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.
