Drive

I want to take a break from writing about anything ministry related and talk about one of the largest aspects of my life down here in Puno: driving. It’s no secret anymore that I have a motorcycle, and while it helps a lot with our work, I don’t want to get into to that.  I just want to share some fun experiences and differences about the driving here in a 3rd world city.

Puno is where I bought my motorcycle and where I learned how to drive one. The picture above is me now where I first learned to drive. The pastor and I bought it, and the next day he taught me how to drive it here on the shores of Titicaca. Pastor said and I quote, “This isn’t the first time you’ve driven a motorcycle, you’ve been doing this for a while.” (We would soon find out how untrue that was.) I only seemed like I knew what I was doing because I had thought the process through in my mind on how to drive it, and just did it when the time came around.  Then the pastor said, “You just lack city driving.”  He hopped on and we started to go through the unfamiliar (at the time) city of Puno.

I was driving along  when the road was blocked off and we had to turn left or make a U-turn.  We took the U-turn option but apparently the cop that was standing at the corner didn’t see that as an option.  He started yelling at us, to move the bike, and that’s when we found out how untrue what pastor said was, and I froze. Everything I had learned had left my mind in that instant. Then the cop says, “He’s just learning, isn’t he…” Keep in mind that I have my helmet on so the cop doesn’t actually know how white this kid (me) actually is. The pastor argued with him. I didn’t say a word. The pastor got of the bike and continued arguing. I didn’t say a word. Somehow, the pastor got us out of it and then he took the handlebars and we took off. Me about to faint. That cop is sometimes at the station by our house. Sometimes I see him and I think, “Sucka! You don’t even know that this white boy was driving that day!” That was day one.

I’ve gotten pulled over once since then. It was because they were checking everyone, drug tip or something. I handed the female officer my insurance and registration (which are in the name of the pastor,) holding back my American license. She then asked me for my license and I gave it to her, with big letters saying, “OHIO.” She compared the names of the license and the registration and with a confused look and a smile said, “Have a good night sir.” I sped off without having said a word!

As far as rules, limits, and laws here…there are two: If it’s green, go! If it’s red, stop! Everything else is open game:

Do I park on the left of the right side of the street? Can I go right on red? Is there a speed limit? or even a lane? Is this road one way or two way? Turn signals are optional?

Now, there are very few stoplights so you can imagine how barbaric these roads are. I say very humbly that I am a pro now, and very pridefully I say that I am Puno’s best driver. I do everything with an American base, but still like a Puneñan, which makes me the one who does things right, but not alone in my own little world.

You’ve also got two classes of vehicles here: slow and fast. Slow would be combis (public vans that are a bit bigger than minivans) empty taxis, and commercial trucks. Fast would be personal cars, taxis with someone in them, and motorcycles (esp ones that deliver propane gas.)

Combis (com-bees) are by far the worst for one reason: They stop on the right side of the street to pick up/drop off people. They stop in groups. And when they’re done with their business on the right, they dry turn the wheel cranking it to the left, hit the gas, and cut right into traffic. I’ve seen this process a million times way before it happens. You literally have to drive on the left side watching for those wheels being cranked to the left. I’ve laid on my horn on numerous occasions but it doesn’t phase them. You just gotta put on the brakes.

When in Arequipa, I always thought that horns were over used. It’s not true. I now know why they are used so much. People don’t know how to walk. They are in the street not looking almost constantly. They are very irresponsible (Originally I had a different choice of words other than “irresponsible) when it comes to walking. What’s worse is that cars here have the right-of-way!

I love driving here though. To be able to have a motorcycle in South America next to the highest navigable lake in the world is truly a dream for me. It’s one of my favorite things to do here, and I’m going to be sad when it’s over. I drive in the city, not just the outskirts. It makes things easier and life more enjoyable (public transportation is a disaster!)

El Proveedor

The Provider. I have seriously been amazed in the timing of God. I am sensitive to these things lately, and I am also sensitive to burdens. Burdens of others, burdens for others, human burdens, and burdens that God has placed on my heart. I’m not a sad person, nor heavily pressed or weighed down. I just can’t help but feel the agony of the reality. It may be because I care.

One burden that I have been carrying lately is the burden of fruit. this burden has been a deceiving one though. I’ve had the burden of seeing the fruit, of being able to control it, and getting the results that should be expected. I am quite mathematically minded when A + B = C, then A + B = C no matter what. That “C” hasn’t been showing up in the form of a “C” or in any form at all in some circumstances.

This past Tuesday, we had our weekly meeting with the pastor. He always has a message for us usually based out of a Pauline letter. Two weeks before, I meant to thank him for his message, this week I couldn’t not thank him because it was meant for me.

Based out of I Corinthians 15:58:

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

What I had been deceived by this burden I soon was shown the truth. The pastor said that if any of us aren’t seeing fruit, it doesn’t mean that we should change what we are doing. We should “stand firm.” Our job is not to harvest, but rather to plant the seed. Others may see the harvest, we may see the harvest, but either way it is not our responsibility. He said to never think that our work is in vain. Don’t let the devil get to us like that.

It’s easy to question this work. Especially when you’re constantly giving and never getting. When no one comes to church, when people tell you yes, but don’t come through (maldito el hombre que fia en los hombres!) when you can’t see change, when all is stagnant.

Yes, it’s easy to question. When there’s so little support coming your way, not because of unwillingness but because of inability to relate. When you’re not in your element. When there are huge distractions. When giving up is so close. When the countdown til the end begins.

It’s easy to question. But I’m not here to do the easy stuff. It’s hard to stand firm, it’s hard to recognize that this is not in vain. Doing the hard stuff is what makes sense here. This isn’t in vain, it’s also not our harvest, it’s His.

I thought last week in our empty church service, “I’m here to worship. And without shame or embarrassment I will worship regardless if anyone is here to worship with me.”

I printed that verse out. It’s hanging in my closet space. I can’t ever forget that I am the planter and nothing else. And I will continue without shame to plant and plant and plant the Word of Christ in others.

You too should consider yourself a planter in God’s eyes. If you’re not planting, with what will the Harvest come?

Conferences

For the past two weekends I have participated in some sort of conference.  One was a conference that I received, and the other was one that I gave.  I would like to share what I was able to learn and how I am being molded constantly into God’s will.

The first conference was a 2 and 1/2 day “seminary” called the “Thompson International Theological Seminary” (I think?) This is the conference in which I came and listened, not participated.  For those of you who don’t know what the Thompson Chain Bible is, it’s a Bible with margins filled with connecting topics called “chains.”It’s used to connect topics for preaching and for overall knowledge of the Bible.  It’s a Thompson Chain Bible because of the margins, and can be used with any version of the Bible itself.

Let me just say that it was great! The conference filled me with knowledge , strength and encouragement.  It was just a nice change to receive and be edified, rather than to just give and give…and give. I do, yes, have an in depth devotional time everyday, but there is just something about receiving knowledge and wisdom from someone else.  I also love learning or being a student and that was a great change from being a teacher and pastor.

A burden on my heart has been my effectiveness while I preach.  I at first would blame it on Spanish, but that in reality wasn’t it.  I didn’t have the correct tools nor knowledge on how to be effective while preaching.  Long story short: I feel much more equipped after this conference. At the end they gifted us a Thompson Chain Bible worth about $60.00.  Cool! A neat ministry based out of the States.

The second conference in which I actually participated was a leadership conference to try to build up leaders within our new church plants.  My compañero and I invited 2 people, and one of them showed (actually we went and got him!)  Each pair had a theme to present, and the pastor presented as well.  We were up last and we talked about the dangers of being a leader. I personally spoke about the dangers that a leader encounters in themselves.

Well, I’m not going to give you the speech, nor what I learned about the actual dangers themselves. But I do want to share how I realized God is changing and molding me. I felt comfortable up there speaking to 20+ people about my topic. I didn’t get jittery, nor get tunnel vision, but rather I felt at home in front of these people. I tripped up a few times, but only because I like to talk fast or not at all haha. A year ago, in Bible class, I was nervous giving a speech in front of all my friends. I hated every second of it. But got has changed my mind and has given me the comfort to lead people.

I will always chooses to lead by actions 100% of the time. But if my actions reflect what I say, then I should recognize that God wants to work through my words as well. I’m not saying that I don’t/won’t get nervous standing in front of a group of people, but rather that this is the first time I have felt comfort in doing it.  It’s not something I did, but rather a simple way, of many, in which God is working inside of me.

What’s a simple way that God is working in you?

Stretch X

While I don’t have a specific subject, update, nor opinion to update you on today, I would like to share the ways I see God stretching me.

So I am a new person, this I can see in myself, but how have I been growing lately, what is God teaching me?  I can answer that.

Doubt.  I read James 1:6 while witnessing to a person:

But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm.

  In reading it for them, I was actually reading it to myself.  Lately, I’ve noticed the first instinct to doubt in my mind and heart.  For example I read this quote by A.W. Tozer today:

The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless.  Faith may now be exercised without a jar to the moral life and without embarrassment to the Adamic ego.  Christ may be “received” without creating any special love for Him in the soul of the receiver.  The man is “saved,” but he is not hunger nor thirsty after God.  In fact, he is specifically taught to be satisfied and is encouraged to be content with little.

And even though this explains our mission to a “t” and the way we set up for failure, and even though I pumped my fist agreeing with it, doesn’t mean it has to be true.  I first thought that if we do fail, then it can be easily explained by what Tozer says. I realized a couple minutes after reading it that it was a really good way to doubt, to not be different.  If that quote is the mission, why shouldn’t I be different? I read that out of a Christian book, but I still used it to be tossed around like a wave.

Not doubting would be saying, “What Tozer says is the reality, and what I need to do should be something different.”

I catch myself in the act all the time: meeting someone for the first time and not seeing a future, going to a church service expecting nothing etc.

But God says, “No.” he says, “Garren you’re are being tossed around by circumstances, too easily controlled by what you see.  Look at the big picture, brosak.”  And that’s what I’m trying to do.  Change your actions is one thing, but the source of your actions come from your thoughts.  And changing those I am finding out is quite the task.

As far as our work, my limits are being stretched more than ever.  We’re dedicating more time than ever in Salcedo, and seeing less and less fruit that ever.  Last month God was able to touch the hearts of 5 people, new people, in separate cases.  I personally had the privilege of leading 3 of them to Christ, and Geremias the other 2 (which is another way I am being stretched.)  It wasn’t a whole family, but rather 5 new contacts, different people, led to Christ.  But, they don’t come to church.  Talk about wearisome.  It gets to you.

My limits are being stretched in Rinconada as well.  We’re cultivating great hearts, and those hearts are getting into deeper and deeper subjects, and I am to have an answer for these subjects.  Geremias and I disciple people separately, with the goal of a carbon copy of us as individuals.  Deep subjects stretch, yes, but then when your coworker doesn’t agree with what you say makes it even harder, and makes the stretch even tenser.

Oh, and Jayllihuaya.  A family told us, after 3 months of discipleship, that they don’t want us to come anymore.  That they, “Already are Christians and don’t need to learn more about the Bible.” Wow, ok.  And then after that we went and changed one of our contacts’ diaper.  No lies, that is some serious mental stretching right there.

That’s all.  I know there is a ton of you out there that read this, how is God stretching you? Are you growing? If you’re not, I question your position before God.  Take a minute to reflect and listen to this song so appropriate for this post.

Upon Arriving

Time flies.  I’ve been back here in Peru a little over 3 weeks now.  This week we’re starting our 4th week of work.  A lot has been going on, and I’d like to update what exactly it has been looking like.

Getting back has been rather easy…nothing big that shocked me.  The only thing that has been bad are the smells.  I was riding in a bus after getting off the plane and the lady handed me my change and it smelled like toenails.  That’s when I realized that the smells were a huge change.  Walking through the streets, and just everyday life are an abundance of challenges to smell your way through!

Big news in our districts: we have changed locales in Rinconada de Salcedo.  Before, we had rented out basically a party center.  While we were gone they threw a couple huge parties, even though we rented that space out.  They were drinking and getting their funk on, with a sign outside that said, “Church of the Nazarene, Called to Holiness.”  A little comical looking back on it, but the activities that took place did not honor God.  This wasn’t the first party they ever had either, it was actually the third.  The place was actually too big as well, so we’ve downsized.

The picture above is the new place.  Basically all the green you see we have rented out.  By downsizing we’ve been able to get a better deal economically too.  It is just a bunch of pluses moving to this new “church” building.

We had our first service in the new place this Sunday, the 4th of September (as pictured above.)  It was great, we had a great turnout and a nice little band to get us going.  For some reason people just have a hunger for a Church in Rinconada.  They are attracted and want to get involved.  It is really encouraging.  We meet a lot of people in the actual church services, and try (and fail often) to disciple them in their houses throughout the week.

As far as Jayllihuaya, it looks like we’re going to send our contacts that we’re discipling to Salcedo.  It’s on the bus route, and if we’re being 100% honest with ourselves, it doesn’t look as if we’re going to raise a church.  Now I don’t want to doubt God, and we’re definitely open to any possibilities that He might have in store for us.  I am also a strong believer that God gives us wisdom (James 1) to make decisions like this.  Humanly we might say that we didn’t raise a church in Jayllihuaya.  But divinely, I feel God will use it as a victory and have much greater plans.

A burden on my heart is not for Jayllihuaya, but rather the pueblo of Salcedo.  It’s our most “cityish” district…but people DO NOT want to congregate.  We disciple many people, I pour my heart out sometimes to these people.  They aren’t growing, it doesn’t click, something is not working.  I place it in the hands of God every time we go.  It’s the hardest thing not to get frustrated, or start to worry.  I just put it in the hands of the One who has any control whatsoever of the situation.

On another subject that doesn’t matter…I’m going to climb Chachani again.  I can’t decide if I’m excited or not.  But whether I’m excited or not…I’m going to climb it the same date as last year, New Years Eve Day.  And starting like a week ago, I’m not going to shave until I’m on top of the Chach.  Gotta spice things up, keep the variety going.

And lastly and randomly, I went to a Puneñen wedding…or it might has well been a funeral.  No one looked happy.  But then we went to the reception out in the sticks, which was pretty neat.  Pictures below.

 

That’s all for now.  Thanks for the prayers, thanks for reading, and thanks for all the support.  I hope you’ll listen to this and be able to enjoy it!  Don’t forget to email me at gmoore@extremenazarene.org.

June, July, and 1/2 of August

Well, it has been awhile since my last post, over 2 months in fact.  My utmost apologies to all the faithful readers out there.  The truth is that my computer broke because I dropped it.  But we’re back on track with another comp and I’ll be pumping out the posts on a bi-weekly to monthly basis.
With this blog, I wanted to give you an update with what has been going on and about my vacation to the States.  The pictures may be a little scarce, because my camera was pick pocketed from me at a running of the bulls event.  But without further ado, we continue on.  Thanks and enjoy.
Since May, my last post, my partner and I have been going strong discipling people, making contacts, and altogether working our rears off.  We’ve seen one church plant area flourish (Rinconada de Salcedo) while being rather stagnant in the other two.  It’s very discouraging sometimes, but as I get into talking about vacation, I’ll elaborate on how I have been encouraged.
Every week I preach (yes in Spanish) at our church plant areas, not in the mother church in the city.  It has really helped my Spanish vocabulary, my memorization of Biblical references, and my spiritual walk altogether.  I preach on what I love about the Bible, and it has really been speaking to me, even more than to the people.  I’ve grown accustomed to my daily studies and devotions.  But preaching really stretches me and makes me think about how to explain what I am understanding.
That’s basically the short gist of what we’re doing: working our butts off, Rinconada is flourishing, I preach on a weekly basis, and my camera and computer were KIA or MIA.
During the month of July I was completely restless.  Counting the seconds until I would return home to see my family and friends.  I had a humungo list of restaurants that I wanted to eat at, and visions in my head of how awesome it would be.  And vacation was awesome! But I definitely have learned that the idea of it was even better.  Peanut butter, yea I missed it, but the idea of eating peanut butter was better than the actual peanut butter itself.
The day finally came when I got home.  And the closest feeling I can describe that I had was “overwhelmed.”  Not culture shock, (I actually don’t believe in that now) but just this huge impact of everything: carpet, doors, bananas, AC, driving, trees, TV’s, dogs, fat people.  It was all just so unique, all that I had forgotten.
When I first got to the States, I was in love.  I didn’t even want to think of Peru.  Then, to be honest, I started to think about not going back to Peru.  Just calling it quits because I had such a negative opinion of Peru.  Especially after hanging out with friends and talking to so many people.  But after about 2 weeks, I started to get an “itch.”  An “itch” to be back.  Not excited nor happy.  But a little “itch.”
The second Sunday that I was there, I was to say something in the English service at my church, as well as the whole Spanish service.  There were three really encouraging moments for me that Sunday: 

1.) When Pastor Terry prayed for me and just touched my heart with his unique words for me.  That impacted me, to be prayed for in English by someone you never hear pray for you (thanks PT if you’re reading this.) 
2.) Another moment was when this dude came up to me after church and genuinely thanked me for what I do, because he couldn’t do it.  He told me I was needed, and I could just tell he was genuine. 
3.) And then after the Spanish service, Rafi, the Spanish pastor told me that I have a “gift.”  The gift of tongues or languages. Rafi told me that I sound like I’m from Peru, not like I’m an American missionary.  This really encouraged me to get back down there and use this gift to expand God’s kingdom (a great group of people going to that church by the way, I can’t wait to get back and get involved with them.)

The itch I had began to grow stronger, and I actually couldn’t sleep the night before I left.  It really was a miraculous change to go from an almost hatred of Peru, to this strong itch to get back into the game.
As I sit here on the plane to Houston, I’m looking to the year ahead.  I’m looking to what can become of me and the people I’m going to be around.  Ya know, I’m just trying to put my heart into this, not focused on the end results.  And that’s how this time will be worth it.  Garren Moore will put his heart into the work he was called to do, and you can’t go wrong doing that. 
I miss you all, 3 weeks was all too short, but I’ll be back all too soon to start up a mission in the hearts of other people who need Christ.  I pray for you daily, and I look forward to Skype and emailing you!
PICTURES: What I packed, at the pool with Lora, my last meal, and me and the brosak.

GOALS

I would like to share some long term (year or so) goals that do not relate to my ministry whatsoever.  I basically have 3 planned habits over the next year to keep me sane in Puno after we’re done for the day, or before we’ve started.  Maybe you can keep me accountable, encourage me, or share some tips.

1.) I would like to be conversational in Portuguese by the time I exit Peru.  Portuguese is very similar to Spanish as far as the grammar aspect.  They’re both romance languages.  It is my dream to live in Brasil, and this is the first step.  I’ll be self taught with podcasts and I bought a book.
2.) I would like to weigh 165 pounds by the time I exit Peru.  I’m talking muscle mass here, and I weigh 155.  Without using any protein or supplements.  I’ve already gained ten pounds  and I’d like to put 10 more on.
3.) I would like to pass the Actuarial Science Exam P (30% pass rate) as soon as I can after I exit Peru.  I bought the study manual, and I’m ready to put my nose into a math book.  I don’t know when the next exam will be after I am done in Peru, but the soonest one I want to be able to pass.  Somehow God gifted me with the ability to learn languages, and do math!

That’s all folks! I encourage you to set some goals as well and tell me about them.  Until then, I hope you can enjoy this song.

Welcome to Peru

In honor of my one year anniversary, I would like to do a short blog post on how exactly things are different here, things that are out of the normal, and how you can’t forget that you’re in Peru. Caution: there may be a hint of sarcasm or exaggeration.

You know you’re in Peru when…

You’re talking to a woman and she starts to nurse her 3 year old child in front of you.

There are signs on walls that say “No peeing.  There is order to slaughter.”

You see a family and a half on a motorcycle.

Clapping on beat is an option.

You saw a stop light, once.

People throw rocks at motorcycles and cars.

You get drenched by water, in the times of carnival.

People still go on strike.

Traffic is backed up, because of sheep on the road.

You see an alpaca in the trunk of a bus.

Bands go down the street at any hour of the day, night, morning.

People swing an axe and dance around a tree completely wasted.

A meal is not a meal unless there is rice.

There are 60 people in a 20 people bus.

Propane is delivered by motorcycle.

You have to vote.

The public colleges are better than the private.

Rotisserie chicken is a gourmet plate.

People have silver teeth.

You find your class pet on restaurant menus.

You automatically have money because your skin pigment is a touch lighter.

You see a beautiful government building next to a shack of a house.

People shoot off fireworks at presidential rallies. Or when they’re bored.

You live in a cash dominant country, and no one has change. Ever.

You see me :)