Another Peru Story - Pastor Alfredo

One of the most touching stories to come from

this mission trip involves Pastor Alfredo.

He is an amazing man with such a heart for God.

When he was younger he lived in a part of Peru 

that was terrorized by a group known as 

The Shining Path.

They are a Communist Group who killed

many Christians and others that they didn't like.

I have linked to Wikipedia so you can read more

about them, if you like.

Anyway, one day at the funeral of the Pastor who had
led him to the Lord,  The Shining Path came in

and killed many.  Alfredo was one of the few survivors.

He had to flee this area and make a new life in a safer region.

The Shining Path had established labor camps so 

even if they hadn't killed him they would likely 

have forced him into labor in the Coca Fields.

Fleeing was his only option.

That is how he came to live and work for God in the place

our Mission Team found him.

Pastor Alfredo felt such a tug on his heart for ministry

that he would go from village to village seeking to introduce

the people to Jesus.

At each village he would seek those who might be receptive to 

his message and take him in.

To feed and shelter him so that he could share the
Good News of the gospel.

Sometimes he would find that.

Other times he would stay just a couple of days

until his body couldn't hold out any longer without

food and he would move on.

The fruits of these labors are the village churches that 

were represented at the events of this past January.

Our moms met and shared fellowship with those

that Pastor Alfredo has led to the Lord.

Honestly, Alfredo is like a modern day Paul.

He now had a circuit of villages that he mentored

but the churches themselves are now set up with 

lay leadership 

and Pastors when possible.

Now we come to the part of the story that both breaks

your heart and make you admire him all the more.

Pastor Alfredo is married and has a son.

His wife holds a job to support them because

Alfredo does not get paid to do the work that he does.

This has left their son alone to his own devices too much.

He has fallen in with the wrong people and is 

in need of shepherding himself.

The seemingly happy events which I have shown

...where there was much singing and dancing....

were also a time of saying goodbye.

You see, Pastor Alfredo and his wife know

that their son's spiritual training is their responsibility.

They have made a decision to move to a place

where Pastor Alfredo will have just one church.

He will be there full time for his teen son.

A very good thing, indeed.

He has been gone for much of his son's 

young years.

However, this is a heart wrenching thing.

The hearts of the people are broken that their 

dear Pastor...the one who introduced them 

to Jesus and has mentored them along the way...

is leaving the area.

They sang a song to him.

Can you just see the pain in their faces???

This was one reason for the dancing and praise.

Pastor Alfredo was determined to leave on a 

cheerful note.  Oh, how he loves these people.

But his heart must have been breaking too.

The Shepherd leaving his sheep.

Thankfully they are in the hands of an

even more capable Shepherd.

All will be well.

Please be praying for this dear 

family as they begin anew in a 

new home and church.

That God would honor their sacrifice

and restore their son to 

right relationships and most of all

a relationship with Himself.

This is the truck that the Mission Team rode in.  They were piled in front and back.