EBM MASA Community, Hilfe für Lateinamerika, Pastor Carlos Waldow
God is making his mission history
further on in a wonderful way
Mission trip to Bolivia and Peru, May 31 to June 16, 2010
Looking back, we can once again say that God has poured out his richest blessings. He gave us wonderful gifts: for one thing protection during our travels, especially during the rides on the narrow sand tracks in the mountains of Peru, where the Andes reach more than 4, 000 m. Right next to the narrow lane there usually was a precipice of more than 1,000 m. And for another, health, strength and joy for our work. This was a great blessing, as the journey was very work-intensive from beginning to end. Another blessing were the numerous, joyful encounters with our missionaries and the workers in the mission projects. We also experienced God’s wonderful guidance as we perceived very clearly what new challenges He has in store for MASA in these countries in the years ahead. Furthermore, we were very impressed by the very clear spiritual guidance we experienced in more than five situations. We were faced with big questions and difficult decisions and marvelled at the good thoughts and solutions He gave us – solutions we would never have thought of.
1. Bolivia
It was very important and positive that Airton Nickel, MASA Representative for Brazil, accompanied us on our trip, because everyone on the L.A. Team is to be made familiar with the differing “MASA countries” and their projects. This widens our horizon and provides know-how that can be applied to the overall work; it is the foundation needed for joint strategic planning and leadership.
For this reason, it is important for Airton to be familiar with the projects in the Spanish-speaking countries, and for Arturo, with those in Brazil.
This time, we only spent a mere three days in Bolivia, in La Paz exclusively, focusing on the meetings with UBB (Baptist Union of Bolivia) and CBM (Canadian Baptist Ministries). CBM also partners with UBB. In La Paz, we also set some time aside to meet the children and young people living in the Children’s Home, and for talks with Martín and Agustina, the house parents.
1.1 Children’s Home: Since January 2010, after completion of the building in late 2009, Martín and Agustina have lived in their own house with the children. Some 5 years ago, MASA decided to continue this children’s home only till the 12 children admitted will be able to live on their own and no longer need caring for. Moving into the private home of the Fernandez’ has already been part of this plan. It will take another 5 or 6 years till all of them can master their lives, and MASA is committed to caring for them as long.
An important decision was related to the property of the children’s home. On request of UBB and CBM we had decided to make it available as a mission centre for 70,000 US $ (corresponding to less than half the market price). The idea is that it will serve as a head office for the social ministry projects in El Alto and the surrounding region. At the beginning, they were not willing to pay anything. After some lengthy negotiations we succeeded in making them agree on this price, and so we could officially hand the house over to UBB and CBM. The proceeds are intended to partly fund the needs of the children in the years ahead.
1.2 El Alto: Over the past two years, we have become convinced that we should focus on the people in this city and region in the next few years. From 2011 we would like to develop some social ministry projects together with the local churches. El Alto is the fastest growing city in Latin America, with more than a million people living here, for the most part in great poverty and under the influence of occultism, alcoholism and crime with their effects. We are praying that God will send us a representative capable of assuming responsibility for and coordinating these projects for MASA in future. Our vision for this work stands on three pillars: training for mission workers, evangelism and church planting, and social commitment. All three aspects shall be present in every new project and concur. We think that on a few projects in El Alto, we may cooperate not only with UBB but with CBM as well.
2. Peru
In this country, we visited several places. What we experienced in these almost two weeks in Peru has inspired us and motivated us to increase our involvement.
2.1 „La Libertad“: This is the name of the Province and also of the regional Baptist Association, MASA’s partner in the region. MASA’s first project here was in Otuzco, at two hours from Trujillo (seat of the Association). Carlos Garcia, our missionary in Otuzco, is motivated, and the work is progressing well. It is a very tough place for mission work. Since early 2010, MASA has been supporting a second project in Jimbe and the surrounding region, with Hugo Mondoñedo being the missionary. He tends to 5 mission projects. Some of them are accessible only on foot, and often he has to walk for 7 to 8 hours. Hugo is enthusiastic about the work. We could offer him quite some strategic advice which he started implementing on the spot. In past years, MASA has supported Hugo sporadically but has now decided to take on full responsibility for him and the mission project in this region. The experiences we shared with him have fully convinced us that he is the right man in order to reach the people in these mountains and valleys with the gospel. He does his work with great commitment and passion. Jimbe is at about 3 hours from Chimbote, where Patricia Canessa (MASA secretary and finance administrator in Peru) lives. She and her church support Hugo’s work in a very positive way. The regional Association would very much like MASA to support another new project in this region, i.e. in Huamachuco, at 180 km from Trujillo. They have already found a missionary they would like to deploy. We do not know yet whether we can and will realize this, although the challenge has been moving us. If God gives us the necessary means we would like to respond in a positive way.
2.2. Apurimac and Cusco
Time and again we are impressed with the results of God’s action among the Quechua population in this region. This time we were especially moved by what we experienced together with our brothers and sisters in the mission churches, and by the big challenges facing us.
ª Adrián Campero, our missionary and coordinator for this region, often lives through tough times, but we are impressed time and again with his deep spirituality and authority, his humility and missionary vision. We know about his vision for his people: „We have a clear vision for Apurimac and Cusco, that is: a church in every Quechua village and town, to the glory of God. A church founded on God’s Word, built on it and growing in it, a church where committed Christians live together and in perfect fellowship with the Lord. These Christians walk in integrity of heart and are good witnesses in their community, until God’s glory fills our country. This is our goal. We are filled with gratitude towards our brothers and sisters at MASA for their financial and spiritual support. Without their help it would be very difficult for us to endure in the work.”
The more than 30 mission churches in this region still do very positive work. Again we had the privilege of attending and contributing to a baptismal service. After witnessing to their faith in Jesus, 42 people were baptized in an ice-cold, running river. Simply wonderful! This happened in Mariscal Gamarra, where Adrián was born, some 4 hours by car from Abancay in a very deep valley between mountains rising to more than 4, 000 m.
ª The disaster relief MASA could provide after the floods and landslides in early 2010 to some 1,000 families through the local mission stations has drawn many people’s attention to and convinced them of God’s practical love. The churches’ credibility has been strengthened. On account of this, many people have become believers and are being integrated in the churches. MASA is now providing sustainable support, e.g. by distributing seeds for a population that has lost everything and by building a new water pipe made of concrete for the irrigation of their fields. This is the only way for many families to have hope for another harvest.
ª Curahuasi: A major decision has been made concerning this mission church: Pastor Thomas Chaparro will be employed as a MASA missionary from August 2010. This mission project is an important one in this region. Soon, a chapel is to be built here for church work, as well as the “Samaritan’s House” which is to serve as an inn for those people who take their sick relatives to the Diospi Suyana Hospital and who do not have any place to spend the night. Despite a simple construction method the project will be expensive. We hope to receive the necessary donations in order to support our brothers and sisters. This mission church was founded two years ago and now numbers more than 50 members.
ª Yanaoca: A year ago, MASA appointed Modesto Puñal to be the missionary for this region, with Adrián Campero coordinating his work. He has proved of very great value so far. The other two mission churches in the region are Percaro and Winchiri. They now want to band together to reach out to a great number of villages. Modesto has already started mission work in three additional villages. When we were there, we met some 60 people from the churches who had gathered for the service and the staff training. They attach great importance to prayer and Bible knowledge. MASA has now purchased a property of 500 sq.m where they can themselves build their church building. They are very likely to need some financial support. The church members are all very poor but ready to sacrifice. Yanaoca is intended to become the mission centre for this region.
3. Mentoring the missionaries and staff: When as L.A. Team we visit the projects it is one of our priorities to have a lot of time to monitor and counsel our missionaries and staff. This has been another occasion where we experienced how important and relevant this is. We always have at heart to listen carefully to them, to take their needs and problems seriously, to strengthen and motivate them and to let them know that they are not on their own but that they are backed by people who love them and fight for them spiritually. This ministry to our sisters and brothers is a source of great joy to our Team.
4. Evaluation: Before journeying back – to Argentina, Brazil and Germany, respectively – we spent one day in Lima as a (L.A.) Team. Our main topic was the evaluation of this mission trip and of our teamwork, and we pondered on important decisions related to the future work in Bolivia and Peru. We are very glad about this time because it was essential for us as a team and for the future of the projects.
There have been so many more moving small experiences on this journey; unfortunately there is no room here to report on them. But it is important to me that you may learn about the spiritual wealth and about God’s acting, especially in Peru. I will be very pleased to answer any questions you may have.
With warmest regards,
Yours,
Carlos Waldow