OCTOBER 2010

REAP NORTH PERU

Faithfully Serving
By John Redman
Southside Baptist Church

On April 15, 2010 Katherine Talley

returned from her 3rd mission trip to
the highlands of Peru in many years.
In itself there is nothing unique about
this fact. Many women have made
the trip high into the Andes of central
Peru with minimal difficulty for the
purpose of sharing the Gospel.
What is unique is that Katherine is 83
years of age. After her first trip in
2007 she had an immediate love for
the people and was anxious to return.
Katherine is a retired junior high Katherine Talley pictured with her daughter, Anna and Henri, a
student from Tarma.
school science teacher, but has always been a student. Accordingly, her first thought was that
she needed to be able to communicate in the heart language of the highland people, so she
enrolled in a collegiate class in Spanish at a community college in her town of Pine Bluff,
Arkansas. Katherine had another concern. Her knees were arthritic. Walking, particularly
climbing was quite painful. Her concerns were these: would navigating the steep streets and
paths and stairways be possible again and would she be a hindrance to the other team members?
That quite possibly might be the basis of an excuse not to go for most octogenarians, but not
Katherine. She immediately scheduled an appointment with a joint replacement surgeon for a
total knee replacement. Just as quickly, following a successful operation, she began the
rehabilitation necessary to be ready to go to Peru. The trip was a wonderful experience. Her
presence was an encouragement to her fellow team members. Perhaps even more so, it was an
inspiration to the Peruvians. Following the 2nd trip, she had noted such improved mobility; she
had the other knee replaced. Why? Well of course, she fully believed that the LORD wanted her
doing Great Commission work in Peru. The mission in April was difficult. The site was San Pedro
de Cajas a beautiful Andean village north of Tarma in Junin Province. The source of the difficulty
was that San Pedro is considerably higher (13,000 ft) than the other villages where Katherine had
worked before (9,000ft). The area was colder and the air thinner. This combination made her
mobility much more difficult, but did not preclude her participation in a daily ministry to the people.
Will Katherine return to the highlands of Peru? Time will tell. However, her experience should
serve as evidence that age and physical disabilities should not be reasons to dismiss the
possibility of participating in foreign mission trips.

OCTOBER TEAMS:
October 6-12: REAP Bolivia Training
October 7-15: Southside Baptist Church
October 8-15: Agricola Baptist/George Green
Association-Vision Trip
October 9-18: FBC Universal City, Texas
October 15-23: Robuck Baptist Church
October 21-30: Bell Shoals Baptist Church
October 22-November 5: Bryan Baptist
Association
Lottie Moon 2010:
National Goal: $175 million
Please be praying about your
contribution to the Lottie Moon
Christmas Offering. Because of the
generous gifts of Southern Baptist, the
gospel is being spread across
northern Peru and around the world.
For more information please visit:
www.imb.org.
Continuing to Seek
By Kevin Larson
Grace Community Baptist Church
The first Bible Study of our trip was the first
part of a marriage study. Our driver attended
and listened attentively. Aft the meeting was
over, a local of San Jose de Quero took from
him the handout that had been provided. The
driver was so struck by what he learned, he
asked for an extra copy of the notes so he
could read the scriptures again and ponder the
message. He prayed to receive Christ and is
looking for a church in his home city.
We had a marvelous Bible Study on baptism
with the believers of Independencia, a barrio of
San Jose de Quero. After singing and praying
together, the team leader noticed the man next
to him having difficulties reading. Donnie had
brought some reading glasses, so he took
some out and found a good magnification.
Once the man realized he could see the letters
clearly, his face lit up and he avidly read
everything. He took the notes provided with
scripture, references and intended to read and
if what was taught was true. Praise the Lord
for this manʼs heart to search for truth in
scripture.