It all started with a dream about two years ago. Pastor Smerdis Fuentes, youth and young adult pastor at Piedmont Park Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, felt impressed to create an opportunity for young people to experience serving God in a new and meaningful way—one that would inspire them to look beyond themselves. He connected with Valeree Krueger, who serves on the board of Maranatha Volunteers International. Together, they dreamed big: a mission trip to Peru. They began working on logistics—fundraising, vision casting, finding sponsors and coordinating travel—and before they knew it, the trip became a reality.
In March 2026, members of Piedmont Park, along with several families from other churches in Lincoln, traveled to Pucallpa, to build a church and share the gospel in the heart of the Peruvian jungle. Pucallpa, also known as the “Red Land” became their mission field for a little over a week.
During their time there, the group led a Vacation Bible School program that reached over 400 children at a local public school, distributed food baskets to the community, visited Colegio Adventista Maranatha, built a church for the Villa Selva Adventist congregation, and immersed themselves in Peruvian culture. The Villa Selva congregation had been praying for 17 years for a church building. One of the church leaders, Eli Dávila López, shared what a blessing this building would be. In their community, having a physical place of worship gives people a reason to gather. Many members had invited friends and family before, but without a building, some did not see the purpose of attending.
Throughout the week, the construction team worked diligently as the structure began to come to life. At the same time, the rest of the group poured into the lives of students and teachers, sharing the love and knowledge of God. By the end of the week, the group had the opportunity to worship in the church they helped build.
One highlight of the trip was visiting the Peru Projects Air Base, a ministry that Piedmont Park Church has supported for many years. In 1964, a deeply loved and remembered brother, Clyde Peters, became the first missionary pilot to arrive in Peru, launching what is now known as Peru Projects. Today, that mission continues through the leadership of pastor and pilot Eben Espinoza, and vice president Bradley Church. Together with a dedicated team, they carry the gospel to remote communities—often under challenging conditions. It is inspiring to witness the Great Commission being lived out so faithfully.
Matt. 28:19–20 reminds us that this mission is an invitation for all of us. You don’t have to go abroad to share the gospel. You can do it right where you are—whether with neighbors, family members, coworkers or classmates. Every moment is an opportunity to share hope with someone who needs it.
Ilka J. Fuentes works at Union Adventist University and is an active member of Piedmont Park Church.
