One of the negative things about Peru is that strikes are a frequence occurance. Generally speaking most strikes are resolved within a matter of days, often the threat of strike is enough to achieve the required outcome. Fortunately for us Ilo is one of the most tranquil areas of Peru and the strikes here would be nothing compared to the rest of the country......................that was until last week! The people inthe province of Moquegua (which includes Ilo) have taken exception to the way they have been treated for numerous years and without going into lots of political details on Tuesday 10th June one of the most severe and longest running strikes for many years began. Generally speaking even in severe strike conditions there is still minor movement of vehicles between one town and another and even within the town and precaution is taken to avoid the main flashpoints. As I write this we are now in our fourth day of the strike and no signs of any resolution.
Unfortunately the strike which is predominantly confined to the province of Moquegua coincided with the arrival of Alicia's mother for a two week visit to see her new grandson. Although there were rumours of strikes before she left we did not take too much heed of this as we were unsure whether it would materialise or not. On the day of Alicia's mothers arrival we realised the extent of the situation that we were facing, recognising that most roads in and out of Ilo were blocked and it would be very difficult to make our way through to Tacna to collect her. Trevor Morrow and I decided to leave early in the day before the strike gained any momentum and made our way towards the main exit road towards Tacna zigzagging across the road to avoid boulders that had been placed across varios parts of the road. As we came to the main interseccion out of Ilo we approached a crowd blocking the exit, recognising it would be impossible to pass we turned back and decided to try again later in the afternoon. We felt that if we timed our exit between 2pm and 5pm we would overlap with siesta and dinner time and may be more likely to get out. This time we made our way as far as the main interseccion and the crowd had dispersed. Although the road was almost impassable we somehow managed to swerve through the boulders (some of which were 2 feet high) and broken glass and make our way out of Ilo. On the way out we discovered that the baracades were continuous for almost 3 km - a constant rubble of rocks and boulders on the road, and every 500metres or so we encountered more taxing obstacles that required more care and craft to get by, each of which gave a sense of satisfacion that we had overcome one more obstacle and we were closer to being on our way to Tacna to collect Alicia's mum. Eventually we came to a maned baracade and it became clear that it was in the best interest's of our safety to turn back. We were disappointed butnot defeated and so decided to try a few other exits from Ilo but it quickly became clear that it would not be in any way possible to get a car out of Ilo. Knowing this we decided to contact one of the missionaries in Tacna and ask them to meet Alicia's mum at the airport and to put her up for the night in Tacna.
As we considered the situation overnight and realised that there was still no change in the activities in the town we realised that would had no idea when we would be able to drive through to collect Alicia's mum and so we began to think of alternatives. So on Thursday morning we asked on of the Peruvian national workers who spoke good english to accompany Alicia's mum by taxi as far towards Ilo as possible and we would commence our walk out of Ilo to greet her at the first point of resistance on the way towards Ilo. Our understanding at this point was that this was 6km outside Ilo which we considered long but managable. As we walked out and crossed picket lines and baracades (we were informed that walking out was possible permitted) we realised the level of resistance the people of Ilo were putting up. Some of the believers from the La Pampa church had come on bicycles to help us get out but as we came to one picket line and baracade they were told they could not cross with bicycles but we could walk, however as we approached on foot we were also told we could not pass and that we would have to climb the hill to pass round the side of the baracade - the strikers stood and watched as we made our way around and as our friends who were not allowed to cycle put the bikes on their shoulders and walked around! This proved to be the main obstacle and although we realised that the last block was actually over 10km out of Ilo we eventually made it there to find Alicia's mum, her escort, taxi and taxi driver on the other side of the manned baracade. Needless to say this was not the welcome that any of us had anticipated she would receive!
As we approached and briefly welcomed Alicia's mum we realised that now our two main concerns were getting back to Ilo and getting the taxi with our national worker who had accompanied Alicia's mum to this point back to Tacna. Having made it that far by foot and having seen the obstacles, we were confident that it would at least be possible to get back home by foot but we were now faced with a situation where although the strikers were allowing Alicia's mum to walk in to Ilo they were threatening to prevent the taxi from returning to Tacna! After much discussion it was agreed to allow the return. I dread to think what was going on in Alicia's mum's head as will discussed and pleaded with the strikers in Spanish all of which even to me seemed like complete confusion!
As the taxi made it's way back to Tacna we had to consider our best options for returning home with Alicia's mum and all her luggage. We were informed that it was unlikely that it would be as easy to return back over the pickets lines we had crossed as they would have expended all their mercy letting us through in the first place and so we would need to return on a new route. At this baracade where we collected Alicia's mum we were shown a degree of compassion because we were foreigners and "it is not the foreigners fault!" It just so happened that one of the strikers was a taxi driver and so for a fare offered to drive us back in towards Ilo via another route, up to about 500metres before another flash point. Our friends who had accompanied us on bicycles followed us up on their bikes. Eventually we were dropped off just outside the La Pampa area of Ilo, on a road somewhere in the desert and began the rest of our return journey on foot. We walked past the main roundabout with suicases, boxes and everything in hand without a comment made (although we did get a few weird looks).
After passing the roundabout we still had roughly 3km to walk and hoped that there would be at least some movement of vehicles within the town so we could get a taxi home but there was nothing. Eventually we arrived back at the house at 3.30pm 5 hours after leaving the house but it was certainly worth it to see Alicia's mum's joy at seeing her new grandson and her precious granddaughter not to forget her daughter and much less anxious son-in-law!
We are just delighted that although the strike is still continuing and there does seem to be any imminent solution that Alicia's mum is here with us and we are able to enjoy here company rather than her stuck in Tacna not knowing when she would be able to get through to see us. We are also thankful to God that the Mision Rescate team were able to get out of the strike zone before it commenced and they are well away from any of the effects of the strike and will be able to make their way home to Ireland without any hassle.
Often people ask us what it is a typical day as a missionary and after almost a year and a half here in Peru I have not been able to describe a typical day, perhaps my acount of Alicia's mum's arrival explains why! The one thing we are sure of though is that although nothing seems certain here or indeed wherever we are we have an unchanging God who looks after us, protects us, guides us and provides for us, Praise be to our mighty God!
We really appreciate your interest in us and know that many of you check our blog regularly and pray for us frequently, we are so indebted to you, thank you. We have been overwhelmed by the number of messages from you after Joel's birth. We are so thankful to God that he is healthy and he is sleeping well at night, he is certainly a little treasure.
We will keep you updated on our current situation here in Ilo and in Joel's (and of course Sarah's) progress as they develop. We had been intending to add more video of Sarah's father's day performance which was due to be tomorrow but since she has been off school all week due to the strike it looks like this will either be cancelled or postponed. One advantage of the strike is that it gives me more time to spend at home with Alicia, Sarah, Joel and Alicia's mum, update the blog and watch Euro 2008! Life has certainly slowed down a little this week! Please do not be concerned for our safety, we are well and not under any threat but we would appreciate your prayers that there would be a resolution soon here in Ilo as it would certainly make life a little easier!
At the start of the week we said goodbye to Gordon Darragh (the Mission Director) and David Hamill (a believer from NI who had been travelling with him to see the work). Each time we have visitors it is always a blessing to have them and to be reminded of the love, support and prayers of many people back home in Northern Ireland and indeed in varios parts of the world. The visit was a really good visit from our perspective (and hopefully from theirs too!) and after almost a week of constant conversation and almost constant laughing the empty house seemed so much more quiet.
We do write this post aware that God really has been good to us by giving us Joel. We decided to call him Joel because it means "The Lord is God" however it is easy to confuse it to mean "The Lord is good" either way both are equally true and one is synomous with the other. John is a very special name and although it may not sit so well right after Joel it has great significance. My (Dave's) grandfather who passed away a few weeks ago was called John and my father and I both have John as a middle name. Incidentally, John means "God is gracious." Finally we did not have too much choice in the Murphy part of the name but since I am the only Murphy boy of my generation Joel also becomes the only Murphy boy and has the opportunity to carry on the name. 
On a more serious note we are indeed grateful to God that he has been gracious to us and given us this wonderful child. We have really appreciated your prayers throughout his development in the womb but please continue to pray for him as he develops and for us as parents as we try to be godly parents who will be able to show him that he name is much more than a name but that there is truth to be found in it. We trust and pray for both Joel and Sarah that at a young age they will come to know Christ as their Saviour. We feel called to Peru to share Christ here but pray that we will also be faithful in sharing Him in our own home.
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