Pray for God’s Light to Shine As Peru Faces Challenges

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Join us in praying for Peru during a complicated time of upheaval. Below we give a snapshot of some of the challenges, hear from parents of children in our projects, and suggest ways to pray for peace and protection. 

Devastation from Natural Disasters

Heavy rains from Cyclone Yaku in northern Peru have resulted in 69 fatalities since January, and leaving 80,000 people affected by avalanches, floods and landslides. Our dedicated project workers have reported that 1,573 sponsored children have been severely impacted by these heavy rains. 

A state of emergency has been called as the government seeks to bring relief to the impacted regions. 

In response, more than 300 volunteers have joined our Compassion staff in helping affected children and families. Health professionals from our projects have visited each family to assess their particular needs and provide assistance. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated as we strive to help those suffering from this disaster most effectively. 

Ongoing anxiety and hardship 

The spread of COVID-19, and now the global food crisis, already means that day-to-day life can be incredibly difficult for families in southern Peru. These challenges have intensified due to political unrest from protests about President Dina Baluarte. Despite a state of emergency being called in the Puno region, our programmes have kept running. Below we hear from some of those affected:

‘When this crisis began, we didn’t know it would last more than two months. It took us all by surprise. We were left with no income, no food and no hope,’ says Jacinta, mother of five children, including Compassion participant, Sergio (five years old).

Another mother, Nehomi, who has two children registered with Compassion, agrees. ‘My husband helps visitors on the Inca trail hike in Cuzco. He had to stop working because tourism halted. I was so worried and scared. Food prices went up, stores closed. It was heart-breaking to see my children going hungry.’ 

Compassion currently partners with 13 churches in this southern region, supporting 2,400 children and 1,800 families. Ruth, Director of the Little Rays of Light Child Development Centre, spoke about how this has affected them all. ‘The parents weren’t only affected financially, but emotionally as well. Children were sad at being locked in again at home due to unrest. Stress and anxiety have been high. We thank God that we have a psychologist working at our centre who’s been helping us encourage families on coping with these negative emotions.’

Seeing the love of God as a reality

Project staff have been visiting sponsored children on foot – taking food parcels, and offering encouragement. Ruth says the team is motivated by knowing all the love and support from sponsors. ‘We thank God for the lives of our children’s sponsors. We see the love of God become a reality through their generosity. The help we can give these families is so much greater because of Compassion’s supporters.’ 

Even though the situation is yet to be resolved, Ruth says that the children sponsored by Compassion, and their families, feel their hope and faith strengthened by the love and care they’ve experienced from project staff. ‘No one helps us better than the centre staff! The tutors pray with us over the phone, and the kids jump for joy whenever we get a food basket. It’s a happy day when people from the centre come to visit us. We’re very grateful for them,’ says Justina. 

Join with us in praying:

• For sponsored children and their families – for safety and for their physical, emotional and spiritual health.
• For the relief efforts in northern Peru, as the government and non-profit organisations, like Compassion, seek to help communities rebuild their lives after these devastations.
• For our church partners working in areas of political unrest. Pray for their protection on the roads, and for dealing with practical challenges such as difficulty with accessing shops and getting funds released from banks.
• For God’s peace for the country of Peru.

If the child you sponsor has been affected significantly by any of the events mentioned above, a member of our Engagement Team will be in touch.

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