A brief look through the year.

January: Each year begins with SIM Peru’s Conference in Lima – a great time to spend with the other missionaries who are usually far away in other cities in Peru.  In January I also have a week of classes to improve my Quechua language speaking - I’ve been meeting with the same tutor for 3 years now and have a good relationship with her.

February: I had a wonderful 2-week holiday, visiting friends in Canada - a great adventure and a break.  On my return I started plans and preparation for the next few month of visits and my trip to the UK.

March:  I accompanied a group who were training leaders to distribute the Samaritans Purse Christmas shoeboxes, in the Mariscal Gamarra area where there are many growing churches. I went as the driver, but also led a Bible study and gave people correct information about the new virus, encouraging them to set up soap and water for effective handwashing, and providing water filters for more families as interest had grown since my last visit. National lockdown began on our return to the city.

April: I was concerned about young Christians in the town, who could no longer attend church and many of whom did not have the maturity or motivation to continue their own spiritual growth.  I started producing live videos with sung worship, Bible study and prayer, for young people and students.  These were well received, and I continued 3 times a week through to August.  It was great to see many people engaging with this material.  Churches in the villages continued to encourage one another with individual visits, but were cut off from the city apart from phone calls.

May: The people mostly suffering economically from the lockdown were mostly in the cities, particularly those without family or savings.  As the SIM Peru team works in the rural areas, we didn’t know where to find these people but thanks to a local Christian in the police, we were allowed out to ask local shopkeepers and friends about those in need.  We managed to help Venezuelan and Columbian immigrants and many Peruvians, with fortnightly food supplies.  We’re so thankful for the logistical and financial help we received.

June: I took on the role of SIM Peru Personnel Coordinator, helping the Peru Director in taking care of our team and those enquiring about joining us.  During lockdown and my time in the UK, there has been less work to be done but it will start to occupy me more and become a part-time role over 2021.  I continue to learn how to support the team in this way.

July: Lockdown eased in Peru and I was able to visit some friends in the city.  I also made enquiries about travel for my planned Home Assignment and at the end of the month I was able to travel to the UK.

August: I spent the month visiting my family and making revised plans for the next few months.

September: I had my SIM UK debrief and my medical, and started to visit churches and friends around the UK.  Because of Covid, I stayed longer in each place before moving on, and saw people individually rather than in large groups – this made the pace a lot slower than usual UK visits, which I appreciated.  I was very glad of the summer weather for outdoor meetings.

October: I continued with church visits, some of which were for in-person services - was a treat and an encouragement to see a variety of approaches that churches are taking.  I was also able to have some short holidays with family.

November: I had valuable time with my Mum during lockdown, and had to make my remaining 2 church visits virtual.  It was still wonderful to spend time online with old friends from churches I know well.

December: I had been praying I would be allowed to attend a week-long retreat I had booked in the autumn and, wonderfully, this was allowed to go ahead.  It was a great time of listening to God, thinking about his plans and his ways, and a reminder to trust him and stay attentive to his voice.

(In early January 2021 I was able to return to Peru, where I am writing this.)