After some much-needed rest, our YOM Peru missions team jumped right into ministry today. We are staying in the La Molina area of Lima, but traveled about thirty minutes to the Manchay area in the afternoon.
This week, we are partnering with Niños a La Vida, also known as Kids Alive, to host Vacation Bible School. Today, we worked with the Hope Center in Manchay, the local branch of this international ministry.
Niños a La Vida serves children and teenagers who come from abusive or traumatic backgrounds by providing practical help, advocacy, and education, all while pointing each child to the transforming hope of the Gospel.
Our team had the opportunity to help set up and lead a vocational fair for the children. Because our team members represent such a wide range of fields – including engineering, missions, political science, nursing, and more – they were able to prepare displays highlighting their areas of study and future careers. The children were then invited to visit each table, ask questions, and learn more about different career paths. The goal of the fair was to encourage them to see hope for their future and consider positive directions for their lives.
We began the fair with team introductions, a fun game, and a fantastic testimony in Spanish from Alina Daoust. Afterward, the children had a wonderful time exploring the different displays and interacting with our team members. Since the majority of the children speak little to no English, several of our team members helped with translation.
Kida Sanchez, a current PCC nursing student, shared the following about her time at Kids Alive today:
Today I had the opportunity to help children and teenagers learn about what it means to be a nursing student. I also translated between English and Spanish so everyone could understand. At first I was nervous because I sometimes struggle to express myself, but God gave me the opportunity to serve others in a way I never expected.
I really enjoyed answering their questions and seeing how curious and engaged they were. They asked thoughtful questions about cancer, saving patients, and even wanted to hear about difficult experiences that nurses have faced. Their curiosity reminded me how important it is to educate and encourage the next generation.
This experience helped me grow in both my communication and translation skills. It also reminded me that even though I am not perfect, God can use me to be a light and a source of help to others. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope I can continue serving people in the future.
In the evening, our team enjoyed dinner together and a watch party for the U.S. soccer team’s game tonight. The World Cup is a big deal here in South America and we have all gained a deeper appreciation for soccer. Afterward, we spent time preparing for our ESL ministry at a local Christian school which starts tomorrow morning.
Please continue to pray for our team. Specifically, pray for:
- Strength, energy, and good health after a full day of travel and ministry
- Wisdom and flexibility as we begin ESL presentations in the schools
- Clear communication across language and cultural differences
- Open hearts among the children, teenagers, and families we will serve this week
- Opportunities to clearly share the love and hope of Christ
We are grateful for your prayers and support as we continue serving here in Peru.