Happy Sunday from Lima, Peru!
On this Lord’s Day, our team had the joy of spending the day with Iglesia Vida Nueva Sol de La Molina. In the morning, we attended the worship service and enjoyed singing together with the church family. This year, the church is celebrating its 15th anniversary. What began with just six families has grown into a congregation of approximately 200 people. The church was warm and welcoming, and our team immediately felt right at home.
This church is the home church of Arturo and Claudia Ledesma, so it was very special for them to be there for the service. Arturo preached in the service with a message from the book of Haggai, challenging the church to take seriously the work of following God and building up His church. At the conclusion of the service, our team had the opportunity to sing “Behold Our God” in English and Spanish. It was a special reminder that believers from different countries, cultures, and languages can join together in worshiping the same Savior.
After the morning service, our team enjoyed a family-style lunch and some much-needed rest. In the evening, Vida Nueva held its regular ministries and meetings. Since the church does not yet have its own building, these groups meet on the campus of La Molina Christian School which has become a very familiar setting for our team. Our team was able to divide up to help with the Guerreros (ages 6-12), Contracorriente (ages 13-16), and the Saetas (ages 17-23). Team members played games, shared testimonies, and had a great time with the kids. We loved the opportunity to interact with the young people, serve alongside the church members, and encourage these ongoing ministries.
After these groups met, we participated in the youth service, where our team led games, accompanied worship, and sang together with the teens. David Dare preached a powerful message challenging everyone to remember that we are called to live as Christians in every aspect of life as we endure trials, withstand temptations, and work as unto the Lord.
After the service, the group migrated to the soccer field and volleyball court for more fellowship and friendly competition with the youth group. These informal moments have become some of the sweetest parts of the trip, as our team members continue building relationships through laughter, conversation, and time spent together.
We truly enjoyed our day with the local body of Christ. It was a meaningful reminder that although we come from many different places, we are all members of the same body. We are thankful for the faithful ministry of Iglesia Vida Nueva Sol de La Molina and for the privilege of worshiping and serving alongside them today.
Sophia Ramondetta, a junior PCC Interdisciplinary Studies major, shared the following testimony about her time today:
I have been so grateful for the opportunity to serve here in Peru. Today was one of my favorites because of the exposure we had to Peruvian worship. This morning we went Vida Nueva and got to experience Sunday morning church in Peru! There’s nothing like hearing our Savior being worshiped…especially when it’s with a group of people that don’t speak English. We were able to fellowship with some of the church members afterwards which was so sweet. The people here are so kind and welcoming! This evening we participed in Contracorriente located at La Molina Christian School. I was grouped with the 13-16 year olds, so I spent the night with them. We had the best time playing games and also learning about the importance of sharing the Gospel. I had the privilege to share a testimony of how I have witnessed to a friend. It was such a blessing to share about my experience with witnessing and praying for those you have a burden for! I’m so thankful for the blessings of the trip so far, and I can’t wait to see what else the Lord does during this next week!
Tomorrow, we will return to Colegio San Andrés, this time to teach English and help students with conversational skills. We are also preparing to travel to Cuzco on Tuesday, which will bring a significant change in climate and elevation.
Please continue to pray for our team, especially for health, strength, safety, and stamina as we begin another busy week of ministry and travel. We are thankful for your continued partnership in prayer.