Today began very early for our team as we left the house around 3:00 a.m. and headed to the Lima airport. We boarded our LATAM flight to Cuzco, and we are thankful that the flight went smoothly. Everyone arrived safely, and all of our luggage made it with us.
Cuzco is located high in the Andes Mountains at approximately 11,000 feet of elevation. The scenery is breathtaking, with mountain vistas surrounding the city in every direction. Because of the significant change in altitude and our early morning travel, we planned a lighter day to allow the team time to rest and adjust. After arriving, team members were able to take naps and recover before heading out for the afternoon.
Later in the day, we took a tour of the city and learned more about the history and culture of this region of Peru. Although our focus for the day was resting and learning more about the culture, God gave us some open doors for ministry. While riding in the van, Arturo Ledesma was able to share the Gospel with our driver and encourage him to put his trust in Christ rather than good works. When we arrived at Saqsaywaman, the ruins of an ancient Inca fortress overlooking Cuzco, we met our tour guide, Herwin. He shared many interesting details about the history of the Inca and Quechua people. As we listened and asked questions, we also had the opportunity to talk with him about creation and the Bible. We are thankful for these natural opportunities to speak about the truths of God’s Word, even in the middle of a cultural tour.
We then visited Qorikancha, which means “Gold House” in Quechua. This site was once an important Inca temple known for its remarkable stonework. Today, a Catholic church and convent stand over the remains of the temple, creating a vivid reminder of the complicated history between indigenous Peruvians and the Spanish. As we walked through Qorikancha, we saw fascinating artwork that blended Catholic imagery with indigenous symbolism. Our guide pointed out examples of religious syncretism, where images of Jesus Christ appeared alongside references to the gods of the Inca people and their beliefs.
This experience gave our team a deeper appreciation for the rich history of Peru and a greater understanding of the religious and cultural background of the people we are here to serve. It also reminded us of the great need for the clear truth of the Gospel. In a place where many religious traditions, cultural symbols, and historical influences have been blended together, we are especially burdened that people would come to know Christ as the only Savior and the true source of hope.
Heather Fenison, a senior missions major at PCC, shared her insights into all that we learned today:
When we were at San Andres, we watched a video on the Inca people and how they were afraid that the sun would go away. The sun was their god and they depended on it and prayed that it wouldn’t go away. Today, we saw the temple of the sun and learned about how the Inca people would offer sacrifices to the sun or to Mother Earth. It is obvious that they were searching for something.
I saw so many connections to Scriptural truth. In their building, the number 7 is everywhere – the number of completion. The tour guide told us that the condor was the animal that symbolized the heavens to represent freedom, wisdom, and connection to the gods. The puma was the animal that symbolized the earth to represent physical strength, courage, and leadership. The snake was the animal that symbolized the underworld, representing wisdom, healing, and knowledge. He specifically pointed out that the serpent is typically seen as evil, but was not by the Inca people, but he didn’t know why. There were so many other connections to creation and other parts of Scripture.
It is clear that the Inca people were looking for help and answers outside of themselves. They looked to what they could see – the sun, the moon, the stars. They had the revelation of nature, and they knew that they needed a god, but they didn’t know who that god was. They were so close, yet they looked to the sun, rather than the One who made the sun.
It was sad hearing how the Spanish came in and destroyed so much of the culture. They came bringing Catholicism, but they only succeeded in turning people away from the One True God. The Spanish missed out on so much of the technological and other advances of the culture; the people here missed out on the truths of the Bible. I see the importance of how we walk and how we approach people from other cultures. We need to try to understand and connect with people, to understand their culture, and to learn from them, so that we can reach them with the Gospel.
Tomorrow, our team will begin ministry here in Cuzco. We will be working with Missionary Cory Ricker and Pastor Percy Huaman from Iglesia Bautista El Calvario as we minister in local schools. We are excited for the opportunity to serve alongside them and continue sharing Christ through English instruction, Deaf ministry, music, testimony, and personal interaction.
Please continue to pray for our team. Pray for safety as we travel, health and strength as we adjust to the altitude, and spiritual effectiveness in every ministry opportunity. Most of all, pray that God will prepare hearts and use our team to clearly reflect the hope and truth of the Gospel everywhere we go.