Local missionaries return from Peru
"The compassion, kindness and giving spirit of what little they had was amazing! We all felt so blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in this very special mission!" - Bambi Provost Mission trip member
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Bambi Provost/ Special to the News Chas Neal, far right, takes a break from home building and relaxes on the playground with local Peruvian children.

A large group of students and adults recently returned from a mission trip to Peru, where 32 American citizens reached out to perform the work of God. The trip was sponsored by the Love for Peru Foundation, directed by Piero and Magali Solimano, and included members of Cokesbury Methodist Church, Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church, Navarre Methodist Church and several others.

The team built six houses in five days. One home built was approximately 10 foot by 20 foot and would house a family of nine. Building materials for the new dwellings, including wall panels and metal roofing, were hand carried by teams up a mountain to the construction site. Then, sand had to be bagged and passed up a line of people to the building location. The sand, concrete and water were then mixed with shovels to form the foundation. The finished product did not have running water or sewage, but participants said the local need is tremendous and there is still much that can be done to help the local inhabitants.

Bambi Provost/ Special to the News Dave Cleveland, Taylor Pacenta and Lauren Cleveland enjoy the beach with local children.

"The compassion, kindness and giving spirit of what little they had was amazing," said Bambi Provost. "We all felt so blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in this very special mission!"

Provost added that building relationships with members of the community was an important part of the trip.

For more information about Peruvian mission trips visit www.loveforperu.com or call 850-934-6177.

Bambi Provost/ Special to the News Herre Eschner and Phillip Provost rest with a family that received a home.