Thursday, May 1, 2014

May 1st - Arequipa - Lima

The pace is slowing down during our last two days of travel and we are basically soaking in some new sights and enjoying ourselves. We had a half day tour of Arequipa which included a visit to some scenic viewpoints where we had a great view of the three volcanoes that surround the city. We then visited the old part of the city which was built in the Spanish colonial style, some beautiful churches and a monastery that was of enormous historical significance to the city. 

Along the way we learned that one of the main economic activities in Arequipa is copper mining which would explain why the city appears to be economically vibrant in comparison to some of the other places we have visited along the way. 

During lunch we had the most amazing chance encounter with a gentleman who turned out to be a 94 year old economist from Luxembourg who was in Peru for a project sponsored by the government of Luxembourg. The project is to build a city with housing for low income residents and to create jobs to attract people to the city. He seemed really knowledgeable about the Peruvian economy and spoke quite a bit about what he thought the biggest issues were. He also had an amazing life story- he was a Holocaust survivor who had spent three years in Auschwitz; he had served as minister of finance in Luxembourg, taught in several universities around the world, published a book, been retired for thirty years and traveled all over North and South America. He gave us his business card and as soon as we get back to the US we are checking the website for the urban project that he is working on. 

After lunch it was time to catch our plane to Lima and when we arrived we met up with the other half of the group that had stayed on in Cuzco for the Spanish immersion course. The students were excited to meet their friends and we had a spirited group that checked into our hotel tonight. We immediately set out to find a place to eat and everyone got to walk around and see a bit of Lima this evening. We are staying in one of the best neighborhoods in the city and there are plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants around many of then well known US chains. It's a fascinating contrast to what we've experienced so far in Peru and it'll be interesting to see if the students realise that this small microcosm of society is not representative of Lima as a whole and certainly not of Peru. 

Tomorrow we get a couple of tours of the city so we still have time to form our impressions of the place. Our last day in Peru should be interesting.

1 comment:

  1. WHY DO MEN REJECT OR NOT UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH?

    What are the reasons men reject, abandon, or do not understand the truth concerning God, His terms for pardon, or His commandments for living the Christian lifestyle?

    THE REASONS!

    John 12:42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;

    Are there men today who do not confess Jesus as the Christ because they fear being ostracized or banished by their secular friends, anti Christian groups, or other religions?

    2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

    Why will these men perish? 1. They were deceived by wickedness. 2. They did not love the truth. 3. They chose not to believe the truth. 4. They took pleasure in wickedness. NOTICE: God sent a deluding influence so they would believe what was false after they had rejected the truth.

    Matthew 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.
    Matthew 24:11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

    Many are and will be mislead away from the truth about Jesus.
    No man has to be mislead. It is a choice.
    Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
    Men who sincerely seek God will not be mislead.

    Roman 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

    Men cannot believe the truth about Jesus unless they have heard the truth preached.

    2 Peter 3:16-17 as also in his letters, speaking in them of things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall your own steadfastness,

    The reasons some men do not understand some difficult passages of Scripture and teach error, are, that they are untaught, unstable, and unprincipled.

    WHAT ARE THE REASONS MEN DENY THE CLEAR MEANING OF ACTS 22:16?

    Acts 22:12-16.... Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name!

    What would be the reason that men say, Saul had had his sins forgiven on the road to Damascus three days prior?

    What would be the reason why that men would say, Saul had had his sin forgiven because of "faith only" the moment he believed three days ago on the road to Damascus?

    Why would men deny that even though Saul was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus, and repented three day prior to arriving at Damascus, that Saul was still in his sins until he was baptized in water calling on the name of the Lord? (Acts 9:1-19, Acts 22:1-16, Acts 26:12-18)

    Saul's sins were not washed away until he was baptized in water calling on the name of the Lord. Saul was not saved on the road to Damascus.

    WHY DO MEN REJECT OR NOT UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH?


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