THE GREAT COMMISSION? I’ll begin in a contrarian mode by taking exception to the title “The Great Commission.” And before I explain my issue with it, let me also confess that I lose no sleep over this title being in…

Leading short-term mission projects is among the various forms of ministry that Becky and I are involved with here in Peru. Sometimes we work with groups of adults, or groups with a blend of youths and adults. But most of our projects…

Those of you who have never spent significant time in a less developed country, probably don’t know how good you have it.   Not that I’d trade places with you (I know I’m supposed to be here).  But there are…

Thought I’d share a few New Year day reflections. Late morning, January 1, 2010: The city of Lima is as quiet as you’ll ever hear it.  Last night it was not so… The fireworks began in earnest about 11:00 p.m.…

AN AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING My wife and I were invited to attend the inaugural service (Sunday 12/20/09) at a new church in San Juan de Lurigancho, one of Lima’s more populous and relatively poor areas. Even though it was scheduled on Becky’s…

For all our efforts, Christmas simply isn’t the same here in Peru. This has allowed me to realize that much of what has been special about Christmas for me is cultural. I cherish our family traditions: going as a family…

This evening my wife and I went to a movie. The theater was located in a U.S.-style mall with big department stores, a giant food court and lots of boutique shops. In addition to many local restaurants, this mall has…

We are Robert and Rebecca Cooley. We live in Lima, in a centrally located municipality called San Luis. About one third of Peru’s population (approximately 8.4 million people) lives in the 318 square miles that constitutes the urban area of Peru’s capital…