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A letter from Rusty Edmondson in the U.S., on Interpretation Assignment from Peru

October 2014 - Making a Difference

This fall Sara and I visited my brother and his family in northern New Mexico.  They live on a ranch about 40 miles from the nearest town.  It is a lifestyle that I remember well and occasionally long to return to, especially when I am trapped in Lima traffic during rush hour.

Rusty and Sarah

 

Children in Huaycan

 

Roofing a house in Huaycan

One day as my brother and I drove around an area of the ranch to work on some maintenance projects, he asked me, “How long have you been down there (in Peru)?  “Six years,” I replied. “Wow, has it really been that long?” he asked.  “Si, time travels quickly when you are having fun,” I said.  We spotted several elk grazing in a field near an aspen grove. He stopped the truck, and we quietly walked to a nearby pine tree with our binoculars to get a better view. While we were looking at those majestic animals he asked me another question. "Hosting all those mission folks, are they…are you making a difference?  How are lives being changed?”  I continued to look at the elk through my binoculars, but in my mind what I was seeing were the many Peruvian friends who have made such a huge impact on Sara’s life and mine. 

Then he asked me to tell him about some of these past years' experiences.

As I lowered my binoculars I thought to myself, “Wow, where to start? Which story should I tell him?”  The quiet stillness of these mountains was broken by the sound of a distant stream. Water, tell him about the lack of fresh drinking water.  “We’ve been working with groups from Westminster Church, Nashville; Clear Lake, Houston; and San Fernando Presbytery and San Gabriel Presbytery installing water purification systems.  These systems are being installed in remote Amazon jungle and high Andean communities.  They are providing pure drinking water to communities that before only had polluted water to drink. These teams are trained by a fantastic ministry of the Synod of Living Waters called Living Waters for the World. It’s a great ministry that local pastors support because of the evangelism opportunities. Community leaders, clinic personnel and school administrators like it because the children won’t suffer any more from stomach problems caused by bad water. I visited with a young woman who could not remember ever drinking fresh, clean water in her home. Her family always boiled the water and added tea to cover the bad taste. She is 19 years old."  My brother looked puzzled, and then asked, “Why don’t they fix the source of pollution?”  I replied, “It’s a huge and complex problem that’s been going on for a long time. To the Peruvians' credit, they are working on it, but for now they need clean drinking water.”

I continued: “A Presbyterian church from New York City has been working in Huaycan, a city near Lima that serves as an entry point for internal migration into Lima. They are working through the NGO AGAPE and with Pastor Adrian Fernandez’ Presbyterian church. Their focus is on impoverished single women with children.  The two-year program focuses on education and skills needed for employment.  They are working tirelessly with the youth to guide them away from 54 city gangs and lives of violence. They are making a positive difference.

“A group of young women from Bryan and Albion Presbyterian churches in upstate New York spent a week serving with a Peruvian partner church located in another very poor community built on sand dunes north of Lima. It was an eye-opening cultural experience for this group of young folks while they daily accompanied impoverished women and their children who live in such dire circumstances.  

Celebrating LWW clean water in Yamana

 

Elk bugling in northern New Mexico.

“Presbyterian churches from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Port Orange, Florida, joyfully serve alongside their dear friends in Huanta and Ayacucho Presbyteries in numerous community and evangelism outreach projects.   These folks count the days until they see each other again.  

“In May of 2013 we hosted 17 representatives from New Covenant Presbytery, introducing them to new projects and partnership opportunities in three synods around the Cuzco area.  The result of that tour was hosting six new teams from this Texas presbytery this past summer.  So we have new teams, working new projects, with new partners.  This is along with all the other mission groups that visit Peru each year.  Sara and I travel much of Peru visiting with the pastors and leaders of our two Peruvian partner denominations and attending both denominations' General Assemblies.

“Because a few people are willing to step out of their comfort zones, many women and children who live in hopeless circumstances have hope. Community leaders are reconciling and working toward the community’s economic future. Pastors are being encouraged while boldly sharing the gospel and really changing lives."

I looked at my brother and said, “I feel we all are making a difference, but only time will tell. What I do know is…it’s never dull!”

My brother was nodding his head and smiling. Then he said quietly, “I think you and Sarita are gonna’ be down there a bit longer.”  We both picked up our binoculars, looking for the elk that by now had moved off into the aspen.  “Yep, God willing, we’re planning on it,” I whispered.  

“Hey, how’s the fishing in the upper lake?”  

In 2015 we will begin our seventh year of service alongside our Peruvian brothers and sisters in Christ.  We thank you for your faithful support both financially and with your prayers. Your continuing support of PC(USA) global missions is making a wonderful Christ-centered difference, globally and “aquí en el Peru.” 

Rusty

The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 57
Read more about Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson's ministry

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Individuals: Give online to MI910073for Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson's sending and support
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