Fifty Years, Fifty Countries: Peru

To mark 50 years of Tearfund, we’re sharing about 50 countries where we’ve worked, celebrating God’s provision and power to transform, and praying for each of these nations. This week we’re in Peru.

Tearfund have been working with indigenous people in Peru, trying to bridge the gap between urban and more rural areas, to prevent inequality from keeping people in poverty. Our partners work with mining communities, vulnerable children and women at risk of sexual and gender-based violence.

Transitions and relationships
Since Tearfund’s work in Peru started in the mid-70s, we have celebrated our partners growth in strength, reach and efficiency. Their success in increasing sustainable funding, and equipping the local church to use their own resources to transform their communities, means that Tearfund have made the decision to reduce our own work in Peru. We will stay connected with our network of partners in Peru and continue to pray for the Peruvian church as they cater for the need of the poor within their communities.

As this transition begins we want to share just one of the many brilliant stories from Tearfund partner Paz y Esperanza.

A whole new language
Ten-year-old Talita* used to live a life of isolation. Neglected by her teachers at school for being deaf as they couldn’t communicate with her, she also struggled at home with the frustration of not being able to join in with her family. But Talita’s life has been changed thanks to her own determination and the sign language programme run by Paz y Esperanza.

A whole new world
Talita’s fear of not being understood, and worry of being rejected, has gone. Her family have learnt sign language with her and can now communicate clearly – the frustrations of being left out are over. She can even join in at church as someone translates the message of the Pastor. She is teaching sign language to her friends and has grown in confidence enough to interact with neighbours, at school and in the market. Talita is discovering, exploring and making the most of a world that until recently she’d been denied.

A whole new legislation
Together with the parents of other deaf children, Talita lobbied the educational authorities to teach sign language in schools. With other children in Paz y Esperanza’s programme, she has asked the educational authorities to construct the first ‘State Centre for Training in Sign Language’ in the region. The San Martín Regional Government welcomed the proposal, and is preparing the necessary documentation. We hope that Talita’s dream for the right to education for deaf children will become a reality.

This isn’t goodbye to Peru; we will stay in touch with our network of partners, churches and communities, who all still need your prayers.

PLEASE PRAY

• Thank God for Talita’s progress, and pray that her confidence and determination will continue to grow as she courageously fights for the rights of deaf people in her community.
• Praise God for the progress that has been made in Peru. And ask him to help our partners as they continue to work with those most in need to create sustainable and lasting change.
• Pray for churches to continue to outwork God’s love in their communities and introduce more people to a relationship with Jesus.

*Name changed to protect identity