Vilcashuamán

Our visit to Vilcashuamán these past few days has been quite an experience... and challenging. We were called into the town early because one of the summer mission students serving here (Gerica Maclin)was sick and the local doctors believed she had the swine flu. We had a 5-hour ride over gravel roads from Ayacucho city to Vilcashuaman on an overcrowded minibus. The views were fantastic, but did not top the ride from Alis to Huancayo a few days ago, in my opinion. We arrived in town just before noon on Sunday to find all three summer missionaries quarantined in the medical center on the edge of town! All three were sitting out in the sunshine bored to death when we arrived (and all three were feeling fine by the way). Mark and Miriam were allowed to leave for short periods of time, but Gerica was not allowed to leave at all. Everybody in Peru is really paranoid about the swine flu. Of course, no one on the team had it and everyone was feeling fine (they just had colds and food sickness), but being gringos did not help their case with the locals.

The "officials" at the medical center here were waiting for test results to return from Lima before Gerica could be released. In the meanwhile, rumors were being spread about the "sick gringos", which meant we all received a cool reception and a lot of stares from many. However, there were many friendly faces and welcoming greetings as well. On our second day here, the staff at the med center decided to announce to the entire town over loudspeakers that three of the gringos were sick and quarantined. Not only was this not true, but it did not help our witness at all. I am afraid there has been some damage done to the work here in the short term, but luckily it is nothing that the mission team can´t recover from. As of this morning (Wednesday) Gerica has been "set free", but no test results yet. It´s hard to figure out the logic of this, but the incubation period for the flu is apparently over for her to spread it to others, if she had it at all.

Now is a good time to reintroduce the team here in Vilcashuamán:


Miriam Horna Gomez, Mark Brown, Gerica Maclin

What a great group of kids! They are all well now, but they have all been through a lot this past week. This team really needs your prayers as they try to get back on track with their ministries and meetings here. We expect another loudspeaker announcement tomorrow morning with the test results (negative of course) to assure all that the gringos are not infected!

Tonight we were able to attend house church with a couple of the very few belivers we know about in this town. The meeting went well and everyone was renewed. I think the team will have little trouble getting back on track.

Vilcashuamán is up in the Andes mountains (about 11,500 feet) where the setting is just beautiful. At night, the stars are so numerous and bright and the Milky Way is incredible to behold from up here. It is a location rich with Incan history, including pagan worship - it was a religious center for the Incans. There are ruins all around the town square and surrounding mountainsides. Unfortunately the beauty of this town and the setting has been tainted for us by a bit of spiritual warefare. In addition to the summer mission team being quarantined because of the swine flu scare (effectively stopping their work), we have experienced tangible forces at work against us here. We have been praying through it all and I must say that I have been personally and spiritually strengthened by the experience. I am clinging to Ephesians 6:10-13 and putting on His armor!

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Our next stop is Cabana, in Lucanas. We´ll be traveling back to Ayacucho, then to Pucio, then to Cabana. Please pray for the team in Cabana in preparation for our visit. Also pray for our safe trip (and soft seats.. it´ll be a bumpy ride!).

Here are a couple of pics from Vilcashuamán:

In Christ-
Greg