Learning....

Last Friday for my Spanish Practica class my teacher and I walked to town. Now, walking the streets of a place that is not your home is always exciting - especially when you are by yourself. You realize that people all over the world are the same for the most part. You see fruit, newspapers, food, flowers...etc...for sale. But there is something special about having your own personal guide to help you understand what you are seeing and smelling (the smell part is not what you are thinking).

Juan Carlos (my teacher ) and I walked to town in a matter of 15 minutes from our school. He showed me one of the biggest markets in town. It was a big open air market - with a huge orange tarped roof. As we walked in everything looked normal...tons of people everywhere buying and selling. Tons of fruits, meats, and vegatables....and other random stores. We walked by these random stores - and even stopped as Juan Carlos was asking (for my bennefit) about some of the things we were looking at. He began to tell me that people here believe in fortune and luck and are involved into witchcraft - and that the box we were looking at was a box of imporant items in Arequipa in order to bring them luck - and these home made boxes with orniments are for sale and supposed to bring you "luck" and prosperity.

In the above photo there are such items as a big bus - a bride and groom - a house - money - a volcano (arequipa is borderd on the east by three volcanos) to represent protection - and asortment of other things.

As we walked I began to notice these semi chared looking animals that each store was selling. I found out that these were Alpaca or Ostrich fetuses that have been killed for the purpose using them to "break" the land so your land will produce a plentiful harvest. I am told you bury them... with other items and through some ceremony your land is prepared for sewing your seed....and your harvest will be plentiful.

As we left the market out the other end...Juan Carlos asked me if I smelled anything - It was a flowery kind of smell. Now, we were walking down a close nit street - with shops and busniness everywhere. He told me that the shop owners use this type of plant to keep away the evil spirits as well as to bring in quality customers that will bring properity. We also later saw Andian women on the street selling fortune, luck, and prosperity.

I never knew any of this...that the city I lived in which is VERY catholic is and has been mixed with the traditions of the Andian religions. It is called syncratism and the two have meshed into one religion. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of the people here in Arequipa and all over Peru. They need Jesus.

On a lighter note, there is evidence of the Holy Spirit's prensence here in Arequipa. I saw it just the other day as I was walking. He has a taxi service and is actively driving the streets of Arequipa! (Espirtu Santo is Holy Spirit in Spanish)!! : )

It is Friday afternoon September 5th - and tomorrow a group of 10 of us are going to hike the volcano Misiti! It will be a two day journey! Please pray for us! I will update next week about the trip with pics and stuff...and whether or not we made it to the top!!