First Presbyterian Church of Mineral Ridge takes mission trip to Peru

Staff report

First Presbyterian Church of Mineral Ridge sent 11 members on a mission trip June 11-20 to Peru. During the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday, the group will share stories and photos. After the service, a brunch is planned.

Peru mission team members were the Rev. Jamie Milton, Mary Rose Gleason, Will Rummell, Tait Rummell, Adrianna Reese, Caleb Reese, Taylor Donnelly, Matt Glidewell, Brooke Kaschak, Jeff Kaschak and Heritage Presbyterian Church member Rachel Eliser.

The team worked at the Casa de Buen Trato (House of Good Treatment), a shelter for girls who were victims of domestic violence and/or sexual abuse. At any time, there are between 30 and 40 girls, including teen mothers with their babies.

The shelter in Huanuco, an interior region of Peru, provides a safe place to live, and meals are provided. The girls with children receive help in caring for the young ones and learn parenting and child-rearing skills. The average stay at the shelter is about two years.

While the Peruvian state usually sends the girls to this shelter, they provide no funding. The shelter is run solely on private donations and various grants.

The team spent time with the girls and helped them to feel loved.

While the girls were at school, the team painted some of the buildings on the property and did various other work projects around the facility.

The church worked for more than a year raising money for this group to travel to Peru. For almost two years, Pastor Milton communicated with Jed and Jenny Koball to make plans for this experience. They are Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission Co-workers in Peru.

Once in Peru, the group spent time in Lima, where they worshipped with a local congregation.

They also experienced firsthand the vast income inequality between the city’s wealthiest citizens and their poorest.