up to date

The last post ended with us arriving in Ilo.

Since arriving in Ilo I have been living with the Murphy family who have very kindly let me stay with them. Its been great to get to know them and share their home. In between trying to settle in and do things like trying to open bank accounts (unsuccessfully until we finish our immigration procedures apparently) Dave has been explaining to me the workings of the 'Mision Rescate' team and the responsibilities I'll have once he goes home on deputation.

Last week I was out of action for about three days with a tummy bug, I'm not sure if its something I got since I arrived, or something I brought with me. In the end thats just another part of settling in to a new culture.

This week Trevor, the Roycrofts and I went to Arequipa for three days. This was to move some of the Roycrofts belongings and to sort our accomodations for language study. We are supposed to all start in March, and it looks as though I'll be living with the McKelvie family from Mountpottinger Baptist who serve with SIM in Arequipa. It will be a good chance to catch up and it makes going to Arequipa a little less daunting. I'm only going for one month but I reckon it will be hard work but very profitable. I'll keep you posted on this.
We also were able to get a lot of other things sorted while in Arequipa which made the trip even more worthwhile. I also managed to find a hat that actually fits properly and will keep my head from looking like a tomato with a beard!

On Saturday I'm going to go to Ite to stay and help at the youth camp that starts then. I have been given the responsibility of being the camp first aider/nurse. I'm looking forward to the camp. Some prayer points include:

• That there are no major injuries or illnesses.
• That a good number of young people turn up.
• That it would be enjoyable, but more importantly, a spiritually enriching experience for the campers.
• For all the leaders, speakers and helpers as they interact with the young people.

With the camp in view I plan to spend today and some of tomorrow purchasing items for the camp both personal and for the first aid box, which is proving a little harder than expected. For example I can't find just plain non-elasticated bandages.

I value your prayers immensely. Please keep praying both for the specific items I share but also the more general everpresent issues that are simply part of missionary life in this country for example safety walking around town and safety in travels. This was highlighted yesterday on our return from Arequipa. On the bends going up and down mountains, which anyone who has been to Peru will be familiar with, the recklessness of other drivers were at times astounding.

I better go now, but I'll write again when I get the chance and let you know how the camp went.

Thanks and God Bless.

Alistair

getting caught up

I'm continuing trying to get caught up with what all has happened.

I departed from Dublin airport on the 11th. It was a tearful farewell to parents and granny, made perhaps worse by the fact I was travelling alone. Thankfully I had the assurance that God was with me and knew exactly the emotions I was experiencing. The flights both the Madrid and then on to Lima were uneventful.

I arrived at 7:45am on the 12th. I was met in the airport by Trevor Morrow who took me to the flat we were to stay in. The Roycrofts arrived later that day. Over the next two days we initiated our visits to various offices and warehouses to try and get paperwork sorted. This even included a dental inspection at Interpol.

We were also able to meet up with Tom and Isobel Fleming as they travelled home. As many know, Tom is seriously ill. While they spent 7 hours or so in Lima airport awaiting their international flight we were able to spend some time with them. I am amazed at how God showed himself sovereign at this time. The fact that our stint in Lima coincided with their emergency, unpredicted, trip home was no coincidence! In fact we happened to be across the road from the airport in the frieght warehouses trying to get the Roycrofts belongings released.

My abiding memory however, of these days was the care and support given by Trevor. Leaving home and all that in involved is difficult, yet the little things Trevor did, like having a phone card available so I could phone my parents as soon as I arrived, were very meaningful and much appreciated. Thoughtfulness like this can only come from someone who has been through the same experience you're going through.

I also valued the journal given to me by the Young Adults group. It included seven days of daily readings based of Clive Johnston sermons. I finished the last entry this morning. The journal also included some phone numbers which was helpful as I had forgotten to bring anyones phone number. They're all on my mobile which I didn't bring. I was touched by the thoughtfulness shown in the comments in the journal. I am very thankful to all who took time to write.

The upshot of the Lima paperwork extravegaza is that we will need to return to Lima in February for upto 5 days. This is to complete the paperwork already initiated.

We flew down to Tacna and then travelled to Ilo on Friday. We are now in the process of settling in and unpacking. I will bring you up to date with this in my next post.

Thankyou and God Bless,
Alistair

Sooo much

Hi, sorry it's been soo long since I last wrote and soo much has happened since. I don't think I could relate all that has happened in one post so I'll do several posts over the next few days and catch up that way.

Since I last wrote I ended up having to go to London to sort out Visas for the Roycrofts and myself. We all flew over together and then I stayed overnight to collect them. It was a bit tedious but finally we succeeded. There followed a few intense days of packing, shopping and tidying my room. I also had to make numerous phone calls to cancel car insurance etc.

On Sunday the 11th I had a farewell service in my Church. It was excellent. I was soo encouraged by how many people made the effort to attend. People were so encouraging in what they said and the interest they showed.

Crucially the service closed with an act of commisioning which is entirely biblical. However, having experienced it, it has truely given me a renewed sense of purpose as I embark on this period of service in Peru. I am a strong believer in symbolic rituals like Communion and Baptism and the how they symbolically convey the spiritual truths. Commissioning is not on the same level as those (some may argue otherwise) but it has really impacted upon me. The thing is that I know that my Church is supporting me as I come to Peru. I need no convincing of that. Yet some how when the elders laid their hands on me it conveyed to me, and I believe to some in attendance who commented on it afterwards, the reality of what was happening. It has given me a confidence and reassurance that I'm not here just because I came, but rather because I was sent!

I was, as I mentioned above, very encouraged by the good attendance at my farewell. I have also been encouraged by the phone calls, e-mails, cards and messages I received from those not able to attend the farewell. Thankyou. It's so encouraging to know that such a large number of people will be upholding me in prayer while I'm here in Peru.

I will finish up for now and continue tomorrow as I endeavour to tell you about all that has happened this week.

God Bless,

Alistair