Hello from Pucallpa!

We had several team members and leaders who were feeling under the weather, but thankfully everyone is feeling better and is back to our normal routine! I, (Miss Emma) as the team nurse, am very grateful that everyone is doing well!

In this final week we are finishing up three work projects: a roof, a fence and lots of painting. The roof is coming along nicely and we hope to have it finished by tomorrow evening. They are currently nailing down the tin to cover all of the trusses that they built earlier on. The fence crew just finished putting up the new fence this morning, and the painting crew has finished up the dining hall and has moved on to painting the church, it is looking good! The kids are working incredibly hard to get all the projects done by Saturday, and we are so proud of them!

Alongside of our work projects we have been able to hangout with and minister to the local children who go to school here. The team members love to play volleyball and soccer with them in the evenings during our free time. Tomorrow (Thursday) we get the opportunity to join the local kids in one of their game nights, and on Friday we may be joining them for a Christian movie night. We are extremely grateful for all the opportunities we have been given to spend time with all of the local people. They have been very kind to us and very generous with their space. We will miss them greatly!

Team Testimonies (in count-off order ????)

Aspen:
This has been an amazing summer so far. It has been full of challenges, but I think I have grown a lot. This morning in my devos, God was convicting me about what my foundation is. How if it's not Jesus, it won't last. I'm so excited to see what God will do in these last couple days.

Isaiah:
The Lord has been telling me to let Him drive my life. He has asked me to let go of some things and to forgive people. I have learned so much on this trip and am blessed to be here.

Laurna:
We are doing great over here in Pucallpa, Peru! Please pray for no more illnesses on the team, for strength and endurance to do the day well and get the work assigned to us done in the few days we have left. I love y'all!

Penny:
Hey family! Peru is so much fun! I can't believe that our trip is almost over. With only a few days left, it's crazy to think how far we've come. Anyways, this mission trip is awesome, and I can't wait to see you guys in roughly one more week!

Robert:
I never expected to be changed so much in just a short period of time. Serving on the field and spending time with the kids has shaped my perspective vastly. I have grown tremendously in my faith and am on the path to grow even more. I'm eternally grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to see how much more I can grow and learn from this.

Obadiah:
I'm glad we are putting the roof on but sad we have to leave.

Isabel:
Hi Mommy and Daddy~ As I'm sure you're reading this :) and greetings from Peru! I'm very sad that the trip is coming to a close. I will miss the people and the Spanish and the work and especially my team. God has taught me that in all I do, I do through Him and for Him- especially failing to drive a roofing nail for the third time. Love you, see you soon, and tell you more when I get home!

Elizabeth:
I am so thankful that I came on this trip to Peru. I feel like a whole different person. I feel closer to the Lord, I have made good friends and I have the best leaders that anyone could ask for!

Janaya:
Hi guys! Peru has been great! The Lord has been teaching me a lot about my heart attitude. We went to two different churches and both of them were powerful experiences! The Peruvians are all so friendly and it's so fun having them around all the time. Also, everything is so cheap and there are so many snuggly cats/kittens!

Moses:
This summer has been wonderful. We have helped the little kids. We also play with the little kids everyday. It is very fun and hard work, but we get the job done. For what work is completed without God's work? I have no idea, but it definitely isn't good work (if God isn't in it).

Sylas:
This trip has been eye opening to how the people of Pucallpa live. What we think is poor or cheap is expensive to them. They are so happy for even the simplest things. It has been convicting on how Western society lives and how much we can do for people in other countries less fortunate than ourselves.

Josiah:
This trip has been so eye opening to the Bible. How to love others and how content and fun the people are. The Lord has been showing me how to serve and to look to Him in times of trouble/struggle. I'm so glad I have come on this trip. I have bonded with so many people on and off the team. It's been on/off hot here, but most of all dry, which has worked out perfect because we've been working on repairing the tin roof on a girls' dorm. I thank God for letting me come on this trip and pray that I will continue to grow closer to God and to love Him more. Thank you so much for all your prayers.

Kyler:
I'm learning how to thank God for everything, even the little stuff. It's also a miracle that no one has gotten hurt badly with the shape the roof was in. It's an eye opener with how content they are with what they have. Even though they don't have much, they are always happy. It is also amazing the way our team has grown together since day one and how we work together now.

Alia:
Having the best time of my life over here and kind of wish I could stay. But don't worry, I'll come home with lots of stories and pics of course. I can't wait to tell you guys about my team, the people we're serving, and how God is working in me. Hugs and kisses.

Ayden:
So far this mission trip has been amazing. I have really felt closer to God because of how little distractions there are. A little while ago I finished making a monopoly game completely from scratch and have enjoyed playing it in my free time. Our team is becoming a lot like family although I miss my own family dearly.

Tabitha:
TMI has been amazing, and I'm so glad I came! Boot Camp was so fun, although exhausting, and Peru is great! The people at Refuge of Hope are all so kind, and it's been great sharing the Word to all the kids and adults alike. Personally, I've been closer with the deaf kids here, as I already knew some sign language, and they have learned American Sign Language. As well as evangelism with the kids, we've been working on putting up a new roof on the girls' dorm, which has been fun! I love getting up there and helping, even though I'm super bad at hammering nails. We've also pulled down and put up a fence and have painted both the dining hall and church buildings. TMI is amazing and I feel like I've grown so much spiritually by being so close to God, and mentally, by seeing the world outside of the US, and physically, (I don't like the mosquito bites on my arm anymore) by being away from so many comforts that I thought were normal. It's amazing here in Peru, and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. Love from Peru!!

Charity:
It's great here and I'm so sad to be leaving in three days. We have done lots of work other than the roof, and we painted a lot of things. We painted the dining room and started painting the church. We fixed the fence, and we are starting to put tin on the girls' dorm building. My favorite part of this mission trip is probably affirmation beads because it's fun to hear the speeches and poems people write.

Enzo:
We are sadly leaving Peru in just a few days. However, it' been an amazing time and experience with all my amazing teammates and leaders. We have done a lot of work, and we are soon to finish three major goals we sought to do. I had to lay in the sick tent a few days ago, but now I'm feeling a lot better. I can't wait to see what God has planned for us these last few days.

Jesse L. (leaders' kid)
It's been fun the past few weeks. Even though the trip is coming to an end (In 3 days). On Sunday we went to a Peruvian church and we got to do a show for the kids of David and Goliath. The past few days we've gotten to work on the roof and got to paint. We got to do a quiz a few days ago and I got a verse right (Isaiah 40:31 ESV). Hope to see y'all soon.