Greetings from Peru!
Thank you for being interested in knowing how things are going here in Peru, and how
you could pray for us. It has been an encouraging and challenging time for me in Peru,
yet I’ve never been more ready to face the difficulties each day presents. Even though
my letters will not cover the extensive amount of material, lessons, and reflections I’ve
had here, I hope to be able to highlight the nuances of living and preaching the Gospel
in a dissimilar country. I intend to write every two weeks for you to hear and rejoice
with me about what God is accomplishing!
Week 1:
One thing you must know to help you interpret this journey; The couple I am with, Stephen
and Evelyn Stilwell, though they are an elderly couple in their early 80s, have been gifted with great
exuberance to continue here in Peru. The first few days for me were just marveling at various plants
and experiencing typical culture shock and on May 22nd, we headed straight up the mountain from
Trujjilo to Huaraz (10,013 Feet). Most of our time up there was with Stephen’s son who is pastoring a
church and taking the lead of a new AM radio ministry they desire to get started. Our trip was cut
short after Evelyn’s heart couldn’t keep up with the altitude, however, it was to God’s glory that we
could visit three extra churches back in Trujillo because of it. I finished the week with the college
group on Saturday and had the privilege of meeting English-speaking young men who interpreted the
message that night for me, where otherwise I would have just listened to the Spanish.
Week 2:
This week was defined mostly by serving in church, working, and playing piano for the Bible
college. It felt like a week where I better got a feel of what missionaries do and who they are. We
started on a small roof for the seminary chapel outdoor entryway and
surveyed our projects at the camp while working on the water windmill
pump. I suspect we will finish the well project in two weeks because we go
to camp only on Thursdays.
Peruvian Highlight: Cuisine and Creatures
I’m hoping to highlight one or two major themes, ideas, or concepts
that I’ve either learned or discovered here in Peru in my coming letters. The
food here is simply superb! Being a tropical area, Peru can grow every fruit
known to man without any problems. I’d say the fruit is easily the best food
down here. While in general most foods aren’t anything special or new, the
foods I am used to having are amplified in their flavor simply because the
way things grow down here is different. Think of your favorite food, amplify
only the best part, and lessen your least favorite part; that is the best way to describe it. Bananas
have a richer taste and have less of an aftertaste because of the water density. Another thing I was
surprised about? They have asparagus fields for miles(kilometers) and miles!
Don’t get your hopes up about reading about the creatures, there’s nothing unique outside of
the jungle. You see pigeons in the city and chickens and turkeys near farmlands in the Andes.
Scorpians and lizards are the only distinctive things you see here on the west side of Peru. The
Trujillo area is a desert, and very close to the rainfall amount in the Saraha Desert (1-2 inches a year).
Please reach me by email and ask questions to the missionaries, pastors, people, or myself. After all,
this is a letter, feel free to communicate back! ( philipmmartin478@gmail.com)
“God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.” – Hudson Taylor