An Unknown Village

The region of Huancayo sits amidst the Andes Mountains at an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet, about a 10-hour bus ride from the capital city of Lima. Currently, COJ supports four churches in that region. This year, we received a request to support a church that had absolutely no resources, located about a two-hour drive from Huancayo. Despite our busy schedule leading pastors’ conferences in four different cities, we decided to make time to visit this village. The winding, unpaved road proved challenging to drive, and the two-hour journey felt like an eternity. We didn’t even know the name of the village. Nevertheless, Pastor Irma awaited us at the village entrance, so we proceeded with our visit.

Upon reaching the meeting place for this church, where approximately 35 children and youth had gathered, all we could do was take a deep breath. Pastor Irma was visiting an old friend in this region when she noticed children lacking both physical and spiritual provision. She was deeply moved by the Spirit of the Lord to go and share Jesus with the children of the village. In the entire village, there is only one elementary school and one church. The gathering space was a tiny area beneath the roof of someone else’s house. It seemed almost impossible to imagine how 35 children could fit into such a small space. Yet, Pastor Irma’s heart is filled with compassion and love for these children, desiring for them to know Jesus and be saved. For the past six months, she had fervently prayed for God to send someone to support these children in their desperate need.

Would you please join us in prayer for the expansion of God’s kingdom into this unknown village and for all the children to become the ‘Children of Jesus?’