Peruvian pastor gets a warm welcome at a Crosby church

Oct 2 2008 by Janine Yaqoob, Crosby Herald

Peruvian pastor gets a warm welcome at a Crosby church

PARISHIONERS of St Luke’s Church welcomed an Anglican pastor from Peru to their congregation.

Alejandro Mesco visited Crosby for three days to meet the people who have been supporting him through their World Mission programme.

At a special welcome service at St Luke’s, Alejandro thanked parishioners for their help in setting up the San Felipe Mission in the remote mountains of Peru.

He expressed his gratitude for their prayers, encouragement, letters and financial aid, which has established a meeting room and living quarters in Colca Canyon, with the next phase being to build a chapel.

Alejandro explained the mission, which is based in a town of around 2,000 people, is just the starting point for his treks into the mountains to a network of villages rarely visited by the outside world.

The only way to get there is by mule, but Alejandro and his mission colleagues walk anywhere from eight hours to two days to get to the villages, taking with them Bibles in the local language and using a battery powered portable DVD player to show stories about Jesus to families as part of their mission work.

During his stay he was accommodated by Jeff and Hope Calvert in their home on Boundary Drive, and was escorted by St Luke’s South American Missionary Society link co-ordinator Joyce Fell and World Mission co-ordinator Karen Hignett.

He gave talks to children at St Luke’s Halsall CE Primary School, Sacred Heart Catholic College, and young people at St Luke’s Church youth group (Teenagers And God – TAG).

Before Alejandro left Crosby to visit supporters in Birmingham, he was treated to a cultural and spiritual tour of the area, taking in the Antony Gormley statues on Crosby Beach, Liverpool’s two cathedrals, and a ferry across the Mersey – the first time he had ever been on a ship!

Joyce Fell commented: “Alejandro’s visit was absolutely wonderful! Everyone who met him said what a lovely man he was.

“He came across a very humble man and everyone gained a lot from his visit.

“He had a wonderful time in Crosby, and we all thoroughly enjoyed having him here.”