Volume 2 ! Issue 3 ! Anthony.Diliberto@lcms.org

Linguistics is a branch of Cultural Anthropology dedicated to the scientific study of language. Cultural Linguists study language in order to define the values, worldview, and cultural identity of a specific people group. I'm no Cultural Linguist, but studying Peruvian Spanish has taught me a great deal about the wonderful people I have the pleasure to serve here. Here are just a couple popular expressions and slang words that have given me a glimpse into their lives. No te preocupes, hermano. A typical conversation between two Peruvians is littered with words like hermano (brother), primo (cousin), or cunado (brother in law). "You have no idea what I have to tell you hija (daughter), a teenage girl says to a close girlfriend as she greets her with a kiss on the cheek. "No te preocupes, hermano” (“Don’t worry about it, brother”), a young guy says to one of his soccer buddies after an accidental collision. Even the Spanish word for friend (amigo) has essentially been replaced by the word pata (translated literally: "leg," or "paw"), to communicate an even stronger connection. Y mi besito? Greetings vary all over the globe. Americans shake hands. Spaniards give kisses on both cheeks. Many people from Asian cultures bow. Peruvians kiss on the right cheek. And if you happen to lose you're mind and forget you're among such cordial, friendly people,

no doubt you’ll be politely reminded with the phrase, Y mi besito? ("And my little kiss?"). Here's some helpful advice: Always kiss to the right to avoid an accidental collision in the middle. Don't say you haven't been warned. Alli estamos One expression particulary revealing about the “reality” the rural farmers here experience is alli estamos. Ask someone in Lunahuana how they’re doing, and alli estamos is one of the responses you’re likely to hear. Loosely translated, it means "we're gettin' there" or "we're hangin' in there." The expression reflects an attitude of resignation or fatalism. The fatalistic worldview espoused by so many of the people we serve here in Lunahuana shouldn't take us for surprise. Our friends here, like so many other low-income, campesinos all throughout Latin America (did you know that poor living in rural areas account for nearly 75 percent of the total poor in the Majority World?) have been victims of exploitation and oppression for the past five centuries. The question is, how do we work to transform this fatalistic worldview with the hope of the Gospel? The longer I spend here, the more I realize what hard work this "worldview transformation" truly is. Please pray that God would give me the words to say as I work (with the help of and only because of the power of the Holy Spirit) to share the hope we

One Conversation at a Time

Anthony DiLiberto El Cuy Times Globally Engaged in Outreach Missionary, Perú

1 800 433 3954 www.lcmsworldmission.org Anthony.DiLiberto@lcms.org

Family Christmas Picture 2010.

Carissa DiLiberto, Kaitie & Kelsey Heinemann wearing their Christmas presents from Peru.

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have in Jesus one conversation at a time, in a language that isn't mine!

Mission Update Dreaming of a White Christmas… After almost a full year without hugging my mom, being able to celebrate the birth of our Savior with my family in California was a tremendous blessing! It’s been wonderful reconnecting with old friends and a handful of supporters. And now that I’ve had my fill of In’N’Out Burger and Starbucks coffee, I’m feeling renewed and refreshed for a year full of ministry.

Short-Term Missions: January

The Peru Mission Team and I are excited to be hosting a Short-Term Mission Team from Faith Lutheran Church in St. Louis (Oakville) the second week of January. This faithful team was a huge blessing to our mission January ‘10 when they came to help cement a large portion of Lucumo’s main irrigation canal and lead two separate Vacation Bible School programs. Please pray the Lord would work through this group of servants as they lead an English Camp for various communities of the Lunahuana district. One Step Closer Pastor Mark Eisold, his wife Sandi and their two kids have received the unofficial “green light” to begin making their travel arrangements to Peru. The Lord has certainly been teaching us patience through the process, but with the Eisolds’ tentative arrival date set for sometime towards the end of January, it means we are one step closer to officially planting the church and beginning Word and Sacrament ministry in Peru! Please pray for the Eisold family as they prepare to move their lives to Peru.

Please Pray…

that the Lord would bless the Short-Term Mission team from Faith Lutheran, Oakville with safe travel, humble hearts, and the courage only the Holy Spirit can provide to boldly proclaim the Good News of the Gospel with all those they serve. that God would bless my support-raising efforts for my third year of service as a GEO Missionary in Peru. for wisdom and discernment for the Peru Mission Team as we plan for Short-Term Missions in 2011. for Pastor Mark Eisold and his family while they make final preparations for their ministry in Peru. for the Community Bible study group that is beginning to meet every other Wednesday in Condoray.

Support Time didn’t allow me to visit the amount of congregations I hoped to while in California to give updates and raise more support in person. There’s absolutely no way I can continue to serve without the support of mission-minded Lutherans like you! Please prayerfully consider partnering with me in mission. To support my work financially, you may send a tax-deductible gift to: LCMS World Mission, 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122-7295. Make checks payable to LCMS World Mission. Mark checks “Support of Anthony DiLiberto.” Gifts can also be given securely online through the LCMS World Mission web site on my project page: www.lcms.org?13583 or www.lcmsworldmission.org www.lcmsworldmission.org/prayercards