A truly mountain-top experience & more to come...
July 18, 2006. That date is marked in the back of my pocket Bible, and reminds me of a cold night, high in the Andes--one of the greatest nights of my life. Beside that date is a name and small commentary: “Erlinda (12 yrs.), Comunidad: Chanta (cerca Limatambo, 2 horas).” All that I have to do is read that entry and my mind traverses over 3,000 miles into the Andes Mountains, to the secluded Quechua community of Chanta. There had been a small, mud-brick church constructed there in Chanta (This is somewhat of a rarity as many Quechua communities do not have a ‘building,’ or even a meeting, local body of believers). We went there with the local pastor from Limatambo in a bright yellow station wagon to hold a night service. As the powerful sun went down over the mountains welcoming the crisp, cool air, Quechua people could be seen walking, making there way to the small building (some with circa 1970s flashlights in hand). We surveyed the building, greeted the people, and waited fo...