Peruvian Life: Pastor Bill Lanes Recalls His 2023 Mission Trip; Invites You to Learn More on October 20 at Assembly of God

In October 2023, I had the privilege of working alongside Pathfinders, 12 volunteers from around the U.S. who specialize in building churches in impoverished nations. This was my first trip outside of our country, other than a day trip to Canada as a child. Wow, was Peru a cultural shock for me.

Yurimaguas is nestled along the southern edge of the Amazon jungle, with a population of approximately 60,000. It is about 22 hours north of Lima. Of course, we flew from Lima to Tarapoto and then traveled by bus for almost four hours over a high mountain pass to Yurimaguas. From Yurimaguas, numerous villages are only accessible by boat up the mighty River. The poverty rate is high, city infrastructure is lacking, and teen pregnancy is soaring.

Pathfinders partners with the Hendon family from Alabama, who are missionaries passionate about sharing Jesus with the people of Peru. Camp Yuri is the first ministry place in the interior region, about a 20-minute drive south of the city in the heart of the jungle. Here, children and teens come for events that provide food, housing, and basic teachings about Jesus Christ. Compassion is the heart of this ministry. Over the past few years, volunteer groups have joined the Hendons to build a quality kitchen and several dormitories to house young people. Camp Yuri also serves as a place for specialized leadership training in the region.

What did I learn from this 10-day venture? One: As Americans, most of us live as kings and queens compared to 85% of the world. According to U.S. standards, a family of 5 with an annual income of $36,000 is said to be poor. That figure is very different in Peru. The average monthly salary in urban areas is equivalent to $450, but in rural areas, that figure is even smaller.

Two: housing and infrastructure are far below American standards. We can get caught up in water/sewer matters here at home, However, I'm grateful for all the advances we've grown accustom too. Most families in Peru live in houses that could be compared to some of our gardens or storage sheds. As we traveled daily, homes that didn't even have windows or doors caught my eye. As a team, we stayed in a "moderate" hotel in the city with running water and sewer, air conditioning, and more. From the balcony, I watched homeless people cooking fish or chicken nearby.

The abject poverty gripped my heart. I took money from my pocket, which wasn't much, and gave it away so that others could be blessed. I left half of my clothes with the missionaries so other young men we worked alongside could have additional resources. John was one of those men, he and his wife have at least two children, my respect for him and others greatly increased seeing the conditions they live in. This trip opened my eyes and gave me a great reason to show love and compassion through action with others here or worldwide.

Ricky and Carol Hendon will share their vision for Camp Yuri and the villagers of Peru with us at the Whitehall Assembly of God on Sunday, October 20th, at 10:30 AM. We would love to see you! Following the service, we will have an International Potluck and Q&A with the Hendons. You can also go to Pathfindersmissions.org to learn more.