"The more you see the less you know

The less you find out as you go

I knew much more then than I do now" (U2)

We're learning a lot as we've arrived in the big city, but still have a lot more to learn. For example, how do you cross the road in Lima? No chickens involved here. I googled "crossing the street in Lima" and came across a hilarious and insightful blog entitled, "4 Tips for Surviving Street Crossings in Lima" by Roving Reporter Eric Ludy. The tips are as follows:

Tip #1: Just because the sign says you can walk, doesn't mean you should. In many countries, the changing of a pedestrian signal from "don't walk" to "walk" generally means that it is now safe to cross the street. Not so in Lima. The signals will change, but the cars will keep coming. Attempts to cross during these times will be met with honks and exasperated looks from drivers. Needless to say, it's best to wait till the coast is clear, even when the lights say (wrongly) that it is.

Tip #2: You don' t have the right of way. A cousin to Tip #1 is this simple rule: even when you do have the right of way in Lima, you don't. The internal combustion engine trumps two legs here — no exceptions. There's a sort of Darwinian logic to this. In other places, they have traffic laws designed to even the playing field between man and machine. In Lima, they let nature run its course.

Tip #3: Never assume. See that taxi cab slowing down? Chances are, he's not letting you pass, he's just testing his brake pads before careening off, taking out any unsuspecting pedestrians in the process. It's best to never assume in Lima that drivers see you, or will stop for you, or have any concern whatsoever for your general well-being. Unless somebody implicitly waves you across the street, don't cross. And even then, proceed with extreme caution.

Tip #4: Don't do as the Limeños do. After a lifetime of surviving hazardous street crossings, the people of Lima are amazingly adept at zig-zagging their way through traffic. Don't think you can do the same. If you see others crossing, look both ways and listen for any sounds of sudden acceleration before doing so yourself. Blindly following the crowd here could end poorly…

Good to know.

While we are in Lima, we're also trying to learn more Spanish. We started our second round of classes today and did a lot of review! At the beginning of class, the teacher gave us a written test to assess our skills. It's been a while since we've taken tests, and boy was it nerve-wracking! If we would have worked together, we probably would have gotten half of the fill-in-the-blanks right. Cometemos muchos errores. We learned and used that phrase today!

We're also getting to know the Iglesia Luterana Evangélica Peruana (or ILEP for short). Pastora Dana Nelson and her husband Tom Ososki are the ELCA missionaries with whom TLC partners. They are serving an ILEP congregation in Lima called Cristo Rey Luterana. Dana and Tom and family have been so welcoming and helpful as we get our bearings in Lima. For the past two Sundays, we have worshiped with Cristo Rey and have gotten to know some of the gracious and hospitable members. Next week, Stephanie gets to play her newly puchased violin (see pics from La Paz, Bolivia) with some of the musicians during worship, which will be a real treat. We've also gotten to know a Canadian missionary serving ILEP whose name is Fran Schmidt. She is pastora at San Juan Camino Esperanza Luterana. In preparation for the TLC mission trip team that will arrive for Semana Santa (Holy Week), together we (Dana, Fran, Stephanie & Paul) have been able to do a lot of legwork to ensure a well-planned and executed trip. We are grateful for our growing relationships with these people who are faithfully serving the Lutheran church in Peru.

Many of you know that despite the economic downturn throughout the U.S. and other countries throughout the world, Peru has experienced quite the opposite. Since 2001, the GDP has grown from $50 billion to $150 billion. We have seen proof of this since arriving in Lima. It is a great big city of skyscrapers, impressive historical monuments, and blinding lights. But it is also a city of great disparity. Just blocks from the skyscraper, you can find a shantytown. According to a 2010 report, Peru's wealthiest households spend on average about 24 times more on education than families in the lowest socio-economic level. If you examine Peru's history, you will learn there are deep roots to this inequality. With Spanish colonialism came the divide between "white" and indigenous people that still exists today. As we've written before, it's hard to see such disparity and know how to act and respond. As people of faith from another place, what is our role in seeking justice for the oppressed? We're still asking the questions and trying to live into the answers.

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

1 Corinthians 13:12