By Lois Hutchinson
My retirement after many years in Peru came as a shock in some ways. Even though I knew it is coming! Jack Hutchinson, my wonderful missionary husband of 38 years died in 2001. I had no plans for retirement. Martha, our youngest daughter, along with Edwin, her husband, and their children were in the States helping take care of Jack. After Jack passed away, they came back to Cusco, Peru, their hometown. Because I wasn't retirement age, I continued teaching at the Walnut Creek Christian Academy and working in the First Baptist Church of Walnut Creek, California.
Martha and Edwin began a campaign about 2003: “Mom, what are you doing in the States? You could be much more effective here … after all, you know the language, the culture, us, the churches, the pastors and families, etc., etc.” Their point has since been proved by the first National Congress of Women, which I organized in June of 2008, where there were over 200 present.
Jack had always said that God would take care of us in retirement, just as he had for 30 years in Peru. We had Social Security, a small savings, and a small house. I took the savings and paid the loan that had to be paid. I could not go to Peru with this loan on the house because if I was not living in the house I would loose it. I made plans to come to Peru.
My grandparents’ farm had been sold in Michigan about 1998. I had given some of my inheritance to Martha and Edwin. They invested in a piece of property in San Sebastian a suburb of Cusco. I sent funds from my teaching salary to build an apartment. God's provision.
The "Rincon Cultural" (Cultural Corner) had been Jack's brainchild as a means of reaching out to new people in Cusco. I have adapted that ministry here in San Sebastian to support our Baptist church. I teach English to children and adults Monday–Thursday, and music on Fridays. This is a help to the people of our Sebastian church (that Jack and Mr. Esebio started), and gives us contact with unsaved members of the community. There are five beer gardens on the street where families live and work and where the “Corner” is located. We have contact with children who need God's love. Located one bus stop from the church, the “corner” has also become a haven for the young people of the church where Edwin, the youth minister, can orientate them.
I would like to invite any retired person who can live at a high altitude (11,500 ft.) to come and teach English in the “corner” and music if possible, live in an apartment that is available at $l (US) a day, do some great tourism, and reach people for Christ. May God bless you in your retirement years to be the most effective Christian you can be. Please contact Baptist Mid-Missions for more information.