Chapter 11: Visiting new places
AS TOLD BY GRO AGERSTEN
The work in Tarma was interesting, diverse and busy. In addition to church work and evangelism in the city, we made many trips to outposts and neighboring villages in the area, including Huancayo where the missionaries Brita and Per Anderås worked.
We also made some longer trips during the couple of years we lived in Tarma. Even before the Lindgren family left for Sweden in mid-March 1967, John had traveled to villages in the high mountains and to the jungle areas of Chanchamayo east of Tarma with Lennart. Later we returned to some of these places.
We also made some longer trips during the couple of years we lived in Tarma. Even before the Lindgren family left for Sweden in mid-March 1967, John had traveled to villages in the high mountains and to the jungle areas of Chanchamayo east of Tarma with Lennart. Later we returned to some of these places.
To Pampa Silva (Villa Perene)
In June 1967, we took a trip to a small village called Pampa Silva. It lies about 95 miles north-east down the valley from Tarma in the region of Chanchamayo. Anderås had started a small church there, and an evangelist was now in charge of a small group that gathered for services a couple of times a week.
The road down the valley toward the jungle was both narrow and winding along steep cliffs. The cars would honk as they approached every curve to make sure anyone coming the other way would know they were there.It was impossible to drive past each other except at some wider spots in the road here and there. Often one of the vehicles would have to back up till they got to a place wide enough for the two cars to pass each other!We were glad when we finally made it safely into a lush and beautiful valley with coffee plantations and fruit orchards. |
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In Chanchamayo, the weather is hot and humid which is a striking contrast to the dry, cold climate in the mountain town of Tarma at 10,000 ft!
Per Anderås wanted to introduce us to the village and that area because he knew of our desire to work with the indigenous people in the jungle areas. We felt there was a great need for ministry in those areas and plenty of opportunities to serve the Lord there. This time we were only coming for a short visit, but we came again later, among other things to hold a week of services and to get to know the village and the surrounding area better. During this time we prayed fervently for the Lord to show us if this is where He wanted us, but we did not end up feeling led to take up the work here.
Per Anderås wanted to introduce us to the village and that area because he knew of our desire to work with the indigenous people in the jungle areas. We felt there was a great need for ministry in those areas and plenty of opportunities to serve the Lord there. This time we were only coming for a short visit, but we came again later, among other things to hold a week of services and to get to know the village and the surrounding area better. During this time we prayed fervently for the Lord to show us if this is where He wanted us, but we did not end up feeling led to take up the work here.
The Lord had other plans for both us and the villages in Chanchamayo; in 1972, Liv Haug and Edith Aateigen, two single missionaries from Norway, settled in Pampa Silva, later called Villa Perene. It was the beginning of the mission's work in this part of Peru.
Liv Haug continues to do great evangelistic and social work in Chanchamayo. Over the years, there have been several Norwegian missionaries here with her. She has also been alone as a Norwegian for many years, but has many fine Peruvian co-workers.
Liv Haug continues to do great evangelistic and social work in Chanchamayo. Over the years, there have been several Norwegian missionaries here with her. She has also been alone as a Norwegian for many years, but has many fine Peruvian co-workers.
To San Francisco by the river Apurimac
August 1, 1967 Per Anderås took us on another trip. This time we were traveling over three mountain ranges past the towns of Ayacucho and Huanta on the high mountain plain and further down the mountains to the river Apurimac. In Huanta, we spent the night with some American missionaries. There we enjoyed the luxury of a shower with lukewarm water. The water hoses were coiled on the roof and the water was heated by the sun. What a good idea!
Altogether it took three long days with the jeep on miserable roads before we arrived at our final destination. The village where the road ends down by the river is called San Francisco, and It is largely inhabited by indigenous mountain people who make their living by cultivating land in the jungle. The indigenous jungle people live in small villages along the river Apurimac which is a tributary of the Ucayali River that continues on to the Amazon.
Altogether it took three long days with the jeep on miserable roads before we arrived at our final destination. The village where the road ends down by the river is called San Francisco, and It is largely inhabited by indigenous mountain people who make their living by cultivating land in the jungle. The indigenous jungle people live in small villages along the river Apurimac which is a tributary of the Ucayali River that continues on to the Amazon.
A pastor from Huancayo had been here several times, and now there was an active congregation in the village. We were here to hold a Bible study week, and many had come to participate. We celebrated a baptism service in the river, and 36 believers were baptized! We also got to attend a "mass wedding" before the baptism. The believers wanted to formalize their marriages before getting baptized. Before the ceremony at the church, the mayor in town married them in a civil service, as it is always done in Peru.
There were also other interesting experiences. This is where I was served insect soup for the first time. It looked like bees floating in the broth but I'm not sure. There were also a lot of bats! I ended up sleeping in the jeep during my stay in San Francisco because of them!.
The congregation and their pastor invited us to come down and settle in San Francisco to work with the congregation there and to have their church as a base for ministry in the area. We thought a lot about this region and prayed over the invitation. We really wanted God's direction for the future, but after a while we came to the conclusion that this was not the place He was leading us.
A few years later, this area was completely occupied by the guerrilla group "Luminous Path", the large and feared group that for many years was the cause of much violence and fear in Peru. This jungle area, together with the mountain town of Ayacucho, became a center for the "Luminous Trail". Many here were killed, and both indigenous people and mestizos had to flee their villages.
There were also other interesting experiences. This is where I was served insect soup for the first time. It looked like bees floating in the broth but I'm not sure. There were also a lot of bats! I ended up sleeping in the jeep during my stay in San Francisco because of them!.
The congregation and their pastor invited us to come down and settle in San Francisco to work with the congregation there and to have their church as a base for ministry in the area. We thought a lot about this region and prayed over the invitation. We really wanted God's direction for the future, but after a while we came to the conclusion that this was not the place He was leading us.
A few years later, this area was completely occupied by the guerrilla group "Luminous Path", the large and feared group that for many years was the cause of much violence and fear in Peru. This jungle area, together with the mountain town of Ayacucho, became a center for the "Luminous Trail". Many here were killed, and both indigenous people and mestizos had to flee their villages.
