Peru Trip Launch!

April 21-30
Cost: $2,500
Application Deadline: January 28

A partnership trip with Joni and Friends (JAF) to come alongside a child or adult with a disability. Team members will be paired with a Peruvian volunteer to simply be a friend, giving the gift of time and love during a precious time of retreat for their families. 

The disabled are one of the least-reached people groups in the world. Many live in isolation, simply lacking mobility, cut off from life and the local church. As such, many have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ or experienced His love. And caring for a family member who is disabled is just as challenging. With so few resources for the diabled, family members hardly ever get “time off”. This is where JAF’s Family Retreats come into play.

Embracing the entire family, retreats are fun-filled and Christ-focused. Oftne times, this is the first time families have heard the message of the Gospel. This specific retreat will be head at a seaside resort where persons with disabilitiers can enjoy Peru’s first accessible beach made accessible by JAF Total Access.

Visit woodmenvalley.org/peru to apply today!

Peru Team – Photos

Last month, we sent a team of 17 to Peru with Joni and Friends. They worked alongside Peruvian therapists and mechanics to fit restored wheelchairs to the disabled while sharing the love of Jesus with them, their families, friends and neighbors We’ve posted several photos of their trip on our Facebook page (facebook.com/wvcglobalimpact) but here are just a few of them for you:

Peru Team – Home Safe

The team made it home safe and sound late Saturday evening and all luggage made it back as well. It was a long trip but so rewarding. Thank you to everyone who kept them in your prayers. More stories and photos coming soon!

Peru Team – Day Six

We ministered at the Emmanuel Bible Church today in a community called Villa El Salvador. Approximately 80 people received wheelchairs, walkers and canes. It was a much smaller space and in a very poor neighborhood; many single mothers raising children with diseases such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. They have very limited income and no opportunity to receive adequate healthcare. But, they do have loving spirits and have open hearts to receive God’s love.

One woman I helped suffered with Lou Gerig’s Disease. Her husband was her primary caregiver and she was so weak he had to hold her head up and perform maximum assistance for all of her daily needs. He was sharp and wanted to learn more about how best to take care of her. Her wheelchair was old and broken so we custom built a reclining wheelchair for her and educated him on exercises, massage, pressure relief techniques and percussioning techniques to help her when she has difficulty breathing.

It was an amazing experience to share God’s love with this beautiful family who is suffering. They were truly gracious as it took around three hours for the preparation of the chair after they had already been waiting for many hours for their turn to be seen.

To God be the Glory!!!

Matthew (for the team)

Peru Team – Celebration

While our closing ceremony was a celebration for the 75 wheelchairs distrbuted, even greater was the celebration in heaven for the 79 individuals with special needs and 50 family members who made decisions for Christ! Another fourteen also prayed to receive Christ during some street evangelism led by Pastor Don…stories to come!

Deb (for the team)

Peru Team – Day Four

It was our second day of the outreach and wheelchair distribution. Going into today we were a little concerned as we were beginning to run low on wheelchairs and parts. It was amazing to see how God provided and it was a miracle that everyone that walked in to receive a wheelchair left with one that would function for them. It was awesome to the see the teamwork between the team members from the United States and also our Peruvian coworkers. There were many instances in which team members would say that the only way a wheelchair or a part came together was through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

One example was at the end of the day there were two people left that needed wheelchairs and only two wheelchairs left. Through God’s intervention, the two wheelchairs left happened to fit perfectly; it was amazing!

After we finished fitting the wheelchairs and handing out walkers and canes, our brothers and sisters in Christ from Iglesia Alianza Christiana, the church that hosted todays outreach, presented a closing ceremony. It was amazing as their love and appreciation was felt. It was such a joy to celebrate and worship with people with such great passion for the Lord. We also learned from the pastor of the Peruvian church that over 120 people had accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior in the last two days because of the outreach.

Praises to God for this awesome miracle!

Karli (for the team)

Peru Team – Day Three

Today was an incredible day! Giving a person the gift of mobility is an extraordinary and joyful experience! It is an amazing way to serve and be His hand and feet here on earth. Their smiles, their tears, and thier stories were all very moving!

I took care of Adelaida Chavez, Victoriano Escalante, Gaspar, Janet Galagarza, Betty, and Martin Lozada today. Out of them all Victoriano touched my heart the most. Victoriano is in his mid eighties, he is a widower, and has lost his two children. He gave his life to Christ on 2007 and was baptized in June 2010. Victoriano has been a diabetic for about forty years and he had both of his feet aputated due to it. In addition to this, he has very poor vision and can hardly read. As we engaged in conversation, he said that without eyes nor feet there is no reason to live.

There are times in our Christian walk when we need to be reminded of the value and meaning we have found in Christ. Today God gave me the opportunity to remind Vitoriano of God’s purpose for his life. I reminded him that God had given him a sound mind and masculine voice to go tell others about God’s blessings in his life. I encouraged the old man who is a young Christian to go and testify! To go tell younger men about everything the Lord has done in his life. After a long and intense conversation he agreed not to be silent anymore. This old and very maculine man started crying, we were both crying! Victoriano will go tell others about the amazing grace of Christ and the incredible peace he finds in Christ!

Sylvette (for the team)

Peru Team – Day Two

Today we worshipped at two churches – the first one was Emmanual Bible Church and the second was San Martin de Porres Alianza Church. We found the people very loving and genuine in their worship. Even though there was a language barrier, we felt the passion of the message from the pastors heart. We also witnessed the ceremonial transfer of the very first wheeelchair recipient. After church, we spent time touring some of the political and historical sights and neighborhoods in Lima. We saw first hand the difference between poverty and riches! The team enjoyed a time of fellowship over dinner at Chios Chicken and finished the evening packing the blankets, seat cushions, supplies, etc., in preparation for the coming days of distribution.

Linda (for the team)

Peru Team – Day One

Our team gathered this morning for a sweet time of fellowship, prayer, and bonding together with all team members finally together from Woodmen Valley Chapel, Albuquerque, and Pennsylvania. After a short bus ride seeing and hearing the sights and sounds of Lima, we were overwhelmingly welcomed by the members of San Martin de Porres Alianza church and learned about the new ministry they are launching to minister to individuals with disabilities in their district. Our group will be partnering with the Alianza church to distribute wheelchairs Monday and Tuesday. What a blessing it is to meet fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!

Maija (for the team)

Peru Team – Arrival

The team finally landed safe and sound with all their luggage in Lima! Thanks to all who were praying for their safety!