Road trip! Today was a lot of driving. The team drove for two hours north and east to Sayan, a town nestled in the foothills of the Andes mountains. The soccer field needed some work so the team picked up some trash and hung up some new nets on the goals. Nathan gave a short gospel message to the people of Sayan before they let them loose on some new shoes and Christmas presents brought from Casa de Luz. Not only that, the Casa De Luz staff brought the barbershop with them and cut the kids hair. We said our goodbyes, loaded up, and headed east for Huacho. We arrived at the orphanage there and we're greeted by the excited faces of the kids there. Nathan gave another gospel message before we sat down for dinner together. It was a quick but meaningful time with the kids. We had to leave and make the long drive back to Comas.

Here there be dolphins. When the team arrived at the beach for round two with teens from Casa De Luz, they were greeted with a pod of dolphins swimming and playing near the shore. Levi gave a devotional by the bus on baptism. Piedo responded to the teaching by asking to be baptized. So there in the surf, in the presence of the kids, and the dolphins, Piedo was baptized by his amigo Levi. The teenagers had a blast running through the surf and making sandcastles out of one another. More of the moms came along as well and talked with Meagan and Patricia. The sunburns team members mostly relaxed in the shade from the hot Peruvian sun, only stepping into the water for a short while to cool off. The ride home was another exhilarating experience navigating through rush-hour in Lima.

Beach day number one is in the books. We drove 2 1/2 hours south to the beach. The kids can hardly wait to jump in, but first a quick Bible lesson from Colby. Nathan brought the big beach ball to play with, and the boys practiced various feats of strength. Some of the moms also came with us and spent some quality time with Meagan and Patricia. The sun was hot on our pale Alaska skin (and turned some of us a rosy red), but our spirits remain high

Are you "bready?"

Today the team had the opportunity to sit down with the volunteers at Casa de Luz and speak words of encouragement to them. After that it was finally time to go out into the community for a bread walk to pass out bread to families and pray over them. Back at Casa de Luz it was the final night for the moms to meet together with Meagan and Patricia. Dinner was served to no less than 47 moms after the last session was over. What an encouraging site it was to see so many mothers come together to grow in their relationship to God and to connect with other moms.

Goooal!!

Well, sort of.

The team competed in a soccer tournament with other teams from the community. They put forth a valiant effort, but they didn’t win the prize unfortunately. It was all in good fun. Even more moms attended the second night than the first night. We had at least 50 show up! There was a lot of positive feedback and gratitude from the moms. Lastly, the team was able to gift a beautiful quilt made by Pam Braise to one of the ladies in the community. She was so thrilled to receive it she must have hugged us all three times at least. God has blessed us, and we have been able to share His blessing with the community here.

Busy day. The team went straight into VBS were they divided up among the three age groups of kiddos. Colby taught the oldest group, Levi taught the middle group, and Robert and Meagan taught the youngest. Our topic for each group was being salt and light in the world. After VBS, the team went outside and finished the last flight of concrete stair construction. Yay!

After a short break they got ready for ministering to the teenagers and the moms. The men served food to the women, Levi taught the teens about being light to the world. We also took communion with the teens. All in all a full day.

Continue to pray for physical health that's been so challenging on this trip.

Pray for the Casa De Luz staff to grow in their leadership by the training from our team.

Pray for kids and teens to understand the Bible lessons and make decisions to follow Jesus.

Pray for the moms that Meagan will be ministering to for three consecutive days.

More work on the concrete steps this day! It's tough work on the hillside and doing everything by hand. Should finish the stairs on the 6th of January.

Midday our team had a planning meeting with Casa De Luz leaders for the ministry events for the next several days.

In the evening they invited the entire community out for an outdoor movie night (Nacho LIbre)! Before the movie, Robert and Meagan share testimonies and invited all of the moms in the community to come to the special program for mom's at Casa De Luz that Meagan and Patricia have planned January 6-8.

The efforts to pour more specifically into the leadership staff of Casa De Luz was so effective the UBC mission team was asked to spend some more time doing this sort of thing with all the Casa De Luz volunteers all day on Monday.

Nathan's health continues to improve very slowly, pray for his recovery while he works on mission.

Daniel is recovering quickly in hospital care but will need several days to get over the pneumonia. Pray for his speedy recovery.

The team started their day with the teens of Casa De Luz giving them haircuts and beard trims. They worked very hard on the concrete stair project hauling rocks, mixing cement, and pouring concrete.

3 of the Casa De Luz leaders got to practice what our team taught them yesterday by sharing their testimonies: Mickey, Fernando, and Pocho. This was nerve-racking for them but they did great. Colby gave a Bible-lesson on God's strength in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12). Meagan and one of the familiar translators and a dear friend now, Patricia, are preparing lessons for the moms in the community around Casa De Luz.

Nathan is feeling a little better from his cough and congestion and was able to help with the concrete stair construction. Pray for his healing!

Daniel Peters is in the hospital in Fairbanks with double-pneumonia and obviously does not plan to join the team late anymore. Pray for his healing!

January 3, 2024

The Peru team was able to tour the newly constructed and not quite finished ministry center of Casa De Luz. They spent some quality time with the kids and teens hanging around the center who knew they were coming. Gregoria, our favorite chef in Peru, has been volunteering in the kitchen at Casa De Luz for years. The team gifted her some sourdough bread and several aprons for the kitchen staff handmade by Shannon L.

The team is working on a flight of concrete stairs outside the center that will be used by Casa De Luz visitors as well as many of the neighbors surrounding the center.

They hand-carried small rocks by the bucket-load up to the top of the stairs for mixing into the cement. They mixed cement at the top of the stairs and carried bucket loads down to the wooden forms for the concrete steps.

In the evening Levi and Pocho (Larry's adopted son and leader at Casa De Luz) taught the teens about how to set God-led goals for your life at the beginning of the year. They also taught the staff of Casa De Luz, from teens to adults how share their testimonies as a witnessing and disciple-making tool.

How you can pray:

1) Health! Seriously, Nathan is struggling with congestion and Daniel is still in Fairbanks and likely will not make it down to serve alongside the team.

2) Safe and productive construction work and opportunities to pour spiritual life into the Peruvian workers and the neighbors.

3) The development of Casa De Luz staff by our team, and the encouragement and spiritual growth of the young moms that Meagan will be working with.

Enjoy the pictures below!

Our entire team took various flights to Atlanta where we all got on the same flight to Lima. Yay for airplane naps and overpriced airport food! We are enjoying the fellowship of traveling in a large group. 10:06am AK time

3.5 hour flight to seattle

5.5 hour flight to Atlanta

6.5 hour flight Lima

All 30 of us united and on the plane to Lima! 1/2/22 10pm AK time

We rode a chartered bus from airport to our hotel. “Pumped,” “exhausted,” “excited,” and “ready for a nap” are all words we chose to describe how we feel after flying for two nights and a day. We will rest 8am-1pm. Tonight we get to go have our first worship night with the teens at Casa De Luz. 1/3/22 8am Peru time.

Tuesday January 3. We checked into our hotel and got much needed rest. We ate lunch and received briefing from LCOP founder Larry. We met and prayed for the family we will help build a brick house for. The family is a sibling group of 11, 15, and 18 years with no parents. The hillside we will carry bricks up is very steep with loose rocks.

we enjoyed some unstructured fellowship with the teens with games, conversations, magic tricks, and talking with old friends from the last trip.

We enjoyed a worship service with the teens at Casa De Luz. They’re music is LOUD. Matthew shared a slideshow of Alaska and pointed out God created it all and that each person is more precious than anything else He created. Benjamin shared a testimony and biblical devotion teaching the kids that the God of the Bible is always beside us and never leaves us. About 10 teens raised their hands responding to an invitation to trust in Christ as savior. We hope to follow-up with most of these tomorrow alongside Casa De Luz (house of light) leaders.

Devin and Malcolm played some of our English songs for the whole crowd and the kids worshipped by clapping (often louder than we could sing).

Wednesday 1/4/23.

We helped out with VBS from 10am-1pm (did some impromptu skits, teaching, and crafts) and 9 men hand-carried 1,200 bricks and 30 bags of cement and that weighed 80lbs up a very steep hill to the building site. After lunch we went door to door in the slums and passed out bread, prayed for people, shared the gospel and invited them to Casa De Luz ministries. 5 people said prayers of salvation during this outreach today! They were connected with Casa De Luz leaders for next steps. At teen worship most of the teens brought friends and we had much bigger attendance. Malcom wowed the teens with a “trick show.” He shared how Jesus washes our sins away. They asked for an encore. Bradlee and Dickie D shared excellent testimonies and Andy gave a biblical devotional. Devin and Malcom played “Glorious Day” and the Peruvians sang loud on the chorus which they knew in English. The teens really warmed up to our group and invited us to do their signature worship dance circle to wrap up a great day of giving glory to Christ!

Thursday 1/5/23.

Had a good breakfast today with eggs! First two mornings we only had Bread.

Devotion for leaders meeting discussed the fruits of the spirit. Encouraged leaders to exhibit those qualities and encourage team members.

-Hang out with teenagers 

-Carrying gravel bags up 100 stairs 

-Bread giving and ministry door to door

-12+ Teens say they want to be baptized

Some highlights were hanging out with the teens during lunch and after handing out bread. Denise and Meaghan loved filling the gravel bags!

Kids seen last year came into Casa De Luz tonight. Was a highlight for many returning missionaries. 

Prayed with several families who talked about having no food and many mouths to feed. No fathers in either picture. Single mothers struggle to feed their families and don’t want to leave the kids alone to work. Invited them to visit Casa De Luz. 

2 more people said prayers for salvation in outreach today! Many more contacts were made with no immediate results but gospel seeds were planted (maybe you will have the privilege to harvest next year).

Shannon M and Leah L shared their testimonies at VBS and 2 kids prayed to believe in Christ as savior!

Malcom’s Magic was back by popular demand tonight at Casa De Luz to open the worship time at 6pm.

Testimonies were given by Shawn Moody, Ruth Brumfield and Devin Mosley (with a song, and maybe some tears). All gave great value in their message of Gods love, healing, and protection. 

Greta led group games for the teens afterward and they got a really big kick out of her games.

Grady taught a baptism class and will do so again on Friday with more teenagers. Public Baptism planned for Saturday.

Somehow more than 20 of our team mustered the energy at 10pm to go to the hotel pool and play Marco Polo (a few watched from the deck chairs and ate ice cream bars. Smart!).

Friday 1/6/23.

Pastor Grady read Psalm 34 this morning at breakfast. We discussed different verses of the Psalm and had some great conversations about our purpose being on Mission. Also discussed the motto of our trip of how God is close to the broken-hearted and saves those in distress. 

Highlights of our day included the following:

The group passing out bread this afternoon stopped by the house of an older man who didn’t want prayers or anything to do with God. Kathryn prayed for him and gave him some bread. Let’s hope many seeds were planted!!  

We had extra bread to pass out today as not every group went out. Prayed for a family with many children who didn’t have food and was able to give them a generous amount of bread. Invited them to Church on Sunday. 

Felix came down to casa de Luz today to say “thank you”. He and his younger siblings are the recipients of the home God provided and that we carried tons (literally) of materials uphill for. We heard his story and had a chance to pray for him and his younger siblings. 

Titus and Jacob shared their testimonies at VBS today. Jacob asked if anyone wanted to give their life to Christ and between 8-12 kids raised their hands (Spanish-speaking Casa De Luz leaders kept track of these kids and decisions). Titus followed up with an invitation to be baptized and there was a similar response. Praise the Lord!

Prayer requests:

Protection for everyone and healing for Ruth’s injured ankle and Meagan’s health.

Several other mission team members felt sick and/or exhausted today.

Another great day in Comas. We were able to have two additional testimonies given, one devotional, and lead the teens in a game. Devin also shared his music which was very well received. Malcolm and Rebecca did an amazing job of fascinating the children with their magic show. 

All for His glory!

Saturday 1/7/23

3 of our team from UBC were too sick to leave the hotel for ministry this day. Several more were not feeling well.

This morning we rode in 3 buses with over 90 teenagers from Casa De Luz to a large outdoor pool and park located about 45 minutes away from Casa De Luz.

Before the fun began, Tim shared his powerful testimony of how he came to trust in God and not lean on his own understanding. All 90 teens and the mission team were seated on the grass and Tim had a nice (and loud) portable speaker. Then Pastor Grady briefly taught the meaning of baptism to everyone since they all were about to witness baptisms after lunch.

Then Greta led some freeze tag games which we all played with them. We also played soccer for an hour before stopping for lunch. The very first game and play, the mission team played a prank by hiking the soccer ball like a football and throwing a touchdown while the Peruvians watched in shock. It took them a minute to get the joke because they were very serious about beating us at soccer.

We stopped for lunch and the park (Pine and Eucalyptus club) was selling whole, deep fried Cuy (Guinea pig). A handful of the hungry mission team enjoyed this Peruvian delicacy for lunch.

It was finally time after lunch for baptisms. Grady taught one last session with the teens wanting to be baptized. He also took some time to instruct Casa De Luz leaders how to baptize someone. 7 teens were challenged to follow through baptism even if it ever cost them everything dear to them. All 7 followed through the baptism and it was celebrated by the whole group of 90 Peruvian teens and 27 Alaskans.

The best part was that 4 Casa De Luz leaders with shepherds’ hearts were taught how to baptize. Grady demonstrated the first two baptisms and helped the Casa De Luz leaders do the other 5.

The mission team members bought ice cream for all the teens, played games, threw frisbees, sailed in peddle boats, and generally enjoyed a very fun day with the kids. It was refreshing and bonding for all!

Sunday 1/8/23

We got a chance to rest this morning. We didn’t head for Casa De Luz until 11:30am.

We had to leave 5 of our team at the hotel today to rest up and recover from illness.

Team members met at Casa De Luz and had fun cleaning the building and cooking for the Casa De Luz staff and for people in the community who attended church. Debbie said this is the most fun she’s ever had working.

We spent a couple hours deep cleaning Casa De Luz after lunch and before church at 5:30.

Many families showed up for church service whom we had invited earlier this week while passing out bread.

A man and mother came to church who had their house built for them two years ago. They still appreciate the house that was built for them.

Seth shared his testimony powerfully in the church service today. He made it clear that God rescued him from sin and gave him new life in Jesus. Grady gave a wonderful sermon on the Lord’s Supper. At least 5 people accepted Jesus and made a public statement. 

To wrap up the worship service, Robert and Andy served unleavened bread and the cup so we could observe the Lord’s Supper with everyone. We used Chicha Morada as the juice because it was the only thing we had close to grape juice.

Devin ended with a song which the Peruvians knew in Spanish. On the final chorus, Devin faded his voice out and the Peruvians sang the entire chorus LOUD as he continued to play guitar. It was a touching moment.

Matthew, Colby, Shannon, Ruth, Debbie and others prepared very American pasta with red meat sauce, garlic bread, and salad for all who wanted to come eat.

We fed at least 120 people (not counting our team).

Monday 1/9/23

After 2 days of travel, and 6 days of work at Casa De Luz. This is our Sabbath rest day for the trip. We left the district of Comas in North Lima and spent half the day in Mira Flores resting and having fun! Some just rested at the comfortable hotel we are staying at tonight. Most went to the Inca Market for shopping. A handful walked down to the beach and rented surfboards. All enjoyed restaurants that served American food or gourmet Peruvian dishes like ceviche.

PRAYER REQUEST:

Tomorrow begins a 3 1/2 day retreat with 24 teens with very traumatic experiences in their past. Our goal is to help them begin to find healing in God for their broken hearts. Please pray God would use this time effectively. All of the teens going are familiar to us because their involvement with our mission work the past 6 days. Pray that Meagan, Grady, Tim, Larry, and Pocho can lead this time effectively. Pray that each missionary on our team would be able to bond with at least one teen and help them begin a healing process (we are using The Trauma Healing Institute method and materials).

Tuesday 1/10/23

**We have poor cell reception and no WiFi in our new location. This is making updates online difficult**

We rode on a bus with 24 teens from Casa De Luz from Lima to Lunahaunau. We left at 9am. The drive was supposed to take 3 hours witth stops. Due to a problem with the accelator pedal on the bus, and a road being blocked by protestors, the drive took nearly 5 1/2 hours. There wasn’t any danger ever but it was a long trip.

We are staying at the Rio Lindo Hotel with the kids. It is a small, beautiful, resort and we have the entire place to ourselves. We are cooking our own food with a bbq grill, there is a pool, and a nice lawn to play soccer. It also is right on the river.

Meagan led all missionaries and Peruvians in a Trauma Healing session. She shared basic concepts, and then we discussed at tables, and also 1 on 1 with partners of the same gender and language. The kids are highly engaged in this. Casa De Luz leaders chose teens specifically who have had unusual trauma in their lives who need healing.

We have been enjoying bonding time through soccer, braiding hair and painting nails, wrestling, pranks, swimming in the pool, and everything that goes along with a retreat.

Please pray for the team to have good health. Several are still battling various illness please pray for an extra measure of strength from the Holy Spirit for these final days in Peru. Pray unity among the team, and for each team member to form a bond with at least one teen.

Wednesday 1/11/23

*we apologize for slow updates, we blame lack of wifi*

We started the day with singing worship songs in Peruvian style with their new portable big speaker and devotionals.

After breakfast all together a few kids got a quick swim in the pool.

Then we started healing sessions all together led by Meagan. The kids were very eager to learn how to give their pain to God and begin the healing process through talking about their experiences with trusted listeners. They all received a brand new Bible and a spiritual notebook. Devin played guitar for worship songs before each session that can mostly be sung in English and Spanish at the same time. In all we had 3 healing sessions this day. It was a lot of work for the kids and missionaries alongside them but the kids were engaged and very grateful for the resources we’ve been able to bring to them.

During breaks and free time throughout the day, the Peruvian teens were eager to talk more with our individual team members. There’s been very much joy and fellowship shared between Alaskan and Peruvian faith family during this retreat. We’ve been joking around, taught them how to pay football, and played card games.

A few kids wanted to stay late after every Trauma Healing session to learn more and apply it their situation.

We finished the day with a bonfire and roasting marshmallows down in the riverbank. We all went to bed good and tired.

Thursday 1/12/23

We started the day with Peruvian style worship outside at 7am again. We had breakfast at 8:30 to include the most fresh and delicious avocados all these Alaskans have ever had.

Meagan led another healing session with everyone from 10am to noon. Along with the teaching, we practiced writing biblical laments. The singing of bilingual worship songs in English and Spanish (Amazing Grace, Lord I Need You, Shout to the Lord) was particularly moving today as everyone sang with great spirit and truth! We also did a special exercise where everyone drew or wrote the things that cause them pain on a special parchment paper that dissolved when we placed them in a large container of water set before a cross. This reinforced our decision to give our pain to God.

We had a simple lunch of sandwiches and apples and an assortment of tasty Peruvian junk food (chips, cookies, crackers).

Then our entire team and the teens walked about 10 minutes to a white water rafting guide business. We split into two rafts of half Alaskans and half Peruvians. It only cost a little over $10/person for a hour rafting trip! It was blast for everyone and even more time to bond with Peruvian friends who are becoming more and more dear to us every moment.

When we got back we enjoyed a couple hours by the pool. The Peruvians and several of the young guys on our team’s favorite team is to sneak up on somebody who’s come to the pool, pick them up by all four limbs, and throw them in the pool! They were the Pool mob. Everybody clapped and laughed when some poor soul got dunked.

We finished the night with dinner, teaching English and Spanish to one another, and another bonfire with marshmallows.

“The LORD is near to the broken-hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

• Help build a home for a needy family
• VBS with young children
• Passing out bread and praying with locals (street ministry).
• Worship with teens every weeknight.
• Work on the centers, painting, and cleaning.
• Take large groups of kids to public pool for baptisms and fun.
• 3 day retreat for the broken-hearted.

As seen in the video above, University Baptist Church took a team of missionaries to Lima, Peru in 2022.

We visited and ministered to children and families at Casa De Luz, a Gospel-centered orphanage and family center devoted to making disciples and showing the love of Christ to people. The leaders living at Casa De Luz are well-prepared and eager to receive help from short-term mission teams of any size! One of University Baptist Church's new members, Tim Motis, has been on several mission teams to Casa De Luz and led us on this trip! You can read all about this mission at lostchildren.org and be sure to follow them on Instagram@lostchildrenofperu and Facebook/lostchildrenofperu.

When we go back to Peru you can join us in the mission, and you can do 1 or all:

1. GO (we will later post how you can apply) Use the form below to indicate your interest in going on this short-term mission trip.
2. GIVE: Use the Next Steps button (Below right, Online Giving) to give to UBC to help pay for the airfare and expenses of our missionaries.
3. PRAY: Sign up to receive a prayer guide, requests, and updates for this mission trip.

FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW so we can include you in our planning and preparation for this trip.