Two Continents Bonded

Quillabamba is near…nowhere. And it will take some effort to get there from anywhere. Once you arrive in Cuzco (elevation 11,100′), you travel by sprinter bus through the sacred valley, past Ollataytambo, beyond Machu Picchu, then eastward, up and over a twisty, paved 14,000′ pass, finally descending into the high Amazon jungle region of La Convencion. It is a safe journey, yet always an adventure to travel there.On one of our trips to Quillabamba, Pastor Leopoldo Quispe, of the La Convencion synod, asked if we knew of a church or presbytery that would travel this road as a partner. Pastor Leopoldo needed to build a Bible school to train lay pastors and church leaders for the rapidly growing church in the remote jungle vastness beyond Quillabamba. He said, “I have willing instructors, volunteers to help with the construction, and the land has been donated. Would a U.S. church partner with us?

Marie, Marilyn, Ernie, Matt, Megan, Cullen, Cheryl, Scott, Rusty (missionary), Paul, Joanie, Andreas (Quillabamba native), Manuel (interpreter from Cusco), Alma

We asked team members of First Presbyterian Church, Bryan, Texas, if they would share an article with us about their mission/adventure in their partner synod, La Convencion.  (This area is north and east of the city of Cusco in the high jungle.)  We think it is so important to hear from mission groups about their faith journey. We are grateful to Marilyn Maynard Wright for sharing her story with us.

Quillabamba — Trenches, Rocks, Cement —
Two Continents Bonded
By Marilyn Maynard Wright

In July 2014 several members of the First Presbyterian Church (FPC) of Bryan, Texas, participated in an amazing mission experience in Quillabamba, Peru.  Our story began in January 2013 when Patricia Burk and I joined a group coordinated by Presbytery of the New Covenant seeking opportunities to build Christian relationships with Peruvian churches.  Sixteen people from eight different churches came together in May 2013 to travel to Peru for a mission, seeking adventure that would forever open our hearts to the Peruvian people.  We visited many churches and seminaries that had expressed a desire to work side by side with us to help spread the Word and the love and hope that Jesus Christ desires for each of us.

As we discussed which project was tugging at our hearts, Patricia and I agreed that the Bible institute to be built near Quillabamba was where the Lord was leading our church. We received session approval to organize a churchwide mission trip to Quillabamba. Although we anticipated having 6 participants, 12 church members came forward with a conviction to serve in Peru.  In preparation for the trip, we met every three weeks to pray about the trip, the people we would meet, and for the Lord to direct us as to how to best build a lasting relationship with the people we would work with in Quillabamba.  To encourage churchwide involvement, presentations about the trip were made to our congregation and at group meetings.  Church members generously provided monetary gifts to help with the construction costs and prayer support for this mission effort.

On July 4 we departed from Houston and arrived in Lima, Peru.  Subsequent travel included a plane ride to Cusco, bus rides through some spectacular mountain views, and sightings of Inca ruins.  During the five-hour bus ride over the Andes Mountains to Quillabamba, Rusty Edmondson (interpreter and mission co-worker) and Manuel Ferro (interpreter) shared helpful information about what we could expect. One of their memorable quotes was that “Peru has time, we have clocks.”  This meant that schedules are very “flexible” in Peru.

A few of the ladies that traveled everyday to prepare meals for the workers. Marilyn from FPC Bryan was their official helper and food taster. Even though we did not speak the same language, we still knew we were sisters in Christ and found out we were all great in communicating using charades

On July 7 we headed to the worksite outside of Quillabamba, not knowing what to expect. Upon arrival we found a mountainside that had been leveled out, with many corner post pylons with rebar and blue lines in the dirt designating where the seminary walls would be erected.  There were about 15 members from local churches already working at the site.  We were all eager to join in, but we were not sure what to do; we knew that we were there to serve and help, not direct.  After receiving instructions our work began.  Some of us moved rocks and other debris out of the work area and others helped the cooks prepare our meals; yet others used pickaxes to dig trenches between the pylons.  I observed many of our group working closely with the Peruvians. Even though they did not speak the same language, you would see one of our workers tap the shoulder of a Peruvian worker as he struggled with exhaustion from pounding the ground with the pickaxe. (The tap indicated, “Rest for a while, let me take your place.”)  Then, in turn, the Peruvian worker would tap the shoulder of one of our workers, with the look of compassion that meant, “You look like you need a break—let me take it for a while.”  I loved the scene I was witnessing.  The next two days of work included putting huge river rocks into the trenches and then pouring wheelbarrows of cement over the rocks (for foundation support), everyone taking turns with the heavy loads. This is what God wants—WE are HIS hands and feet—emphasis on the WE.  Together WE, with God’s help, were building not only the strong foundation for a Bible institute but a strong spirit of the one body of Christ on earth.

Each day God directed the relationships that were being built. Working together on the foundation, we all took ownership of the building being constructed. Once completed, the building will represent the relationships bonded by God across two continents.

So in answer to your question, Pastor Leopoldo, there is a PC(USA) church that will be a partner in this journey. FPC of Bryan is scheduled to return to Quillabamba in July to continue serving alongside the synod of La Convencion.  We are grateful for this new partnership between a PC(USA) church and a synod of the Iglesia Evangelica Peruana, and all of the possibilities it implies. Meanwhile lay pastor classes are full and continue to be held under temporary shade structures.

We invite you to explore the many partnership opportunities to serve in mission in Peru through your prayers, your correspondence with us, your financial support of this ministry, and especially through your visits.  And we thank those who continue to support us as we serve in partnerships throughout Peru.
Con abrazos de rusty y sara