Heading
Another early start! I think we've been up between 5:00 and 5:30 every morning since arriving in Peru. We packed up the suitcases of 60 hygiene kits—containing a face cloth, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, comb, and other essentials—and headed out to a church in Palccoyo. ATEK had supported this congregation for five years, and they have now graduated to "alumni" status, faithfully continuing the work on their own.
Since we were so close to the famous Palccoyo Rainbow Mountains and the skies were completely cloudless, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to take the time to hike to nearly 16,000 feet and see what all the fuss was about.
Well... we figured it out. I was absolutely gobsmacked.
I genuinely think Peru has now taken first place as the most beautiful country we've ever visited. The valleys, the deep crevices, the alpacas everywhere, and the terraced mountainsides were breathtaking long before we even reached the parking lot. But the colourful mountains themselves were unlike anything we've ever seen. Red = iron oxide (rust). Yellow = iron-rich minerals. Green = chlorite and copper-bearing minerals. White = quartz and limestone. Purple/brown = manganese and clays. High winds, rain, and retreating ice stripped away the soil and vegetation over thousands of years, exposing layers of mineral-rich rock that God painted in brilliant reds, yellows, greens, whites, and purples. Every colour is completely natural, formed as sediment was compressed, lifted during the creation of the Andes, and revealed through erosion.
God truly is the greatest Artist of all. If you love photography or painting, I'd put Peru at the very top of your travel list. In my humble opinion, no country gives you more beauty to admire, capture, or attempt to recreate.
But as magnificent as God's creation is, it still isn't the best part of His world. Once again, we had the privilege of gathering with His colourful people in His house on His day.
What a warm welcome we received! Every church here has a kitchen because a meal is prepared for everyone who attends. Some walk for hours just to gather with God's people. That is both deeply humbling and incredibly encouraging to witness.
Mila took time to explain that the hygiene kits we were gifting them represented something far greater than physical cleanliness. Just as we need to wash ourselves daily, we also need to come before God daily, confessing our sins, seeking His forgiveness, loving and forgiving one another, turning from sin, and pursuing the evidences of the new life we have because Christ has cleansed us.
Before we left, the believers asked us to send their greetings to our church family in Canada. They said with confidence that although we live half a world apart, they look forward to worshipping together with us one day in the life to come. What a wonderful reminder that the family of God stretches far beyond borders and languages.
One challenge these churches are now facing is the rapid growth of tourism. As people have discovered the income that visitors bring to the Rainbow Mountains, many families are moving away from agriculture. Some are even choosing work over worship as they sell souvenirs, charge access fees through their communities, or pose for photographs with their beautifully decorated alpacas. The additional income has genuinely improved many lives, but it also brings the temptation to live primarily for temporal gain rather than eternal treasure. Please pray for these churches as they seek to shepherd their people faithfully through these new challenges.
On our way back down the mountain, the altitude finally caught up with Brantley. The headache hit him hard, and the Advil didn't go down with water, food, or chewed. Thankfully, our wonderful driver Juan, along with the ever-caring Mila and Adelina, quickly came to the rescue with oxygen and plenty of TLC. Another first for him!
It was another unforgettable day filled with breathtaking scenery, warm fellowship, and reminders that the Creator who fashioned these incredible mountains is also building His church in every corner of the world. We are so thankful for the privilege of witnessing His work firsthand and for each of you whose prayers and generosity make these moments possible.
Soli Deo Gloria.
