Merry Christmas from Trujillo, Peru
Merry Christmas from Trujillo, Peru
Dear praying family!
We are blessed to spiritually unite our hearts with each of you this time of the year to remember that grace and peace came into this dark world to shine the light of eternal life in each believing heart.
An extra bonus of this joyous season came to us with the safe arrival of our oldest daughter Abi, who came to see us from PA for Christmas break. Because of the uncertain and volatile political times Peru is going through, we didn’t know whether international travel would be open. That made us fret at times, thinking that our desire to be together as family wouldn’t be possible. But the Lord allowed it and here we are, all 7 of us, praising the Lord for His indescribable gift and for adopting us into His family.
There is an apparent peace and quiet in Peru this Christmas that seems surreal. The first female president in Peru’s history was installed on December 7th under exceptional circumstances. She is the sixth president in the last 4 years, and is far from a solid solution to the nation’s outstanding challenges in leadership. Peru’s situation is too complicated to explain in a few words. In the midst of a rightful indignation to protest over the systemic corruption ingrained in all stripes of government for nearly half a century, many feared that the recent slew of violence that left over 20 people dead was the resurgence of the deadly Shining Path that crippled the nation in the 80’s and 90’s. Two of their former leaders convicted of terrorism completed their prison sentence, and have been connected to the more violent confrontations in the southern part of Peru.
There is a perception penetrating the more forgotten corners of the nation, that a new constitution is the long-awaited panacea to the evident and historical rift between the rich and the poor, the capital and the provinces, the coast and the jungles and mountains, and that capitalistic leaning policies have not and will not build bridges to even the field. One can hardly think that new general elections that must include a new constitution will deliver much needed national stability. If any, those on the opposing side have made things worse and as of December 7th, were forced to define their true colors: the president is labeled a traitor and she calls them radicals. Ironically, on a different December 7th , in 2021, when she was the vice president, she publicly proclaimed that if her president was ousted, she’d go with him. Instead, she decided to take over and created a major division in her party. Interested in reading more? Please go here!
As I did a morning walk today and saw the traditional lines of people at the bakery holding their trays with their dressed-up turkeys to be baked in expectation of a special meal for Christmas, I thank the Lord our city was literally left unscathed in recent protests. Overall, across the board people are moving about and following the regular course of the day-to-day activities. In the more convoluted areas, there is still peace and quiet, a peace accomplished by force. The national state of emergency guarantees the national guard’s presence at least for 30 days. Only God knows what will happen after. Now, we do know the kind of peace that comes from love. That’s our aim to share as we interact with folks comfortably sitting in a manufactured and miraged kind peace. Suddenly, the words of the beloved carol, “Peace on earth good will to men” is taking a more vivid form for all believers here in Peru this Christmas season!
Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year!
Pablo, Sarah, Abi, Hannah, Gabriela, Selah & Timothy CT
