Today was packed full of ministry opportunities, and we are grateful for the many doors God opened for our team.
This morning, we visited La Molina Christian School here in La Molina. We had a wonderful time connecting with the staff and faculty and seeing their heart for their students. After arriving, our team members divided into smaller groups and visited classrooms throughout the school from the youngest preschool students to secondary students preparing for graduation.
In each classroom, our team members had meaningful interactions with the students as they assisted with conversational English practice through presentations, activities, and games. Christian schools here in Peru typically have open enrollment, so it is common to encounter students who are not saved and may have little or no church background. Because of this, ESL ministry provides a unique opportunity not only to help students develop practical language skills but also to invest in them spiritually and point them to Christ.
Many students in these schools receive formal English instruction throughout their education, but short intensives with native English speakers can be especially helpful for strengthening pronunciation, listening comprehension, and conversational confidence. Our team loved seeing the students engage, laugh, participate, and grow more comfortable using English.
This afternoon, our team returned to Manchay to continue our Vacation Bible School ministry with Niños a La Vida, also known as Kids Alive. We began with a fun icebreaker before dividing into English and music activities. During the English time, we recognized that many of the children had a much more basic level of English, so our team adjusted the lesson to meet them where they were. Using a fun game, we taught Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” – and then worked with the children one-on-one to help them memorize the words and practice pronunciation.
During music time, Carryn Oleksy taught the children basic ukulele skills. It was a joy to watch them try something new, practice with enthusiasm, and enjoy learning together. We will have another afternoon at Niños a La Vida this week, and we are looking forward to continuing to build on the relationships and lessons started today.
This evening, we held a music rehearsal for our evangelistic concert, which is coming up on Friday. It was encouraging to hear the team preparing to use music as another avenue to share the message of Christ.
God has been truly good to us. He has given our team many wonderful opportunities to serve, teach, encourage, and share the hope of the Gospel.
Alina Daoust, a senior Political Science major at PCC, shared the following about her experiences today:
Today we joined La Molina Christian School, and I got to help out with the seventh grade science class, along with K4 and K5! For seventh grade, David and I spoke to the students individually about their science projects. They’ve been working on projects for a science fair, and we got to get to know some of the kids and ask questions about what they are learning and preparing to present. After that, we watched the middle and high school students practice a song for their Independence Day event on Friday. I had some extra time before helping K5, so I got to walk around with Bethany and observe a couple of classes as she took pictures. I loved getting to experience what school is like in a different culture, and listening to all of the Spanish has been a highlight for me as well! K4 and K5 were so fun, and my groups led Bible stories and played games with them to get them speaking in English. They understood a lot more English than I expected, and loved playing Simon Says!
At VBS, we focused on helping the kids learn Psalm 23:1 in English, and connecting with them. We played a game and then went over the verse, and they had fun removing words until they memorized it. After the group activity, we split into pairs to help with pronunciation with the kids. I was paired with a girl who is learning English in school, and she did well with the pronunciation and had the verse memorized by the end! Then, through a mix of my broken Spanish and her English, I helped explain what it means for God to be our Shepherd. It was fun getting to practice Spanish and work together with the kids to communicate, and laugh at our own mistakes. I’m excited to see how God continues to use us through these ministries, and what I will learn along the way!
Please continue to pray for our team throughout this week. Specifically, pray for continued strength and energy, clear communication as we teach and interact with students, wisdom as we adjust to different English levels and ministry settings, and open hearts to the truth of God’s Word.
We greatly appreciate your partnership in prayer as we continue serving here in Peru.