Connecting Compassion and Action: A Women’s Mission Trip to Peru
Melissa Hanberry, a dedicated participant from Mississippi, found her heart deeply moved during a recent mission trip to Peru. While reflecting on the names of individuals needing prayer, she noted “Tatiana” and “Alicia” in her phone. This moment encapsulated the essence of her experience at Iglesia Bautista Victoria Total, a small but impactful church located near a national cancer hospital in Lima.
The church, operating out of a rented space on the second floor of a nearby building, serves as a sanctuary for families who have traveled across Peru seeking medical treatment. From Monday to Friday, church members provide meals for 30 to 40 individuals, many of whom have loved ones undergoing care at the hospital. On Sundays, some may also join the worship service.
Hanberry’s visit was part of a weeklong mission organized by the International Mission Board (IMB), where she shared her poignant testimony about God’s faithfulness through her daughter Maggie’s battle with cancer, which ended with her passing at the age of 20 in 2018. This sharing resonated deeply with local mothers, who approached Hanberry for encouragement and prayers. She also offered comfort to a pastor grieving the loss of his son earlier this year.
“Nothing is wasted with our God,” Hanberry emphasized. “I’ve gathered their names to pray for them. My daughter exemplified hope, and it is through the Lord that we confront sickness and death.”
The mission trip included 26 women from 12 states across the U.S., each united by a sense of purpose and divine timing. Naomi Fowler, one of the participants from Florida, had felt a calling to join two years prior, even before the trip was fully planned. Her role included counseling women who had endured domestic violence, leveraging her personal experiences to connect with those at a local health fair.
“I know why I’m here,” she remarked, reflecting on how her past struggles allowed her to offer empathetic support. As a nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health, Fowler was well-equipped to provide care and guidance during the mission.
Michelle Chitwood and Tara Dew conceived the idea for this mission trip in 2023 during a casual dinner conversation, aspiring to inspire women to participate in international missions. Dew stated, “Women are influencers! I have always wanted to see women embrace the vision of reaching the nations and influencing their families and churches.”
Chitwood, who works alongside her husband—IMB President Paul Chitwood—recognized the essential role women play in global missions: “I love watching women experience missions firsthand and understand their potential participation in our missionaries’ daily work.”
The structure of this mission trip allowed participants to engage directly with local churches, where they encouraged community members to connect with the love and support offered by the church. An example of this engagement occurred when Elizabeth Westbrook recounted the Biblical story of Jesus and the woman at the well in a small church on the outskirts of Lima. She emphasized local pastor leadership to those seeking answers about faith.
Westbrook, the pastor’s wife from Alabama, was encouraged by her husband’s suggestion to join the IMB trip after he learned about it at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. This experience has reshaped her understanding of how short-term missions can align with long-term strategies for impact.
All participants acknowledged the value of collaboration with local churches and their significant roles in the communities. Dodie Glover, leading missionaries in Lima alongside her husband, praised the partnership with local ministry leaders: “Our Peruvian partners often face challenges in meeting the needs of women in their communities. Thus, the support from the U.S. women to help facilitate these events was both encouraging and vital.”
Jennifer Brungardt, who oversees missionary efforts in the Americas, echoed this sentiment: “We aim to equip local churches, recognizing that our greatest impact comes through their efforts.” This mission aimed not only to provide immediate support but also to emphasize the importance of sustainable local leadership.
During the week, women shared testimonies filled with the hope and providence of God, each story unique yet resonating with a common theme of divine purpose. Participants included fluent Spanish speakers like Heidi Lopez, who actively engaged with the community, and Michaelene Beall, who, despite her recent breast cancer diagnosis, embodied resilience as she partook in the mission.
The various backgrounds and experiences of these women contributed to a powerful collective effort, illustrating their commitment to service and unity over the course of the trip. “Each woman is distinct, with her own journey,” noted Leslie Peacock Caldwell, managing editor for IMB corporate communications. “But for that week in Peru, they shared a singular message: they were exactly where God intended them to be.”
