The Lake Union group spent four days in Chilca constructing a church and ministry center.
Why did a delegation of conference and union leaders from across the Lake Union travel more than 3,000 miles to Peru earlier this year? The vision was to help lay the foundation for a new church, dedicate parsonages and kickstart a five-year collaboration dubbed “Project Amigo.”
There we were, a group from across the Lake Union perched high in Puno, a rural Peruvian city more than 12,000 feet above sea level, next to the majestic Lake Titicaca. This stunning lake, the highest navigable lake in the world, is shared between Peru and Bolivia, with roughly half of its waters belonging to each country. Known for its deep blue waters and serene landscapes, Lake Titicaca has been home to vibrant cultures for centuries, making it a place of great historical significance.
In the middle of Lake Titicaca are the Uros Islands, an extraordinary network of over 110 artificial floating islands constructed entirely from totora reeds. These islands are home to people who maintain their traditions and live in tight-knit communities where they care for each other. On one of these islands, the Seventh-day Adventist Church operates a school serving the children of the community, providing hope and education in this unique setting.
We worshipped with the Uros Island Seventh-day Adventist Church on a clear 50-degree Sabbath in January. It was a humbling experience to join this community in praising God amid the tranquil beauty of the floating islands. Later that afternoon, we traveled to Platería, a key site in the history of Adventist education in Peru. This small but significant town is where the first Adventist school in Peru was established, rooted in the belief that God cares for every aspect of our lives—physical, mental, and emotional. We also visited the Fernando Stahl Museum, in what was once his home. It now commemorates his ministry and contributions to education and holistic care in the region. While in Platería, we had the privilege of inaugurating one of three new parsonages for local district pastors. This means the local pastor and his family living in two rooms of the museum will now have a place to call home.
Our next stop was Chilca, a city nestled in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The first thing you might notice are the surrounding green mountains and breathtaking views in this verdant agricultural region. Its fertile lands and proximity to Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, had made it a key area for the Andean people for centuries. The lower elevation of a little over 9,100 ft. allowed crops like corn to thrive, making it an essential part of their civilization. Today, the valley remains a peaceful place where people live simple lives, waking up to the songs of birds and the beauty of nature.
In Chilca, we met Carlos Delgado, a systems engineer and the information technology supervisor for a large multinational corporation. During the pandemic, he felt a strong calling to leave Lima and move with his wife, Bessie, and children to this rural area. After purchasing land and building a home, he established a children’s ministry attracting scores of neighborhood kids. Eventually they outgrew the home’s capacity. After conversations with the Southeast Peru Mission and Maranatha Volunteers International, Carlos generously donated a portion of his land to build a church and ministry center.
![Carlos Delgado donated land for a church built with help from the Lake Union. [PC: Ruben Casabona]](/build/image/14434.jpg?or=360&crop=%2C%2C%2C&w=480&h=480&s=9cf05179cfc137067734e0305fc362b8)
The Lake Union group spent four days in Chilca constructing this future house of worship. As we built the foundations brick by brick, around us we could see green fields, grazing animals, and hear the Urubamba River rushing below. Occasionally, a train carrying travelers to Machu Picchu would pass by, adding to the area’s charm.
The process was filled with joy and connection as we worked and sang songs. Each brick laid brought us closer to creating a space where children could learn, worship and grow. By the end of the week, a rewarding snapshot of the future emerged: joy and laughter soon to fill the new space.
As we traveled throughout the area, people welcomed us with warmth and open arms. Born and raised in Peru, I’m used to this hospitality, to the point of almost taking it for granted. Seeing our Lake Union visitors deeply moved and touched by such heartfelt kindness reminded me of the beauty in these partnerships. These moments highlight the mutual learning and connection which are at the heart of Project Amigo. It’s not just about helping. It’s about forming relationships that can inspire and transform both sides, now and for eternity.
In the vibrant tapestry of Peru, six words emerge to encapsulate the spirit of its people: Contentment, Family, Commitment, Hope, Community and Hospitality. We asked participants, leaders and their spouses from our various conferences, to share their personal stories and reflections on one unique element of Peruvian culture. Through their eyes, we discovered not just a culture, but a way of life that embraces joy even in the face of challenges.
“I discovered a lot of opportunities where people seem to be happier. For instance, in the United States, we have a more complicated life, more luxuries. And if we feel that our wants are not fulfilled, we are unhappy. In Peru, I see people being satisfied with their basic needs being covered. When I say basic needs, I mean shelter. I mean, community, food and also health. And people here seem happy because they are together, because they spend more time in nature and because they have their needs covered.” -- Titus Naftanaila, Wisconsin Conference president
“People here are more content; they don't have complicated life as we have in United States. Houses are smaller, which don't need to be cluttered with so much stuff. But also, there's contentment in people. They're happy with what they have and that is something I think I'm taking home with me--that it's not about material things, it's not about what you can buy. It's the inner self that gives you satisfaction and contentment.” -- Amir Gulzar, Wisconsin Conference executive secretary/treasurer
“One of the things that I think we can learn as we go back home is that we don't need to have too much to do great things. If we take what we have and we put it in God's hands, then he can take that and do great things. When you look at this church that we're building, it's not a fancy building; but when you look at it, everyone is working hard. Everyone is excited to be able to worship in the place that is now the house of worship. That's something inspiring that I think we can all learn from.” -- Elden Ramirez, Lake Union Conference executive secretary
“It seemed like there's a lot of family cohesiveness. Family is important to the Peruvians, and I love that you see family. In the homes [...] they're all together and I enjoy that because that's something that we're missing [in the U.S.]: Family cohesiveness.” -- Eddie Allen, Lake Region Conference vice president for multilingual ministries
“I think of the experience of our brother Carlos, who is the one who donated the property where we are building the church, literally right in his backyard or in his front yard... He was explaining just how excited he is that finally they're able to have a structure where not only they can serve the children, but he's saying, ‘Well, we know that as we continue to serve the children, their parents will come and be a part of what's happening here.’ He didn't stop because he didn't have a place of worship. He kept pressing forward, he kept persevering, understanding that there is a great work to be done here through children's ministry.” -- Michael Campos, Illinois Conference executive secretary
“[Carlos’ grandfather] wasn't asking, how can I help? Of course, he's [77 years old] and he just found what he could do, and he just did that throughout the morning and afternoon with a smile. He was bringing one block at a time from uphill down to the work site with a smile, and just seeing how their faith isn't just based on words or just having the financial resources, but it’s based on action in what they're doing. It’s a reminder that our hope isn't based on material things. Our hope is based on seeing God through so many gifts He gives us daily, at every second, and seeing His hand, not only through Him giving us material blessings, but giving us the hope of an eternity with Him.” -- Erica Campos, Illinois Conference
“There's no way you can go to the floating islands and receive even the simple trinkets that they give to us and not realize that they do that because that's who they are. And so that gives me a lot of hope because it reminds me that it doesn't matter your context, it doesn't matter where you live, you can always be ... reflective of the character of God.” -- John Grys, Illinois Conference president
“Normally in the U.S., we greet each other with a handshake, and it takes some time to get to a place where you might give someone a maybe a midway handshake hug. But here, everybody embraces with a warm hug. When we went to the floating island for church, I noticed that they didn't sit until we were first all seated. The level of hospitality was amazing. They allowed us to feel like we were a part of their family. The warmth was like none other.” -- Abraham Henry, Lake Region Conference executive secretary
“[The trip has] been pretty amazing... because when we came here, the way that they greeted us, the way that they actually shared gifts [had an impact]. ... So just the culture and the friendliness and the kindness and the joy that they're actually excited to see us...that really brought up my spirits and made me excited to be here.”--Kent Nichols, Lake Region Conference chief financial officer
“I've noticed both here and in the United States [that] people of Hispanic culture have an abundance of relationships, love, and that is really what makes quality of life. It's love that makes life, regardless of the material abundance you have. It’s good relationships, it’s support that makes for kingdom-building and it makes for quality of life and wealth. Material wealth sometimes works against that. It tends to divide. It tends to cause conflict. So, I see these people as very abundant--abundant in their culture, abundant in their faith, and abundant in quality of life.” -- Mark Eaton, Indiana Conference treasurer/executive secretary
“I think that in the United States, often we measure abundance by wealth, by how much money you have. I think what the big difference that I see here in Peru is that abundance seems to be measured more by friendships and involvement in community and time spent together. How can we encourage people to have this shift of mindset when it comes to abundance? Well, I think that's only possible through conversion. You know, we change our goals, we change our aspirations, we change our whole perspective, when, when we come into life in Christ. The only way that we can understand true abundance of spirit and generosity and community and friendship is as we experience Christ, as we experience the abundance that He has for us. He said that he came so that we would have abundant life.” -- Ken Denslow, Lake Union Conference president
"Most people think of [abundance as] having unlimited financial resources and having opportunities to be able to do whatever you need to do with the resources that you have. However, in Peru, that's not necessarily the case. They're very successful in mission and ministry because they believe in the concept of partnership, working together. And as a result of that, they're able to be very successful. Abundance is more than just what you have, but what you what you're able to accomplish together as a result of a focused mission together.” -- Glynn Scott, Lake Union Conference treasurer
“I think Peru does model community in a very real way for us in America, where it's not an ‘I’ culture, it's a ‘we’ culture. Everybody uses their resources and their time and even just the joy of sharing experiences together. It reminds me of the book of Acts, where the Bible says that they came together, they broke bread daily, and they met from house to house, and that they worshiped God with simplicity and gladness of heart. One of the lessons I'd like to bring back to America is the concept of using our home as a launching pad into the community, where our home becomes a kind of a center of influence to be a blessing to those around us.” -- Justin Ringstaff, Michigan Conference executive secretary
Ruben Casabona is the associate director of communication for the Lake Union Conference.
