Mission in Lima, Peru : sowing hope in everyday life: a transforming experience
« We must ensure that Jesus Christ is known and loved in the poorest families – not through eloquent sermons, but through humble presence and daily service ». (Etienne Pernet)
This reflection is not just a slogan. It is a call to live out our mission with humility, sharing the daily lives of the poor through simple acts of love. This is what I experience every week at Semillas de Esperanza (Seeds of Hope), a tutoring centre that is more than just a place for homework: it’s a place where children aged 6 to 12 are welcomed by name, truly heard, supported, and enveloped in care as they learn and grow. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I visit the housing estate in Huancayo, where these children wait to connect, share stories, read together and find encouragement, sometimes, only through a meaningful hug. One encounter with a young boy struggling to read taught me the power of humble presence. It underscored the value of patience, perseverance, and the healing power of encouragement, revea-ling that a hug after shared efforts can hold unimaginable transfor-mative power.
Beyond tutoring, I visited the children’s families, witnessing poverty on many levels, which highlighted the vital importance of our support.
Recently, we concluded the first semester with deep gratitude. During the week of Fiestas Patrias in Peru (Peru’s national holiday), we gathered with families to reflect on our shared journey, listen to one another, and celebrate together, giving thanks and nurturing the seeds of hope in every home.
I am deeply grateful for the support of Sisters Hildete, Rocío, and Carine, as well as volunteers Diana and Mary, who not only guided my work but also provided daily emotional encouragement. I also thank my community for their trust and support, helping me navigate language and culture while shaping how I see and connect with others.
The presence, companionship, and quiet words of encouragement from countless individuals are vital to the path I walk daily to “sow hope”.
This project would not exist without the unsung heroes behind it. I am deeply grateful to the Congregation and the first Little Sisters of the Assumption, whose unconditional love brought Semillas de Esperanza to life, welcoming each child with tenderness. I thank the benefactors whose generosity, evident in every pencil, sheet of paper, and smile, sustains us, even from afar. I am moved by the simple trust of families who entrust their children to us in a place not adorned with bright lights but filled with authenticity and love.
We may not change everyone, but I do believe that through each encounter, every hand-written word, and every small gesture of support, we plant seeds of hope in these children’s hearts.
One day, these seeds will blossom into individuals who love, share, and pursue their dreams, perpetuating the cycle of hope. Reflecting on this journey, I now see that while we came to serve, it is the children and families who have nourished us most. This mutual exchange of hope and transformation is the true miracle given by God to us, Little Sisters of the Assumption.
Sr Lan, Little Sister of the Assumption