by Carolynn Chen, SIM short-term missionary from Sydney, Australia
20 March 2007

	Watch a video about church planting in Cotahuasi Canyon.

Cotahuasi Canyon, at almost twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, is officially the deepest canyon on earth. At 3,354 meters (10,968 feet) deep, it stretches across the south western Andes mountains of Peru and is home to 17,000 people in approximately 40 villages along the edges and at the base of the canyon. Occasionally, brave adventurers reach Cotahuasi Canyon to bathe in the hot springs, see the condors fly, and hike the canyon. It is easy to enjoy the rugged beauty of the canyon and imagine idyllic, isolated indigenous villages within it.

However, the local Quechua people describe it as "forgotten by the rest of Peru." People live hand-to-mouth as farmers, growing maiz (corn), potatoes, and lima beans. Households rarely have running water, electricity, or sewage systems. Peruvian money is rarely used. Farmers swap labour to maintain their land, and they supply their workers with chicha, a popular home-brewed maize beer. A recent study by the ministry of health shows that the alcoholism rate within the entire canyon is around 90% among adults.

Bringing Hope to the Canyon

Brad and Gina Shaw, from the United States, began work in the Cotahuasi Canyon area in 2001. They live in the main town of Cotahuasi (coat-a-wa-see, which means "group of houses" in the Quechua language). Along with their two daughters, they serve with a team of Quechua missionaries, some of whom live with them.

	Brad Shaw ministers to a drunk man lying on the street

In 2002, they preached the Gospel in Huillac (wee-yak). This small village of 500 was known as "a hopeless case where nearly everyone was an alcoholic." Alcoholism was the cause of other sins in the community—widespread domestic abuse of women, rape, and the abandonment of children. As several couples in Huillac put their faith in Jesus Christ, the community saw their lives dramatically change, and the church grew. For years, social workers and other community leaders had given up hope on Huillac. But where community initiatives failed to bring reform, the Gospel succeeded in transforming lives.

The spread of the Gospel has been sure and steady since the work began. About a quarter of the 40 surrounding towns have weekly meetings. A few villages have churches with their own pastor, but most still depend on workers to visit and teach them the Bible. These churches can be fragile and need constant encouragement. "The size of this ministry is huge. People are open to the Gospel here, and we need more people to join us," the Shaws say, pointing to Matthew 9:37, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

Standing Against Culture

Believers in Cotahuasi battle deeply-held cultural strongholds. Local customs are a curious mix of pagan rituals, remnants from indigenous ancestors, and Roman Catholicism, established by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. The people venerate religious images and statues during local harvest festivals and saints days. Superstitious practices, such as the use of witchdoctors to heal sicknesses, are still common.

	An evening house church meeting (Lisa Fitzgerald photo)

Community pressure to conform is strong. Local Christians suffer consequences for living God's way. In one town, the local statue of the Virgin Mary was burned by candles during a festival. Community leaders went door-to-door collecting donations to repair it, but when a local believer refused, authorities threatened to cut off his irrigation water. In Huillac, the church has been working to construct a building. However, relatives of the previous land owners have torn down construction twice, wanting to preserve the area for pagan rituals and festivals. Farmers who become Christians no longer pay their help with fermented chicha, and therefore, they lose most of the workers who are addicted to alcohol.

Expanding Vision for the Future

Despite the challenges, God is changing lives in Cotahuasi. Brad, Gina, and the local believers have dreams to expand the ministry in the canyon. In addition to the daily work of evangelism, discipleship, and women's and children's programs, they have started several different ministry projects and have vision to begin others:

• Theological Education by Extension (TEE): This program equips the local believers in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
• Christian youth homes: Many parents in the rural areas send their children to Cotahuasi for better education. The Shaws and other Christian parents envision a home to provide a secure place where children can feel loved and have opportunities to learn about the God of the Bible. They are looking for key "house parents" to live with and minister to students.
• Christian Education: The Shaws dream of establishing a Christian elementary school as well as Christian distance education for high school students.
• Development of Missionary Training/Resource Center: This project will fund the purchase of the simple buildings and land to provide a stable long-term facility for ministry outreach. (Project PE 91252)
• Radio: Radio will reach into many of the remote towns in Cotahuasi canyon as well as minister to listeners who cannot read. (Project PE 91885)
• Alcohol Rehabilitation Center: The small Christian community is planning to begin a Christian rehabilitation and counselling center because alcoholism is so prevalent in the entire canyon area. (Project PE 91887)

	Ministering to children is Gina Shaw's passion

Give

You can financially support this work by giving to project PE 91252 (training center), 91885 (radio), or 91887 (rehab center).

Go

The Shaws are praying for others to join them in a difficult but beautiful and rewarding place of ministry. Is God calling you? See opportunities to serve in the Peruvian Andes

Pray

Please pray for:

• good health and energy for Brad, Gina, and their daughters Janelle (18) and Cassandra (16).
• the Peruvian missionaries as they evangelize and church plant in 40 surrounding towns.
• current ministries and the development of planned projects in Cotahuasi.
• more workers to join the Cotahuasi team.

More

For the latest on the Cotahuasi Canyon ministries, visit Brad and Gina's website