Shades of Grey....

Greetings, love, and peace to all the saints: family, friends, believers and supporters, en el nombre de nuestro precioso salvador, Jesucristo!

There are shades of grey...

The last few months of winter in Peru have included many cloudy grey days. But as I discovered, there are various shades of grey. Some are quite defined and dark, while others are more transparent. The subtleties of the shades of grey are only noticeable, it seems, to those of us who have lived here for the duration of the winter. To most, grey is grey!

Another, more pronounced, shade of grey revealed itself last weekend. Having turned onto a one way street (in the wrong direction!)I was pulled over by the "Policia Nacional". In the resulting conversation, the officer politely said that the "infracion" would not have to be put on my record; they would "help" me if I "helped" them. No matter the language or cultural barrier, the comments were clear. With open and acceptable practices of bribery, a shade of grey presented itself. What to do as a foreign pastor? I decided to take an ethical stand and not give them a bribe, deciding that having the infraction and paying the fine would be best. But, as luck or fate or God would have it, I was driving with colleagues to the National Assembly for ILEP, and two of us were wearing clerical shirts. The officer saw the collars when he first pulled us over and still mentioned the bribe despite our very pastoral attire! He returned from his car with my documents, mentioned this "helping" idea again, to no avail. They helped us get turned onto the right direction, approached my vehicle once again, but this third time, he made no mention of it. I am still not sure what unfolded in the conversation in their car, but in my car we decided that this was not a shade of grey!

Other shades of grey reveal themselves...

In a return trip to Huacho in August (to complete discussions on liturgy and teaching of music with the youth), we witnessed a protest to raise awareness of government corruption of land rights. This march came right on the heels of the Peruvian government's decision to sell land and mineral rights to a variety of Multinational Companies. Since August, though, and because of protests such as this throughout Peru (some of which were quite violent and even resulted in several deaths!), the government decided to revoke its decision.


The sign says, "The land is for those who work it."


But what for us (in Canada) is considered a peaceful demonstration almost always necessitates a police presence here.




Things carried on as normal after the procession, which was quite peaceful, and we continued onto the church for the afternoon of music lessons with the youth...


Pictured here are Erik, Hockey, Katarine, and Shirley learning how to play the keyboard.


With Erik...




At the end of our week together, we celebrated our time together with a worship service...


In August, I left the grey skies of Lima for a week in Cusco to conclude the initial work with the congregation of Talitha Kum.


With the children, we reviewed the songs they'd learned in my first visit, and we added a couple of more, ones with actions are favorites!!



Also, we continued to work on the keyboard, with fingering and learning some basic songs, along with the zampoña.



I worked with three older students: Luis, Henry and Jhanette apart from the other children, to help advance their keyboard skills. They learned the fingering for their first scale, Do (or C Major) and made excellent progress in their beginning book. Some theory was a part of our time together, also. It was such a joy because they were like sponges, absorbing everything I gave them to learn!


In the last visit, a small women's choir (of 8 voices) was formed, and so this time, we revisited some vocal techniques as well as worked on some new music in addition to parts of the liturgy. Here are some of the women who participated:


Now, well into spring here, I've been working in the congregation of Cristo Salvador, located in San Juan de Miraflores. They have a women's choir of 11 or 12 voices depending on the week! We are working on vocal production/techniques as well as how to play the keyboard. As well, there is a group of youth and children with whom I am teaching singing, keyboard, guitar and zampoña. There are up to 14 who participate each week, a delightful and energetic group!!!

The other portion of my ministry here continues to go well. The congregation at San Juan Camino de Esperanza is made up of mostly children and youth. Average worship attendance is 7 adults, 7 youth, and 8 children. That's the average. Many, however, are not members, they are associates. Hopefully that will change poco a poco (little by little) as with most things. I have started an "every family visit", for members as well as our "sympatizantes." As with most congregations, people appreciate having the pastor in their homes, showing care and support. And it's been helpful for me to get to know everyone better and offer prayer and a listening ear. In addition to the visitation, we have a weekly Confirmation Class, Bible Study, and Saturday School for the neighbourhood children. We've incorporated guitar and piano lessons within the usual time to help children with their homework. So there are about ten youth and children taking music lessons now. In addition, there are monthly council meetings, maintaining companion congregational relationships, welcoming guests from Canada and the USA, and planning meetings to do with our ongoing building project. The work in music and liturgy, a pastoral presence at San Juan, and attending various meetings with ILEP Council, the conference of pastors, and helping with specific projects are all part of the ongoing ministry presence that the ELCIC has here in Peru. And now, some ten months later, it continues to be a pleasure to represent my church even in the midst of the various shades of grey that have presented themselves!!!


"Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3: 20-21

With blessings and peace,
Pastora Fran.

Deep in the Hearts of TexaNs!

Greetings with peace and blessings, dearest family, friends, and supporters!!!

More than the song, "Deep in the Heart of Texas", we learned recently that the hearts of TexaNs are filled with love, grace, support, and affection for us, their Christian brothers and sisters in Peru!!!

The last week of July, ILEP (Lutheran Church in Peru) welcomed over thirty visitors from the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, one of our companion congregations in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). It was an exciting week, with many tours to the various congregations in Lima. As well, many in the group visited Iquitos prior to their time in Lima AND members of the companion congregations went to visit their respective companion congregation, Galilea, in Huacho.

We were all so pleased to welcome warmly our beloved guests, many of whom were returning to Peru as well as the "first-timers" for what has become an annual TLGC Synod visit!

DAY ONE



Our week together began with greetings from ILEP's new President, Pastor Armando Capcha (with translation from David Wunsch, The ELCA's Regional Representative for Global Mission in South America), followed by a bible study and orientation to Peru and ILEP.



























Our tour later that afternoon, took us to the congregations of Emmaus and Buen Pastor, whose Pastor is Andres Palencia. Pictured here are visitors and members of Emmaus in their sanctuary.







We heard from the leaders of the children's program, as well as Pastor Andres, then the children sang several of their favorite songs. The Texas group also taught a song with actions, which the children just loved!!






And here is the entire group at Buen Pastor...






The next three days, the larger group was divided in order to visit respective companion congregations. At San Juan Camino de Esperanza, we were very pleased to welcome 14 of the TLGC visitors, from our companion congregation, Grace Lutheran Church, in Conroe, Texas!

DAY TWO

We began our first day together at San Juan with introductions and sharing the focus of each of our ministries. Members of the San Juan Council, leaders of the children's program and church members came out to welcome our visitors and share what the church presence means in their community. As Peruvians and Americans (and one Canadian!) talked about their church, we identified many similarities in the strengths, challenges and joys in each of our congregations. This offered a good beginning to deepening our companion relationship!


San Juan President, Carlos Huarcaya, shows our visitors the approved architectural drawings...
















DAY THREE

The next day, we painted the church wall, the Luther Rose on the door of the church, and did some patch-work on part of the wall that had deteriorated a little bit....

BEFORE:





Some members of San Juan were able to help, but many were working at their jobs of course...





































AFTER:














A huge change; we are a grateful congregation!!


For the other part of our day we took a walking tour of the neighbour to visit members and meet them in their homes. This continued our day of sharing and growing together. For many returning visitors, this was the first time visiting people in their homes and seeing where many of the members of the church live. It turned out to be a very inspirational day!

Walking around the neighbourhood...



























Many of the children who participate in our "Escuela Sabatina" or Saturday School, live in the cierra's, in the hills...




Parents and children joined us for our tour!

























There were a few stragglers along our pilgrimmage











DAY FOUR:

The Fiesta (Party) at the church:

We sang songs and learned some new actions...











There were a variety of activities for the children....


Contributing a square for a "stained glass" mural





















Crosses to take home....






















The children at San Juan prepared two dances: the serpent dance came from the amazon and the other is a traditional Peruvian dance (for which I cannot remember the name!).









Pictured here are Vladimir, Miguel and Kevin

















There was more dancing, we shared a meal, more games and activities! We concluded our time together with a presentation from Grace, as they danced to "Deep in the Heart of Texas". After teaching us the words and actions to this favorite song, gifts were given to the children...




DAY FIVE: other visits to ILEP congregations...


DAY SIX:























In the breaking of bread and pouring of wine, we shared our last day together, Sunday.










Following worship service, were more songs and sharing of gifts from San Juan to those from Grace and vice versa! We were happy to receive two new sewing machines which will be used by our newly formed women's group!!





Indeed, the hearts of TexaNs run deep and are filled with the love of God which is in Christ Jesus as witnessed time and again during the visit. In our travels to the churches, in our time together at San Juan Camino de Esperanza, on the buses, in conversations over morning coffee, in many of the meetings and debrief sessions, and with the members of the congregation, we were witnesses, once again, to God's gracious presence among us! The hearts of TexaNs do run deep, inspired of the Holy Spirit who is leading, directing, calling and guiding us all to greater service to our neighbours,known and unknown, and particularly to our brothers and sisters in faith in the Lutheran Church in Peru.


"And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8


May the Lord continue to bless, strengthen and guide this partnership/companion relationship with TLGC Synod as we serve Christ together!!

Meet Zena!

Hello everyone! This is just a short update...it's been a busy time, but somewhere in the midst of everything was finally was able to purchase my new baby, a 1998 Grand Nomade...yay!!



After driving together to Huacho to work at the congregation Galilea, Pastor/President Armando Capcha and I determined that she's a girl...And last night a friend and I described her as strong, reliable and even fierce and have aptly named her "Zena", after the warrior princess, because certainly driving here one needs a certain amount of warrior-ness!

And so, life in ministry and mission continues with the follow-up trip to Cusco and Talitha Kum this week. Updates from the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod visit, as well as the recent return trips to the Provencias will be posted in the next week...stayed tuned!

For now, know that I am in capable hands, not only God's now but also Zena's, as we travel in and around Lima and various other parts of Peru!

With grace, peace, and joy!

Pastora Fran.

Two Feet off the Ground...

Dearest Family, Friends, and Supporters~

Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!


"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone." Psalm 91: 11-12

Have you ever felt like you were lifted up from the ground, say about two feet off the ground for instance? Or perhaps like these paragliders in the middle of our Peruvian "winter"?!



Maybe we're not lifted quite this high, but there is enough of a change in altitude (or attitude) that it is noticeable. Have you ever felt exhalted, lifted, raised up and taken to a new level...so elated an experience that you never wanted it to end??

Just such an experience happened within the last couple of weeks, since recovering from my surgery. Thanks to those who sent greetings, prayers and well-wishes, by the way. Bishop Mike of the Texas-Louisian Gulf Coast Synod was among visitors at the hospital, all of these blessings have helped so much, thank you!!!








And so, having recovered well from surgery,I've hit the ground running: travelling, preaching, and meeting more people and places within ILEP. To aid in these travelling ventures, Lorna, a Lutheran church musician (from Normandale Lutheran in Minneapolis, Minnesota), returned to Peru to accompany me and the congregations of Talitha Kum (Cusco) and Galilea (Huacho) in improving their musicianship and learning about liturgy. We also did some touring, pictured here at the ruins of "Parque Tahuantinsuyo".


We travelled first to Cusco...this is the Plaza d'Armas, featuring the Roman Catholic Cathedral and in the plaza itself, decorated with Peruvian Flags in preparation for Feliz Patrias, July 28th (Independence Day.)








The focus of our time and work was with the congregation of Talitha Kum, pictured here is the church door...the basement was constructed first and that is where worship services and meetings are held.


















Their pastora is Ofelia Davila Llimpe....


























And here is a glimpse of the community where the church is located....









We taught between 10-15 children how to play the zampoña...









....and a few singing techniques along with a few new songs (even some with actions)and Lorna taught beginning piano to the children.

We helped develop a small women's choir of 4-8 voices. I taught them some vocal techniques and simple ways to improve their singing as well as some new songs.

Here are some of the adults and children from Talitha Kum who participated in the music program...




We were back in Lima for a few short days where we toured a little-Parque Tahuantinsuyo and the ruins of pre-Incan culture. Of course, at San Juan Camino de Esperanza, we held our weekly worship service and felt blessed to have Lorna's accompaniment. THEN, right after service we headed to the bus station for the three hour bus trip up to Huacho. It was a long day as we went right from the bus depot to the worship service (which had already started!) at Galilea, the Lutheran church there. We were welcomed with open arms and embraces by the members.





On the way to Huacho.....desert with an occasional oasis of greenery...


















At Galilea, Lorna again taught beginning piano,this time with the youth...










...and we also worked on finer details of song leading. They were a captive, attentive group of 11 young people and it was wonderful to see how quickly they soaked in all of the ideas and teachings!






In the evenings, I led a session on the liturgy for up to 16 congregational members. We discussed and learned the "ordo" of the liturgy, and explored the "why" of liturgy, to reach a deeper understanding of the how the church's mission, i.e. God's mission for us, and the liturgy are linked as the assembled people of God gather to celebrate in Word and Sacrament. We will continue to discuss and explore the liturgy when I return again in a couple of weeks.

A breath-taking glimpse of the ocean from the walkway in Huacho...




Our voices were raised in song at both Talitha Kum and Galilea. We applied new ideas, grasped how to read music with enthusiasm and joy, and were lifted up in a profound way, about two feet off the ground!!! I was again reminded how God continues to amaze, inspire, work, renew, and call each of us. The energy, enthusiasm, the smiles and laughter speak to our connection and relationship as one in the body of Christ. Music particularly connects us and speaks to us regardless of the language and/or cultural barriers.

What an incredible journey of faith this first year of service with the ELCIC has been, through the adjusting and adapting, the changes and challenges, the joys and precious moments!! God is quite amazing...and surprising. For example, God has continued to astound me with those who feel called to volunteer their time and energy (not to mention dollars), and a piece of their hearts to help support my work and that of ILEP. And so, I wish to thank you, Lorna, for trusting me, the ELCIC and ILEP with two weeks of your vacation time. Your presence with the members at both Talithat Kum and Galilea was more appreciated than anyone can properly express! God worked to make this opportunity happen, things came together so smoothly, and while you take a piece of Peru with you in your heart, please know that you have also left a piece of your heart here with those of us who continue to work and serve God's church in Peru!

And so....we are lifted two feet off the ground, or sometimes more, by the gracious love and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who continues to shower us with grace upon grace, giving us renewed enthusiasm and inspired witness to how God is working in, amongst and through us.... Thanks be to God!

In inspired witness~
Pastora Fran

Time

Greetings family, friends and supporters!

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

Time is an illusory commodity. No more has this been true than in these last three weeks of illness, sugery and recovery. As my best friend just pointed out in her final newsletter article for internship, there are times when "time" goes by rapidly almost unnoticed and other times when it seems to creep on by seemingly right before us! It seems that time may be an illusion like a trick from a magic show!

The end of this month marks exactly the first year of my service with the ELCIC as Long-Term Missionary to Peru. A year ago, I was packing and selling belongings, saying good-bye to loved ones, attending Mission Orientation and various planning meetings, and preparing to leave. Now, one year later, it seems impossible to believe all that has happened within this year. As I prepare the various annual reports to the Bishop and to Mission in the World, there are questions about goals and progress, etc, etc. And after these three weeks of illness, surgery and now recovery, "time" that has crept by slowly, has been an opportunity to reflect on these questions and this first year. This time has been a wonderfully and sometimes painfully packaged gift to remind me of what has been important in this first year of service, what is core in my life (and in our lives), what ministry really means in this context, and what needs to be changed and adapted in me in order TO minister here. Much of this has already occurred, of course, but much more is about to happen I am sure, once my health is restored and ministry and life can continue normally, well, hopefully better than what has been "normal"!

The surgery itself was complicated and difficult, according to my surgeon. It took more "time" to accomplish what is a common surgery, meaning more anesthetic, a longer hospital stay, and a bit longer for recovery (I'll be officially back to work next week). However, I am at home now, resting, taking care of myself, and recovering. The Clinica Anglo Americana has been a wonderful facility to have this procedure, the staff were supportive and patient, many of them speak English. The ILEP church family and my new friends were, likewise, supportive and very helpful while I was in the Clinica and now in this week of recovery. I want to thank those who called, sent emails and cards!! I appreciate your thoughts and prayers so much!!!I am especially grateful to those who cared for me and visited me while I was in the Clinica, including a small delegation from the Texas-Louisian Gulf Coast Synod, including Bishop Mike Rinehart and Jim Young.I was sad to miss the Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the First Ordained Ministers of ILEP, but heard that the worship service, meal, gifts, and speeches were a wonderful celebration!!

Who knew that the outcome of my 13 cm long gallbladder (normally they are 5 cm) filled with ten fairly large stones and resulting surgery and recovery, could be such a gift?! This "time" to reflect and digest all that has occurred has allowed my spirit the chance to catch up with all that has happened; all of the new experiences, changes, adaptations,learnings and challenges. As my body heals, I am trying to allow it the time it needs to do what it knows how to do. And I am reminded that in our anxiousness in this life and this hectic world of ours, that God acts with us and for us in this way, too. God knows what to do to heal our world, God knows our pain and weaknesses and our struggles. God knows we need time to heal and be restored, and God gives us a time for this. Even as we are called into action and service, to be the hands and feet of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, we are also called into the illusion of time, into God's time to allow some of these things to happen in God's way, in God's time.

Thanks be to God for the gift of time!

With joy and peace,
Pastora Fran.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?..indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6: 25-33

Inspired

At times, it remains quite remarkable how we are inspired in various aspects of our lives. For instance, at the same time as planning trips to work (in music and liturgy)with ILEP congregations in Cusco and Huacho, a fellow musician who was here at the end of December was inspired to return to Peru. At the same time as she wrote of feeling inspired to serve here and what were the dates for her vacation in July, I was waiting for confirmation of the dates suggested to local pastors, which were, remarkably, almost identical to the dates she had offered in her email!! Again, quite remarkably, all of this fit together within a few days and she, because of the work of the Holy Spirit's inspiration, will accompany me and two ILEP congregations to teach music.

May was a busy, Spirit-filled month! I finished three months of working with the congregation of Belen, in Breña. I worked with a small women's choir to work on voice production and singing harmony together.




















Pastora Irene (far right) and some of the women at Belen.











Of course, we celebrated "El Día Del Madre" (Mother's Day). At San Juan Camino de Esperanza we had a program for the mothers, following our weekly worship service. This included poetry, dancing, singing and more dancing!





The children dancing a traditional Peruvian dance





On this same Sunday, we were priviledged to welcome Bishops and youth delegates from Lutheran churches from South America, Central America and the Caribbean for the Regional LWF Meeting. On the same Sunday as Mother's Day, San Juan welcomed guests Bishop Victoria Cortez of Nicaragua and Vice-President of the Lutheran World Federation, along with youth delegate Helen Rios, pictured here.


















In the midst of the LWF Regional Meeting, there was an Inter-Religious Prayer Service to which Muslim leaders, Catholic priests, Jewish leaders, and other Protestant Bishops and representatives were present.Many ILEP pastors attended, including Pastora Irene Ponce(left), Pastora Adita Torres(middle), and myself.
























There was a wonderful spirit at the service whose focus was world peace. Among other welcomed guests was Helena Manrique, the new Peruvian Representative for Canadian Lutheran World Relief's new office in Lima.






In addition to Mother's Day celebrations, guests for the LWF Regional Meeting, an informal gathering for missionaries, plans coming together for future visits to congregations in Huacho and Cusco, the month was complete with a week of driving lessons (learned how to drive standard in Lima!!). On the second attempt, I passed my written regulatory exam. Next, I need to pass the practical driving exam, which I will take later this month after some minor surgery and recovery.

I feel inspired by how the Holy Spirit has been working in and through various plans and events to come together in the way they have. As well, it is marvelous to see how the Holy Spirit is at work guiding adn leading ILEP in the midst of its challenges and changes. Clearly the Holy Spirit has been at work in all of us and in all of these things...

Thanks be to God for the wisdom to see, the grace to live, and the inspiration to follow through on our calling to serve with the gifts received from the Holy Spirit!!

With the peace, joy, and love of the Lord,
Pastora Fran.

Something not seen before

Dearest family, friends, and supporters,

My warmest greetings and peace in this joyful Easter season!!

I was astonished a few days ago while opening the curtains in my bedroom, to view flowers that seemed to spontaneously grow overnight. The flowers were red, large, familiar and were growing on one of the tallest plants in my landlady's garden, one floor below mine. Until that day, the plant looked like many other tall and flowerless plants that are typical here. Although I've never been a huge admirer of this plant, a pointsettea, these stand at least twenty feet tall and are a surprising sight...how can one not be amazed at that? To see a plant one has seen for many a Christmas in many a church look this way is nothing short of amazing!





Every day seems to present such a surprising and/or amazing picture. Whether it's the view from my bedroom window or out of the taxi or bus driving around the city, every day seems to be a new adventure, one in which I see something not seen before.



This is our Easter experience, too, as we see something not seen before:

*the ways in which God, through Christ Jesus, continues to resurrect our broken, greedy, corrupted world;

*the ways that God, through Christ, continues to resurrect and transform our communities, our relationships, our church;

*and the ways in which God, through Christ, continues to resurrect our weary, overwhelmed and troubled hearts!




We see something not seen before and indeed, this is the experience in our ministry here as well.


In our work with ILEP, teaching of the small women's choir continues and is in its last month now, we hear something not heard before: the sounds of voices poco a poco (slowly) being transformed. It is an honour to be a witness to the increased self-esteem as voices are raised with greater confidence!







Some choir members from Belen, the congregation in Breña, as we work on voice production and how to read musical notes.









The size of the women's choir varies from 3-8, depending on work and family commitments.










We witness something not seen before as the children at San Juan begin to learn to play the guitar.








Some of the children are pictured here with friend, Fidel, who comes every second week to teach guitar.












We witness something not seen before as the congregation of San Juan Camino de Esperanza prepares for construction of their church building, after years of growing and experiencing what it means to be a church focused on its people not its building. Now is the time, though, to increase the worship space and make a permanent home. Here, the council members are looking over the architect and engineer drawings...












And so it is an honour to be here on behalf of the ELCIC, to bear witness to and to share with you those which are "something not seen before" things. There are the impacts great and small of teaching and learning in a mutual way new musical notation and new ways of singing. There is the mutual interchange of culture and faith, as ILEP receives, once again, a Canadian Lutheran pastoral presence. And also, there is the transformation we experience in the liberating Gospel of Christ, which calls us to love one another with the love Christ has for us. This requires something not seen before! What an awesome and incredible calling this is as we continue to build up the body of Christ in our partnerships and relationships!


With blessing, peace, and joy!

Pastora Fran.