Our team had a terrific Tuesday as we continued to minister here in Peru.
We began the day by making our way through the Lima traffic to Surco. Our destination for the morning was Colegio Cristiano Pionero (Pioneer Christian School). This smaller Christian school has a wonderful heart for ministry, and we were grateful for the opportunity to spend time with their students and staff. This visit was especially special for one of our leaders, Mr. Arturo Ledesma, who attended this school for several years and enjoyed the opportunity to return. We also loved reconnecting with Kristin and Meekah, PCC alumni who are faithfully serving there as missionary teachers.
After a warm welcome from the school staff, our team divided into groups and headed to classrooms from 1st through 11th grade. The school graciously paused its normal schedule so that our team could spend concentrated time with the students, focusing on English instruction and conversational practice.
Throughout the morning, team members shared Bible verses, drilled phonics flashcards, played games, practiced pronunciation, and encouraged students to grow in their confidence using English. It was exciting to see our team adapt to the different ages, English levels, and classroom settings. Whether working with younger students on basic sounds and vocabulary or helping older students strengthen their conversational skills, our team members invested wholeheartedly in each class.
We are thankful for schools like Colegio Cristiano Pionero that are committed to Christian education and to reaching students with both academic excellence and the truth of God’s Word. It was a joy to come alongside them, even for a short time, and support the work they are doing.
In the afternoon, we headed to Colegio San Andrés, the school that will host our evangelistic concert tomorrow night. The concert will include special music from our missions team, musical selections from San Andrés, and a final combined number that brings all the choirs together. Our team worked with the audiovisual team at the school to set up the auditorium and complete a sound check. After working through a number of technical glitches, we were able to spend some time in choir practice.
This concert feels particularly special to us because it was not part of our original plan for this trip. As the idea developed in partnership with local schools here in Lima, we quickly recognized that it would be a significant undertaking, but also an exciting opportunity to step forward in faith. Our team began learning the choral and instrumental music at the end of March, and since then, we have watched God bring together each detail: the program, the musicians, the school partnerships, the venue, and the many logistics involved. Our team has worked diligently to prepare, and we are excited to see months of rehearsal and planning come together. More than anything, we are praying that the music will clearly communicate the message of Christ and that God will use this concert to encourage believers and reach hearts with the Gospel.
Sara Navarrete, a junior Music Education major at PCC, has helped plan the concert and is serving as the piano accompanist. She shared the following about her experiences today:
Today we went to Colegio Cristiano Pionero, and I had the privilege of joining the fifth-grade class. I was not sure what to expect when I entered the class today, and I felt like I was thrown in the deep end. But the kids were super gracious to me and kind to my falterings. I ended up leading them in a short phonics lesson and Bible verse. Then, we played a phonics game and just had some fun. Two young girls came up to me afterwards and thanked me, each handing me a card they had made. One of them came outside right before we left with a teacher to hand me a card and give me a hug. I felt I had done nothing to deserve their gratitude for my shabby lesson, but the girl’s kindness touched my heart. I know we came with the purpose of being a blessing to the people of Peru, but it is in times like these that I am reminded they can bless us back.
Later today, we went to practice for the music concert tomorrow. We all went into it a little nervous, as we only had a month’s worth of practice before our trip. But we are blessed with such a talented group of singers and musicians who were able to help bring it together. It was incredible to see the songs come together on the stage in preparation for our audience. Despite technical struggles, we were able to run through our music successfully and are super excited to perform tomorrow. I feel like I have had the distinct privilege to see it come together from the ground up. I have seen all the work behind the scenes to make this concert happen, and I am extremely grateful to all of our leaders for dedicating time to planning out the concert. It is amazing to see it come alive on the stage, and I cannot wait to see how God will use it to touch the hearts of people.
Today has been such a blessing to see how we can touch people’s hearts with just simple obedience and a willing heart. I feel privileged to serve and to see God working during our time here. May God be glorified through all the work we do.
We are so thankful for your continued prayers for our team. Please pray with us that God will continue to guide, protect, and prepare the way ahead of us.
Please pray specifically for continued strength and health for our team, safety as we travel throughout Lima, effective ministry in each school, and open hearts at tomorrow night’s evangelistic concert. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and for each person who is partnering with us in prayer.