In truth, it had never crossed my mind to keep a blog (a ‘blog’ is a way of writing direct on to the internet – a web log). I had read other blogs but thought it would be beyond me. However, before coming to Peru, Gordon Darragh suggested that I should give it a try. At the same time, my Pastor, John McDermott, was encouraging me to make it a priority, during my time in Peru, to keep my Church and other supporters up to date with what I was up to in Peru.
A blog is a bit like a diary but also like a reflective journal, something I am familiar with both from nurse and practical theology training although, obviously, not everything I think about gets written about. If I am convinced that something I have seen or somewhere have been visiting would be of interest or worth sharing, to better inform people about Peruvian culture, I then write about it. A blog also allows me to include photos, which I enjoy taking.
I have been very encouraged by the positive feedback I have received. My blog address is http://alistaircreelman.blogspot.com/. I hope you are able to access it on your computer and trust that you will be blessed by what you read.
|
Gordon Darragh (Mission Director) writes: ‘Alistair’s blog contains a wealth of information on life in Southern Peru - from unusual angles and through some unusual experiences. He writes both warmly and perceptively and I would encourage everyone with a computer, and an interest in Peru, to log on and read more…also check out the Blog, Facebook, and YouTube links on our website for information and insights from others. |
A few extracts are set out below.
Christmas 2009 ‘…I went over to Ilo to spend Christmas with the Morrow family and the three Irish ‘Misión Rescate’ team members. We had a good time of fun and fellowship. On the Wednesday night we all attended a Christmas dinner at La Pampa church in Ilo and it was really tasty. We actually had turkey which surprised me as I reckoned we would have had some other less Christmassy dish. Anyway although it was tasty it proved a bit difficult to cut with plastic disposable knives and forks, but I made a valiant attempt..’.
Ticaco and Tarata ‘…We also managed to fit in a visit to the village of Ticaco to visit Gregoria once more, and as always she was delighted by the visit. Despite being almost blind and quite deaf she amazed us with her lucidity. She enjoys being kept up to date by Berta about the major happenings in the different villages in the Tarata valley, just like any Granny. We again shared from Gods Word and Reuben prayed with her…’
New Year’s Eve 2009 ‘…On New Year’s Eve I opted to stay in and celebrate New Year in Ireland via Skype with my parents, then finish and print my sermon and youth talk for the weekend before climbing onto the roof to watch the fireworks at midnight. There were fireworks across the skyline of the city in all directions and was lovely to watch. On New Year’s Day a friend and I headed to the beach to meet up with friends there. Although we bumped into many people we knew, we didn’t manage to find those we were initially looking for. Nevertheless we were able to meet up with some of the guys I play football with, and the young people from their churches, and spent the afternoon with them…’
Church Anniversary ‘…Last Sunday John Brew, Chris (who accompanies me to Tarata) and I headed to Moquegua to attend the San Antonio church anniversary at which John was preaching. It was a lovely service and I was asked to pray for the newly appointed or re-elected memebers of the eldership and diaconate. After a church lunch we headed back to Tacna in time to say goodbyes to the Roycroft’s and attend the Luz de Vida church anniversary at which John was also preaching…’
Red pens & Rojo music ‘…The highlight of highlights was definitely being able to attend a concert on Wednesday night. The ‘network of young Christians of Tacna’ I mentioned in a previous post has made efforts to bring well known Christian bands and singers to Tacna, no mean feat given that in the grand scheme of things Tacna is fairly remote. This time it was a Mexican band called ‘Rojo’ or ‘Red’ in English- presumably a reference or inference to Christ’s shed blood. One of the other lecturers, Silas Ramos, encouraged me to attend even though I didn’t know who they were. Interestingly they played at the ‘Concha Acústica’ or Band shell/amphitheatre facing the house I lived in for a few years here in Tacna during my childhood..’.
Cards in the Park ‘…The first man I asked to photograph was very obliging. He was the man we had seen earlier. What had intrigued us were not the tarot cards or coca leaves but the crucifix. As I watched for a few moments I noted that his routine at the beginning of dealing the cards is to place them on the crucifix and in a sense have the crucifix ‘kiss’ the deck before he begins to deal…all in all I found it interesting, though in the same instance saddening, to see how the nature of religion here in Peru has meant that crucifixes have been mixed in with tarot cards and coca leaves. It was worrying that people could be duped into thinking that this practice was in anyway related to Christianity. Though I suppose it shouldn’t be surprising given that many people like to blend or adapt various ‘religious’ traditions or superstitions to suit their own needs or fill their own void…’
You can follow Alistair's blog by clicking here.