Our First Vision Trip: Witnessing God's Work Up Close

At the beginning of the month, we hosted our first ever Vision Trip here in Lima, and what a blessing those four days were!

When we first imagined bringing a group to experience our ministry firsthand, we hoped it would be meaningful. But the reality exceeded our expectations. The trip gave participants a chance to dive deep into understanding the mentoring ministry with teens and young adults in residential care, plus enjoy a taste of Peruvian culture and amazing food.

We spent time visiting the Puericultorio Pérez Araníbar children’s home and Buckner Peru. With our partners, we spent meaningful time discussing the realities of residential care in Peru, the unique challenges our mentees face, and how consistent, Christ-centered mentoring is making a difference.

Watching participants' understanding grow throughout the weekend was deeply encouraging. Questions became more nuanced. Conversations went deeper. By the end of the trip, everyone could articulate not just what we do, but why it matters and how God is using this ministry to transform lives one relationship at a time.

The true highlight came on Saturday when we spent the day with our volunteer mentors. We gathered in the morning for a conversation about self-care and the reality that we cannot pour out from an empty cup. The sharing that resulted between the mentors and trip participants was impactful.

Listening to the mentors describe their journeys with their mentees—the struggles that come with walking alongside young people through difficult seasons and the small victories—was the perfect reminder of why we do what we do. These aren't just programs or statistics. These are transformed lives, healed hearts, and futures filled with hope because someone chose to show up consistently and love well.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our friends and partners from Oak Island Evangelical Presbyterian Church and Ward Church for being part of this inaugural trip. We appreciate your willingness to invest your time, travel across the world, and immerse yourselves in our ministry. We are grateful to walk together in ministry.

If you're feeling inspired by what God is doing here in Lima, here are two meaningful ways to get involved:

First, join us on a future Vision Trip. There's something powerful about seeing ministry in person, meeting the people behind the mission, and experiencing firsthand how God is at work. If you've ever wondered about visiting or want to deepen your connection to what we're doing here in Lima, we'd love to have you join us.

Second, consider increasing your partnership with us. Teens living in residential care are able to be paired with a loving, consistent mentor because of faithful supporters like you. Whether through prayer, financial support, or spreading the word about our ministry, you're helping create space for life-changing mentoring relationships to flourish. Every gift—no matter the size—directly impacts the teens and young adults we serve.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We can't wait to see what God does next.