Parasites and Paradise
We came out of the airport to be greeted by the whole missionary community already present in Perú. As we loaded into the back of Taylor Schmidt’s truck, we began our laundry list of questions regarding what to expect in missions. I’ll never forget what one of our missionaries, Karen said: “Get ready to discover what your relationship with parasites is going to look like.”
Miracle In Peru
One night we offered to pray over people after a Scripture reading gathering. A lady asked to be prayed over for abdominal pain that she had suffered with for years. We all laid hands upon her, and begged for the Lord to heal her of pain and in all aspects of her life.
Warfare and Worship
Olivia and the other missionaries serving with her visited this pueblo and faced such great resistance and indifference from the people. She would often describe it as a “heavy” place. We later discovered that a very famous witchdoctor lived and worked there. People came from all over to be cured by her or to receive a spell. No wonder the place feels like such a heavy stronghold of the Enemy.
A Year In Missions
I know by accepting His call to become a missionary, I gave the Lord permission to push and pull and stretch me beyond my deepest imaginings, and there’s no way I could escape from that unscathed. I had to allow myself to recognize my faults, to see where I lacked knowledge and wisdom in things I had never dealt with.
Victor & Karina
On a Saturday afternoon, we received a phone call from our friend Andy, a fellow FMC missionary here in Peru. He’d just been informed of Karina’s biopsy results, which indicated her recently diagnosed and untreated cancer was so advanced that she had only two weeks to live, at best.
Update: Team Peru and the Mudslide
It has been three weeks since the awful disaster of mudslides and flooding that struck Tres Unidos and Shamboyacu. These have been weeks of hard work and more rain has fallen on already beaten down communities.
The first few days following November 2nd were long and exhausting. Taylor left early every morning and returned home after dark each evening. His goal each day was to bring hope to the people who had lost everything. He did this by bringing the love of Christ with him. He took the time to listen teach person’s story and prayed with them. He also brought in things that were desperately needed: water, food, clothes, and even a tent for a family who lost their home.
Leanor’s Great Faith
Last year, I was introduced to Leanor for the first time. I only knew her in passing. She was the lady who sat on the corner of our street watching the day’s action pass by, much like my grandfather had done when he was alive.
Hard Bends, Dead Ends, & Beautiful memories
[Annmarie Abeyesekera recently went on a medical mission trip with FMC in Peru. These vignettes and reflections are published here with her permission.] The highlight of my mission trip would have to be the second day of the trip. We traveled to a pueblo called Tres Unidos. It was not easy arriving at the Pueblo, but it sure was a little…
Is Just One Soul Worth It?
This past Sunday we had another opportunity to celebrate a first for a community. The small community of Nuevo Canal had a mass for the first time ever! It was such a joyous event.
You Are His Hands And Feet
A Wedding in Nuevo Chimbote
Our friends Lider and Dolly in Nuevo Chimbote have three children together, two boys and a girl. Lider is 43 and Dolly is 32. When we first came into town sixteen months ago, neither of them had an interest in the Church. Lider was a drunk. Their relationship was strained. And then JESUS happened!!!
Breast Cancer – Be Gone!
As day faded into night and the celebrations for our village’s patron saint came to an end, we wandered around the plaza visiting friends. We planned to enjoy the final hours of the celebration before returning home for a much-needed good night’s sleep. We realized that God had other plans when our friend’s son rushed up and said, “My mom…
I Lift My Eyes Up Unto the Mountains
The roosters had just begun their Monday morning crowing when it was time to get up and prepare for the day. Our family awoke, quickly preparing a small snack breakfast before Fr. Leo, Sr. Marie Eugenia, and a religion teacher named Garvin came to the house to pick us up on our missionary adventure to the mountain communities above our…
Vlog: What a Day in Peru!
The Blind See
Jesus works miracles everyday; they may not always look like those in the Bible, but they are every bit as real.
10 Fun New Experiences in Peru!
1. We live in an abandoned bakery. It is a very interesting set up. We have one big room where we all sleep which was used to store bread. It’s awesome, we live in a room that is made to be fresh and cool!! The sinks in the bathrooms opened with your foot so you would not contaminate anything, which…
Do Not Live in Fear, Little Flock
One of the first messages God spoke to Genie Summers, one of the founders of Family Missions Company, has really touched my heart this week. When contemplating whether or not to sell their possessions and live a life of Gospel Poverty, Genie and Frank were struggling to accept and understand such a deeply counter-cultural and total call to dependence upon Jesus….
Four Airports, One Candle, and A Prayer
Last week we said goodbye to our amazing friends from Holy Family Parish in Brillion WI. They came to Peru to build two churches, but they ended up doing so much more! When the group arrived at the airport in Tarapoto, some twenty hours and four airports after their journey began, the joy on their faces was amazing to see! Many…
