Although NRUMC has been in ministry with the people of Peru for many years, every trip is different. A different mix of people, different locations, different experiences make each trip special. This trip was no exception. Our team of 25 travelers was our largest yet,and we worked in an area new to us. We stayed in the city of Chincha Alta and worked in the seaside town of Tambo de Mora, about 4 hours south of Lima. The church and retreat center where we worked had been damaged in an earthquake years ago, and our week would be the start of the restoration process.
We knew that taking our biggest team would be a challenge, but I am so very proud of the ways we bonded together as a team, and prepared our hearts to serve together and represent our church. This trip was unique in that the scope of the work we did felt enormous! Roofing, flooring, windows, painting, doors, cleaning, there was so much to do and we look forward to receiving updates from our Peruvian family once the repairs are finished in Tambo de Mora. Fortunately for us, the adventure level matched the scope of the work- we had a blast!
On our first day at the worksite a few of the group were tasked as the “well team” to fill the large barrels with water we would need to mix concrete. We quickly named ourselves the “women at the well” as we spent a few hours pulling water from a very deep concrete well: one person tossing and then pulling the bucket back up, one dumping the bucket, others transporting buckets across the worksite. As we worked we reflected on the gospel story of the Samaritan woman at the well and how the social isolation she experienced alone would have been devastating but adding to that the physical cost that came with doing such a demanding chore on her own. We had 5 people working together! I think all of our “women at the well” walked away with a deeper understanding of the Samaritan woman’s story and an appreciation not only for running water, but for our network of community and support systems.
In addition to the work at Tambo de Mora, we spent several afternoons in ministry with the children in the neighborhoods near churches in the Chincha and Tambo de Mora area. Through song, crafts, storytelling, and play, we spread God’s love through the story of Jesus healing the paralytic. Our location made the story seem even more relatable, because many of the roofs were made of bamboo, and it was easy to visualize the friends removing part of a roof like that to lower their friend to Jesus. It’s always amazing to see how quickly connections are made between the children and the folks on our team.
Other significant moments for our team were celebrating FOUR team members’ birthdays, encouraging the many folks stepping up in brave ways to lead the children’s activities, laughing at our elementary Spanish knowledge, and caring for each other across 7,000+ miles of travel. We spent our final two days just in awe of God’s creation exploring Paracas while embracing local culture and history. A very special memory happened on our last day at the hotel when a few dolphins swam by during lunch. We decided they had come to wish us well on our journey back home.
As always, relationships were the most important fruit of our trip - with each other, with the people with whom we worked and ate each day, with the children that we saw every time we visited a different church. With the neighborhood children who waved at us each day. With the folks that we encountered in the city - from the hotel to the ice cream shop. With our Peruvian friends who we’ve known for years. God’s love is spread through connections between God’s people, and that love was evident throughout our trip.
Thank you to the whole team, our church, and especially our Shareholders who invested to ensure this mission partnership continues. Take a few minutes to watch our team video and make plans to go with us in the Summer of 2026!
-David Bass and Jen Haselden
