Do you remember as a kid the excitement you felt on Christmas Eve waiting to unwrap the present you had been waiting for all year? And then opening it and feeling like it was the best day ever? We got to experience those same emotions last weekend when our church Camino de Vida celebrated its first ever Disability awareness Sunday!!!
This may seem like something normal to you all, but this is 11 years in the making here in Peru. 11 years of educating, advocating, and sharing stories.
Part of the team of volunteers who serve people with disabilities within the church.
Ps Taylor preaching. The sermon was broadcasted live to the other campus so everyone received the same message.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
All this being said, we know that like many amazing Christmas presents you might find out that the package says, “assembly required”. Extra time, sweat, maybe tears could be involved to get your present up and running. It is the same with this next step our church has taken. We ask for you continued prayers and support as we continue to develop new areas of need and refine the areas that are growing so that we can make the church more beautiful and complete.
The following are links to other videos that were shown in the church. Both are in Spanish. (Sorry we don’t have subtitles). The first one is the testimony of a family who finally after 20 years of not feeling that they belong in another church they felt seen, welcomed and loved with their daughter Carla. The second video is of a panel interview that Ps Taylor did with Clever, and I and 2 people with disabilities.
1. https://youtu.be/DXW3q3tzLzw?si=RvfMBAFOVG3sF7f7
2. https://youtu.be/8E4LcZpsKdo?si=2KRodTSs92ZItZrI
The welcome banner for Disability awareness Sunday!
The preparations leading up to the Sunday were many. We are grateful for the staff and volunteers who captured the videos and transmitted raw film into beautiful stories that transmit the heart of God and that of our church.
Not only did Ps Taylor speak about inclusion and acceptance from the pulpit using the story of the Good Samaritan, our kids ministry shared about the story of the great banquet and taught how everyone has a place in the kingdom of God.
Our team of volunteers served on Sunday as a point of contact for people who wanted to learn more, wanted to join a small group, or just needed to talk to someone. It was truly an impactful time. Everyone left with a gift of a pin that had the “I LOVE YOU” universal sign language sign.
We believe that bringing awareness to the church body and to other churches who see Camino de Vida as a model will help bridge the gap that we see in society. That we can begin to see each person as God sees them. As a perfect child of God created in His image and made with a unique purpose in life.
We thank you for your prayers and support over these years. We are grateful that you believe in what our mission is here and support us as we continue to help educate all that there is room at God’s table for everyone.
This video was to visualize that there are many people in our church with a disability and they have found a safe place in the church.
As missionaries, we do not receive any payment for our work here from the church. Our income is 100% based in the generosity of people like you. We thank you for your continued to support. If you know someone who wants to join our team so we can continue to do what we get to do, please have them reach out to us. With sincere gratitude.
Clever & Lisa