Dispatches: Peru 2026

Mission: Peru 2026

Wednesday, May 20

Andy and Steffi, right, with (left to right) Timoteo from Chalhua, Pastor Ezequiel, and Kingdom worker Edwin Milla.

Andy and Steffi returned home to Germany after flying from Lima to São Paulo, Brazil to Frankfurt, Germany over the past two days. As he traveled, Global Kingdom worker Andy reflected on the mission. He concluded: “I am not sure I see C4C working on this particular field in the future. We met very many Christians; there was a church in every village we went. Not to say that we shouldn’t have done this trip or that it hasn’t been fruitful and God hasn’t used us, but I am not sure if it (agrees) with C4Cs call.” That call is to GO where others cannot or will not to deliver the Gospel. We continue to pray for the church (and the people) of Chalhua.

Saturday, May 16

Steffi dancing with children at Corazones Felices ministry in Lima. (Photo by Andy Moritz)

Andy and Steffi flew this morning from Huaraz to Lima, where they’ll be spending a few days. Andy wanted to introduce Steffi to a ministry he knows well that works with street kids. She was a big hit with the kids.

They will be staying with friends, worshiping with them on Sunday, and seeing more of Lima on Monday before flying back to Germany Tuesday and Wednesday.

In Huaraz, Edwin began exploring what is next for the church at Chalhua. There are some legal problems (who really owns the building and property where it is located?) and other issues with that house of worship. Pastor Ezequiel has requested help from Climbing For Christ for work on the church, but first things first. We are praying for the direction of this project and fruit to be produced from this mission.

Friday, May 15

The team returned to Huaraz. Steffi was not feeling well in the night in Chalhua, but she was better when they arrived in Huaraz.

Edwin was glad to be home. “My wife isn’t doing very well,” he said. “However, she has put forth every effort to care for my children.”

Thursday, May 14

The view from Chinguil. (Photos by Andy Moritz)

“Today we went to Chinguil, another beautiful village around 40 minutes from Chalhua,” Andy reported. “Here we walked and walked but didn’t really encounter anyone, until we came upon Enoch, a Christian who Pastor Ezequiel knew and who took us to take a look at the church they are building. It was really impressive to see the three-story building, which they started building five years ago when their old house church became too small for the 80 people that are meeting. On the anniversary of the church, they say even up to 500 people come.

“They have so far paid for everything by themselves, people giving what they can from their salaries, and people doing the manual work themselves. They have a big vision, for a big meeting room, several smaller meeting rooms and guest rooms for people visiting, a dining room, kitchen and food store, all this already visible and built up and the main rooms with an amazing view of the mountains.”

Inside the church at Chinguil.

“We took time to pray for them in the current meeting room on the second level and in the future one on the third level. We prayed for provision, perseverance, that God will give them what they need and that they will be able to stay faithful to the work they have begun, next to all the other blessings.

“Really encouraging to see what they have been able to do so far. I also encouraged them with my own story, how God has always been faithful in providing everything I needed in the 16 years I’ve been working as a missionary.

“They did ask if we can help them financially. They said that at the moment what is missing is money, and that they would be able to finish the church quite fast if they had the resources. I told them that I would share it and that we can promise to pray, but more than that I can’t promise.

“After this we went to a lookout that has an amazing view over all the area here and prayed for God to really work in this place.”

Wednesday, May 13

Delivering the Truth in Huamas. (Photos by Edwin Milla)

Christian or Catholic? Open hearts or too busy? At every turn in the village of Huamas our team encountered people who seemed to be one or the other.

Lucia, a young girl, with her mother Victoria. They both said they were Christian. The team prayed for them, especially the mother who had pain in her legs, and left them with a Bible. They were appreciative.

Olga, a Catholic from Huaraz, who heard the Gospel, prayer, and gladly received a Bible. (Remember, in Peru, Catholicism has been merged with folk religions, allowing people to practice pagan worship. This is call syncretism.) 

Filipia, an older woman who was a Christian. “She had pain in her legs so, of course, we prayed for her,” Andy said. “After the third time of prayer she was healed. Hallelujah!”

Huber, a younger man who was interested in hearing but needed to get to work. They gave him a Bible and Timotheus, a brother from Chalhua, said he would visit.

Lucia and her little girl, a Catholic, “but opened to talking with us,” Andy said. She was given a Bible and encouraged to read it daily, especially during difficult times.

Caleb, a man who was working in front of his house. “He was very open and very keen to talk about Jesus,” Andy said. “It turned out his father was a pastor. But he has fallen away from faith despite everything he knows, which really was a lot. He was quoting Bible verses and discussing different topics. He asked us to pray that he will come back to faith.”

Javier and Rudi, Catholics, who also were working but on a break. Andy shared the Gospel with them and Javier said it sounded good, but he was hesitant to accept Jesus. Pastor Ezekiel gave each of them a Bible and had them read some passages. “Then we prayed for them,” Andy said.

Praying for healing.

Eusebio, an older man who was Catholic, asked for prayer for his legs. He had been to the doctor and to the hospital, but nothing could be found. “This time, after one prayer, he said it was good,” Andy recounted. “Praise the Lord!”

After returning to Chalhua, Andy and Steffi did some house visits with Pastor Ezequiel. They encountered Wildredo, who was drunk – and apparently is every day. “He really needs God to completely change his life,” Andy said about that father of three.

They met others who needed prayer for aches and pains. All need the Great Physician.

Tuesday, May 12

A day of rest for Andy and Steffi. (Photos by Andy Moritz)

Today was a “day off – Sabbath,” Andy said, having predicted Monday night “it will be really good for everyone to just get some rest.” It also meant a chance for the first showers since last week.

Andy also shared a photo of Edwin talking about forgiveness Monday with the last woman the team met in Huaripampa.

Edwin sharing.

Monday, May 11

Andy praying for Moises. (Photos by Edwin Milla)

“Today, we went to the village where Pastor Ezequiel lives,” Andy reported after returning to Chalhua from Huaripampa. “It was raining and at first the village seemed empty. Then we met Moises, an older Christian man who couldn’t see in one eye, had problems with his prostate, and was shaking. We prayed for him for all these things and he seemed encouraged.

“After this, we chatted with Alex, a young man who also was a Christian. He asked for prayer for growing in faith for him and his family. We prayed for him and encouraged him that he doesn’t have to earn God’s love.

“Then we went to the house of Julia. She asked for prayer for her husband Marcelino, a pastor who has struggled with leukemia for three years, and it has gotten worse since last November and he can’t work anymore, so there is no one to provide for his family.”

Praying with Julia for her family.

“After this we met Herman in front of his house. He (also a Christian) asked for prayer for his knees. We prayed three times for him and after the third time he proclaimed, ‘Healed! Praise the Lord!’

“Almost at the end of the village, we met Perpetua and her daughter in law Melva. Perpetua also had pain in her knees and legs. We prayed three times for her as well, but nothing changed at that moment. God is still good!

“Then we spent a longer time talking to Melva. She loves God and prays but doesn’t want to call herself ‘evangelical’ because of all the fights she sees the other evangelicals in the village have, people backsliding, and the negative experience she had recently with a pastor who is her neighbor. We also prayed for her and the situation. She was very grateful that we took the time and listened to her and greatly wished for us to come and visit her again.

“After lunch we went out to Florbelindas house. She shared with us that there are problems in her family and asked us to pray. Of course, we did so.

“All in all, I was impressed that almost everyone we met was a Christian. That really speaks to what the pastor is doing in his village. On the other hand, we saw at least three places where Revelation 21:8 was plastered big on the walls, with all the sins that you get to go to hell for.”

Sunday, May 10

Andy preaching. (Photo by Steffi Mezei)

There were 12 locals in addition to our team in worship at the church at Chalhua this morning. Andy preached on “Judging Brothers and Sisters, and Forgiveness.” He said, “It was good to see the people worship and pray wholeheartedly.”

Our prayer is for more believers to join – or rejoin – this body of Christ in worship to the Lord.

Worship in the church at Chalhua. (Photo by Edwin Milla)

After worship, the team went to the home of the pastor’s daughter for lunch. Her 9-year-old son had stomach pain, so the team prayed for him and Franklin Chavez gave some practical advice. Franklin joined Climbing For Christ during our inaugural mission and has served as driver as well providing medical expertise, having studied medicine.

“In the evening, we had a worship and prayer service,” Andy said. Though it was not well attended, Alison’s mother and grandmother participated. Andy said that was “encouraging, as there are some accusations between them and the people we are staying with. We pray that these divisions can be resolved in a good way.”

Because of the divisions and problems in Chalhua, Andy and Steffi took a prayer walk through the village. “Praying out everything that was moving us concerning the people and the church here,” Andy said. “How good to know that for God no situation is too difficult.”

Saturday, May 9

Praying for Rosa. (Photo by Edwin Milla)

The morning began in the village of Chinguil with the team meeting Kiara and her mother Rosa who, Andy said, “were very open and wanted to accept Jesus. We prayed for them.”

“Then we met Miller,” Andy reported. “Shared the Gospel and I shared a bit of my testimony. He wasn’t so open but agreed that we could pray for him.

“Next was Luz Marie, a young girl – 14- or 15-years-old. She was very open and she prayed the sinner’s prayer with the pastor while we prayed for her.

“After that, we met Julio, who asked for prayer for his daughter Energis who was ill and not a Christian. He was a new Christian and also asked us to pray that he won’t (stumble). I encouraged him that we all make mistakes, but God is always ready to forgive.

“Last was Nancy who was a Christian 15 years ago and then stopped but was very open to come back (to the Lord). She loves to sing for Jesus, but because she thinks God hasn’t forgiven her she is not going to church. She said she is ready to go back to church and Jesus when her husband is. We also prayed for her.”

In the afternoon, the team went to the village of Macho, where they met Pablo who, Andy said, “was open but he has seen other Christians who fell back and said, ‘Why should I become a Christian if I will just fall again?’ If he becomes a Christian, he wants to do it for good. He said he will come to church tomorrow.”

Andy will preach in the church at Chalhua – “about judging amongst Christians and forgiveness, not the most fitting Mother’s Day message but I felt that’s what I should talk about.”

Pastor Ezequiel, who accompanied the team, spent time in lengthy discussions with some who attend the Catholic church but seem to be going out of tradition. Andy, who is fluent in Spanish, said most of the discussions were in Quechua so he couldn’t understand.

Friday, May 8

Climbing For Christ banner left behind by Jaime Servat, our late missionary to Peru. Edwin (right to left), Steffi, and Andy posed with Teresa and Thania, the grandmother and mother of Alison, a young girl in Chalhua who thought of Jaime as a father.

Edwin took the team to visit the home of Alison, the 8-year-old girl we first meet on Mission: Peru 2011 – our inaugural expedition to South America. She and her family befriended our co-worker Jaime Servat, who served as Climbing For Christ’s missionary in Peru from 2011 until his passing in 2019. That’s when Edwin, who was our guide in Peru and co-leader of the C4C Peru Chapter with Jaime, accepted the call to be our Kingdom worker.

Alison is 22 now. When Edwin took Andy and Steffi to her house she wasn’t home; she’s in Lima finishing her studies. But her mother, Thania, and grandmother, Teresa, were there. They handed Edwin the Climbing For Christ banner that Jaime’s sister had left with them many years ago.

“Alison’s mother and grandmother were talking so much about him, how he was another father for Alison and how hard it was for her when he died,” Andy said. “Really encouraging to see what an impact he made.”

Walking into Yerbabuena, a village near Chalhua. (Photo by Andy Moritz)

Earlier in the day, the team visited the village of Yerbabuena, where they prayed for an 84-year-old woman whose daughter is a Christian. The mother is not – yet.

“Then we met Delfina Cruz, who owns a restaurant and was cooking for the people that are working in the mine,” Andy said, referring to the local gold mine. The mine is not popular with the people there as they say “all the money goes to the government,” which claims the townspeople own the land above ground but underground belongs to it.

Unfortunately, Delfina was too busy cooking to ask for prayer.

“We're getting used to the way people behave in this area,” Edwin said. “I'm sure things will go much better for us over the next few days.”

The team was escorted around the village by Clotilde and her husband, Dsniel. “She is one of the few Christians there,” Andy said. “She told us her difficult story with her siblings, who are not Christian anymore, and her mother, who is ill and was taken by one of her sisters to a different place and now they won’t let (Clotilde) see her.

“She seemed encouraged that we listened and took the time to pray.”

Plans for an afternoon visit to another village changed after Edwin, long-time C4C member Franklin, and Pastor Ezeqiel were delayed by some things in the town of Yanama. “After that we went to see Alison’s mother and grandmother,” Andy said. They prayed for Alison’s mom who continues to suffer from epileptic seizures. She asked for prayer for herself and for Alison, who has always been near to the C4C heart.

Thursday, May 7

The road to Chalhua. (Photo by Andy Moritz)

The team made the long drive on the winding road leading to Chalhua. It was about a 7 ½-hour journey. Tomorrow, they will start visiting surrounding villages to evangelize – one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Pray for open doors.

Wednesday, May 6

Andy, above left, and Steffi praying for Edwin’s dad, Faustino. Below, Faustino’s badly bruised leg.

Edwin’s father, 84-year-old Faustino, was plowing with his donkey when a rope tangled around his leg, pulling him down. His leg was badly bruised. “The leg looks terrible, but he was in a good mood,” Andy said after visiting him to pray over the injury.

“We were able to pray for him, and he seemed encouraged and said he believes he will be better tomorrow.”

Edwin’s daughter, Angela, was better today. Her fever was gone and she returned to school. Praise God! We give thanks for the prayers of the righteous.

Edwin, Andy, and Steffi will head for the village of Chalhua tomorrow. After visiting Edwin’s father, the team returned to Huaraz and shopped for food for the trip. A little rest, a little repacking, and they are ready to hit the road at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Tuesday, May 5

Andy and Steffi returned to the Lima airport this morning to catch a flight to Huaraz. “We both had a good night of sleep,” Andy said. So much so that Steffi slept through her alarm. A weary traveler.

“I have a lump in my throat again and started to cough a bit,” Andy added, asking for prayer.

The pair “arrived well” in Huaraz, where Kingdom worker Edwin Milla was waiting.

“Edwin told us that for him things have been a bit challenging,” Andy reported. “His father had an accident and (Edwin’s daughter) Angela has a fever – it was 40 degrees (Celsius/104 Fahrenheit) two days ago.”

Edwin’s wife, Elizabeth, also continues to battle years-long illness.

“We have been talking about staying one day more in Huaraz so he (Edwin) can take care of Angela,” Andy said. “That way it will also help us with acclimatization before going higher and we can go to Edwin’s father tomorrow to pray for him.”

We are praying for Edwin and his family as well as for Andy’s health. Asking the Lord of the harvest to make a way for our team to overcome every obstacle so they can carry out the mission He has prepared for them.

Monday, May 4

Andy and Steffi flew from Germany to Brazil to Peru. “Looking forward to bed,” Andy said Monday evening in Lima after 20-plus hours of international flights. A domestic flight to Huaraz is scheduled Tuesday morning.

Sunday, May 3

Global Kingdom worker Andy Moritz and his fiancé Stephanie Mezei made their way by train from Freiburg to Frankfurt, Germany, for their first flight to São Paulo, Brazil. They will arrive in South America (the first time for Steffi) on Monday, and then continue flying to Lima, Peru.

Andy said they experienced “quite a few” spiritual attacks in recent days. Steffi had sharp back pain Saturday night. Andy awoke this morning with a sore throat. Then on his way home from church, he had a flat tire on his bike and had to push the bicycle home. “But all is well,” Andy declared.

They are on mission.

Introduction

Kingdom worker Edwin Milla visited the village of Chalhua in the Cordillera Blanca range of the Peruvian Andes in July 2025. It had been 10 years since Climbing For Christ built a house of worship there for a group of Christians who’d outgrown the home they were meeting in. There were 60 or more believers in those days.

Ten years later, Milla reported: “Upon reaching the church, it was observed that the premises were closed.” He added there were “no brethren or congregants” present.

Edwin set up a meeting with Pastor Ezequiel, who lives in another village and had been recruited by Climbing For Christ to shepherd the church at Chalhua. “I hadn’t seen him in almost nine years,” Edwin said about Pastor Ezequiel. “We shared a time of prayer and conversation about the current situation of the church in Chalhua.”

We were moved by the Spirit to plan Mission: Peru 2026 around Chalhua. A return to the village and surrounding villages to proclaim the Good News of Jesus.

“Christians have been influenced by the Catholic group there,” Edwin said on the eve of Mission: Peru 2026.

Catholicism is the dominant denomination in Peru, which is reportedly 94 percent Christian but only 14.5 percent Evangelical. Anywhere from 60-to-80 percent of the country is Catholic. But Catholicism in Peru suffers from syncretism with Andean folk religions blended with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The worship of “Mother Earth” is incorporated into church services.

“You must not have any other god but me,” the Lord declared in Exodus 20.

“The Catholic church has won over all the people (in Chalhua),” Edwin said.

Our team will share the truth of who Jesus Christ is and what He did for the world: suffered for our sins and defeated death. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said in John 14:6. “No one can come to the Father except through me.”

By the power of the Spirit our team will seek to win back believers. The church awaits them.