Update from the Andes Mountains
for your Sunday prayers please.

 

‟Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the Kingdom of God.”
‟Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.”

Thanks to my friends the Mitchels from Florida, lifetime friends; I came to Peru with my son Osman to once again scout the land to see if like Joshua and Caleb we can still conquer the world from a remote town called Huanta up in the Andes Mountains.

What an honor it was mine to sit down with 24 little children wearing brand name American shoes generously provided by David and Anne Marrs.
None had socks but with some shirts from the gently worn closet of the First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga the children were happy.

According our passage in Luke 6:20,21 I had the privilege of sitting down with poor children to whom the Kingdom of God belongs. What a joy it was of mine to be surrounded by hungry children so happy to satisfy their hunger after loudly praying the Lord’s Prayer with me in front of many customers.

We even called the cook whose name is Agripina and gave her three “hip hip hoorays” and a long applause that made her cry with joy, because she has never been recognized like that before. We did the same with the owner of the restaurant, Mery, who assured us that there would not be terrorist attacks in her restaurant.

I sat between Franklin and Wilder and Joshua and Jose. Wilder kept asking repeatedly “Who is going to pay the bill?” “Who is going to pay?”
I told him not to worry and enjoy his food. He then said how can I eat soup with a fork? Ups, he had a point in that he got two forks. He sense that I loved him and asked me to give him another helping and to share my drink because he finished his so fast. I told him that mine does not have sugar. It’s ok and wanted it anyway he said. By then every body around me wanted my drink. They found it tasteless but were brave enough to drink it for my sake. By the time the main course came they only ate some. However, most of them wanted to take home their leftovers to their loved ones and a doggy bag was provided.

Some had the bright idea to ask permission to go to the bathroom. Every body wanted to find out what a bathroom looks like whether they needed it or not. They were happy but not loud.

 

While at our house for the shoes and the shirts I invented a little song that they gladly joined in with me. Katherin, who is a nurse, was in charge of organizing the little children and she did a terrific job. I have known Katherin since she was a little girl and she is a lover of Jesus.

Reverend German Santillana , Osman, and I are bleeding for different reasons. I did not notice that I had scratched my arm until others notice my bleeding. Osman almost broke his leg as he was trying to reach something. His foothold broke and now he has swollen legs. Reverend German has a nasal hemorrhage that refuses to stop.

As soon as we touched down in Ayacucho Airport the depressurization of the airplane hit me. I had to wait until everyone was out of the plane so I slowly deplaned fighting for balance. Apart from that the lack of Oxygen in the altitude does not allow me to sleep well.  I seem to be grasping for breath.

Today is lunch with another group from Quinrapa and tomorrow lunch is with another group.

Please pray for my health and energy and to be able to sleep.

Gerry Gutierrez

PS. Today I Finally I met all the children and delivered their shoes and clothing and had lunch with all seventy plus of them. I returned home to collapse for a nap of two hours.

The session of the church came to thank me about my role in their lives and asked me to preach as much as I can or want while I am here. I accepted with one condition and that is that each member introduces me to their “Peter, James and John.” We are all about core group.

Please pray for health and strength. My old teacher saw me and just wept and wept, the same happened with one of the elders of the church and some missionary kids. Please pray and ask the church that I might endure standing up during my sermon.