Christmas Greetings!!!!

Christmas Greetings to supporters, friends, and family!

The signs of Christmas are all around us! Even in South America, and even though it still seems out of place (for this Canadian Snowbird anyways!), the signs of Cristmas are here...the trees...the decorations...the lights...in the Scriptures each Sunday of Advent... in the parties and plans we are making to help us celebrate this sacred season...we can see that Christmas is almost upon us! 

These greetings are sent with my love and best wishes for a beautiful and memorable Christmas Season and a Happy New Year! As well, I bring greetings from ILEP, the Lutheran Church in Peru, and from the congregation of San Juan Camino de Esperanza!

It seems to be a season for preparation....

Here, Carmen and Haydee are preparing a simple lunch for the children at our Saturday School program.

The children are preparing gifts to give to their parents for Christmas..






The worship space has been prepared....

And we at San Juan Camino de Esperanza have been actively preparing with faithful and hopeful expectation in these days of Advent not only for the birth of the Christ-child this Christmas, but literally for us, it has been a time of great expectation as we have been preparing for the construction to begin on part of our new church!

We start to have a sense of the hopeful expectation of Mary and Joseph, of the apostles, and of generations of Christians with each step we take in the process to secure a building license. With each fee or tax that is paid, with each document that is ready, and with each step that is completed in this very long process, we are brought closer to that long-awaited time! We will soon begin to build and we will soon have a new structure in which to worship and teach the children of our community! As you can imagine, we are getting very excited!! These are signs and preparations of a different sort, but are filled with much  joy and hopeful expectation, too!

And as for me, in addition to teaching music with the children at Cristo Salvador, I have been focusing some effort on preparing, too: for Navidad/Christmas worship, for the Canadian visitors who will be here in January, making a calendar/rotation to involve two seminaries of the congregation, and developing a work plan for 2010 .

Whatever our preparing for Christmas, may God continue to guide, lead, support and uplift us by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be ready for the Christ-child who is to come!

With love, joy, and hopeful expectation this Christmas Season!
Pastora Fran.

A Question of Perspectives

Greetings to family, friends, supporters,

It is often a question of perspectives, isn't it?

For instance, what do we see as we look at picture such as this? We see the laundry hanging to dry, we might also notice the plants in the foreground, we might also see some other laundry a little further down the hill, and we might also see the myriad of homes built up on the side of the hill. But only a keen eye will see the stone stairs that line the steep incline up to this parishioners' home or the well caps, or the welcome mat. It's a question of perspective. Our perspective dictates that which we see, and that upon which we tend to focus our vision, our hearing, our smell, our thoughts, our attention and energies.

Is it not a question of perspective? The stone "stairs" are hardly persceptible, even in this photo, but they are there, I can assure you! The children and pets run up and down these stairs without a care or concern, but it is a very steep and dangerous incline. Up until a month ago, parishioners in this part of the barrio hauled their water up these rugged staircases on a daily basis. No one is entirely sure why, but the Municipality gave priority to those who live the highest and steepest distances from waterlines below (a most logical decision, of course), but to our persception at San Juan, it was an act of pure and surprising grace!

Near to the top of the hill, Ana Maria and I finally arrive to visit with parishioners, Sonia, Roberto and their children, Kevin and Robert, who sort of wove their way into, out of, and around our visit! The children's perspective is that their home, their lives, their stone staircase is normal, a part of their childhood. For those of us from other countries, with our own experiences, realities and backgrounds, this might not appear to be typical. My "normal" childhood, for instance, inlcuded having a swingset in the grassy backyard.
What is normal for one is different for another: it is all a question of perspective!

And I rejoice for the questioning of my perspectives!!

November has flown by, it seems, filled with various activities in addition to those of changing perspectives!

I was  happy to welcome visitors from Thunder Bay, Raija and Vappu. Pictured here is Vappu Kormano,

from Hilldale Lutheran. They stopped over for a short time in the wee hours of the night

and were gone again after perhaps 2-3 hours of sleep. But because of a brief stop-over,a shower and a place to callhome in the middle of travels to Argentina, they left refreshed. Sure was nice to see some friendly faces from my home-town and my parents' congregation!

November was my second month teaching music at Cristo Salvador, located in San Juan de Miraflores (one of the districts of Lima). I have been teaching keyboard, singing, guitar and zampoña for about 12 children and youth each week. With December coming quickly to an end, so will my time at Cristo Salvador, two more weeks left!

Learning the fingering...

In keeping with the tradition of other Canadian Lutheran Missionaries in Peru (all women, by the way!), I am accompanying the group "Sara's Circle, or Circulo de Sara. Located in Marquez, one of the districts in Lima, Sara's Circle a group of  women who work with Alpaca wool, along with synthetic fibers,

to make all kind of sweaters, bags, even stoles!

These are some of the bags that they are currently working on to prepare for sale...hopefully in Canada!

And this is one of their vest and some stoles in the background.

Send me a quick email or comment if any of their items look like something you'd like to have...their work is

beautiful and their labours provide a living for the women of the group! Little by little, we hope to grow their small business and increase awareness of the work they do...in doing so, perspectives and

possiblities grow and change, too!!!

And so, throughout our life's journey, our perspectives continue to change and adapt. And thanks be to God that our lives are not stagnant, that our viewpoints and assumptions can be challenged and questioned in order for us to grow!! It is not always an easy process, there are growing pains, but this is God's work within us and within our communities of faith! Through the Word of God, in the waters of our baptism and in the Eucharist that we share, we are reminded that God is at work with us in Jesus Christ to bring about justice, peace, reconciliation....what wondrous love is this, indeed!


As we celebrate this season of Advent at San Juan Camino de Esperanza, we think on those visitors from Canada and the USA who were with us in the previous year and we extend our warmest greetings and hugs to all of you!!! May all of your Christmas celebrations serve as a reminder that the baby in the manger changes everything, including our perspective!!

O God of all that is, that was, and that is to come, guide us in this season of waiting and preparation. Help us, at San Juan, as we wait to break ground on Phase I of our construction, and be with all who wait: expectant mothers, those who will be reunited with loved ones for the Christmas season, those who await news of a loved one's recovery from illness...those who wait for a loved one to pass. Confirm our faith in You, O God, that in all of our waiting, expecting, and changing perspectives we may know that it is Your hand that is guiding us and your love for us, made perfect in Jesus Christ our Lord, which sustains us. Amen.

With blessings and peace in this season of Advent and throughout the Christmas Season!

Pastora Fran

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!!