On the last day of our trip we had the experience to climb up a mountain. At the top we had some time to reflect on our own life. Climbing up the mountain was a difficult task; it was both physically and mentally tiring: not knowing whether your body could actually make it up to the peak and the worry of falling down. Climbing up took us around an hour where as when we came down the mountain it took us around just 5 minutes. It reminded me of a song called Hills and Valleys. What I took from the experience was that the climb up the mountain was difficult and tiring much like how it is hard to get rid of the struggle and sin in one’s life. Whereas running down the mountain was easy and fast much like how it is to lose sight of God and to get distracted by Earthly things. But just like in the song it talks about how no matter whether you are at the top of the mountain or in the bottom of the valley, God continues to be there with you. It is important to remember if we don’t continue to take time to be in God’s word and to keep him as our main focus; how easy it is to get stuck in that valley. But the good news is that God never leaves during the hard times and with the help of God we can make that climb to the top of the mountain. 

As a girl consumed by wanderlust, experiencing other cultures and meeting people with different lifestyles and backgrounds is one of my greatest passions. On Tuesday, I was able to satisfy my desire for both these activities when several students from each church were selected to complete the challenge of purchasing the fruits we would be handing out at the garbage dump the next day. We rode the bus to a nearby fruit market where we had twenty minutes to purchase as much fruit and as many different types of fruit as possible, as well as learn the names of the vendors. During this short period of time, we ran to as many stalls as possible to compare prices and used my limited Spanish to bargain for larger quantities. Amidst the pressure of our challenge, I was able to pause and take a look around at the hustle and bustle of the market and the interactions between the buyers and sellers. The scene around me was truly amazing, seeing it occasionally on television shows but never in person. The vibrant colours, sounds and smells blended together in harmony to create a type of beauty that was so easy to fall in love with and representative of God’s creation and creativity. Being amongst Peruvians who were just completing a common activity in their weekly routine allowed me to experience an aspect of their culture that is so simple yet foreign to a Canadian like me. The mere size of the market itself was enough to shock me, never having been to a market of this calibre with this many options. The challenge also gave me an opportunity to converse with the local merchants rather than simply purchasing and departing, which provided insight into the lives of the sellers who would arrive early in the morning each day with the fruits that many of them had grown themselves. Despite only being there for less than half an hour, I was able to immerse myself in this culture that is so familiar to many Peruvians yet so exceptional in the eyes of a foreigner, creating lasting memories that will further my love for travel and the beauty of God’s creation. 

As I walked around Huanchaco with some students on Monday, I recognized an artisan market that I had enjoyed on my last trip with Mission Peru in 2015. I was hoping to see a shop that I remembered, as I regretted not purchasing a painting from this gentleman last time and hoped I could this time. I visited a few shops, getting quick greetings from the owners, while I looked for a gift for my niece. I soon arrived at the shop I had remembered – the beautiful paintings of the beach were on display. One of my students was speaking with the owner, and I said a quick ‘hola’, while browsing the jewelry and sweaters. The owner, Tito, came over, and asked how I was, and somehow we had a small conversation though each had very little knowledge of each others’ languages. Then he asked the question that changed my day – “you’ve been here before, right?” I laughed and said yes, but it was two years ago. He said no, I remember you! And we continued talking, he shared that he knows of Inca Link and the work in El Porvenir that is being done, and that his father is a pastor in Huanchaco. We talked about his art, and he showed me it proudly as I picked one to buy.  We kept talking, in some form of Spanglish, and after a while Alex joined us and was able to fill in the missing parts of our conversation. I felt so welcomed and so appreciated and the connection was so simply human and kind. I bought some lovely souvenirs; he was so fair with prices and enjoyed talking about his work and the friends whose work he also sells. I think that my interaction with Tito stands out so much because it was only possible because each of us were open to making a conversation work, despite the difficulties of our language differences making. Tito’s approach to his work was so different from many of the other shops in the market, who were not unkind but were direct and all business. Tito was willing to take the time to connect, to ask questions and engage. The difference one person’s attitude can make blew me away, and it was a unique highlight of my trip.

Similarly, a few of us were invited into a woman’s home for a Bible study on Tuesday. The rest of our group ran programs for neighbourhood kids, and as part of the Amijai ministry that runs here, there is also a program for the moms. Sarah from Bramalea and I went with four students – Rachel from MCAC, Jasmine, and Megan and Sam from Bolton. I can’t quite put into words how it felt to enter a family’s home, complete with dirt floor, thatched walls of woven grass, a small window, and little furniture. The room was initially quiet as this group of foreigners stood awkwardly in the corner. We began by praying, and then with each successive testimony, the perceived space between us grew smaller and smaller. From small laughs when the story was relatable, to nods when a vulnerable moment seemed to hit home, it was becoming clear that there were less differences than we had thought. As we each made efforts to connect, again the humanity came through, and the knowledge that these were our sisters and friends. The women had a birthday party and offered us so much food, serving us diligently and kindly, it was such an honour to be there, yet we were treated like royalty. I was welling up with pride at the vulnerability the students and leaders showed, knowing we had little picture of how our words were being received. Yet, as our friend Patti prayed for us, I couldn’t deny the feeling that our words were being directed by the Spirit. Patti prayed and reminded us that despite the differences in our cultures, our countries and homes, we have the same need for God in our lives, for His work in our circumstances. This thought helped me a little bit as I processed the dump, and as I begin the processing work of this whole trip. It’s hard, it doesn’t make sense, and I don’t always understand how it all fits with God’s love. Yet – here I am, excited to see family but aching to bring the complexities of this journey home with me. Through it all, I know that God is in the business of love, and He is showing that in so many ways, including this essential connection between people. I pray that more people are willing to go through the uncomfortable process of wading through differences and barriers to seek the life affirming and heart warming ministry of relationships.

4. Choose Joy

5. Love Covers All

by Sarah Khosravi-Fard, Bramalea Alliance Church

Before coming on this trip I didn’t know necessarily what to expect in terms of the children. I didn’t know how much exposure they had to the world outside of Peru. I didn’t know if any of them knew English or even attended school regularly. When I got here, I quickly learned that no matter the specific circumstance of each child (or how much they knew from school or about the world), the one universal truth of God’s love was present and always prevails. Most of the children here know that there is God who loves them; they just struggle with always feeling it. One moment in particular, on July 1^st, we had a big barbecue at the compounded and invited nationals from Elim (people from outside the garbage dump). They came and brought their children and we spent the night playing and enjoying conversation together. I had recognized a boy named Victor from earlier in the day, roughly around 4 years old. He seemed to find joy in the simple things, and didn’t mind playing alone. But when he did get attention from someone, he loved it. Always giggling, and throwing his little hands up every time we laughed at something he did or said.  It was amazing to watch how he had so much joy. He was living in what seemed to be a very difficult lifestyle but was so happy. I really understood then how every child is God’s child. In any country, at any time, and throughout any life situation, Jesus cares for all his children. He wants them to know about his never ending love and about the promise of his salvation for all. In the Bible, He often uses children to show everyone how we must be and how we must act in this life. In that same way, he showed me personally how to have unconditional love for others and all the children I was blessed to meet. In Matthew, chapter 18 verses 2-6 say this,          “Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said ‘I tell you the                 truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into     the Kingdom of heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest   in the Kingdom of heaven”.

Experiencing the children in Peru, and Victor specifically, has opened my eyes to the type of love that Christ has for everyone. Every single child here in Peru is special to Him. Working with them and playing with them has taught me the humility Jesus spoke of; to serve them is to serve Him, and to love them is to love Him. My time here has been spent understanding God’s love. Getting to spend time with the kids has provided great opportunities for everyone here to show that reality. 

by Gavin Brigham, Redwood Park Church

Hello I’m Gavin from Redwood Park Church, Thunder Bay.  The trip will sadly be over in a few days and I’d have to say we all are having a great time together. We sadly missed some debriefing times along the trip due to late nights, but the latest one with team A, MCAC and Redwood Park Church, was fantastic. We had time to share high points and low points during the day, hearing other peoples thoughts on things that had happened through out the day is encouraging and brings us as a team closer together. During the de-brief, I decided that simply helping people isn’t enough for me; I want to continue serving God after the trip, in any way possible. Here we aren’t just “helping” the staff of Elim or Amijai, we are serving god and what he has planned for Inca Link and its ministries.

So today I went to the garbage dump, which was one of the greatest experiences I have had since being here on this mission trip but also in my life. Many people had expectations and anxiety leading up to this day however, I felt a little different. I believed that keeping my eyes, mind and heart open for this day would have fully allowed me to understand the meaning of coming on the trip and the dump especially. Walking in the dump was hard for many people. I, for one was scared of the smell. However, my reasons and hopes for coming on this trip overpowered any smell. Not only my hopes and reasons, but the conditions I witnessed and the people I saw made me forget about the smell therefore, my heart was set on helping and conversing with the people working in the dump. I met many people at the dump and two people stood out to me. They were both named Maria and had spent 20 years working in the dump. They may have had different pasts and stories that led them to working in the dump however, they had many things in common. The one thing that stood out to me was that they both worked in the dump everyday for at least 8 hours a day. Right now in Peru, it is considered their “winter” so it was hard to picture how they faced these challenges during the summer when the sun was beaming. They spent most of their lives working in conditions that I would not dare step into. It really hit me when they both said they believed in God and were happy for us to pray for them. It takes an enormous amount of faith and trust in God to live and work in places that most people, including me, would not step into. Personally, it would be hard for me to love and trust a God where it physically appears that he has forsaken many of the individuals that live and breathe in the dump. My life has been perfect and there is nothing more I could ask for however, down at the dump, their life is far from luxury. We have it easy up in Canada where most of us just have to worry about our phones dying or our shoes getting a little dirty, but down in Peru and especially in the dump, they don’t know when they will get their next meal or what to do if their child gets ill. Not only did these people have a strong connection and belief in God, but most of them were smiling and finding the happiness and joy in their situation. They know that their life is hard and the things they must do to provide for their family are strenuous however, in the midst of their life, they can find joy. No matter the time, the place, or the circumstance, they always have a smile. For me personally, I would picture myself being depressed, grumpy and straight up moody all the time but at the dump that was not the case. Talking to a leader here on the team, he said that God acts through love. He is everything good. I believe that God works in every individual and I saw it firsthand earlier today. Through the time spent at the dump, and the prayer time we had, I have learned that my life in Canada is one of many blessings; I have now experienced the love of Christ in a different way and know not to take anything for granted. 

by Kaelan DeLorenzi, Redwood Park Church 

Hello, my name is Kaelan and I am one of the students involved in the Mission Peru trip. These last six days have been insane; as a team we have accomplished so much. We have played with kids, gone out to eat, bought alpaca sweaters, and even (get this) worked! As of today the last two days have been construction all day. Yesterday I helped clear brush and cut grass with machetes and also create a gravel road leading to the compound. Today, however I did much more. I helped make bricks for a while, then helped make the road again, then was reassigned to moving sand to create a  community center, then finally was reassigned to deliver bricks to people whose houses were damaged by a flood that hit this region a few months back.

When I first went to help with bricks Daniel, the executive director of Inca Link, drove me and a few others to an older man’s house to bring in 2,000 bricks. We did not finish. I was a little disappointed we could not finish what we started but then at lunch I was told that they needed volunteers for delivering more bricks. I jumped on that opportunity and within a half hour I was back at the older man’s house. We finished that 2,000 brick delivery and then moved another couple hundred into another house while some more volunteers brought in another 2,000 to another person’s house who was affected by the flooding.

Later on I had time to decompress after a long day. I realized that none of this would be possible without God. Without the strength He gives us none of what we are doing would be possible. The things we are doing may seem simple and at times even pointless but as Luke (the Director for the Inca Link Interns) is sure to remind us, these simple jobs we are doing are just little trickles, the beginning of a (sorry for the cliché) snowball. Just bringing some bricks into a house for a few hours makes a huge difference. Sometimes it may be hard to keep the mentality of Christ when working but in the end we are not doing these jobs for ourselves we are doing, as Mathew 25:40 says, we are doing these things for the least of these.

by Matias Calzato, Bolton Alliance Church

There have been a couple of days where we have been doing construction and I noticed how at home we use a lot of machinery which will basically do the job for you and here we use tools which are much harder to use since we don’t use powered tools. Here’s an example: Instead of using a hedge trimmer to cut small branches we use machetes. Something else I realised is that if you live here, you have to work much harder to get a smaller amount of money than you would get back home in Canada which really makes me appreciate everything we have. I have met many Peruvian kids during the time I have been here so far and I really enjoy the time with these children, just like Jesus with his children, which is us.

Hi mom, dad and Natalia <3

by Anh Pham Ha, Mississauga Chinese Alliance Church

Coming to Peru has been an amazing experience so far! The food is great, chicken and rice, (what more can you ask for) and the kids are so energetic and just want to play. But something that really stood out to me is really being able to see unity in God’s church, all of us working together as different parts of the body of Christ. Not only do we meet new people from four other churches but we get to work together and glorify our God with believers in a completely new country. Although going to church with a pastor speaking a different language, it was more important to focus on the feeling of being in church and not being fixated on the words. It’s amazing to see different people, coming together and worshiping the same God. It was honestly surprising to see how similar the service was to our normal Sundays. The worship session was identical to what we have back home, we broke bread together and even prayed for one another. Maybe we didn’t follow all that the locals were praying about but we still greatly appreciated that they took time to care for a mere stranger that they had never met before. You realize that you might have more in common with people in another country than you do with others from the people in your own town. It’s so easy to love people who look like you, talk like you and act like you and it’s easy to stay in your own little bubble but getting out of your comfort zone and simply loving and getting to know strangers is so much more fulfilling. I’ve met so many new people on the trip and I’ve gotten to hear a chunk of their personal life and walk with God and it’s just something I wouldn’t have been able to do if I stayed at home. With the Peruvians, we don’t exchange many words but being in the company of other believers and connecting on that spiritual level is priceless and honestly brings me to tears just about every time. It goes to show that God is working in unfathomable ways and we may never know if we don’t go out to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I can’t wait to see what else is in store and what else I can learn from the people that I encounter every day and take these lessons and memories with me back to Canada :) 

by Karin Suwanda, Mississauga Chinese Alliance Church

Hello! My name is Karin Suwanda and I am from Mississauga Chinese Alliance Church. My Peru experience has been amazing so far and I can really see how God is working in myself and in the city of Trujillo, Peru.

 I would like to share with you my experience with the children in Peru. Before this trip, I did not have much experience with children and did not really enjoy being around them. My councilor described me as a social introvert – someone who appears to be outgoing but in reality, likes to be by themselves. This describes me perfectly, however, I knew I needed to work on this aspect of myself. I asked God to help me find patience and compassion for children and that is exactly what I have found through a new perspective.

 During these past two days, our team visited Elim, the garbage dump ministry where many children and mothers worked and lived in. In this time, my heart broke over and over again for how these wonderful, joyful, and Christ-loving children and mothers were living in such conditions. As soon as I got off the bus, there were children jumping to hug me and welcome me. I can’t explain enough how touching it was to see these children happy and content with all that they have. Elim is an amazing ministry and I’m so glad I had a chance to experience how God works in even the most broken of places. Despite the language barrier, we could understand each other through our facial expressions and gestures although; I strongly regret not using my duolingo Spanish learning app enough before the trip. These kids have really blessed me in the short while that I got to play with them and I’m thankful for what I have learned. 

 I am constantly surprised and amazed by what I see each day and what God has revealed to me in the short three days that I have been here. Thank you for your support back home in Canada and please continue to pray for our team’s safety, growth and health. Adios! 

Hey! My name is Matthew Bayley. I am from Bolton Alliance Church. I will be describing to you the Inca Thakhi Floor Ball I experienced today. So basically, a handful of people from each church, and some Peruvian kids went down in a bus to a different place where they are focused on reaching needs. The place consisted of two soccer courts where we set up a Floor Ball tournament and allowed kids from that neighbourhood to join us (Floor Ball is almost like the equivalent of road hockey in Canada). Even though most of us were not able to communicate well with them, we were able to bond through the playing of the sport together.

At one point during our Floor Ball game, a couple of us noticed some kids playing soccer on the other court. We went over to ask if they wanted to play a game; Locals vs. Gringos.  They wanted to make a bet for the winner, so we offered them soda pop if they won. This obviously meant no drinks for the Gringos as we ended up losing badly. At the end of the game, we served the kids their well earned drinks and had a little devotion in Spanish. We then said our goodbyes and went on the bus back to our compound.

Overall, it was a very cool experience. The Peruvian kids are so talented and very fun to watch. I think that the outreach we made to the kids who came to play with us was very impactful, and hopefully there will be more of the same on this trip.

by Victoria Zieroth, Redwood Park Church

Elim is a ministry located outside of the garbage dump.  One mission in particular that they strive to reach is to teach the young children of the community about the Word of God. On the bus ride to Elim I anticipated hesitation and wariness from the kids. I figured that considering their living conditions they would be sad since they are surrounded by so much darkness. However, this was not the case. Pulling up to the location, a few kids ran up to the bus wearing wide smiles eager to meet us. As the day went on, they only grew happier and more comfortable with us. By the time we had to leave, they became quite sad. One child in particular, cried as we said our goodbyes. It’s amazing to see how God is working through us to reach out to the children in Elim. We are capable of making a bigger impact than we realize and to see how we are sharing Gods love to those who have so little is incredible. The 2017 Mission Peru team is only stepping into organizations like Elim for  a moment. However, these ministries are continuing to work in the lives of others long after we’re gone.   

by Renee Phinnemore, Bramalea Alliance Church

Happy Canada Day.

 Yesterday was a day full of fun for me and I think the rest of the team enjoyed it as well. We started our day with breakfast and devotionals and then we went and did construction. Our goal was to lay the foundation of the security house at the front gate of the compound by the end of the morning. I started the project using a machete to cut down all of the plants in the way and to remove the stumps of some of the small trees and bushes. During that time I disturbed a nest of crickets. They were huge! We also found a small lizard in the pile of sand. The lizard was very colourful and it reminded me that God is a great artist who took the time to paint the stripes on the lizard. Since he has put so much detail in such a small animal and cares for it then he must care even more for us.

After all of that excitement I was put on shovel duty. I was helping shovel the sand for the foundation of the house into people’s wheelbarrows. I believe that without God’s help I wouldn’t have been able to do as much shoveling as I did. It was funny because I was working so hard that people were telling me to slow down. It got to the point when one of the leaders came over to me and took the shovel away from me in an attempt to force me to take a rest, but as soon as he turned his back I grabbed another shovel and kept on working.

In the afternoon we went to a church called Santa. The kids there were so cute and I loved playing with them. I also enjoyed giving out some of the bracelets that I made for them. I met one little girl who was so shy that she just followed me around and didn’t ask me for a bracelet. I guess she was just hoping that I would notice her and give her one. When I gave her a bracelet she was so happy. At the end of the visit the kids all hugged us goodbye and I was the only person she hugged before she ran away. It was really funny when we were trying to get on the bus because the kids latched onto us and wouldn’t let go. It was just as hard for us to say goodbye to them as it was for them to say goodbye to us.

by James Nagy, Redwood Park Church

First off, let’s just say that going to a garbage dump is a little out of my comfort zone as a Canadian. Arriving at the dump shortly after 2; the kids running around swarming the bus, it’s one of the best feelings ever. The kids, they were amazing, despite the language barrier I felt that I got to know most of them extremely well. Now that you’re wondering about the title, I’ll explain, Chaparita is the Spanish word for piggy-back ride (or at least the one all of these kids understood/used), the little girl who was most fond of me was Andy, she was adorable, she kept screaming, “Chaparita... Chaparita” eventually I asked Elliot to ask her what she wanted, and he confirmed my suspicions, she wanted to be piggy-backed. The instant that she was on my back, I began to ask the other kids if they wanted a ride, they all said yes, I just pointed them to people on our team, explaining to them what the children wanted. Later on, after about an hour of running with children on my back, we had enough people to have a huge race, the kids loved every part of this. We had about 10 team members running screaming with children on their back saying go faster. To conclude, Elim, is an amazing ministry in Turjillo, I’m so blessed to have been a part of it for a small moment, the kids also made the experience something that will stay forever in my mind. 

by Josiah DeLorenzi, Redwood Park Church

Yeah, kind of surprised I was so excited to make some bricks. Basically we got a bunch of mud and clay, made balls, threw them into a frame and then layed them out into the sand to dry. The bricks are going to be made to build Don Juan’s house, a man who works at the compound, a man I actually got to meet [Don Juan has been providing security for property since the beginning, now more than 10 years]. The work was fulfilling because I could see the vision, see where this was all going. I could help the people here in a very practical, tangible way. It was awesome. I believe in the vision here, the plans and dreams for what this place could, and will be. We all laughed and joked when we worked, and got to know some of the local people who were working with us. We came together to serve, I felt humbled to be able to do that. It’s only the first day but I’m feeling comfortable and excited here. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the week, and I’m excited to do all I can. God is in this place.

by Maddison Pilon, Bramalea Alliance Church

Maddison was chosen specifically to write our first blog on construction, because she was identified as someone who was “killing it” during work assignments (An editorial note from Jeff Enns ☺).

I am privileged to be a part of a team who today, began to help build a foundation for a building. Before it had set in that I was travelling to a different country to help alongside an even greater team, I was looking forward to going beyond my comfort zone making sure that I would chose to challenge myself. 

Our first assignment... They had us level off, what will become a foundation for a building. They then split our team. Half of us moved up across the street to fill wheelbarrows full of dirt to help fill the empty space, leveling the ground to prepare the foundation. I was just standing around and decided that I was not giving my 110%, so I made my way up the hill. At first, it was difficult to figure out the instability of the wheelbarrow, but then I realized that it is a lot like our mindset. Once it is in the right place, things go smoothly but when it is not, we need to work to get to that point by choosing another path. To be honest, I got tired, but I took a deep breath and thought of the end result (The director for the interns gave us our instructions, but spoke about the vision first). What a great reminder about what people can do when the right starting point has been chosen. It might seem like that job is done but in reality, it was a starting point to see just how much I can push myself. By the way, I plan to keep on going and give my 110%. If you want to know more about what that means, there was a video posted on instagram today, explaining #contract 

My head was swirling, my heart was pounding, and I was sucking on my Jolly Rancher as hard as I could to prevent the inevitable post-takeoff ear popping. This was my first time on a plane, and already I was starting to second guess my reasoning for going to Peru on a short-term missions trip in the first place. But after about thirty seconds, we were flying! I took a peek out the window, and seeing the sea of clouds swell below us made me forget my momentary discomfort. I suppose that this was just a primer for God taking me out of my comfort zone during this trip, and already He had exceeded my expectations. As we settled down for the long, bumpy eight-hour flight to Lima, Peru, people from the team started to get up from their seats and get to know each other. For the most part, it was a lovely ride – I really just felt like I was in a very large car – but most importantly it gave me time to self-reflect, pray through my doubts and fears, and prepare myself spiritually for the journey ahead of me. However, towards the end, I began to wrestle with frustration, feeling like I would forget everything that I had learned up to this moment, and sudden sickness; the combination of which made me aware of the spiritual warfare that was attempting to remove me from the events of the trip spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This reached its climax during the final descent, and my head was filled with the worst pain that I have ever experienced in my life; my teeth felt like they were being pulled out all at once, tears were forced out of my eyes, my ears rung, and my brain felt like it was being reduced to dust inside a hydraulic press. Even after the flight I was not fully present as I stumbled through customs with the rest of the team. Some may write it off as the unfortunate experience of a first-time flyer, but I just know it was more than that.  Through under-my –breath prayers for strength and discernment, God used that tumultuous flight to make me aware of the spiritual threat that I had been dangerously ignoring. He used it to prepare me to recognize it more quickly throughout the duration of this trip, and beyond.

by Sam Rankin, Bolton Alliance Church

Hey everyone! My name is Sam Rankin, I am associated with Bolton Alliance Church and I am so excited to be participating in this year’s Mission Peru trip! Today we arrived at the Inca Link compound after spending the last day or so travelling. The first leg of our trip was on an 8 hour plane ride from Toronto to Lima. We were blessed with a safe flight with only a bit of turbulence. The plane ride was full of laughter and happy chatter and I think I can speak for everyone when I say we were all too excited to sleep.  Afterward, we got on a bus and drove 9 hours to the Inca Link compound in Trujillo. Eventually, the lack of sleep caught up with us and a lot of the bus ride was spent catching up on rest. Once we got to the compound, we were greeted with smiling faces and a great lunch as we were introduced to the amazing interns and staff. After lunch we had an orientation meeting and were given a general idea what we would be participating in over the next few days. I can’t wait for tomorrow to come so that I can contribute to this wonderful mission!

by Victoria Mortimer

Hey everyone,

Welcome to the 2017 Mission Peru trip! From June 28 through July 8, we will be hanging out in Trullio, Peru. It seems like only a few short months ago when we began planning the 2017 trip; now it’s here!

My name is Victoria Mortimer and I’m your official media gal for the trip. For me, this will be my second trip to Peru. 

There are a few ways you can follow alongside us over the next week.

1. The website: www.missionperu.ca. This will be your best source of up-to-date information including photos, updates, blogs and video.
2. Twitter: @missionperu. The news feed on the front of the Mission Peru website is actually powered by Twitter. If you’d prefer to just add us to Twitter, feel free.
3. Our Official Facebook Group: www.missionperu.ca/facebook. This is an awesome place to hang out and engage with others.
4. Instagram: @missionperu. I won’t be posting a ton on Instagram that you won’t already see on the website, but if that’s your social media language, definitely subscribe to it. 

This year, I would encourage you to write comments on the blog posts and/or our Facebook page. Each day, I will take the opportunity to read a number of them to the group during our devotional time in the morning. Note that when I’m reading the comments, I’ll often refrain from using names so that the entire team can be encouraged, instead of just one individual. 

As far as “when” I’ll be posting stuff, it will vary. Based on my experience from previous trips, it will probably be either very late at night, or in the wee hours of the morning. I’d suggest that instead of waiting up at night hoping to see the daily updates, that you get a good night’s rest and visit the website over a cup of coffee (or two) in the morning.  The other unknown is Internet. If we go a day or two where you haven’t seen any updates, don’t worry about it! The Internet is very touch-and-go in Peru, so “no updates” simply means “no Internet”. I will do my absolute best to try and get something new up every day (even if it’s just a message in the Twitter feed saying, “Internet sketchy. Things are going great.”)

Thank you for your continued prayers. May God use us to encourage the people of Trujillo and to edify Him in all that we do.

Sincerely,

Victoria Mortimer
Your Official Media Gal for the 2017 Trip