THE STORY OF
Maria Teresa’s story
MARÍA TERESA
14
María Teresa grew up in the Andes Mountains of Peru where terrorism was pervasive. As a teenager, she fled her home in Ccafiamarca. Despite her escape, she drifted back to her village after three years, where she met and married a man named Abel. The violence that had driven María Teresa from her village was soon present in her home. Abel had begun to drink heavily and beat her. María Teresa followed his example and leaned on alcohol to cope. This prompted her to fight back against his violence. María Teresa’s excelled in self-defence to the point that she started teaching other women to fend off their own husbands’ attacks. SIM’s Brendan Conally said: “As you can imagine a town full of husbands and wives beating each other was not a pleasant environment for anyone, especially children.” Brendan’s colleague Cecilio first encountered María Teresa through her children who attended a nearby church. Cecilio encouraged the children to bring their mother to the next church service. “At this point, María Teresa had a reputation for beating up men, and Cecilio was worried she might
SEAN SHERIDAN
ORAL BIBLE STORYING
The Abancay area of Peru is home to a dialect called East Apurimac Quechua. Although the region is greatly influenced by Catholicism, the Quechua people have not had the privilege of learning scripture in their own language. SIM linguist Brendan Connally translates materials into written and audio formats, bringing the Word of God into their language for the first time. Resources such as picture books and solar-powered audio devices are indispensable for speakers of this dialect to be strengthened in their new faith and to pass it on to neighbours and friends. Alcohol abuse is so prevalent in rural Peruvian villages that the Connallys published a Quechua book in 2011 to counsel believers through the temptation of alcoholism. come after him!” said Brendan. Cecilio overcame his fear and visited María Teresa and her children. He was fortunate to meet her on a good day, and she was courteous as he explained the gospel. Afterward, she told Cecilio: “I’ll consider Jesus and take some time to count the cost.” More than a year later, she committed her life to Christ. Over the next year, Abel saw the drastic change in his wife and chose to dedicate his life
PLEASE PRAY: For this precious family to grow in the Lord and in service. For churches in Ccafiamarca and in the village of Cruzpata. For Brendan’s ministries of translation to the East Apurimac Quechua and for wife Erin’s dental clinics in the region.
to the Lord. Abel and María Teresa’s family has begun to heal from the drinking and violence that filled their home. Now, the couple is involved in church planting and in putting materials from the oral Bible project to good use. Abel now pastors Ccafiamarca’s church, and he preaches using oral Bible storying methods. Together they counsel families going through similar issues as them. María Teresa treks two hours to Cruzpata where she has planted a church. She says her solar audio device is essential to help her share God’s Word as she goes from house to house in Cruzpata, a village where almost no one can read or write their own language. WWW.SIM.ORG
