Ministry to Abandoned Street Boys
Scripture Union has been meeting the challenge of working with young boys who are victims of extreme poverty and domestic violence. They are alienated by society and targeted by police.
In 1987 Ernesto Zavala seemed the ideal match to begin a work amongst the hidden and often ostracized deaf population in Lima. His conversion to Christianity as a young man in Peru and his expertise as a former United Nations sign language interpreter paled only to the enormous heart God had given him for the poor and destitute.
Ernesto's work with the deaf quickly broadened, as he found that many of the children who lived in a quite world, also lived in an empty one, void of friends and meaning, family and love.
Ernesto and his volunteers spent many nights combing through city streets and shanty towns, the dangerous urban world long since forgotten by human rights activists and government. Many contacts were made during those early years, but following through wasn't always easy. Ernesto would tuck his own four children into bed before heading out into the night. The closest S.U. had to a boys center then was the back seat of Ernesto's car! God has clearly blessed us as we have moved faithfully ahead.
It is a big challenge to deliver the Gospel to these kids. To tell them that Jesus loves them is absurd and contradictory. First of all, they do not know who he is at most, to them he is the figure of a dead man on a cross. Secondly "love" is not part of their experience. This could only mean sex. An estimated 90% of Lima's street boys have been sexually abused. They have no positive self image. Even if there were a living Jesus and such thing as unselfish love, it could not be for them, for they are the city's "human garbage".
Scripture Union currently has 7 staff workers and 14 volunteers working in two Lima centers and an additional three in the city of Iquitos. Room and board is provided for 101 boys and a day program including lunch, Bible stories and help with homework is offered to an additional 70. The cost of these programs is covered by donations.
How to Help
| Recreational and Retreat Centers |
| International Ministries (Work Teams) |
| Taxi Service |
| Book Store |
| Auditorium |
| Handcrafts |
| Wedding Services |
| Educational Services |
Reservations
Photo Gallery
Want to be a part of a work team?
1. E-mail us with your questions at billyclark@
scriptureunionperu.org.
2. Whether your team chooses to visit the Amazon jungle of Iquitos, the high Andes Mountains in Kusi, Ica, the driest desert on earth or the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Cusco, please request your dates early. Come for a week or two and let us show you several of our exciting sites!
3. COST: In order to make ends meet, we need 20 member teams in order to offer an all-inclusive daily cost of $35 per person, in addition to a $200 per person per week fee to cover construction costs and contribute towards ministry.
4. DOMESTIC FLIGHTS (Iquitos and Cusco): $350. (*)
5. CONSTRUCTION FEES: $4000 per team of 20 per week.
(*) Air fares vary. When contacting us, please indicate whether you wish the difference from the $350 to be refunded to your church or sending institution by check or whether you agree for it to remain as a donation for our program to Abandoned Boys.
Key Verse
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalms 119:105