Republic of Peru.
Peru means land of abundance.
GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Republic
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Spanish, Quechua
MONEY: Nuevo Sol
CLIMATE: varies from tropical in the East to dry desert in the West; temperate to frigid in the Andes
As missionaries to Peru we consider Peru our home now.
Did you know that it is the third largest country and the fourth most populated country in South America. A land of great physical beauty that is made up of a variety of landscapes, from mountains and beaches to deserts and rain forests.
The people of Peru are a mix of many different cultures, including Indians, Spaniards and other Europeans, descendants of African slaves, and Asians. 45% of the population is Amerindian, 84% of the country speaks Spanish, and 13% of the country speaks Quechua (especially in the Andes regions). 82% of the population consider themselves Catholic, and most people live along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where the capital, Lima, is located.
Its rich culture and history is as varied as its people. One of the most important Peruvian cultures was the Inca, who lived in Peru around 600 years ago and thrived for centuries before being conquered by the Spanish in 1532. Their capital, Cusco, is still a major city today. The Inca also built Machu Picchu, a famous and mysterious ancient city in the Andes, now considered one of New Seven Wonders of the World.
Peru is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources. However, much of these resources haven't been fully tapped into yet. With about eight million people living in some form of poverty, Peru is considered to be a developing country and jobs there can be very hard to find. Natural disasters, the divide between the rich and the poor and the low standards of education are some the country's biggest challenges.
As missionaries, our goal is to immerse ourselves into the local communities and culture and show the love of Christ in action as we love, work and support the people, christian leaders,and pastors; by encouraging, strengthening, and equipping them as they respond to the social, spiritual, and physical needs of their communities.