Polar Extremes

Following Pastor’s Camp was a week with all the Baptist Mid-Mission missionaries in Peru, meaning everything was in English. The ARRIBA students were in charge of the missionary children for RBP’s Polar Extremes Vacation Bible School. I had the Middler’s class. To be honest, it was quite a challenge the first day teaching since the words that I wanted to say would first come to me in Spanish. It was encouraging to know that Spanish was coming more quickly, but it did make class a bit interesting the first day. We had a great time with the kids, doing skits, singing together, memorizing scripture, and giving a final presentation for the parents. What a blessing it was to be surrounded by so many servants of the Lord. It was incredible to listen to and observed them, noting how God has remained faithful throughout the years.
Friday afternoon, six of us decided to take the challenge of hiking up the dark-faced, ominous mountain that filled the eastern skyline of the Buenas Nuevas campground. Leaving at approximately 1500 hours the six daring Baptist Mid-Mission Missionaries boarded the red Toyota transport ladened with their weapons: water bottles, baseball caps, and a little bit of TP to the carry them to the drop off point. After the transport turned slowly around in the sandy streets, the six began their journey up the mountain. Unlike normal mountains, this mountain was a compilation of burning sand, scrubby bushes, cacti, and sand-dwelling arachnids. After approximately 1600 hours, the intense heat and the increasing incline held back one of the missionaries. Unable to go any further, they set up a rendezvous and the fearless five continued on their journey. They battled through zones of dry desert plants, plots of munchkin tomatoes, and collections of owl pellets, all the while advancing under the unforgiving rays of the intense sun and being pelted by hot desert breezes. The way was difficult, but fighting for each step up the monstrous sand dune, the five conquered the black beast. Though coated with a mixture of sweat and dirt, the five had smiles on their faces knowing that this mission was for the first time completed. No other from Buenas Nuevas Camp had ever before climbed to the summit of the now conquered fiend.