A letter from Jacob Goad in Peru
February 19, 2008
Dear Friends,
Joining Hands Peru recently celebrated a year of hard work of accompanying underserved populations of Peru in their annual gathering. Joining Hands Peru is an ecumenical network of 14 institutions and churches that work together to advocate for the environment, human rights, and community development.
The General Assembly began with a reflection by the Reverend Rodrigo Maslucán, the president of the Evangelical Peruvian Presbyterian Church, the primary church that I accompany in Peru. As a leader of the human rights commission of Joining Hands, Rev. Maslucán reminded us that we should seek justice for those in greatest need and that we should follow the lead of Jesus in our daily lives so that we can best accompany the poor.
His reflection was particularly relevant, since I had just returned from Huancavelica, the poorest state in Peru. I had been accompanying a delegation from the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery, a presbytery that helped to jump-start sales for Peru’s “Bridge of Hope,” a fair trade artisan program.
We went to visit the tiny town of Huayanay located on a remote hillside surrounded by steep, lush, green mountains, where llamas lazily graze.
When we made it to Huayanay, we were greeted by Godofredo, a young weaver, and then we met the master weaver, Don Alfredo, who helped design a large loom in the 1970s with the help of a Swiss entrepreneur.
Master weaver Don Alfredro (left) explains the different designs while Godofredo listens.
In Huayanay, the artisan group showed us blankets, shawls, and ruanas that they’d woven.
Bob Thornberry, a member of the board of directors at Partners for Just Trade (PJT), expressed keen interest in the Andean design patterns that were woven in the blankets. PJT is a non-profit organization that was created to market and sell fair trade products in the United States while promoting the values of fair trade.
When we had finished visiting with the group in Huayanay, they fed us breakfast of a delicious freshly caught trout and potatoes. The initial reaction of the group from Giddings Lovejoy was one of concern. They were worried that they would not be able to eat everything that they were given. With those trout eyes glaring at you, you've got to be bold.
Contrary to my predictions, every member ate every bite, and it was clear they’d enjoyed it.
The artisan group told us that because of their influence in their community the regional government had just installed Internet and a cell phone tower for them.
When I was asked to close the General Assembly with a devotional, I thought of Christ's choice to serve instead of be served. I wanted to do a reflection on an act of service that was not deserved; a text on simple service. Then it came to me. The artisans at Huayanay had reminded me of the simple breakfast that followed the miraculous catch: Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Peace,
Jacob
The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 275
