Huanca Huanca 2012

The Beach Corner Team has been in Cusco a week today!  Walter and I joined the team of four from Beach Corner along with Pastor Fredi and Milagros, leaving early Sunday morning for Huanca Huanca.  I believe this is the fifth consecutive year that Pastor Bill has taken a team to the village, and was my third trip there.  It was really nice that, after hearing much about it, Walter could also come with me and get to know the village.

In all honesty, this was a trip I was not really looking forward to, but turned out to be the most fulfilling trip that I've had to Huanca Huanca.   

The roads are windy, bumpy and exhausting.  However, about three hours after leaving Cusco, as we came over one of the highest peaks that overlook the gorgeous valleys and mountain top ranges, I felt my energy returning. 

I can't imagine having to travel hours in the back of a truck like the locals do!

Beautiful Andes mountain ranges near Huanca Huanca village

It was exciting for everyone to see the base of the new church under construction from above the village.

BCEF 2012 TEAM in Huanca Huanca

After we arrived, Pastor Bill spoke in their morning church service.  They are using a small hut that's been donated for church services by a local family until the new church is built.  I am so thankful that God gave me the words and ability to translate confidently for Pastor Bill.  And, when I was missing certain words, Walter and Mila quickly filled in, so the message continued to flow as  Pastor Fredi further translated into Quechua. 
Kyle shared his testimony about how one friend in his life led him to knowing God personally.  We prayed for the two current church Pastor's and their wives;  one of whom had just lost their three month old baby two weeks before, and the other Pastor who had been sick, unable to leave his bed two days earlier. 
Everyone then moved up to the new church site, were we all stood together in a circle, holding hands as Pastor Bill prayed a blessing and dedication upon the building and future church.

Members studying the Bible outside of the hut they are currently using for services

Praying for a Pastor from one of the surrounding communities

Pastor Fredi talking about how this new church will be serving the surrounding communities

Dedication to the new church

There were two other Pastor's representing from their home churches in the area, whom we also prayed for.  ATEK has been working extensively in this area for the past few years, and have assisted in 18 new churches being built within the mountain range area of Huanca Huanca.  The goal is for each community church to have two Pastors (of whom change every year to two years).  On Sundays, one Pastor speaks in their church and the other travels to a nearby community to speak or share with the people there.

This new church being built in Huanca Huanca will be a place where all of the surrounding communities will be able to meet.  We were very encouraged to see how the members are taking control, becoming responsible for their own growth and placing importance on communicating amongst themselves and being unified, without waiting upon ATEK's involvement.
This is a huge change from the first time I travelled to Huanca Huanca in 2010.  The people are much more confident now, have grown a lot, and are really taking ownership of the projects that ATEK and BCEF have been helping with.

This new church will also serve as a radio station serving all the communities in the surrounding mountain ranges (replacing the radio building that they currently use), and will have a room for visitors to stay overnight (a common feature in village churches).

Current Huanca Huanca radio station that allows for communication amongst all the communities in range

After more than a year of meetings, propositions and community politics, it is a real blessing for the people to have the land title and be able to build their church on this property.  And, through the help of ATEK and Beach Corner, they will have a stronger structure than most buildings in these mountain ranges.

Strong eucalyptus wood and a cement structure will provide a long-lasting building



Clay tiles that will be used for the roof

We visited a few family plots that the agriculture program we have been supporting has been contributing to.  Two years ago, the community were growing corn and potatoes.  Now these gardens have onions, radishes, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, beets, leeks, and more!  What the project at first intended could help 5 church families, has increased to include benefits to the whole community, as nearly every family are farming the new vegetables, reaping the nutritional benefits and also gaining financially by selling their produce.  It is really amazing to see the difference this has made in their community and how they have taken ownership!

In the coming weeks, they will be learning about how to prepare new dishes with these vegetables that are new to them, and in healthy food-handling, such as disinfection and sanitization.

A family's vegetable plot

The son (in red) takes care of the garden with his mother.  His father died a couple of years ago.  They are now a family of 5

Irrigation on a potato plot

The church members wanted to hear more, and invited Pastor Bill to speak again for an evening service.  I didn't recognise the Spanish word for all-night prayer vigil and failed to inform our team until later of the initial intentions of their evening service!
Pastor Bill spoke on prayer, all of the team got to share a personal testimony regarding prayer (Walter sharing his in Quechua) the congregation prayed on their knees for a good amount of time, and we got to hear different people get up and sing some traditional Quechua worship songs.
The service ended up only going to 11:30 pm, which we were thankful for after a very long day, though it was impressive to see the people's hearts and faith in wanting to worship the Lord!

I think we all slept soundly that evening, on the floors of a school room that was made available to us.

The guys were eager to get started on Monday morning.  Darren had a bit of a stomach bug that kept him down for most of the day Sunday, however we were all thankful that he was feeling a lot better and able to join the guys for some construction.  This must be one of the biggest joys for Pastor Bill, and the men, getting to contribute to the building of the new Huanca Huanca church!

They started by ensuring that all of the trusses were secure, hammering down the nails that had come through on the other side.  Then, with a few men from the community, started moving the trusses onto the top of the structure.  Soon after, the community started gathering in front of the ancient Catholic church ruins for a community meeting that Pastor Fredi had not been informed about.  It looked like we would not be able to continue.
The community kindly agreed to move their meeting to the soccer field behind the school, so that our men could at least finish hammering the rest of the trusses without being a distraction.  But, without the additional help, they were unable to move the trusses onto the top of the building.

We were invited to be introduced as a group in the community meeting.  But, with about an hour before our introduction, it turned out to be a good distraction when the keys to one of the ATEK vehicles were discovered to be locked inside the car.  A team effort finally got the door opened without much damage.
It was a great honor in being recognised and thanked by the community president in the help we have brought to them.  Some of the church members stood to give their thanks and to acknowledge that the voluntary help they've been shown by us has come from the hearts we have in knowing God, and that our help has not only been financial but spiritual. 

Then, Pastor Bill asked them if we could finish putting the trusses up for the roof with their help.  With many men working together, they finished getting the trusses up, which was a huge accomplishment!

Getting started

Discussing how they will move the trusses to the top of the structure

The first piece is up!

The community gathering for their meeting

After the meeting, more hands got the job done fast

A team effort

A sign in the community that describes the agriculture program with ATEK and BCEF's help

 For me, it's always neat to see the children and how they have grown since the last time I was there.  Many of the littler ones are learning and know a little bit of Spanish, but Quechua is their primary tongue, so communication is still limited.

Playing with the new soccer ball from Beach Corner Church

We left yesterday a little after 5pm and arrived back to ATEK around 8.  Thanks to Larry for getting us there and back safely in the second vehicle!

Today the men are continuing various projects around ATEK (perhaps figuring out how they will complete the drop-ceiling in the non-square room).  Tomorrow I head out with Pastor Bill to a region that ATEK is just starting to work in.  We will be doing speaking sessions for 3 days in a community called Livitaca.  Meanwhile, the other team members will continue working on the third floor of the main ATEK building. 

Thank you for your prayers- as our time in Huanca Huanca was a blessing, and for continued prayers-working in Livitaca and in ATEK, and for good health for each one.