Prayer Letter - Milton Cordova La Torre (June 2001)

Milton is dead and I refuse to mourn for him, the city of Huanta weeps for Milton its beloved mayor, but I weep for Huanta

A still, green leaf has fallen softly to the ground; a small, bright cloud has disappeared in the vast blue sky right before my eyes; a sun just nearing noon-time has lost its life in its universe. As gently as a page is turned to the next, so has passed away one of God's beautiful thoughts on this earth.

His name is Milton Cordova La Torre (39), mayor of Huanta, adopted son of God, a recent follower of Jesus, a lover of God and a lover of man Šmy friend. Milton is dead, but I will not mourn for him. Huanta weeps for Milton, and I weep for Huanta.

On the one hand I wish to mourn with those in the streets of my hometown. On the other hand, my heart longs to join God himself in the joy of "How precious is to Him the death of His saint." (Ps.116:15) I cannot and will not mourn for Milton; for to him death was not a policeman dragging him to the court of a merciless Judge. No, to Milton, death was a friend who ushered him into the presence of a waiting Father. As never before, Milton is better and best forever.

Today the joy of the Lord is my strength. His happiness is my joy. I accept the will of God, and it is well with my soul. Mourning would be a contradiction of all that I believe in and the living hope that is Jesus. Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus - not for him, but for those weeping for him - and for those still under the death sentence, I will weep for Huanta.

I remember Milton available, teachable, with a heart for God. I remember Milton as a good son, a good father and husband, as few are. I remember Milton as the friend of the poor and lowly. I remember Milton up above the timberline, where the clouds come down to touch the high mountains - swinging in the mistiness with small children on a playground built just for them by Milton himself. I remember Milton as a friend of little children, who felt free to address him by his first name. It was then and there that I saw in Milton a Christ likeness. "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for of such is the Kingdom of God."

Milton was never one who took himself too seriously. He was a true servant leader. Milton built over 200 projects, but the ones of which he was most proud was the building of chapels and churches. He practiced freedom of religion and treated simple Pentecostal brothers with the same dignity he showed to the Archbishop.

During the past 6 years, Milton facilitated and encouraged my work for the Lord by coming alongside of me. He was a member of the board of directors of our soccer teams. He was on the board of advisors of our Project Nehemiah Orphanage and Mentoring Program. He was in charge of our Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in Huanta and represented us in the Lima National Prayer Breakfast and even in the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. It was in Washington that Milton understood that authority is established by God. The words of President Bush and a visit to Senator Pete Dominichi, brought deep conviction to his heart to serve the Lord as a politician.

Gerry, Milton and Doug making plans for the future at the Cedars

Every report from Peru was full of praises for Milton and the work of the Lord in and through him. Some of the Washington friends went to visit Milton. Upon their return they could not say enough good of him. Milton recruited a fellow mayor from the town of Luricocha as well as the Commander in Chief of the Police forces and others for the Saturday Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, and now I could begin to dream of working myself out of the job, with confidence in his leadership for the group.

With Doug Coe's counsel, we moved to spearhead the formation of a foundation to facilitate the Youth Corp mobilization on the basis of the Mentoring Program. Though it is expensive to do so, he would call me from Peru with reports of progress on the work and the groups and just to touch base and make me feel needed. He said jokingly, "I am working on a subpoena to get you back here and to charge you for over-extending you leave of absence."

Our last conversation a week ago consisted in his enthusiastic endorsement of buying a property for a boys' home for the Mentoring Program, a choice piece of land - at a bargain. He also urged me to return soon to inaugurate the new slaughterhouse for Huanta that was my pet project; because the old one used to dump the filthy residue into a stream of drinking water in the valley below. He announced that he was going to the capital city of Lima to take care of his sick mother - that she was now his top priority.

As Milton was returning from Lima yesterday, at 4:30 a.m. (just 20 miles before Ayacucho), the bus went off the road killing 4 and wounding another 16 passengers. Would you please praise the Lord for Milton, and pray for his wife and 5-yr.-old son and for his mother and many brothers - as well as for the grieving city of Huanta. Pray that this opportunity may not be wasted to come to grips with Jesus, the resurrection and the life. Pray that the Lord will rise up another man like Milton. Pray that I may keep my eyes on Jesus and Him alone.

With Senator Mack (FL)	With Keila at the Cedars
Milton feeding the geese

Pray for the Saturday Mayor's Prayer Breakfast leaders: German, Hugo, Senen, Hector, Ernesto, Carlos, Barboza, Abraham, Vega, Augusto, Hilderbrando, Yaranga and Omar.

Representing you in Andes Mountains of Peru.

Gerry Gutierrez and family.

- Wednesday, August 8, 2001