ciudad para conseguir un terreno de unos 3 mil metros para la escuela Bíblica pero aún estamos trabajando para conseguirlo.
Esperamos poder abrir la escuela para el inicio de la primavera y tenerla funcionando para Julio. Planeamos ofrecer dos carreras una es Misiología y Teología Ministerial. Siento que el movimiento Cristiano ha madurado lo suficiente en América Latina como para preparar nuestra propia gente como misioneros. Especialmente porque los latinoamericanos tienen una ventaja grande in el campo de misiones en Latino América porque conocen la cultura, algo con lo que misioneros de otras partes del mundo luchan por años. En esta área no existen escuelas bíblicas y necesitamos trabajar para enviar misioneros plantadores de iglesias a todas las comunidades y ciudades de este sector, de todo el país y luego a los países vecinos como Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, entre muchos otros que necesitan nuestra ayuda.
En este momento nosotros no tenemos el dinero como para empezar pero si creemos que nuestro Dios nos ayudará cuando empecemos.
Bendiciones,
Narciso Zamora
