Trip: Pucallpa 2022
Dates: April 16-24, 2022
Location: Lima, Pucallpa, Cusco, & Machu Picchu (Peru)

After over two years of not receiving any service teams, our partners in Peru (Kids Alive International Peru) were happy to host our team this Spring!

A team of 8 served in Pucallpa, Peru on April 16-24, 2022. They worked on construction projects, played with the ministry kids, served the church community, and explored Cusco and Machu Picchu!

Below is a daily recap of the service week, which represent a typical trip. 📆⬇️

Day 1

The team was happy they made it to Peru and were anxious to get to serving, but first an overnight layover in Lima which included some delicious seafood. ✈️🇵🇪😋

Day 2

The team then traveled from Lima to Pucallpa. Once they arrived to see the jungle and beautiful site where they were staying, they were happy to finally be in their new home for the week.🌴🏡

After exploring the property, they started to stuff Easter Eggs which would be used the following day on an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.🥚🐰✝️

Day 3

After many months of planning and anticipation, the first day of service was finally here! After a debrief and welcome from our partners, Kids Alive International Peru, the team was ready to start working.💪

One of the projects for the week was working on replacing a deck that was rotted and dangerous to step on for kids and staff. First step: remove all planks and nails! 🔨🪚

God was gracious as the skies were a bit cloudy and even rainy, allowing them to keep working hard and avoid the beaming sun that came out during a very traditional and delicious lunch. ⛅️🙏

After lunch they met the kids at the care home and organized an Easter Egg hunt for them followed by fun games!🥚💙

Day 4

The next day started with breakfast made by the boys. 🍳☕️

Then off to work on the ongoing project plus a hair cutting session by a team member who is a hairdresser back home. 💈💇‍♀️

Then a short drive to play duck duck goose with the kids made for a squished car ride. On the return, the team was able to walk through the neighborhood.🚗🦆

The evening ended with some exploring of the surrounding swamp and river where the team encountered some local animals thanks to the help of the local missionaries. 🐸🌿

Day 5

The day started with some hedge cutting work at the orphanage, lunch with the kids, and then a bumpy ride to the local church where the team was in charge of leading activities for the community kids for a few hours.🌳🚙⛪️

The kids loved singing, dancing, playing, drawing, and praying. Even though none of the kids spoke English and most team members didn’t speak Spanish, the two groups bonded greatly and had a fun afternoon.💃🙏

Then came a couple of “house visits” where the team visited the homes of some community members. This was very impactful for some team members as it provided a first hand, raw experience of the living conditions the locals endure.👀

Day 6

The last day serving in Pucallpa included finishing the boardwalk project, playing in the river with the kids, buying some souvenirs from community members, playing volleyball with the staff and kids, saying goodbye to our new friends, and touring around the town.🌊🏐💔😥🌌

In the late afternoon, the team took a flight from the jungle to the mountains and landed in Cusco, a beautiful and historic city in the Peruvian Andes which was once the capital of the Inca Empire and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture.⛰

Day 7

After settling in Cusco, the team embarked on an exciting and once in a lifetime trip to one of the World’s Wonders: Machu Picchu.🌎🚞 We’ll let the pictures do the talking here.⛰

Day 8

The trip ended with a day in Cusco, a beautiful and historic city in Peru and the capital of the Incan Empire.

This was also a time for the team to reflect on the experience they had serving our partners in Pucallpa. What did they learn? What are they going to take back home? How did God impact their lives this week?💭