Peru Trip, March 2006

Johanna & Jordan participated in a ministry trip to Chachapoyas, Peru during Spring Break. The teamwas sponsored by the Northwest Mississippi Community College Baptist Student Union. Work was done in coordination with Southern Baptist missionaries and evangelical churches in the region. Johanna and Jordan both served in evangelism and music.

Team: 18 BSU Students, 4 Adult Coordinators

Dates: March 10-19, 2006

Flying from Memphis to Miami and then on to Lima was just the beginning!  A 24 hour bus ride from sea level along the Pacific coast to high up in the Andes (elevation between 7000-9000 feet) brought the team to Chachapoyas.

Maps are from www.worldatlas.com

CHACHAPOYAS, capital of the departmentof Amazonas, is one of Peru's oldest cities and one of the few that still maintains its noble air and Spanish influence. A land of orchids, sugar cane and coffee, cock fights and exquisite food, it is capable of enchanting anyone who visits it.

Chachapoyas is located in northeastern Peru (between Chiclayo & Iquitos) at an altitude of 2,335 meters above sea level. Its name comes from the native word Chachapoyacuno, which means "forest or mountain of mist". Alonso De Alvarado founded the city on September 5, 1538, and in colonial times it was the capital of eastern Peru, due to its being the starting point for expeditions setting out to conquer and colonize the Amazon.

                                                                        

The large colonial mansions in the city, with their tiled roofs, ample patios and unique balconies; surrounded by orchards and gardens, provide evidence of the Spanish presence.

                            

In the cities surrounding areas and in nearby provinces, there are many important archeological monuments built by the Sachapuyo (or chachapoyas). This civilization's imposing citadels were built on the summits of the mountains in order to make maximum use of the land for cultivation. Chachapoyas is the starting point for the trip to Kuelap, an excellent example of these citadels found near the village of Tingo, in Luya province.

The people are of mixed Indian and Spanish descent. Spanish is the primary language, and Roman Catholicism the primary religion (nominally, at least).

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