The McEuen Family

Cross Cultural Witnesses to Peru Jirn San Jos 230, Urb San Carlos Huancayo, Per opencircleperu@gmail.com http://opencircleperu.weebly.com March 2012 May the grace and peace of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ be yours as we prepare our hearts and minds during this season of Lent. This past month has been very busy for us. For one week, we hosted a mission team from McDonough UMC and Stark UMC (Georgia). They were a fabulous team coming with the attitude of learners that they could more fully understand where God is already at work here. The mornings were dedicated to understanding the culture of the Mantaro Valley and the city of Huancayo. We walked through the old market, to the modern mall and to the artisans market near the main square in front of the cathedral. Later, we visited the park of Huancan identity and then the site where the original Adam and Eve of the Huancan culture emerged from a spring. Between these events we were treated to a special presentation by a group of young men and women (ages 15-21 or so) who danced a traditional huaylarsh (a dance that originated in this region hundreds of years ago). The week ended with a traditional Peruvian meal cooked in the ground (Pachamanca) and a workshop on carving the traditional gourds. These experiences helped the team to more fully understand the worldview of the people who live here. Among other things, they observed the transition being made from the ancient traditions to the modern world and the search for identity that comes with that change. There is a struggle, someone said, between holding on to the old while reaching for the new. I bet its hard to know who they really are right now... That wasnt all the team did, though. In the afternoons, we worked with a t team of Peruvian men and women to present an International Bible School and Cultural Exchange at the local Methodist church. Around 80 children attended the afternoon sessions, with more than half of them from outside of the church family. Many strong relationships were built between the cultures and plans are already being talked about for future interactions between them. A week with a team is exhausting work, but very much worth

Page 2 it. Team members represented three generations (from age 12 through nearly 70) with many different gifts and graces. We were all blessed by the experience. In addition to the team, we began working once again with the local church, sharing messages on Sunday mornings, assisting and teaching Sunday School classes, and helping to cast a vision for the future. Ash has started teaching Christian Education at the local Methodist School for the students in the seventh and eighth grades (about 140 students in all). In addition to the teaching schedule, he also has responsibilities for morning devotions with students and chapel services. His focus this year will be teaching the students how to study the Bible for themselves using Inductive Bible Study. Ash has also been asked to perform a wedding for a young couple. Right now he is in the process of premarital counseling and discovering the cultural nuances of a Peruvian church wedding (this marriage will unite a man and woman from an evangelical tradition and a catholic tradition which adds even more cultural nuances). The wedding is scheduled for March 10. Audra continues as director of the library Leer es Crecer. The director of our second library (Lucho) is doing the groundwork for an agreement with the library and the city to enable us to work on literacy issues and activities cooperatively. Three of our library assistance and have moved to Lima to continue their education. Currently, Techi (pronounced TAY chee) is serving as our librarian and we will add a teacher to our staff to help develop programs. Finally, we had the chance to share with a local Christian family as they opened a new preschool in a developing area of the city. They are strong in their faith, and their vision is to use it as a beacon of hope and a light for Christ in the community. Please be in prayer for Mara Isabel and Samuel as they begin this new journey of faith in ministry to the community. It has been quite a month, and we are tired, but blessed. We love you and are praying for you. Thank you for all you do for the Kingdom of God! Your brothers and sisters in Christ,

Ash, Audra, Kia, Ayli, Todd and Soraya