The staff and volunteers of Lost Children of Peru come from a wide array of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Our team lives and works in Peru, and many members of our team are native Peruvians and live in the communities where we serve. We are grateful to have so many Peruvian and local role models invest in the ministries of our community center. We invite you to read the biographies below personally written by our team members. We are blessed to have a team of enthusiastic and nurturing men and women that continue to grow in leadership and invest back into their own communities.
Missionary, Larry Goode“Sweetly broken”.... My life took me from the business world to the slums and orphanages of Peru after being called into life while here on a mission trip / vacation. I honestly never looked back. The Lord took my life where he placed three young boys from an orphanage to raise. I have been here almost 15 years helping as many orphans and kids in poverty as the Lord has given us. The number has been in the thousands. My life has been well, “sweetly broken”. Read more of our story here
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Pastor Augusto CisnerosI was born in Lima, where I met Jesus as a kid. But he only became a part of my life when I turned 19. God is the reason that I work in the ministry. He prepared me to serve him. I studied in a bible school for 3 years in Venezuela. There my 4 kids were born; for many years we served God in Venezuela, and now God allowed us to return to Peru to continue working for him. Praise God, and let all the glory go to him.
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Center Leads
LuisMy name is Luis. I was born in Sayan. At the age of 7 I went to live in an orphanage, because my mother didn’t have the money to provide for me or my brothers. I lived there for a few years. My childhood in the orphanage wasn’t really good because my family was away from me and I was alone. When I was still very young the orphanage had no money to take care of us and we were going to be put out on the streets. Little did I know that God had a big plan for my life. I met the most amazing person that changed my life. He was a missionary here in Peru and helped children. This man is now my father. I began working by his side and now run one of the centers that we started together. I love to work with the kids, teenagers and young adults, it’s easy for me to understand them because we had kind the same life. The Lord saw a little boy living in an orphanage and saw big plans for my life.
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KevinHello, my name is Kevin. I have been working with the Lost Children since my dad started it when I was a small boy. He adopted me from an orphanage in the town of Huacho (3 hours away from Lima) I had a very difficult childhood. I was placed in an orphanage when I was very young. My dad and I first met when I was 9 years old. He wasn´t able to get me out of the orphanage until I was 12. For the first time in my life, he was able to show me what a father´s love was. I then began to realize what the love of our heavenly father meant. I run one of the centers in the slums and I also am studying international business. Our centers are filled with little ones and teens I have built some incredible relationships with these kids, and I see how great of an influence we have on their lives.
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TEam LEaders
YOsiHi, my name is Joseline Edith Agurto Estrada. But I go by Yosi. I had family problems when I was little, and my father didn’t show me much fatherly love. I grew up more with the support and love of my mother. But then at a young age, I lost this. They would hit me when I was playing with my dolls and tell me that I was useless. This became a routine at home. Then my father would come home drunk and insult my mother. This was hard for me, and I asked God to take me. I thought it would be best if I died. I thought that if I died, these problems would end. Eventually, I made friends that showed me attention, understanding, and love. But then they showed me drinks and parties till dawn. These supposed friends I thought I had weren’t real friends. This cost me a lot. I approached God fearfully. I feared he would reject me and wouldn’t forgive me. I had many doubts. But one day I decided to go to church. I was scared and embarrassed. Of what I had done, but that day, I received words of love. From a father that was always there throughout my life. That day I made a promise to God that he is the boss of all of my being. That he shall do everything he wants through me. And that I will become an instrument working through him. He is still working in my life.
SaraiHi, my name is Sarai, I was born in Venezuela, and I grew up in a God- fearing, Christian family. I am the oldest of three. I lived in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela for a long time. I was studying education there. For personal reasons I came to Peru and wasn’t able to study anymore. I give thanks to God only and his plans. He knew my purpose, and he brought me from far away with a reason for everything I learned in my country. It is so helpful for my role here working with the kids and teenagers. I am working not through my will, but the hands of God. Thanks!
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MariangelHi, my name is Mariangel. I was born in Venezuela, and my parents are from Peru. I have dual citizenship. I was born into a Christian family. As a teenager, I did some unpleasant things like all teenagers do. But I think that God had a plan for my life and I know that I still haven’t discovered his complete plan. It was a very difficult time for my family when we had to leave our community and move to Peru, where my parents were born. It wasn’t easy to leave everything we knew and start from nothing in a strange country. This was really hard for me, but I learned that God has perfect timing. And I know that my plans aren’t as great as God’s. Thanks to him we are here serving him.
GianellaHello, my name is Gianella Advincula López. I live with my parents and siblings. My life without Christ caused me to have poor communications with my parent. My life was difficult in and out of the house. I had chosen the wrong path. I caused my parents and family a lot of grief. I know my parents worried a great deal about me. I wasted so much of my earlier life. When I started going to Casa de Luz I realized I was on the wrong path. But the great thing about it the Lord met me there. I have been going to Casa de Luz for over a year now and I received employment to work with the children and in the kitchen a few months ago. I love the Lord and I am so pleased where my life is at. It’s a joy to go to work knowing how many children we are helping daily.
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OUR Community Center COOKs
MarÍA DEL ROSARIOMy name is María del Rosario Velazco Acosta de Cisneros. I was born in Lima, Peru. I met God in a Baptist church when I was only 9 years old. I studied in Peru through a professional school. I worked in a children’s home (Compassion Ministry for Kids) in an elementary school. I got married in Peru and then lived in Venezuela for 25 years where I had 4 kids. I studied in Venezuela to be a comprehensive teacher and then worked with a teacher in an education program through the government and through the church. I give thanks to God that I was able to return to Lima, Peru two years ago with my family to work for God and to glorify Him. - Amen.
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ClorindaHi, my name is Clorinda Teresa Estrada Carranza. In the past, I didn’t have a pretty or much of a stable life. I lived in a rented home where I didn’t have many things. My husband drank a lot, and he wasted the money we made every week. There were days when we couldn’t buy food, and we were always fighting. But when I met God, my life changed. He blessed me greatly. Now I can say that I have a calm and stable home. I have problems like everyone else, but now I know that with the help of God, I will overcome them, and he will do great things for my family.
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VolunteErs
JohanJohan helps our teams with the sound system. His role is important to us because it helps us deliver music and technology to the children when we lead VBS and worship services.
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AdolfoAdolfo is a very talented local artist. He generously shares this gift with Lost Children of Peru. His murals are a beautiful addition to our community centers and we admire his creativity and passion!
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JuanJuan works with our home building teams. We are grateful for his expertise and generous heart. He helps us with group trips and teaching others how to build quality homes for families to thrive.
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Worship Leader |
Media + Video |
MiguelI live close to Casa de Luz. Before I met God I only thought about myself and my schoolwork. I didn’t care about God because I thought it was something that people just made up, even though I had really known God since I was little. Even through of all this He never left my side. Down deep I knew He was still there. Everything changed when I went to Casa de Luz because God showed me that my life had a purpose. I met Larry, and of course his sons and teams that came to Peru. For the first time I understood that everything wasn’t lost. God showed me his love through great people and this organization. I live with my mom and my siblings. We are very poor but I am grateful to have a father in God, and I am very happy to be working with the Lost Children.
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DennysMy name is Dennys Luque. I came from a little town called Arequipa (you should google it, it’s beautiful). I’ve never imagined that I would be recording videos. I always wanted to be an engineer, but luckily I’m not because I love what I do. Now I’m studying advertisement. In the past years I’ve work as a community manager and content creator for Melia International Hotels and as a volunteer at my church Camino de Vida. I work in the creative department where I am in charge of Image and Marketing. In LCOP I record institutional videos and some resume videos so people can know what we do with the support they offer. What I love about LCOP is that we reach people in most far away villages of Perú, places that the government can not or will not go.
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