Peru Impact Update

Read from the beginning...

Living Missions Peru
June 8 - 17 2015

A typical day began at 7:30am when the team lead the entire school in morning devotions, where we shared a bible story, read scripture, prayed for the day and sang a few songs.

Then we ate breakfast and had 30-40 mins. of small group time with other 2-3 others on the trip. This was a good time to pray together and reflect on what we were learning. 

From 9am to 12:30 we worked on construction projects. I mainly worked on a bridge that went through a low area along the drive way. Right now is the sunny dry season but when it rains for six months the creek under the bridge becomes a river with poisonous snakes and frogs. 

At 12:30pm we had some ministry time with high school kids. At this someone from the Virginia team would share a bible verse and what it means to them, another person would share their story of how they became a Christian and then we’d close in prayer before all heading to lunch.

For several hours after lunch from we’d lead children from the school in a VBS (Vacation Bible School) because they only attended school from 7am-1pm. This was a time filled with group games, Futbal (soccer), volleyball, singing, bible stories, stories of what God is doing in people’s lives and a craft related to the bible story. 

Once VBS was over, we had some free time and dinner. 

Then in the evenings the church usually had a prayer meeting or youth group event that we attended and lead.

Most days ended with the Virginia team, summer interns, translators and I having a daily meeting, where we shared our highs and lows from the day, prayed and prepared for the next day. 

On our second to last day in Peru we headed deeper into the Amazon jungle to do a VBS with a jungle church. For this we got up a 4am and got on a Amazonian boat called a pek pek. En route to the jungle church we watched the sun rise, caught glimpses of the pink fresh water dolphins, fished for piranhas and stopped at an island to shop for souvenirs. During the rainy season the Amazon is so big that you boat right up to the church but since we were there in the sunny dry season we had to hike around 4 miles to get to the church. 

Once arriving at the church we got to work with the kids, sharing bible stories and stories of what God is doing in people’s lives, a craft related to the bible story and of course playing a little bit of soccer. We didn’t get to stay as long as we would have liked to but we were so grateful to visit that small jungle church.

Once we got to the boat we headed to a zoo, where we could pet monkeys, see all sorts of crazy animals and even hold an anaconda (huge snake). While heading back to the port we had a chance to swim in the amazon (where we caught piranhas earlier), but our guides assured us that we were safe to swim (these piranhas were not nearly as dangerous as they show in movies). Once back at the Refuge we cooked and ate our piranhas for dinner. Pretty tasty!

It was an exciting and illuminating trip and I’m so grateful for all God is doing through Living Missions Peru and Perception Funding. In the weeks to come I have several things in mind to help Living Missions Peru keep individuals who go on their short-term missions trips connected and stay updated with the ministries they served. Our hope is to move the mindset of a short-term trip to be the beginning of a life long relationship with those they served. 

It’s so great to be home now! I missed Joy and Charlie so much and hope next time the whole family can go together. Thank you all for your prayers and continued support of Perception Funding. 

Learn more about Living Missions Peru

In Christ!
Jonathan Klee