• Directories
    • Business Directory
    • Church Directory
    • Organization Directory
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Help
  • Log In

MENUMENU
  • Learning
        • Leader’s Edge
          • Author Interviews
          • Book Summaries
        • Book Reviews
          • Book Look
          • EMQ Book Reviews
        • Publications
          • Anthology
          • Evangelical Missions Quarterly (EMQ)
          • Missiographics
        • Podcasts
          • The Mission Matters
          • Members Only Feed
          • Missions Podcast DirectoryNew
        • Topics
          • COVID-19 Resources
          • Diaspora Missions
          • Global Issues Updates
          • Member Highlights
          • Mobilization
          • Muslim Missions
          • Support Raising
          • UkraineNew
        • Media Library
          • Conferences
          • Global Issue Updates
          • On Mission
          • Thought Leader Briefings
          • Webinars
          • Workshop
          • View All
  • Programs
    • Accreditation
    • Bible Certificate
    • Church Missions Coaching
    • Cohorts
    • Cybersecurity
    • ImproveNew
    • Mission Jobs
    • Missions DataNew
    • Publish
    • RightNow Media
    • The Mission App
    • Women’s Development
  • Events
          • Calendar
          • In-Person Events
          • Virtual Events
          • Event Recordings
          • Awards
        • Premier Events
          • Mission Leaders Conference
          • On Mission
        • Upcoming Events

          • Pocket Guide to Being a Missions Pastor: 5 Things Every Missions Pastor Needs to Know
            Wed Jun 1 2022, 01:00pm EDT
          • From Harlem to the World - the Local Church Mobilized for Global Missions
            Wed Aug 3 2022, 01:00pm EDT
          • Innovation Leaders Discussion
            Mon Aug 8 2022, 01:00pm EDT
        • View All Events
  • Research
          • Missions DataNew
          • Missiographics
          • Research Reports
        • Popular Research
          • Compensation Reports
          • COVID-19 Resources
          • Field Attrition Report
          • View All Reports
        • Contribute
          • Current Research Projects
          • Volunteer
  • About Us
        • Who We Are
          • Our Contribution
          • Meet the Team
          • Board Members
          • History (1917–present)
        • Our Beliefs
          • Statement of Faith
          • Community Standards
        • Awards
        • Partner with Us
          • Advertise
          • Donate
          • Sponsorships
          • Volunteer
        • Help
          • Contact Us
          • Advertising Specs
          • Branding Guidelines
  • Join
        • Learn
        • Learn what you cannot learn anywhere else.

        • Meet
        • Meet people you otherwise won’t meet.

        • Engage
        • Engage in a community like none other.

          • Benefits
          • Benefits for Churches
          • Pricing

Sponsored Content

Upcoming Events

  • Pocket Guide to Being a Missions Pastor: 5 Things Every Missions Pastor Needs to Know
    Wed Jun 1 2022, 01:00pm EDT
  • From Harlem to the World - the Local Church Mobilized for Global Missions
    Wed Aug 3 2022, 01:00pm EDT
  • Innovation Leaders Discussion
    Mon Aug 8 2022, 01:00pm EDT
  • Peer 2 Peer for Communications and Marketing Staff: Communications and the Mission of God: Aligning organizational communications with God's purposes
    Thu Aug 18 2022, 01:00pm EDT
  • Women's Development Weeks
    Thu Sep 8 2022

View all events »

Topics

author interview CEO Church Church Missions Church Mission Team Church Planting COVID-19 Cross Cultural Skills Diaspora Disciple Making Discipleship Focus Future Innovation Islam Justin Long Leadership Management Member Care Missiology Missionaries Mission Finance and Administration MLC2019 MLC2020 MLC2021 Mobilization muslim Muslim Diaspora Networks Partnership Podcast Presenter Pursuing Partnerships Series Research Risk Short-Term Missions Spirituality support raising Training Trends Unengaged Unreached Weekly Roundup Women Women in Leadership

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

#Iwitness: The Holy Spirit, Henry, and I on a Ten-thousand Mile Road trip in South America

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Ted EslerJanuary 1, 2016

by Percy Valiente

I live in Peru, where I started the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA). I wanted to visit the CMA in Argentina and in Paraguay. Henry, a member of one of the clubs I visit in Lima, wanted to travel to Rio de Janeiro, so we decided to journey together on our “iron horses.”

 src=

AS I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR I saw Henry go off the road as he was going sixty-five miles per hour on his motorcycle. He could have been badly hurt or even killed.

The next day, his battery was dead and we could not start his bike by pushing it, so he had to be pulled by a car. The rope became tangled in his front tire, and he fell and was dragged several feet. Another time, he added oil to his motor and after two hours of riding, he stopped and his bike became covered with smoke. We both thought his bike was on fire. He forgot to put the oil cap on and the oil dripped onto the muffler, causing the smoke.

After these events happened in just the first couple of days of our trip, I said to him: “Evidently, Henry, you cannot take care of yourself, and I don’t think I can take care of you either. The only one who can take care of you is the Lord. So how about if you pray with me for God’s protection?” We did so and Henry was grateful. From then on, during the entire thirty-four days trip, he would not ride his bike until we first prayed and read the Bible.

I live in Peru, where I started the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA). I wanted to visit the CMA in Argentina and in Paraguay.

Henry, a member of one of the clubs I visit in Lima, wanted to travel to Rio de Janeiro, so we decided to journey together on our “iron horses.”

Henrys’ friends know that I am a Christian, so some of them jokingly questioned, “Who will change who on this trip? Either Percy will convert him to the Lord, or Henry will convert him to the world.” To God’s glory, Henry has shown a definite interest in the gospel and in knowing Jesus.

During this trip, we not only crossed the width of a continent, but also visited the most important cities in six countries. We travelled half the length of Peru and Chile, the width and length of Uruguay, and the width of Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil.

From Lima, we crossed the deserts in the south of Peru and Chile until we reached Santiago. From Santiago, we ascended the Andes Mountains in order to reach Argentina, which lies on the other side. The border between the two countries is located in the middle of a two-mile long tunnel that sits almost at the summit of the Andes.

Once in Argentina, we traveled more desert plains to reach Buenos Aires, where we were warmly received by CMA-Argentina. From Buenos Aires, we crossed Rio de Plata by Ferry and traveled by the Atlantic coast of Uruguay and southern Brazil until we reached Rio de Janeiro.

When we reached Rio de Janeiro, we visited one of the wonders of the world, “Christ the Redeemer.”  There, I re-explained to Henry who Jesus Christ is and what he has done for us. I told Henry that to reach the living Christ, we don’t need to cross a continent, but rather we need only to call upon his name. Henry listened attentively as I told him that “the Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.”

From Rio, we crossed the width of southern Brazil, and before reaching Paraguay, we visited another wonder of the world—the Iguazu Falls, which vividly illustrates God’s creation and handiwork. At this point, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil border one another.

Upon crossing the border into Paraguay, we were greeted by the President of CMA-Paraguay, who escorted us some three hundred miles across the country all the way to Asuncion, Paraguay.

After Paraguay, we had to return to Peru. In order to do so, we had to reenter Argentina in the desolate northern part of the country. Henry rode way below the speed limit. However, when I saw the Andes mountains hundreds of miles ahead of us, I became excited and took off and left him far behind. When I disappeared in the horizon, he decided to catch up with me, but was unable to do so even though he tried for a long time. Finding himself alone on a desolate road, the Lord made him think that perhaps I went to heaven and he was left behind and that he would have to return to Peru alone. I laughed when he told me all this.

We finally reached the border of Chile, where we had to again cross the Andean Mountains. Since the border was closed due to bad weather, we had to stay overnight at over 13,000 feet above sea level. That night, I was able to read about Paul’s testimony of salvation. It was the first time Henry heard about it, and it made him think. The next day we crossed over the freezing Andes. We were so happy to see the valley on the other side after being so cold for six hours in the Andes. Even three sets of gloves didn’t keep my hands warm.

When we finally returned to Peru after having ridden some ten thousand miles, we were greeted by a large group of bikers welcoming us back home. In the presence of these mostly non-Christian bikers, I thanked and praised the Lord and gave him all the honor and glory for Hhis mercy and protection on Henry and me during our entire trip.

Both CMA-Argentina and CMA-Paraguay treated us like kings. The president of CMA-Asuncion even filled up our gas tanks. These demonstrations of Christian love impacted Henry.

Henry is now attending CMA meetings in Lima, and in God’s perfect timing we expect him to confess Jesus as his Lord and Savior and become part of the CMA team here.

. . . .

Percy Valiente is an ordained pastor who has been serving in Peru with SIM since 1987. He is president and founder of CMA-Peru (Christian Motorcycle Association) and his primary topics of expertise include open air evangelism, marriage encounters, church planting, and teaching on biblical manhood.

EMQ, Vol. 52, No. 1. Copyright  © 2016 Billy Graham Center for Evangelism.  All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from EMQ editors.

 

GoToOlder PostNewer PostAll PostsArticlesEMQSectionVolume 52 - Issue 1

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Our Mailing List

Keep up to date with our community.

Menu

  • Home
  • Directories
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

Join

  • Join
  • Benefits
  • Learn
  • Meet
  • Engage

Help

  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Cookies Policy

About Us

  • Who We Are
  • Statement of Faith
  • Awards
  • Resources
Missio Nexus Logo

© Missio Nexus. All rights reserved.
As an Amazon Associate Missio Nexus earns from qualifying purchases.


PO Box 398
Wheaton, IL 60187-0398

Phone: 770.457.6677
678.392.4577

Annual Sponsors

ECFA Logo Brotherhood Mutual Logo

Subscribe to our Mailing List

Membership website powered by MembershipWorks