Paul and his friends wrote letters together.

Also, an update from the “pen” of my son, Osman

 

It’s been 15 days since Dad and I arrived in Huanta. As we drove into the little valley I was surprised by how much it had grown and how many 5 story homes there were being built in place of the usual 2 story homes. There were also 6 TV stations and many radio stations. It is no longer the little sleepy town with one stop light but now there are at least seven stop lights. I guess the saying about never “going home twice” is true.

 

As I walked and talked to some old friends I have learned the building boom has come about through the influx of the unashamed money laundering of the cocaine trafficking through our little valley. With the all the money being spent on local infrastructure there has been a lot of  “illegal immigration” of sorts where day laborers from Venezuela and of other parts of Peru have been land grabbing with shanty towns going up on unused government land.

It’s been rewarding to take part in the distribution of the donated new tennis shoes, clothing and helping to serve over 70 children these last two weeks. It was great fun seeing Dad at the head of the table with 12 little kids accompanying him. The first day I would attempt to get a smile from the kids by smiling as warmly as possible but most could not even manage to meet my eyes. The more time I spent distributing gifts to the children and serving them their drinks they slowly started to feel at ease and would return and even initiate their own playful smiles. This reminded me about the importance of building a relationship and how it takes effort and transparency.

Today I had the opportunity to witness an interview that my Dad had with the local radio and TV.  As he was asked questions about what a great local personality he was and how he had reached the upper echelons of influential relationships in institutions, organizations and governments, my Dad kept going back to one simple truth. That truth being the person of Jesus Christ and how since the age of 25 Jesus has been the one constant influence which has guided him through his whole adult life. No matter the questions he was asked the constant was the message of the gospel and the need for a personal living relationship with Jesus. Dad was asked questions about the local society, government and the church. No matter the topic he continued to highlight the importance of a personal relationship with Christ and the need to follow His example to bring about change in government, society and family by working on personal intimate relationships like Jesus did with the twelve disciples, the three closest and the beloved disciple.  Only with Christ can there be lasting change.

 

God can only be known by knowing Jesus intimately. When we know Jesus intimately then we will be useful in bringing others to Him and like John we must decrease so Jesus might increase so others in turn might also have an intimate relationship with Him.

Osman Gutierrez.