Trip Information

Servant Life partners with several local ministries in Peru that operates in different parts of the country with a variety of ongoing ministry projects and needs, particularly in conjunction with local house churches and soon to be planted churches in three distinct ministry locations.

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Teams will fly into either Cusco, Lima, or Iquitos and be serving either at a ministry center, an orphanage, alongside our house church planters for the week, or in the Amazon region alongside a pastor. Cusco is in the 12,000 foot range of the Andes, and some physical demands should be considered as a team plans for this opportunity. Missional experiences will primarily focus on one of the four locations: a ministry center near the Cusco area, an orphanage about four to five hours outside of Cusco in Cachora that will be both a ministry site as well as a base camp for your team to go out and do community ministry (for more info on the difference in these sites, read below), or in Lima or Iquitos serving alongside our missionaries and church planters. It is best if teams have a healthy number of adults joining the trip, and teams should hold to conservative theological doctrine and be prepared to share testimonies, teach Bible lessons, and present the Gospel regularly throughout the trip. The house church network is constantly growing and many teams will be working in regions where new churches are being planted. Teams are encouraged to prepare for specific passages of Scripture to teach and preach, and bring an excitement for sharing their own journey of faith that is both contagious and consistent with biblical doctrine.

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What will my team be doing? 

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For teams staying in Cusco, the ministry is focused on house church ministry as well as "Life and Work", a training program for young adults in life skills for future work opportunities. Short-term missional teams assist with house church teaching during weekly gatherings, work to encourage and build up house church leaders, and be part of evangelistic outreaches within specific communities such as door-to-door ministry, block parties, movie nights, or other relational gatherings where we can meet and invest in people. Our partner in Peru is working to establish a house church in each of the 2,000 communities in Cusco, and your team will join with them in that goal by using the specific giftings of your group.

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The second area of ministry focus is in the mountains of Cachora. This location is several hours outside of Cusco, and the work is anchored at an orphanage in the Cachora valley of the Apurimac region. The orphanage is home to 30-40 children and staff and is the home base for an outreach ministry to the entire valley of Cachora, where currently there are only two house churches beginning to meet and no other formal church gathering on a regular basis of any religion or group. The valley is home to 35,000-40,000 people scattered over the mountainsides and is the first target for evangelism and outreach in the area. Teams that join the work in Cachora engage in daily teaching times with the children as well as evangelistic outreach throughout the community. Teams also assist in house church gatherings and interact with the children of the orphanage regularly. At the orphanage, the ministry will take the form of leading and teaching children through storybook Bibles, discussion groups, and teaching Bible classes at the school the children attend. 
 

The third area of ministry focus is in Iquitos, located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Ministry is centered around partnerships with local churches and pastors who are faithfully serving communities throughout the city and surrounding villages. These churches serve as the foundation for outreach, discipleship, and community engagement, providing teams with opportunities to come alongside long-term ministry efforts that are making a lasting impact throughout the region. Teams serving in Iquitos participate in a variety of ministry opportunities, including children's ministry, Bible clubs, evangelistic outreach, discipleship, medical clinics, and practical work projects that support local churches and community needs. Whether serving in neighborhoods throughout Iquitos or traveling to surrounding communities, teams work alongside local pastors to share the hope of the Gospel while encouraging and strengthening the ministries already taking place. Through relational ministry, practical service, and Gospel-centered outreach, teams have the opportunity to build meaningful connections and support the ongoing work of the local church in the Amazon region.

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In addition to the time involved with the ministry efforts, there are a few special opportunities available for teams who choose to have some additional experiences while in country. An extra day can be added to the trip to include a visit to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, or the Rainbow Mountains. Also, some additional cultural experiences can be added to include more historical context of the Cusco area and its culture, with guided tours of the churches and sites that have shaped the contemporary Peruvian culture. Certain activities are subject to an additional charge. 
 

Please let us know if you have a preference for working in one ministry location or another (Cusco ministry center, the orphanage in Cachora, in Lima, or in Iquitos), and we will do our best to accommodate you!

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What does a general weekly schedule look like?

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• Saturday. Travel day. Depart from the U.S. in the evening and arrive in Cusco or Lima Sunday morning. (Note: If your team wants to, you may be able to depart the U.S. on Friday evening so you are arriving to Cusco on Saturday morning, extending your trip by starting one day earlier).

• Sunday. Rest in the morning. Afternoon ministry / evangelism. Evening worship services.

• Monday - Thursday. Ministry: VBS, home visits, evangelism, feeding program, light construction, food / clothing distribution.

• Thursday / Friday. Thursday is an opportunity for your team to visit Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountains, or other activities if you choose to do so (Extra Cost). On Friday, most teams fly out of Cusco or Lima in the evening, so we will head to Cusco or Lima around lunch and have a full afternoon to spend going to the market and visiting the historic city square before heading to the airport.

• Saturday. Arrive back to the U.S. from Friday night flight.

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What does my cost include?

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• In-country transportation. In-country transportation. From the moment you land at the airport until the moment you leave, we will take you everywhere during the week. You will not need to arrange your own transportation, but teams should be prepared to do some walking as we navigate different villages and communities.

• Housing. Your team will sleep in bunk bed style accommodations with access to hot showers and bathrooms.

• Meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day! (Note: You need to pay for your own meals at the airport, while traveling, etc.)

• Supplemental Traveler's Medical Insurance. In the event of a medical emergency, you'll be covered with an international policy! *Interested in upgrading to a more comprehensive insurance plan that includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage? Ask a Servant Life team member for more information today!

• T-Shirt. Every participant gets an awesome mission trip t-shirt.

• Pre-Trip Training Material. We provide training sessions, trip overview documents, assistance from our team of mission trip experts, and communication with in-country missionaries to make sure your group is fully prepared for your trip.

• Pre, During, and Post-trip Devotionals. This 4-week printed missions journal will help every team member grow and encounter Christ.
   

Airfare is not included in the trip cost, but will be taken care of by Servant Life's travel agent who gets humanitarian rates and often free baggage. You may book on your own if you prefer to do so, but we ask to approve the itinerary first.

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Add-Ons: 

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• Groups can choose to visit Machu Picchu for an additional cost. $350-$370 Per Person. Cost includes round-trip transportation from mission center, train tickets, bus tickets on mountain, and English language tour guide.