The Jetter family and their visit to Peru was the main reason why we traveled to Arequipa and Puno last week.
Wes and Paul Jetter, accompanied by members of their family (Mary, Cristina, Kate, Maggie and Cort) came to Peru to visit some of the areas where their recent donations to the field have been used. The tour included visits to the construction site of the South District district center building, two areas of land that have been purchased to build churches in the area of Arequipa, and a church here in Lima who’s building is being used as a Compassion International school. They also visited Puno and Cuzco, two priority mission areas in Southern Peru. Paul, a pastor of a growing church in Ohio, also had the opportunity to preach in Arequipa and hold a pastors workshop in Lima. His preaching and teaching was a blessing for those who attended. The trip also allowed the Jetter family to meet Rev Segundo Rimarachin and hear his dreams and visions as the Strategy Coordinator for missions within Southern Peru.
The vision is to send 4 experienced church planters from the North out as missionaries into key areas in the South. Over 4 years the hope is that they will plant and disciple churches to the point where these churches are planting others.
We are thankful that the Jetter family felt lead to visit and contribute to the work here in Peru. These are exciting times here in the country as God is leading the church into unreached areas and it is wonderful when individuals and families from our home countries get involved and partner with the Peruvian leaders!

Behind the people that currently meet in the house seen to the right, there is a plot of land to build a church.
This is another recently purchased plot of land in the shadow of the dormant volcano Mt Misti. The central church in Arequipa has been doing a feeding program ministry in this poor area for a year and are now at the stage of constructing a building for a new church.
Some of the kids that attend the Saturday lunch and kids club.

PHOTO OF THE JETTER FAMILY COMING SOON

Here are a selection of pictures that Jen took during our recent trip to the Altiplanos (The area of flat highland situated at over 12000 ft that includes Puno and Lake Titicaca, the worlds highest navigable lake) of Peru. For the first time in a while we really felt like we were entering a different world as we visited the inhabited floating islands (Islas de los Uros) and the Isle of Taquile in Lake Titicaca. At both areas we saw distinct cultural groups who are trying to maintain their traditions whilst opening their islands up to tourism. We felt very privileged to be welcomed to their islands. We also felt burdened with the fact that the evangelical church has not sucessfully reached these people yet…

There are over 40 of these floating Islands just off the shores of Puno. There is a main island with a school, some restaurants and shops and a postal service for the islanders.
Mother and 6 month old child who was born on the floating Island. Their mother tongue is Aymara.
The president of the island took us for a ride on his reed boat. About 20 of us fit in the large and very stable boat.
Two men from Isla Taquile who speak Quechua. Their skillfully terraced Island was beautifully located on the Western side of Lake Titicaca. These men show that they are married by wearing colored hats. The married women wear black layered skirts. The single men where white tipped hats, whilst the single women wear brightly colored layered knee length skirts.
We enjoyed the afternoon hiking around on the island and eating a simple lunch of fried fish and rice. With the altitude and Jonathan to carry it was quite the workout!
The ladies in Puno wear a very traditional clothing made up of layered skirts and alpaca shawls. The meal choices at the Puno restaurants are also very traditional including fish, alpaca and guinea pig.
A village girl who lives on the Altiplano near the Sillustani ancient burial towers (seen in the background).
The people of the Altiplano and the islands are skilled weavers. In fact the men of Isla Taquile are usually knitting as they sit in the central plaza!