Peru Report #7 Monday, June 25, 2012 at 1:12 p.m. from Tacna, Peru
Dear Family and Friends:
Every day brings special experiences. This morning I was in the hotel lobby at 5 waiting for someone to go with me to make a visit on an interest. Well, 5 became 5:35 and then we had to go for the translator. But when we reached the visit we didn’t get away until just past 7:15 in time to be back here for breakfast. So 5 (en punto) on the dot becomes 5 (mas o menos) more or less with half an hour or more variation possible and probable.
The visit was very important and valuable. Someone I had met at our first Sabbath morning church service at Getsemani #1 has a very troubled past and present. He became an SDA many years ago but has now had two wives with six children among them plus another woman with whom he had a child. He and his second wife have been separated for about 14 years. She is in Lima and he in Tacna. He lives with one son who is also living with a woman not married to him. The son has wild parties in the house that keeps him awake with the loud music. He would like to just run away from it all to some distant place and never come back. Another woman is “chasing” him and he wants to get away from her. He feels so hopeless and helpless. I assured him that only the Lord is equal to the temptation and has already defeated Satan and can put him to flight whenever called upon to do so. We left him with Galatians 2:20 and a story.
We were able to share with him many of the promises of the Bible relating to his case. The Holy Spirit brings to mind the passages we need at such a time. (That’s why we need to be constantly filling our minds with the promises and instructions). He wrote them down in a notebook for further reference. That tells me he IS serious about his condition and wants to change. Long story shorter—I was able to lead him in the “sinner’s prayer” acceptance of the Lord and he is looking forward to baptism. I think he will brave the difficult baptismal conditions in our “makeshift church” which includes the difficulty of getting into the baptistry and the cold water when you do get there. When the last person was baptized in it, it looked to me more like a wrestling match with the pastor before she was properly submerged. I had not brought my video camcorder to church that day and it may have been for the best. But she is strong in the Lord and probably will not want to leave the church and maybe have to face that again if she renews her relationship afterward. It was kind of an “aerobic baptism.”
It is getting colder now and tomorrow is supposed to be the coldest day of the year here. Our translator came out this morning dressed like she was headed for an Arctic expedition. She and others marvel that we are not particularly cold. I can’t help but feel that when we make the call to come forward and prepare for baptism that the people remember that baptismal pool and it figures into their decision. They have not been rushing to the front in droves. It is evident though that the Holy Spirit is working with them and you can see the struggles on their faces during the call. The home visits are often the best place for them to make that final decision. Our problem is getting a time when the pastor or an elder (as today) can go with us and have a translator to help getting the message across. The little Spanish I know helps in many situations. I think the Lord brings that back to mind also.
Right now Mary Alice wants me to walk with her to the post office and mail the cards she just finished writing. It is just 20 minutes until lunch so I had better close this for now and pick up again later. We never really know when the next person will show up planning for me to go with them on another visit. Even when we think we know it does not always happen. We would like to have sent more cards but did not have the needed addresses with us. Sorry about that for those who will not receive one.
Lunch was an especially fulfilling meal with good fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers (not hot), delicious soup to which we added rice and some kind of potato and gluten dish. Their special whole wheat bread made by our College in Lima, really made a nice base for the tomatoes and a familiar sandwich. Hopefully, we will be home in time to get in a few things in a Fall garden when we MIGHT be there to water when it is dry.
They also have tangerines in our buffet and they are very special. It is a good thing that we brought those Country Life granola bars because we have shared them strategically. Dr. David Wilkins was not feeling well and has been working hard at the clinic. He can’t take much food, but he does relish those bars. We gave him some home dried apple rings too. He is doing a little better now. Thought he might be getting the flu since the symptoms were somewhat similar. A few others have also had stomach problems but are getting over it. So far we have not had any problems like that.
The expected visits at 10 did not materialize. Maybe they could not find a translator to take along. We wouldn’t get far without one. Our pastor has evangelism (our group) in two of his churches, so we do not see him very often. We just go with the flow and allow the Spirit to do His work. He is more than adequate.
We got an email (sent to all his friends) from “Ole Dwight” Rhodes asking that no one send him emails until after July 15 since he will be away. So we took his address off our list. If any of the rest of you would like to be relieved of the burden of these reports, just email a line and we’ll do the same for you. Otherwise, take a vitamin pill for endurance, and keep reading.
It may be that we will be out visiting again at 5 p.m. before meeting. We will know when it happens. So I may take a short nap to fill in for the short night last night –(10 to 4). Here you catch it when you can because the immediate future is not easily known.
With Love,
Glenn and Mary Alice (Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma)
Please note that we are sending them now without the whole long list of email address. Should save some space for you in case anyone is printing them off for others.