Life in All Its Fullness Here in Peru

A letter from Rusty Edmondson and Sara Armstrong, serving in Peru

December 2017

We want to give you some idea of what it is like to live in Lima, the capital of Peru, home to some 12 million people. To do that here are some events of the recent weeks that demonstrate the diverse ways we engage in life with Peruvians.

On October 31, we were invited to attend a dedication of the new bust of Martin Luther in one of the city’s largest parks, the Parque de la Exposición, near downtown Lima.

The bust of Martin Lutero dedicated in Lima on Reformation Day.

Since the community of Reformed Christians is small in Peru, perhaps as small as 1% of the country’s population, I expected only a handful of attendees. Imagine my surprise when I arrived to find a whole section of the park recently painted for the occasion, a large city marching band playing traditional Peruvian music and reporters. This in addition to the hundreds of pastors in suits; three school choirs; various church representatives; leaders from the Bible Society; and the Executive Secretary of the Latin American Association of Reformed Churches, Dario Barolín from Argentina. Lutherans, Scottish, Peruvian and Korean Presbyterians — together we represented the whole gamut of Reformed Protestantism in Lima.

Our partner church, the Iglesia Evangelica Peruana, was founded by Scandinavian and British evangelists in the 1800s. In this ardently Catholic country, at first they had to meet in secret. Many early Protestant evangelists were persecuted and jailed, and some were killed. Today these evangelicos, or Peruvian descendants of Protestantism, were one of many denominations with Reformed roots represented at the dedication of this bust of “Martin Lutero” in the Parque de la Exposicion.

Do you suppose Martin Luther could have had any idea of the impact of his actions when he posted the 95 Theses on that church door 500 years ago? It seems that the mayor of Lima is Lutheran. As we waited for him to arrive and kick off the event, I noted the guinea hens that strutted past us and the palm trees waving in the sun, things that have no part in the scenery around Wittenburg. As we sang “A Mighty Fortress is our God” in Spanish, I was glad to take part in what he started so many centuries ago in Germany.

On November 12, the British community gathered in the Anglican Cathedral to celebrate Remembrance Day. Since a good friend from England/the US was preaching, I came to listen and stayed in fascination. The British Legion was selling poppy boutonnieres at the door. A Canadian in a kilt piped in the clergy, and the standard- bearers followed, as did the veterans, some in wheelchairs. Ambassadors of various Commonwealth countries came and the US ambassador.

The Anglican Church Remembrance Service in Lima.

The Peruvian army sent a delegation that filled four pews. Many representatives from families of British descent (third and fourth generations) attended in formal dress wearing military medals. The hymns and scriptures celebrated the men who were worshipping in this Lima church when they went off to fight in the First and Second World Wars. Their names were read aloud during the service. I was struck by the extensive lists of men honored that day. The British community has had a large impact on Peruvian history in their 150 years here.

On November 10, the Peruvian Soccer Team played against the New Zealand team for a place in the World Cup playoffs. Even though the game was broadcast at 10 p.m., most Peruvians were watching. To say they are fervent fans is an understatement! There were over five million Peruvian soccer shirts sold that day in Lima. The first game ended in a tie, which was to be resolved on Nov. 15, as the two teams went head-to-head again, but this time in Lima. The home team advantage meant a stadium packed with Peruvian fans.

The city went wild. I saw a three-story white house with a band of red material that stretched down over three floors. Someone taped a number 9 Guerrero team shirt to the Virgin and Child statue in the park near us. Even the dogs were wearing team shirts. A woman talking to a friend on a bus confided, “My family won’t let me watch soccer games because I scream too loudly. They send me to my room to pray. This time I am just going straight to my room and pray for our team.” Noisemakers sounded through out the days and nights before hand. Even the meat vendors in the local market were tooting at each other. The President of Peru promised us a vacation day if Peru won. After all it is a pretty impressive achievement for a small country when its best player, Number 9, is out of commission after a hotly contested penalty.

On game night when Peru scored the first goal, Chilean seismologists say that millions of fans jumping for joy caused their equipment to register an earthquake. (Yes, we created an official earthquake!) Certainly there was screaming and shouting in our house, and the streets resounded with fireworks. The second goal assured our place in the World Cup playoffs next year. The French referees stated after the game that this was the most passionate soccer event they had seen in all of their lives. Promotions for package tours to Russia for next year’s World Cup are everywhere. There are many people dreaming of going to Russia for the playoffs, and many humorous cartoons are circulating about the (sometimes absurd) possible means of travel.

Peruvian immigration laws have changed, making it easier for foreigners to apply for residency. This is the equivalent of the US Green Card. It would make our lives much easier if we did not have to annually renew our “Non-Catholic Religious Worker” card. So we decided to apply for Peruvian residency under these new immigration laws. The process begins with a visit to the Interpol office for fingerprinting and international background checks. Lately, Peru’s immigration agency has been overwhelmed by the thousands of Venezuelans applying for asylum in Peru due to the chaos and violence in Venezuela. Like many other refugees in the world, they are emigrating to Peru with only what they can carry. Peruvians, and their immigration agency, are welcoming their northern neighbors while trying to meet their immediate needs. It was a sobering and unique experience to be in line with these fellow immigrants, visiting and waiting together for our formal documents to give us all permission to belong.

As you can see, our lives are full of rich and unexpected events. We rejoice in this variety and in the opportunity to share some of it with you. We hope you are planning your trip to Peru next year (or to Russia for the World Cup!). Alternatively, we will be in the US for Itineration Assignment from September to December, 2018. If you would be interested in hearing more about our lives and work, please send us an e-mail at sara.armstrong@pcusa.org or rusty.edmondson@pcusa.org.

It would be good to see you in the US or Peru and thank you personally for your support. We depend on your prayers and your giving to continue facilitating the work with our partners in Peru.

Bendiciones de Sara y Rusty

Please read this important message from Jose Luis Casal, Director, Presbyterian World Mission

Dear Friend of Presbyterian Mission,

What a joy to send this letter! As Presbyterian World Mission’s new director, I thank God for your faithful support of our mission co-workers. The enclosed newsletter celebrates the work you made possible by your prayers, engagement, and generous financial gifts. We can’t thank you enough.

After I began in April, I met with mission co-workers and global partners and was blessed to see firsthand the mighty ways God is working through them! Our global partners are asking us to help them move forward with life-changing ministries. Because of your support, we can say “yes” to these creative and exciting initiatives.

I write to invite you to make an even deeper commitment to this work. First, would you make a year-end gift for the sending and support of our mission co-workers? We need your gifts to end the year strong. With your help, we filled two new mission co-worker positions and plan to recruit for others. The needs in the world are great, and World Mission is poised to answer the call to serve.

Second, would you ask your session to add our mission co-workers to your congregation’s mission budget for 2018 and beyond? Our mission co-workers serve three-year or four-year terms. Your multi-year commitment will encourage them greatly.

Our mission co-workers are funded entirely from the special gifts of individuals and congregations like yours. Now more than ever, we need your financial support.
In faith, our mission co-workers accepted a call to mission service. In faith, World Mission sent them to work with our global partners. In faith, will you also commit to support this work with your prayers and financial gifts?

With gratitude,

Jose Luis Casal
Director

P.S. Your gift will help meet critical needs of our global partners. Thank you!