Late February found the three of us going around, around, and around the mountain in a bus. Vomiting, sweating from the heat, and extreme sickness began to accompany us during our 19 hours trapped in a small seat trying to keep Samuel entertained. Why put oneself through that type of trip you might ask? One reason only!! On the other side of that mountain lies a beautiful city called Cajamarca and situated on a hill is a church desiring to know more about holy living. We had heard and had been invited to this church months before, but we were waiting on God to open the doors in His timing. From the first night we arrived until we left we were ministering nightly in services. The pastor and his wife asked us several times to please move to this area to help them in their growing ministry. They also desire that Bryon would return and teach holiness classes in their Bible Institute. We plan on returning as often as God desires and funds permit. This coming June we have plans to return to this church with a TLC team. Plans are being made for services in their area and traveling to two prisons to hold services. Please be praying that God will help us to be a light of holiness to their church which is called The Center of Biblical Studies of John Wesley.
Pastora Mirian with her husband, Pastor Rafaely, work day and night to reach out to the hurting in Cajamarca. Upon arriving we found their home and church with several needy young people who had found a bed when there was no where else to go.
Cajamarca was a lovely "old world" city mingling with some up-to-date stores. This is where the church is perched, looking over the city below.
Because of their desire to help the needy, the church has an area of walls partitioning small rooms for people to sleep in. We stayed in one of these rooms and slept quite well!
Upon leaving Cajamarca, we made our way to the familiar city of Chiclayo. This was another 7 hour bus trip and Samuel became ill during travel. We thank the Lord the bus attendants provided everyone with sick bags! Having lived before in the Chiclayo area for 5 years, we knew it quite well. However, we were there to visit two churches that we had never been in before. Since last August we have been repeatedly invited to Pastor Jose Chilcon's church. He is interested in having a seminar (special services) on holiness. We visited his church on a Sunday morning and the Pilgrims of Peru's church Sunday night(this church and the one in Cajamarca, Rev. Raymond Shreve had encouraged us to visit).
We entered another bus to make the 14+hour trip back home to Lima. Just a few days later Michele's mother flew into Peru. What a delight for all of us! Because of Michele's brothers' generosity, we were able to take Mom to see Machu Picchu. This was an area she had ALWAYS wanted to see. It was gorgeous, however, because we were traveling the least expensive way we could, the trip was exhausting and very difficult. We all stated that if we could have seen the hardships coming, we would have all stayed in Lima and just looked at pics of Machu Picchu online.
Cusco and the surrounding area were so beautiful! We thoroughly enjoyed the culture, sights, and sounds of that part of Peru.
Isn't Peru such a beautiful country?! Though we were there specifically to show Mother this area, we were also trying to be a witness for Jesus. We made good friends rather quickly of a man from Chile who was traveling with us. We continue to be in contact with him and hope to reconnect with him next year.
On this street in Cusco, Bryon would buy bread from a lady running a bodega. He was able to witness to her and she began to tell him how unhappy she was with the liberal ways of the church she attended. She asked us twice if there was any way we could come back to Cusco and open a church there? There are hungry souls everywhere we turn, whether in Peru or the States. When traveling we must ask ourselves, "Are we traveling for Jesus?" Pray for the Flings as we travel through Peru, that we may truly be traveling for HIM!
