Poster - Worship Slides

Poster - Front-and-Center Slides

Poster - Event Slides

July 9 to 16, nine Saint John’s members—Sam Gardner, Sue Gardner, Don Gibbons, Janelle Gibbons, Sharon Gibbons, Tom Miles, Kimberly Pepmiller, Wyatt Poole and Nelly Sanford—will be working in a remote village in the Amazon basin of Peru. The people of Nueva Palestina have been working to develop a medical and teaching ministry based in their village as an outreach to their neighbors up and down the Ucayali River. It’s exciting for Saint John's to be able to support the efforts of these mission-focused people as they seek to bring modern medical healing and, most importantly, the Good News to this remote region.

Our team will take the long flight from Denver to Lima. There our nine will join several other groups to fly over the mountains that sit between the Pacific coastline and the jungle. The adventure begins in the bustling city of Pucallpa. They will make their way to the docks, where a large boat, the El Evangelista, and her crew will be waiting to bring them up the river about thirty miles to Nueva Palestina.

During the week the group is in Peru they plan to be working on two projects. Some will work in the medical clinic, either helping with patients or doing things like sorting and checking supplies. The rest will be doing construction work, helping to build the residence next door to the clinic, where doctors and nurses will be able to stay on a longer-term basis.

The team will be well away from any internet connections, but will be keeping journals of their time in the jungle. Watch here for their report from the field!

The Heseders would like to once again ask the congregation for donations that the group can bring with them to give to the people of Nueva Palestina. The requested items include school supplies, kitchen items, medicines and medical equipment, toiletries and some clothing. We will hand out specific lists on June 26 for collection July 3 and 10. Please help the Peru crew build up their muscles for the week of construction by donating plenty of items to pack into their extra bags!

Thank you to everyone who has donated time and treasure to helping make this trip possible. The fundraisers and other Heseder efforts culminate in the works of mercy our teams accomplish for those in need—and the changes accomplished in the hearts of those who carry out God’s work.

“Hesed” is a Hebrew word that means “kindness,” “mercy,” “loyalty,” “loving-kindness” or “steadfastness.” It’s the way God intends us to live together—a “love your neighbor as yourself,” active, selfless, sacrificial, caring-for-one-another brand of living contradictory to our fallen natures. The “Heseders” are continually looking to work together to share some small measure of God’s extraordinary love. Won’t you join us?