News from Paz y Esperanza - Sept 2008
One of The River's partners is Associacion Paz y Esperanza (Peace and Hope Association) which works in several location in Peru seeking justice for those underserved (or not served) by the justice system. The main office we work with is in the city of Huanuco where there has been an ongoing epidemic of sexual abuse of women and young girls. We are familiar with many dramatic testimonies of God's miraculous work through Paz y Esperanza. Recently they shared a story with us (via Sandra Trigueros) that also underscores the threats inherent in their work:
We received news yesterday from Dayvi Cabanillas regarding the kidnapping of the two psychologists, Doris and Becky, and a female pastor, Jessy. They were in the town of Churumbaba to do a home visit and while there came under suspicion by the townspeople of being "pishtacos," a person who steals infants or children to kill them and sell their organs. This is obviously a serious accusation - just a month before a man in a different town was killed because he was thought to be a "pishtaco".
Doris, Becky and Jessy told the townspeople that they worked for Paz y Esperanza, and the townspeople demanded that they have the President of the organization come to verify their story. As soon as Richard Ponciano the head of Paz in Huanuco heard of this, he and a few police officers went to rescue the women. When they arrived they found them at the plaza surrounded by a mob of 300 people bound hand and foot and with bruised faces. Apparently, there was no authority to help them. Richard immediately brought them back to Huanuco where a doctor performed a full check up.
The women are very thankful to God for sending someone to their rescue, but they are still very affected by their ordeal. Please continue to pray for God's continued healing for them.
If you would like to learn more about Paz y Esperanza and our partnership with them, please contact Tony Traback, The River's Pastor of Mission Mobilization at .