Back to Peru

To PERU September 2007

(Left to right) Back: Terra- U.S., Luke-U.S., Nathan-Canada, Kevin-France, Jake- U.S., Yveto-Haiti, Amy (leader)- U.S

Front: Cristal-Panama, Megan-U.S., Sara-U.S., Lisa-U.S., Katie-U.S., Rachael (leader) U.S.

Believe it or not, I will be making my 3rd trip to Peru this year in less than 3 days. I will be co-leading with Amy again a team of 11 students, many of whom I took to the Amazon earlier this year with. Though, this trip is going to look different than the last trips, and all of us are going to be able to do something we have never dreamed of being able to do.

Our trip is going to be on September 12- November 11.


Earthquake Disaster Relief

As many of you have heard, As many of you know, a few weeks ago, on August 15, an earthquake of 8.0 magnitude struck the coast of Peru, south of Lima the capitol. In Pisco, 80% of the city has been destroyed and many other surrounding cities and villages have suffered great loss. This is what IMCWORLDWIDE.ORG reported: “The disaster killed over 500 people and left tens of thousands homeless. In a vast disaster area surrounding the cities of Pisco and Ica, the survivors, many of them living on the streets, are now desperately waiting for help. More than 56,000 homes were destroyed and several powerful aftershocks…." Tragically this earthquake happened on a Wednesday evening when a Catholic Church full of people were attending mass. The roof collapsed in and at least 200 people were buried under the rubble of the church. The people in these cities do not have home owners insurance, so rebuilding is very difficult. Food and water are huge needs that are leaving people desperate. Nights are cold, and many people are sleeping on the streets with only blankets.

As a team we prayed about whether we were supposed to go help in any way possible, since we are already going down to Peru. We all felt God directing us to go. Right after we decided to go, an anonymous person donated $10,000 for us to use for disaster relief work there. Our plan is to spend 10 days there before we head to the Amazon. We could be doing anything from cleaning up destroyed homes and rebuilding, to passing out groceries, clothes, tents and blankets. Please pray for our team. This is an incredible opportunity to meet a very practical need of those people right now. Our heart is to love them by serving them, listening to them, and sharing with them the hope that Christ gives. Many people are hurting and they are even angry at God. We need a lot of wisdom, guidance, and strength for the things that we will be facing. Most of all, we ask that you would join us in praying for the hurting people who were affected by this disaster.

TAKING BIBLES TO THE AMAZON


Our trip last Dec-Feb to the Amazon our whole team saw how much the people in the jungle needed Bibles. This time around, we decided we would do something about that. We started a fundraiser to raise $10,000 to bring Bibles down to Peru, and amazingly, God brought in every penny using so many different individuals and churches. We are so pumped for this trip to be able to bring Bibles to people who have a huge desire to read them, but lack the recources to buy their own.


It is so cool how God has brought this team together. We are a team of 13 people from 5 different nations: France, Canada, Haiti, Panama, and the U.S. I am excited to see how God uses this team, because each of them have so much to offer.


I will do my best to keep you updated on our trip with stories and pictures. We ask that everyone would really pray for our safety. That God would work through us and recieve the glory. That we would be sensitive to Him. We just really need your prayers!


Thank you all and God bless.

in Christ,

Rachael