A Trip to The Andes and Other News

Teaching Trip to Ayacucho

On Wednesday, May 23rd, I (Michele) said goodbye to the kids as they headed off to school with Dave, then finished my final preparations for the journey. Soon after, I boarded flights to Lima and then on to Ayacucho.

While waiting for my second flight, I was delighted to bump into two other members of the team, Lorena and Eddie - a Peruvian missionary couple working among the Asheninka community. They support their ministry through a small beekeeping business and asked for prayer as they hope to start a family. Please lift them up - pray that they would be fruitful in family life, ministry, and business.

Upon arriving in Ayacucho - nestled in the Andes mountains - we were warmly welcomed by Pastor Walter Quispe. Once an army officer, he now pastors La Hermosa (The Beautiful) Baptist Church in Huamanga. He lives on the church compound, as many Peruvian pastors do, and treated us to a delicious lunch of fried fish with rice.

After the rest of the teaching team arrived, we enjoyed a light supper and were taken to our accommodation, generously offered to us free of charge by church members Jonel and Gremi, a lovely couple who manage several Airbnb's in the city. Their kindness blessed us deeply.

Exploring Ayacucho

Later that evening, we had the chance to explore the Plaza de Armas, the city's main square. Surrounded by colonial architecture and a beautiful cathedral, it was a picturesque and inspiring place to walk and reflect.

Ayacucho is known for its 33 Catholic churches - one for each year of Jesus' earthly life. The region has a rich history, from the ancient Wari civilization to the Incas, followed by Spanish colonization. It's also remembered for the Battle of Ayacucho in 1824, which played a key role in Peru's independence. Sadly, it was also the epicentre of the Shining Path conflict in the 1980s and early '90s. These layers of history were sobering but also reminded us of the light the gospel brings.

We enjoyed some locally made ice cream and a unique coffee-and-cereal drink before getting a good night's rest ahead of the conference.

The Missions Conference

The following morning, we shared breakfast - avocado sandwiches and coffee with some of the conference delegates, who were pastors and elders from farming communities. Around 30 people attended.

After prayer and worship, we introduced the Peruvian Baptist Convention's missions' team. My part was to lead a Bible study on God's missionary heart, from Genesis to Revelation. It included group discussions, a quiz, a dramatization of Zacchaeus, and a song - we had lots of fun together!

Others on the team spoke about the gap-year programme for young adults called Radical, upcoming mission events, and a new training initiative for those called to serve both locally and internationally. We closed the day with a Q&A session and prayed together to see more churches planted in the region.

Please join us in praying for:

• Continued growth in mission awareness among Peruvian churches

• Fruit from this time of teaching and fellowship

• Future teaching visits and teams to be raised up and sent out

After the conference, we shared a meal of fried rice and lemongrass tea before heading back to our accommodation. That evening, we met to plan a two-year virtual missionary training programme, launching this September. I've been invited to teach a module on cross-cultural ministry. Please pray for this new venture to launch smoothly and gain strong support from churches in Peru and beyond.

The Days Following

The next day, most of the team headed to Montaro to hold a second conference. However, I stayed behind, as that area has security concerns and restrictions for foreigners. Instead, I enjoyed a traditional breakfast called Pucca Picante - a spicy beetroot, potato, and pork dish - and did some souvenir shopping with Magda and Mariella, who also had to return home.

We rejoiced in all that God had done and later heard that the team in Montaro had also been warmly received. The conference there was adapted due to language barriers, as many attendees had limited Spanish, but the message still resonated deeply.

Dave's Trip to Chiclayo

On May 30th, Dave joined another team from the Department of Theological Education on a trip to Chiclayo, four hours north of Trujillo. The city has now become an international icon. Last month, the Cathedral of Santa Maria was the place of great celebration for many Catholics, following the installation of the Pope Leo XIV who served as their Archbishop before moving to Rome in 2023.

Dave taught a lecture entitled,'The existence of God', and the following day he preached across the region at several churches in the morning, afternoon and evening, before returning to Trujillo by bus that same Sunday night. The local congregations were greatly encouraged. The team also spent much time listening and advising pastors in the Lambayeque region.

Please pray for:

• Greater unity and collaboration among the Association churches and pastors in that area

• Encouragement and refreshment for those serving in isolated or challenging contexts

Family News

On a personal note, we've recently moved house and are now living closer to the children's school - a great blessing for our daily routines!

Our new address is:

Calle Minchanzaman 620, Urbanización Santa María, Trujillo, Peru

We would appreciate your prayers as we get used to our new neighbourhood. Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you!

Thank you again for all your love, prayers, and support. We are truly grateful for your partnership in the gospel. May the Lord bless you richly as you continue to serve Him wherever you are.

With love and appreciation,

The Mahons