Chillicothe United Methodist Church

After a long and arduous journey, we are filled with gratitude to report that we have safely arrived at our destination: Iglesia Palabra Fiel in Lima, Peru.

The warmth of our hosts was immediately felt as we settled into what will be our home and sanctuary for the next seven days. Following a wonderful and deeply restoring breakfast, we are pausing to allow our bodies some well-deserved rest and rejuvenation.

As we prepare for the days of service ahead, we humbly ask for your continued prayers—for strength, alignment, and the work ahead.

It was an absolute joy to take part in the neighborhood Bible studies hosted by Pastor Clyde. Gathered in different homes throughout his community, we experienced a wonderful time of worship, prayer, and deep reflection on God's Word. The evenings were beautifully rounded off with a delicious dinner and warm fellowship. A truly magnificent experience that left our hearts full!

There is always time for ice cream. Our quest for this sweet treat led us to connect deeply with the local community, guiding us through the vibrant local market where we discovered regional products and met the wonderful people who work there. It was an experience that was both immensely fun and deeply educational. We were also delighted to be accompanied by several youth from the other group, making the journey even more memorable.

Today was all about grocery shopping with a purpose! We headed out to the local market to source the fresh food we’ll be sharing in our upcoming food distribution program. It turned out to be quite the adventure—vibrant, engaging, and incredibly fun. Every ingredient we gathered brings us closer to serving this wonderful community.

Once the groceries were purchased, we faced the challenge of preparing 25 food bags for each family. Although it took us some time to get properly organized, we ended up doing a great job. It fills our hearts with joy to be able to share this small blessing with the families of Pamplona Alta.

Today, we had the profound joy of joining the Sunday evening service. It was a beautiful experience to blend into the congregation—worshipping as one. Even as the church sang in Spanish, we lifted our voices in English, creating a beautiful harmony of faith that transcended language.

We were so happy to share our love through music by singing the beautiful hymn 'I'll Fly Away.' We feel incredibly grateful for the chance to praise together and bring a little joy to everyone's hearts.

Emery blessed us by sharing her testimony tonight. She spoke about how we sometimes serve God without real conviction, but through His wonderful grace, He lets us feel His presence and reminds us that our hope rests safely in Him. It was a beautiful reminder that filled us with joy.

We were further blessed as Trixie shared her testimony, which served as a source of immense strength and comfort for everyone in attendance. Her words were a beautiful reminder of faith, uplifting our hearts and leaving us deeply grateful for her vulnerability.

Harlee shared a powerful devotion from God’s Word, centering on our call to be the literal hands and feet of Jesus. It was a profound reflection that challenged and inspired our hearts, reminding us that our faith is best expressed through active, compassionate service to those around us.The Hands and Feet of Jesus

We were also blessed to witness a beautiful musical offering from our Quechua-speaking brothers and sisters. As their melody filled the room, it served as a poignant reminder that regardless of the language we speak, God deeply delights in the sincere expression of a grateful heart. Worship truly transcended earthly tongues tonight.

Our Sunday drew to a close with warm handshakes and heartfelt embraces—a beautiful manifestation of our sacred fellowship in Christ. As we said our goodnights, a deep sense of peace lingered, even as we looked ahead to the full and busy day that awaits us tomorrow.

We began our Monday with purposeful hearts, heading to Sister Juliana’s house to help her move some roofing sheets. It was a joy to put our faith into action! As we worked, Juliana poured out her gratitude for the financial aid that made her new roof possible, expressing how much of a blessing it has become for her.

This afternoon, our team divided into two groups to maximize our impact. While one cohort dedicated their efforts to community outreach, providing essential home repairs for families in need, our youth group followed a different calling. We set out toward a small local school, where we had the privilege of spending quality time with the children. Together, we shared moments of pure joy—laughing, playing, and running around without a care in the world. Before parting ways, we gifted them small tokens of our affection, leaving behind a piece of our hearts in exchange for their unforgettable smiles.

Our community outreach efforts advanced with the clearance of debris from Catalina’s home, a vital preparation for the upcoming church-sponsored initiative to completely rebuild her roof. Safely removing this accumulated wreckage was an essential first step, not only clearing the physical space but also laying the groundwork for the structural restoration and renewed hope that this structural support will soon bring to her life.

This afternoon marked the beginning of our food distribution initiative. Our journey took us into the hearts of eight homes, where we were privileged to connect deeply with the families, listening to their hardships, needs, and hopes for the future. We gave each household bags of provisions. Though it may seem small, it was delivered as a tangible expression of God’s immense love. Gathering together in prayer, we spoke blessings of health and peace over every individual. It was an exquisite, unforgettable moment of grace.

Thanks to the invaluable support of Luis, our local trip leader, we were able to leave a beautiful keepsake with each family: a photograph of all of us together. It is our heartfelt hope that this small gift serves as a constant reminder that they have brothers and sisters who are continuously holding them in their prayers.

We faced the challenge of painting the stairs in a local family sector (yes, the very ones that left our legs trembling on the way up!). It feels deeply rewarding to have left a meaningful footprint in the heart of this community in San Juan de Miraflores

Our community service work comes to an end, leaving behind some homes with new roofs and newly painted stairs. Although our contribution may seem small, we did it with all our hearts, hoping these actions bring great encouragement and blessings to our brothers and sisters in San Juan de Miraflores.

The next day, we had a visit scheduled to a local school, and we had an amazing time! The children asked us a lot of curious questions, which allowed us to get to know each other a bit better and share why we were there. It was interesting to notice that some of them already knew some English. Pastor Clyde and his leaders wrapped up these interactions by encouraging the children with the Word of God.

Our very last visit was to a community soup kitchen (comedor popular). Some church members wanted to surprise the beneficiaries of this local service with our visit. We brought a small gift for everyone there, and Pastor Clyde shared a meaningful message of reflection. We felt so happy to get to know this place and the beautiful culture behind it.

Finally, on our last night, Pastor Clyde organized a service with the whole congregation. We shared the Word of God, sang together, listened to powerful testimonies, and enjoyed some delicious food as well. Thank you for everything, Peru!