Since March 8, 2020, our ministry and volunteer team has had to develop an interesting manner of continuing our work with the women that we serve. The reason for this drastic change was because the Peruvian government decided that the entire country would enter into a complete quarantine because of covid-19, prohibiting all types of social meetings, activities, events, celebrations, etcetera. That same decision included restrictions in all public places, malls, restaurants, and camping zones. 

Because of this change, we decided as a team to step back, take a closer look, and pray for the best way to continue to help in this time of insecurity and extreme need. Together, we decided to make a standard grocery list and put together deliveries of groceries so that we could give them to the women that we always help. Since then and during this entire time, we have kept delivering groceries to each woman and have had the opportunity to pray for them and stay connected with them through this new branch of our ministry. 

It has been a huge blessing to do all of this, and despite a crucial and uncertain year, we have been able, with God’s help, to continue to do things like small business startups. For example, one of the women now has her own fast food business, and this business is very popular in Lima, Peru. She is now a small business owner, and she is so thankful to God and to the Toda Cadena team for the opportunity to have a better quality of life and a job that she can do with dignity. 

There are 14-16 girls that we have maintained connections with since the quarantine began, some of whom have asked us for Bibles. There is an extreme need for change in their lives, and the grocery deliveries give us the chance to pray for them, for their lives, their health, and their friends and families. This ministry has been a huge encouragement and demonstration of love for them, even when all of this can’t last more than 10-15 minutes because of the rules established by the government. We believe that Jesus can do incredible things with a short amount of time and a small amount of resources, and we have learned that the kingdom of God can be demonstrated on this earth by providing for the basic needs of others. Even this week, we are planning another small business startup! We are praying for this and for the business ventures of each woman. We know that God is working and guiding us toward new changes, new goals, new lives, and new small businesses. God is always good! 

Ligia Otero

Outreach Coordinator for Toda Cadena

Lima, Peru