Steve and Rachel Peat

We're really excited about spending the first week of our trip with Steve and Rachel Peat in Arequipa. We stayed in the city on our last trip in 2000, but didn't have opportunity to see God's work there. Steve and Rachel have a very full ministry with a wide remit of responsibilities including bookeeping, children's ministry training, camps, English Bible studies, and work with Family Focus, to name but a few.

We've included Steve and Rachel's website address in the link panel on the right. Their site is really worth a visit as it not only contains great information about their ministry, but also some stunning pictures of Arequipa - a sample of what we'll be seeing in around a month's time.

We're really grateful to them in allowing us to see their work, and the work of others in Arequipa City.

Some Fast Facts from the Lonely Planet

Yesterday we got our copy of the Lonely Planet guide to Peru. Here are some fast and fascinating facts about the country:

Population: 28 million

Adult literacy: 90%

Peruvian potato varieties: almost 4000.

About 50% of Peruvians live in poverty.

Coca is cultivated on 46,700 hectares - enough for 150,000kg of cocaine (although much of it is actually used for legal chewing and tea-making).

Coca leaves are about five times more valuable, by weight, than coffee beans.

In Lima, one vehicle in seven is a taxi.

Football Fever!

Its hard to avoid the topic of football at the moment. Whether its the boy wonder Walcott or Wayne Rooney's dodgy foot, World Cup stories have taken the headlines by force.

Anyone who is at all familiar with South America will know that it is a continent which is passionate about football. The picture above is of Peru's national home kit, and while the country is not in the World Cup finals it will be an interesting experience to be in South America during the big games.

But this post is not really about football. Anyone who knows us will know that we're not massive fans! Instead we have a plan for our trip which ties in nicely with the World Cup. During our time in Peru we are hoping to be involved in a variety of activities, but a predominant theme will be children's work. Tomorrow morning I will be launching an appeal in church for any of the children who attend to donate their old football tops for us to take with us on our trip. We're hoping to be able to give these to a number of the children with whom we will be working, and feel that it will forge a nice link between our home church and the churches in Peru. We hope to take pictures of the children who receive shirts so that the children in Northern Ireland who donate can see their old top on a new friend in Peru.

And so...if you have any old football tops (international, national, local or training tops) all contributions would be gratefully received from children who attend our church. Just bring them along on a Sunday morning or Wednesday night, and we'll see that they find a new and loving home!

In Praise of Plodding

Gary's comment on our first post (below) is so fitting. It coincided with me beginning to read S. Pearce Carey's biography of William Carey. Since childhood Carey has been a hero to me, and its so refreshing to reread the life of 'the father of the modern missions movement' - particularly in the light of our forthcoming trip.

A quote from Carey just yesterday morning really touched me. It shows the humility which lay behind the greatness of this man of God, and touches on a theme which God is challenging me with at the moment - perseverance and finishing well in the Christian life.

'I can plod and persevere. That is my only genius. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything'

As we consider going to see the work of mission first hand in Peru, we're looking forward to witnessing the dynamic effect of those who are persevering and plodding in the service of their Master. Carey's 'only genius' reaped rich rewards, and is most definitely worthy of imitation!

Andrew

A Geography Lesson

This is a broad-brush map of Peru. Over the next few weeks we'll share some information about the country, as well as some of our plans. The main areas we will be working in are the captial city Lima; Arequipa (approx 8000 feet above sea level); as well as Tacna and Ilo on the coast. The 'Rough Guide' website listed on the links side bar can be searched (under South America) for more detailed info.

Peru Plans

We're now on the final countdown to our sabbatical break in Peru, and thought it was high time we put info online for anyone who may be interested in following our progress. This will be a journal of our last five and a half weeks of planning and preparation, and subsequently of the five and a half weeks we hope to spend in Peru. Please keep calling back, leave a message in the comments section, and pray for us during our time away.
We can't wait...and are looking forward to sharing our experiences with you!!