Have you ever tried to play a pan flute or panpipe? It’s one of those flutes made with multiple pipes of gradually increasing lengths. It gets its name from Pan, the Greek god of nature. In Peru, these flutes are called sikus, are mostly made from bamboo, and are quite popular. They can be hand-made in all sorts of shapes and sizes to create different and beautiful tones.
Wildoro Mendoza, a pastor and radio host, is also a gifted siku recording artist. He is also one of our amazing LOGOI national missionaries serving the Lord in Picota, a rural area with roughly 8,000 residents in northern Peru, nestled alongside the Huallaga River (part of the Amazon Basin).
Wildoro did not know the Lord when he was asked to play his siku for a popular folkloric group called Gran Pajaten. He explains:
“The other men in the group were Christians and before our practices and concerts they always prayed and talked about their faith. They wanted me to accept Jesus and give my talent to the Lord. I confess I went through the motions of accepting Jesus to make them happy, but the truth is I was not a believer. Nothing in my life or heart changed and I continued to live my life for myself while pretending to be a Christian.
“We recorded two albums and played all over Peru including many churches. One day, we were playing at a church banquet for young people, and they played a Christian movie that really impacted me. When the pastor asked who would like to know Jesus, to the big surprise of my band mates, I raised my hand.
“I knew God spoke directly to me through that film and I knew I was a sinner who needed a Savior. My band mates rejoiced as I repented and accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. Now, I have the joy of telling others of this miracle of a new life that God offers to all the world through his son, Jesus. Choosing this life changed my course and destiny. I was heading to hell and today I wait for beautiful heaven, my eternal home.”
Today, Wildoro pastors the Evangelical Baptist Church in Picota, has an active radio ministry, and continues to play his siku. “My focus is now to teach and help others to know the Lord. God has recently brought 30 new children to our church,” he adds with great joy. And just think, all of this began with a little bamboo flute.
Would you take a moment and pray for Wildoro right now? He particularly asks for prayer so that the new children in his church and their families will come to know the Lord. And if you’d like to hear Wildoro play his siku, just click HERE.
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Your gifts are used to help train and equip national missionaries like Wildoro to help proclaim the Gospel and make disciples all over the Spanish speaking world. Now you know a little more about one of them.