Today was another full and meaningful day of ministry here in Peru!
This morning, our team returned to La Molina Christian School for our final day of ESL ministry there. Team members were able to work with many of the same classes they visited earlier in the week, which allowed them to continue building rapport with the students while helping them strengthen their conversational English skills. Throughout the morning, our team used presentations, games, discussions, and classroom activities to encourage students to practice listening and speaking in English.
We were also grateful for the spiritual opportunities woven throughout the morning. Many team members were able to share Bible verses, give personal encouragement, and have meaningful spiritual conversations with students. These moments reminded us that ESL ministry is not only about helping students develop a practical skill; it is also an opportunity to build relationships and point them to Christ.
We have truly appreciated our time at La Molina Christian School. The faculty and staff have been incredibly welcoming, and our team has loved getting to know the students. We have also seen God’s providence in assembling such a diverse team. With team members representing a wide variety of majors, backgrounds, and fields of study, it has been exciting to watch them use their individual interests and knowledge as tools for ministry. Whether discussing education, engineering, nursing, political science, missions, music, or everyday life, our team members were able to connect with students in natural and meaningful ways.
One fun highlight from the morning was a pick-up soccer game between several of the guys on our team and some of the primary students. The fourth-grade students were energetic, competitive, and more than ready for the challenge. They definitely gave our team members a run for their money!
This afternoon, our team returned to Manchay for our final day of Vacation Bible School with Niños a La Vida, also known as Kids Alive. We have loved spending time with these children this week, and it has been a joy to see many of them connect personally with our team members. We began the afternoon with an icebreaker game before moving into music and English activities.
During music time, Sophia Ramondetta continued teaching ukulele skills, helping the children review and practice several chords. The children were excited to keep learning, and it was special to see their enthusiasm grow as they tried something new. During the ESL portion, our team reviewed yesterday’s Bible verse and continued helping the children practice pronunciation and basic English skills. Because many of the children are still at an early level of English, our team had the opportunity to work closely with them, encourage them individually, and celebrate small steps of progress.
At the conclusion of VBS, each child received a small gift and a personal note written by one of our team members. We hope these simple gifts will remind them that they are seen, valued, and loved. We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with a ministry like Niños a La Vida. They are doing an incredibly important work among children and teenagers from vulnerable backgrounds, and we are grateful that our team could play a small part in encouraging them this week.
Madison LeBeuf, a 2026 PCC Secondary Education graduate, shared the following testimony about her time today:
Today we visited La Molina Christian School, where I spent time in the 5th grade, 10th grade, and K4 classrooms. We had a little more free time than usual, so we joined the students for recess. As they played soccer, they challenged four of the Americans guys to take on twenty of the schoolchildren. It was so much fun cheering the kids on and getting to be part of something that was so important to them.
Later in the day, we went to Kids Alive for the last time. We helped the children practice the pronunciation of Psalm 23:1. Although we had introduced the verse only the day before, one little eight-year-old boy stood up and recited it perfectly from memory. Moments like that were such a joy to witness.
These children and teenagers have been an incredible blessing. At times, it was frustrating that I didn’t understand much Spanish because I wanted so badly to have deeper conversations with them. But despite the language barrier, they were unbelievably kind, patient, and welcoming.
We also taught them how to play the ukulele. Once again, they patiently followed my instructions as I stumbled through phrases like “uno dedo” (one finger), “dos freta” (second fret), and “aquí” (here). They laughed with me as we learned together, and somehow managed to make music.
Being able to meet people from across the world and form genuine connections is such a gift. Missions are about serving others, but one thing I’ve learned is that you receive so much in return. Something as simple as a conversation, a wave, a smile, or a shared laugh can leave a lasting impact. I came here hoping to be a blessing, but these children have blessed me just as much
Several of our team members were feeling a bit under the weather this evening, so we took time to rest and recover after a full day. Tomorrow morning, we will continue our ESL ministry at El Colegio Cristiano Pionero (Pioneer Christian School), in Surco. In the afternoon, we will rehearse for our evangelistic concert on Friday night.
Thank you for continuing to pray for our team and for the ministry here in Peru. Please pray specifically for:
- Health, rest, and renewed strength for our team members
- Safety as we travel on the roads each day
- Effective ESL ministry and clear communication with students
- Strong relationships with the schools and ministries we are serving
- God to prepare hearts for the evangelistic concert on Friday night
- Continued opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel
We are grateful for your partnership in prayer as we continue serving this week!