Here is a slideshow from my mission to Peru. Enjoy.

Be sure to click the images to read my personal notes and descriptions–I took the time to write explanations on most slides, which are my report about the trip.

>> CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW <<

Laurie and are are thankful to you for praying and sending me and that you are remembering the saints in Peru. Have a great holiday!

WHAT? TEACHING, LEADING WORSHIP, MINISTERING TO LEADERS

Laurie and the girls will spend time in Dallas while I fly to Lima, Peru for ten days of teaching, translating, leading worship, and being with our Peruvian brothers and sisters. We’ll meet up with Lee, a missionary who resides in Arequipa, Peru with his family. Here’s part of a note Lee sent me about what he’s expecting for our time:

“In Lima we will be ministering primarily to two brothers, both pastors, who are working out their callings in different ways. Lindorf is the older of the two, and though he has ministered within traditional Christian organizations for years, more recently the Lord has sent him into the local government where he serves as a, you might say, municipal pastor. Lindorf is an agent for the kingdom of God and instrument of justice; given to putting things right in his community by the grace and favor of the Lord. His younger brother, Yosvin, has discipled many young people and couples in living an integrated life under Jesus. He and his wife, Julie, regularly have people into their home for counseling, encouragement, and prayer.

“We are praying that during this time a sense of spiritual unity, recognition of Christ as Head, and an apostolic order would abound and become cemented in the hearts of these two men whom the Lord has called as gifts to His Church in Lima. Also, we will be spending a couple of days encouraging pastors in the town of Chincha Alta, about three hours south of Lima, where the earthquake hit just over two years ago.”

Some of you will remember that the song “Trouble Won’t Go” was written partially with the Peruvians in mind after the earthquake, and that our Spanish version of the song became quite an anthem for them. I can’t wait to visit them again.

WHY? I TOOK UP THE CASE OF THE STRANGER (Job 29:16)

Many of you know the journey I’ve been on to live out my calling to love the least of these and my special affinity for Latin Americans. In an effort to be brief though, I’ll post a separate writing here with some reflections on Job 29 and what helping the poor means to me, and how that’s changed in the past years. For now I’ll just say that I’ve come to believe that the best thing I can do is to help lay the foundation in them of God’s favor in Jesus so that they can break orphan and poverty mentalities and rise up to become agents that change their own world, like Lindorf.

With this important foundation, there are many simple things we can do to help our brothers and sisters in South America, and I know many of you have been asking the Father what your part in it is.

I’m celebrating that a high quality guitar was donated for the trip. I will use it to lead worship, and then I will leave it in the hands of a budding worship leader or songwriter. As a musician, I know what an incredible blessing and inspiration a quality instrument can be and what a distraction a poor one can be. I can’t wait to put it in the hands of someone who will wear it out for God’s glory.

HOW CAN YOU PARTNER? PRAYER AND FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP

If you’re interested in supporting through prayer, please be sure and sign up for our newsletter and other partners’ only priveledges. Details here.

Will you partner financially with us for this trip? Please keep in mind the specific financial need of $2000, of which $750 has already been donated. Thanks for praying and giving as you feel led.

As always, gifts are tax deductible. Use the button above or this link to visit our donation page, where you can process a donation by card or paypal. There is also information there on how to give by mailing a check. If you like, you may earmark your giving “Peru trip budget” by making a comment on your transaction or check.

The original post:

In nine days I’ll get on a plane that will take me from Dallas to Miami, then I’ll get on another plane that will take me to Lima, a city on the Pacific Coast of South America. We’ll probably fly over the Caribbean, getting glimpses of Cuba, then Panama, then over the Pacific Ocean, then Ecuador (where we’ll cross the equator) before we land in Peru where it’s currently summer.

I’ve been contemplating the miles. I get uncomfortable on a plane after about and hour and a half. I know, isn’t that a laughably short time for someone who loves to travel so much?!

So why fly so far? I’ve heard people say “isn’t there enough mission field here at home? So many lost people in our own neighborhood.”

In one conversation when we were anticipating a trip to Central America, a friend asked, “So…what are you gonna do? Play…uh…music for them?”

It wasn’t intended to diminish what we do; it was just an honest question about the value of what we bring and why we go.

I agree with what’s between the lines there. Do South Americans need a North American to come and play music for them? Don’t they have their own music? Don’t they have someone who can play just as well or better? Someone who can lead them in worship? Who knows how to build them a building? Who can educate and play with their kids? Who can speak scripture to them and pastor them? Who can pray for them to be healed? Who can inspire them onward in the way of Jesus, but with a better understanding of their culture and history in national identity?

Of course they do.

Then why don’t we just send those people a check and not tire ourselves out riding in an aircraft into another hemisphere and getting our stomachs all upset eating guinea pigs with them? (Yes, some Peruvians do eat guinea pigs. I haven’t decided whether to partake if offered. I mean, those are pets here)

Of course, I started this post in order to eventually to tell you my answers to this good question, but first, I was wondering what your answers are.

So, why go?

original comments:

Doug: Good Question, I have asked myself that more than once. Why me, why now, why there. One of the reasons, I want to see the country and enjoy the people and their customs. Another is to hang out with some great people. But the main reason that I go is because I hear the Spirit say go, and I don’t want to displease the Father.

Mike: That’s it, the only answer, “He said to go”. Sometimes you go and return and you still wonder what that was all about. Usually though you know, it’s obvious because God shows up. It’s His invitation to join Him because he takes delight in you doing so.

Tim: Thanks for your answers, Doug and Mike. Yes, the primary reason to go (or to stay, or to do anything else for that matter) has to be obedience to the Lord. When we hear his voice we don’t want to harden our hearts and end up missing out on participating with him in the work of redemption.

Here are some more reasons I go:

“But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:24

If I’m a part of one body with the believers in other places, I want to be concerned for them and be a help to them like I would a part of my own body. It’s not that there are a bunch of things the Peruvians need that only I can do for them. It’s that I am of one body with the Peruvians and they need me to be who only I can be for them. They need the specific grace that only my part of the body has. And I need to know the grace of Jesus that only their part of the body offers. And when the world sees that we love each other no matter how distant (geographically or otherwise) we may be, it wants a part in that love.

“Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within* you.” Luke 17:21 *or among.

Within or among. Or both. We find the kingdom within ourselves and among one another. So relating to one another in the ministry of reconciliation becomes paramount in seeking the kingdom. And I for one just can’t get excited about a kingdom of God that only eats hamburgers. It’s gotta have ceviche and baba ganoush and curry and fried plantains and sesame chicken and collared greens and on and on….

“He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14

Another reason is to fulfill scriptures like this one. Prophets of old dreamed about the beauty of people of many languages worshiping the Lord together, with our deepest allegiance in the Lord’s kingdom which will never pass away!

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40

When I serve people who are in need like our brothers and sisters in Peru–think of the terrible eathquake they’re still recovering from–Jesus considers that the same as serving him!

I also love to get to know other people’s ways and languages and outlook on life. It shows me God’s creativity and inspires me to praise him.

I’d like to mention that I think writing a check to the local folks who are doing the kind of work I mentioned in this post is a great idea, and I happily do that kind of giving. I think empowering and honoring nationals in developing nations is crucial. But what kind of family would we be if we only sent our money and didn’t care to get to know our brothers and sisters?

That’s what I’m off to do. Thanks for your prayers.

We recorded this in podcast format and the feed is up and now running on iTunes! Just search for The Blackthorn Project Podcast. You can also CLICK HERE to open iTunes and subscribe or CLICK HERE to view the podcast feed.

More info about the album release is forthcoming. Enjoy!

>>CLICK ABOVE TO VIEW MY PERU SLIDESHOW<<

I was amazed in Peru. To know beautiful people like Narciso, Pepe, Mariela, Juan, Lindorf, Rut, Mike, Chenoa, Lee, Dori, and the rest was a privelidge. To serve, encourage, and equip them, to get to know them and their stories, and to be welcomed in South America was truly great. I loved leading worship in Spanish, speaking the scriptures to folks, and praying for them. God did a lot. I’ve picked some of my favorite photos and made some notes so you could come along.

What do you think?

Tim