Mission Peru

¡Hola amigos y amigas!

For anyone reading this who doesn’t know me, my name is Esther Chew and I was one of the leaders on Mission Peru 2018. It has been just over a week since we got back to Canada after a week and a half in Peru that was nothing less than life-changing.

My biggest prayer request going into Mission Peru was that God would change the hearts, minds and lives of the students we brought down (and of myself as well) for His glory and that this trip would encourage them to seek after Him with their whole selves. And boy, did He answer that prayer.

Throughout the whole week, I witnessed God’s GREATNESS time and time again. The thoughtful and meaningful conversations I was able to have with the students blew my mind. They were squinting their eyes and ears so hard to witness and discern why God has chosen them to be on this trip and what He was teaching them. One night, one of the Peruvian leaders at Inca Link shared his testimony and I found myself in awe at God’s faithfulness as he urged them to take their faith seriously - the very thing I had been praying so desperately that God would make known to them. 

Those 10 days pushed and stretched us beyond what even we thought was possible. But with God… Nada es Imposible (nothing is impossible). It was an honour and privilege to see our youth’s joy, hardwork, deep thinking and obedience to God. (To any parent reading this - your kids are amazing) I witnessed at least 10 of them share their testimonies boldly in front of various crowds, often with little to no warning beforehand. I saw them push wheelbarrow upon wheelbarrow upon wheelbarrow full of sand, dirt or rubble, and do it with a smiling face and an encouraging word for their fellow teammate. I saw them try their best at Spanish and when that failed, I saw them simply love and care for the kids despite the language barrier. I saw them wake up early every morning to do their devotionals and then sit down with them late at night and listen to them speak about what God had taught them or shown them that day. I heard them pray for the people of Peru: for the men, women, boys, girls, youth, ministry leaders, flood victims, garbage dump families and locals. I saw them be in the moment and give 110%, choose joy and also choose to challenge themselves. I saw them learn from the missionaries and local Peruvians what it means to be in community, to do ministry and to serve the Lord with your whole life. I witnessed them make commitments to changing how they live out their lives back at home. I saw their hearts being broken and wept with them as we had to say goodbye- a sign of true, deep love for those we had met and encountered. 

So here’s what I’ll leave you with… Whether you’re a Mission Peru member, a past member, a parent, a family member, a church family member, a friend: Take your faith seriously. Read God’s word and learn from it. Pray for joy, strength, wisdom and for those around you. Abide in the Lord.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)

Dios te bendiga (God bless you)