Peru 06 Mission Night Video
We just posted our video on the internet, click here to see the testimonies shared and video we made from our pictures. You have to scroll down to the bottom of the page, then click on View video.
Peru Mission Trip-Final Chapter
Post Trip Wrap Up
This mission trip was about so much more than visiting and ministering to the people in Peru. It was about what God can do with an open and willing heart.
In March, I had my third knee surgery and on the day I returned to work, I was asked to help Pastor Joey lead the mission trip to Peru this year. I had gone last year and since my heart is in missions, I was overjoyed. Within a few weeks, I began to wonder if I had made the right decision. I began to have some serious doubts and I met with Pastor Steve and told him I wasn’t sure if I could do this. I was still having pain in my knee and there were days that I went home and weeped because I couldn’t bear the pain. I continued to pray and seek God for several more weeks and I met with Pastor Joey on several occasions. I shared my fears with him and he prayed with me many times. I will never forget his statement to me about my decision to go or not to go. He said, “The only reason you should not go is because you know God doesn’t want you to go.” How could I argue with that? Another friend of mine asked me a few more questions that really challenged me. He said, “If your knee was not hurting you and if you did not have to lead the team, would you go?” I didn’t even have to think twice about it, of course I would go under those circumstances.
I realized that I was giving in to my fears. Fear of not doing a good job, fear of rejection, fear of failure and so many other things. I made the decision in my heart and mind to go and I praise God that I made the right decision. I would have missed out on so many blessings had I chosen to give in to my fears. Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t like Christian cliches, but this one time I need to quote one of my favorites. It goes like this, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. I am proof of that because if I thought for a minute that I could do what He did in and through the entire team by myself, I would have fallen flat on my face.
I can honestly say that I have never been more proud of 17 people in my life. These people gave of their lives, finances, vacation time and hearts to go and help fulfill the Great Commission. We came together with one heart, one mind and one purpose to accomplish God’s plans.
Each of our lives will never be the same. Each of us were impacted in ways we would never have imagined. Each of us has drawn closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is hard to think back to some of the areas we ministered in and I caught myself wondering why there is such poverty in the world, why so much hurt and pain. Then I remember the answer, sin. Because we want to be like God, knowing good and evil. Because it is so hard to submit our lives to the One who loves us beyond what we can imagine. Because what we want is more important than anything else. Because we want to live in absolute comfort. Because we want to hold on to the things of this world.
My eyes have been opened to my own heart and I pray that I will never, ever forget the images I saw. Images that have kept me up night after night since coming back. Small children with dirt on their faces and lice in their hair, pregnant women living on the streets with nothing, people sleeping under a bridge, abused women with so much hurt and pain, people who have not been outside their homes in years that received wheelchairs and freedom and the many missionaries that have given up all to follow Christ and share His love and His hope in a place that seems to have nothing. God is there, in Peru. He is working out His perfect plan in His perfect timing.
Romans 10:14-15, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
Peru Mission Trip-Day 7
Children’s Home in Chacalacayo
This is one place we always like to visit when we come to Peru. Camino De Vida Church has 2 of these safe havens for children, one in Lima and one in Cusco.
These are not orphanages, most of these children have parents. Many, if not all of these beautiful children, have been abused and taken from their families and placed here. Not only does the home take care of their physical needs, by feeding and clothing them and giving them an education, they are also learning about the love of Jesus. These children are never without a beautiful smile and once again I found myself wondering, who is ministering to whom?
Our church, Church of the Redeemer, is known for our plastic bins that we bring on each visit. During the preparation for the trip, our team was able to collect toys, clothes, medicine, toiletries, crafts and so much more for the children here. We love to watch the children’ s faces light up when we give them presents and share our love with them. One of our team members, Charo, got a donation of hundreds of Beanie Babies and we were able to give one to each child.
Our children’s ministry at our church donated a ton of craft projects that were left over from vacation Bible school so we had a mini VBS in Peru! Linda, Charo, Nikki and Eileen helped the children make visors and paint wooden crosses.
Many of our other team members got to play ulitmate frisbee, soccer and dodge ball with the children. After that, they had a cookout for us and the food was awesome! I think it was the best meal we had while we were in Peru.
While we were there, a local television star came out and also gave the children presents and a TV set. It was hard to watch the children leave us and run to them and I know I had to check my heart. It was easy to feel like these people were cutting in on our limited time we had with the children but when it comes down to it, the bottom line is that the children reap the benefits.
The TV station finally left and the children came back to finish making their crafts and playing.
By the time we left, the children tied green bracelets around our wrists that had I love Hogar de Ninos written on them. (I love the children’s home). We didn’t give the children a giant screen TV, we gave them our hearts and our love and they reciprocated by giving us these bracelets, not the TV station.
We found out that the home was recently robbed so we took a love offering and was able to bless Pastor Christian, who runs the home, with $800. This will help them to install an alarm system and much, much more.
Peru Mission Trip-Day 6
Wheelchair Distribution in Carabayllo
This was another area hit hard by poverty. They had no running water and as you can see in the pictures, nothing green grows here. A water truck comes by every day and the people take whatever containers they have and fill them up with the water. The picture with the houses are what they all looked like. Some of the walls were made of what looked like palm branches woven together. It was amazing to see the size if them as well.
A mission team from Healing Place Church was there and we got to minister with them.
We handed out several wheelchairs and had the opportunity to share God’s love with them and also prayed with and loved on the people who got them. We had so much fun playing with the children here that day. We danced, we sang, we hugged and loved them and I was struck by how freely these children, who appear to have nothing, loved us.
Peru Mission Trip-Day 5
Fun Day!
A few of our team members went to check out the beach. Tami is breathing in some fresh air, and our very own adventurer, Lorenzoooo, is taking a quick dip. Since it is Peru’s winter, the water was freezing! After a walk on the beach in Trujillo and a nice lunch, we boarded our second home, the bus, and prepared for a 12 hour bus ride back to Lima. You learn alot about people when there are 20 people on one bus for that long. As one of the team leaders and sheriff in town, I learned that the best way to cope with the situation could be summed up in just one word… Dramamine. I wasn’t really worried about anyone really getting sick, I just wanted peace on the bus 
One of the pictures is our wonderful host going above and beyond her call of duty. If you look carefully on the right side of the picture, you can see our very spiritual leader, Pastor Joey.
I will try my best to describe the scene here.
After many hours on the road, lots of Lomo Saltado and other Peruvian dishes, all the drugs I pumped into everyone, no chemicals in the bathroom, and many other things that can’t (and shouldn’t be shared), the bathroom didn’t exactly smell as fresh as it could have. We voted for our team insomniac, Ted, to go in and open up the window in there and the third picture is of our very spirit-filled hosts locking him in the bathroom, while he is attempting this heroic feat.
I know we all made a pact that what happens in Peru stays in Peru but this was too funny not to share!
Peru Mission Trip-Days 3 & 4
Wheelchair Ministry
Camino De Vida works with many municipalities in Peru to supply wheelchairs to those in need. They have donated over 30,000 wheelchairs so far and the number is climbing! We heard so many testimonies from the recipients. Some of them had not been able to leave their homes in years because they had no way to get around. In my mind, I had pictured only elderly men and women and maybe some accident victims who were unable to walk. I was not prepared to see infants and small children who needed them as well. Because of the poverty in the nation, many treatable diseases and conditions go untreated and the results are seen in a few the pictures here.
We went to several of the towns and met several mayors who are deeply indebted to Camino De Vida for their wheelchair ministry. Pastor Joey was able to share the Gospel at each wheelchair presentation and we saw many people accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
It was hard to watch the government officials who seemed more interested in the ‘politics’ of handing these out while we were interested in meeting not only physical needs but spiritual needs as well.
We watched the people’s faces as they were paraded around in new wheelchairs and how they were filmed so everyone could see how they are being helped by the government. Their faces looked down-trodden and sad and I wondered what they were thinking. After the presentations, our team was able to love on them and pray with them. We handed out tracts and told them about Jesus. As Pastor Joey put it, “There faces lit up when we were ministering to them.” They felt our love and the love of Jesus Christ when we hugged them and shared parts of our souls with them.
I John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.”
Peru Mission Trip Day 2-Cont
Day 2
Nancy Cole Women’s Shelter in La Victoria
This area is also not very safe and in one the poorest neighborhoods. Pastor Lilian, who has a heart for these women and runs the shelter, does not want to leave the area. She wants to stay and minister to the local women there. An Assembly of God church is blessing them by coming in November to build them a 3 story building. It’s amazing what the church can accomplish when we let the Lord lead us.
When we arrived, they were having their worship service. To walk into this room and hear them praising the Lord was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I have never felt God’s presence more than at that moment and it was almost too overwhelming for my heart to take. To watch these women praise God in spite of their circumstances and to trust Him with their hearts encouraged me so much. Many of them come from some type of abusive background, rape and incest are very common. The picture with the baby is of one of our team members, Linda, holding the result of one of these horrific acts. He belongs to a 15 year old girl who was raped by her own father. I could not even imagine what this young lady must have felt as she felt this innocent child growing inside of her. Regardless of the event that occured, this beautiful baby’s real father is our Heavenly Father. We were able to pray with her and encourage her and she knows that the Lord has an incredible plan and purpose for her life. She is one of the most courageous women, if you can call her that, that I know.
We also prayed over each and every woman there and it was amazing. As we prayed, I felt like I was in the very throne room of God Almighty.
Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Peru Mission Trip Day 2-Church
Day 2
Camino De Vida church service. It was awesome to worship there. I actually understood some of what Pastor Robert was sharing. I know he was talking about the Israelites complaining about their continual diet of pan y agua (bread and water) and I laughed when he said [of the Israelites] Yo tengo alli de gallina y Lomo Soltaldo! I am sure I spelled all that wrong but focus on the story here…
This church is so commited to ministering to the people in Peru. They have so many ministries, I can’t even begin to mention them here. Click here to find out more. The music was so energizing and God’s presence was definitely there. It was cool to watch the worship band praising God and bouncing up and down. (I am a fellow bouncer).
There is something extraordinary that happens when worshiping in another language. It is so beautiful. I have noticed that people of other nations worship so much more freely than we do in the US. I keep asking myself why that is.
We got to see Pastor Nick and meet his new bride, Kristin. They are only a few off the many people at Camino De Vida who are making an impact in Peru. His enthusiam for Jesus pours out of him. One day on one of our long (12 hour) bus rides, I got a chance to talk to Veronica, one of our hosts from Camino De Vida. She shared her heart with me and I was so humbled by her love for the Peruvian people and her commitment to Pastor Robert and the church. Her sweet, gentle spirit is refreshing and I am so thankful for all her help while we were there.
I am also grateful for our other host, Leah, for all her help and for keeping us entertained! Her heart for children is apparent as we watched her interacting with them. She was a blessing to our team.
Peru Mission Trip- Day 1
Day 1
We began our time of ministry in Peru by going to an area that you will definitely not see in the brochures. We were told it could be dangerous and were warned ahead of time to wear old clothes, to take off any jewelry and not carry any money. We planned on meeting with Camino De Vida’s evangelism team to help minister to the street people. We had to argue with our bus driver because he did not want to drive into the area we wanted him to. He was very vocal about this and some of the team member’s looked a little nervous. The pastor heading up the team there saw our bus and jumped on and told us all that we would be safe and it was ok to enter.
This was a drug infested part of town where the homeless lived under a bridge. Pastor Nick’s evangelism team had started going to the main square that was a few blocks away. They had been ministering there for several months when they were invited into this area where no one dared to enter. The streets are filled with homeless people and the children are known as ‘piranhas’ because they would gang up on a person and rob them. Basically strip them of everything like a piranha would do. But these children did not harm us in any way. We came filled with the spirit of God and under a covering of prayer and were able to love on these children and play with them. We also cooked hotdogs and made sandwiches for them. We handed out over 100 Bibles and we signed them for them as well. We shared our lives and testimonies with them and prayed with and over them.
Pastor Nick really has a heart for them to know Christ and he and his team have been going there several times a week. They have started to clean the area by picking up trash and sweeping and washing the streets. What an incredible witness of God’s love they show. The community has been pitching in as well. Pastor Nick shared with us how they were going to paint the houses and the area they live in and when I asked him who was paying for the supplies, he said, “I am not sure but God will provide.” His faith encouraged my heart and our team took a love offering and was able to give them $300. Not only did they paint the area in 3 beautiful colors, they were able to feed the children a few more times and get them much needed supplies.
I left wondering just how much difference could 17 people make in one day when the needs are so great. When I think about how the Lord could make 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish feed over 5000 people, I understand the meaning of Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” This was one day that this community of people did not go hungry.
Peru Mission Trip
I am going to attempt to post some pictures of a mission trip to Peru that I just returned from. It was amazing! This was my second trip there and I plan on going back.
I am going to share what the Lord did there and what He did in and through our team.
Our team had 17 people on it and a few of us had been there before. We have a sister church in Lima, Peru, Camino De Vida, that we partner with while we are there. This church is amazing and is changing the lives of many people. They have over 50 ministries. They share the love of Jesus and minister to these people in practical ways by feeding, clothing and meeting real needs.
Click here to read about Pastor Robert and Karen who started the church.
Here is one of my journal entries from June 22:
I am so excited and full of anticipation about the Peru trip. It’s so cool to know that our team has been hand picked by God. He has a special plan and purpose for each of us. I pray that all of our hearts would be open to His plan for us. Bind us all together, Lord, in unity with one heart and one soul, one purpose. I pray for a fruitful harvest and that many lives would be changed, not only for those we will be ministering to in Peru, but for what God is going to do for each team member.
On the day we left, July 14, it was my 5 year anniversary of surrendering my heart and life to Jesus and the day I finally got sober. There was no where I would rather have been on that special day than to be serving my Creator and furthering His kingdom.
