Tuesday 27 October 2009

The Miraculous Vending Machine

In the last month we have seen many people here in Arequipa dressed in purple dresses or purple shirts, with a white rope as a belt or tie. In class it was explained that people dess this way for the entire month of October because they believe it´s the month of the "Lord of the Miracles." So, if they need a miracle they´ll say to God "I will wear purple for the entire month of October for 5 years so that you can give me..." It seems really bizarre but that is how some people think here.

Lynne just stood in front of this woman and non-discreetly took her photo!!


Two weeks ago we decided to go and see a bit more of Arrequipa. We ended up looking around a huge catholic church. There were a lot of statues behind glass, but one in particular stood out. It was a small child with a lot of plastic toy cars piled up to its knees. In school one of our teachers said that many believe that the child Jesus is a miraculous child who grants many miracles. People come to his statue, give it a plastic toy, and expect to recieve a miracle.

It is incredibly sad the mentality that many have. They want to use God as a miracle vending machine. They want the blessings of God but care nothing about having a relationship with the God of blessings.

Please pray that many would have this superstitious hold broken. Pray that God would reach into the lives of many here, that they´d be able to know and love Him, that they would know what it is to believe in Jesus, have their sins forgiven and be eternally secure. Pray that God would change them.

Posted by Peru Team 10/11 at 09:11

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous27 October 2009 at 13:57

    Great to see blog updated - I keep checking, numerous times! Love the mountain photo. You keep blogging and slogging at spanish & we'll keep praying at this end - deal?

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  2. Gordon Darragh27 October 2009 at 16:52

    Thanks for the updates! I enjoyed being back in Bethany on Sunday night. There's a good level of support and I'm sure your blog will inform many more about the reality of mission. Trevor leaves NI tomorrow and hopes to visit soon. Wish I was there!

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  3. Anonymous27 October 2009 at 18:53

    Hi Guys,

    Thanks for your reflections here. The vending machine metaphor is very appropriate. It is so painful to see peoples' hopes fixed on things which cannot save, but also great to know that you folks are being used, and will be used, as vessels to convey the true hope of the Gospel.

    We are praying for you all every day without fail.

    Love from the 3 of us,
    A, C and (especially) G

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  4. Unknown28 October 2009 at 05:48

    How sad! People are so self-centred, looking for what they can get out of it. Continuing to pray that God will use you all to proclaim the gospel and that He will perform many miracles of regeneration.

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