by Eric Provost, West London Alliance Church
This afternoon we did a local church tour. We eat each day at America Sur and Pourvenier. The third church that is part of the local group is Larco. Larco is the parent church that planted America Sur in 2000 and Pourvenir in 2008. Larco was built by short-term missions groups and now plants churches, runs a school and a seminary out of the facility. It was great to see what the end result of hard work can be.
America Sur is an amazing place as well. We went to church there on Sunday. The service was great and the worship was so inspiring. Even thought we were singing in 2 languages, we were singing as one group the God we all love and are here to serve.
Now for Pourveneir; what to say? Listening to Pastor Juan’s vision for the church and how God has blessed their efforts was phenomenally humbling. The community around them is one of the poorest in Trujillo and their vision is to send out the youth that attend the youth group on missions like ours in 8 countries. Just listening to how the community around them pledges money and then works to pay the pledge debt was amazing. They have nothing (in our eyes) and commit everything to the work of the church, to breaking the cycle of poverty and letting everyone know that God loves them and wants to see Trujillo be a community that honors His work.
In the midst of unreal poverty, we saw Gods beauty, people serving people with honest intentions.
Thank you for keeping us here at home updated in all that is going on and what you are doing. I'm sure this trip has been a very humbling experience for all of you that you will carry in your hearts and minds forever. May God bless all of you, and the Peruvian people. Please say hi to my grandson, Matt Stranks. I watch for him in all the posted pics!