Pray For Calm In Our Government

15 March 2020

Dear Family and Friends,

I was hoping that this email would be a video update with sights and sounds of our Saturday Bible study and a trip to Tuti.  However, President Vizcarra has changed all of that.  At approximately 8:00 pm tonight, Sunday the 15th of March, he declared a state of emergency for corona virus.  There is not a problem with corona virus here in Peru.  That said, he has created a crisis by declaring this 15-day lock down.  What does that mean?  We can go to the pharmacy, super market, bank, and hospital.  We can go to our jobs if they are food, health, banking, telecommunications, or infrastructure related.  We can not leave the house for any other reason.  We can not hold meetings of any type; this includes church, Bible study related.  He has removed the protection of life and the safety of the house.  That means that the police and/or army can kill without reason and that they can enter the house without reason and that they can take what they want without reason.  Interestingly enough, just last week, they went from church to church here in Arequipa asking for a lot of information that they really don’t need, unless they are planning to take away our liberties.  And that is what they have done, at least for 15 days.  There are other things but I guess you get the point.  We need prayer and protection and it has nothing to do with catching a virus.  It has everything to do with oppression of basic human rights guaranteed in the Peruvian constitution.  And to make it a little worse, the economy here is dipping and I feel that this will greatly exacerbate that situation.  Angela says it is beginning to remind her of the time of terrorism about 25-35 years ago with President Garcia and later President Fujimori, when they took away the liberties of the people in a similar way.  Is Vizcarra just ignorant or is he a wicked man with diabolical plans?  Frankly, we just don’t know.  I don’t want to overreact but I also don’t want to act like nothing is happening.

Please pray for Peru.  Please pray for us.

Finish Strong,

Jeff and Angela Anderson

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.