Peru Has Second Highest Per Capita Infection Rate in the World
As time goes on and the quarantine in Peru continues to be extended, the reality of the coronavirus in Peru continues to worsen instead of making any progress toward flattening the curve. In Iquitos, the city our home is located in, over 1,300 people have died from coronavirus. TIME published an article on May 29 titled "Peru Locked Down Hard and Early. Why Is Its Coronavirus Outbreak So Bad?" Peru now has the second highest per capita infection rate in the world. As noted by TIME, here's why:
"Public health experts say living and working conditions in the country of 33 million—where a fifth of people live on only around $100 a month—has made it near impossible for many Peruvians to comply with quarantine measures."
"The government’s [quarantine] strategy works for the 30% of Peru that is employed in the formal sector, that’s been growing economically,” he says. “But there’s another 70% of Peru, which is informal, that doesn’t have access to basic services of health, education, nutrition, or to pensions and financial safety nets."
"Staying home for long periods of time is impossible for the 44% of households that do not have a refrigerator, according to a 2018 government survey, with families needing to leave the house regularly to access food. As a result, busy food markets have become a hub of infection."
The young men of Casa de Reyes are in a better condition than the majority of their countrymen. We are very thankful to have gated property where the young men of Casa de Reyes can stay safely quarantined. We are blessed to have every boy sponsored and to be able to take care of their needs during this time when so many other Peruvians are lacking. We are grateful for items we have in the home- such as computers and a refrigerator- luxuries for Peruvians. We do not take any of these things for granted.
Throughout this terrible time for the nation, we have been especially grateful for the way God has always provided for the young men entrusted to our care. Furthermore, we are in awe of how he continues to provide relief through COVID-19 donations for our ministry.
Without the hope of Christ, this situation in Peru seems unbearable. However, we are confident in the promise God makes to his children:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:4
Pictured above is a sweet boy who lives in the same neighborhood Casa de Reyes is located. Our team has grown a relationship with him and his family. Scarlet, Ministry Finance and Accounting Manager of Kings and Queens Peru, says she loves this photo because "his joy in the midst of turmoil within his community is an encouragement."
Community Outreach
We can never fully express our gratitude for the donations that have poured in specifically for our COVID-19 relief efforts.
As is it said, "A picture is worth a thousand words." See the photographs and descriptions below to see how your donations have blessed so many families who otherwise would be desperately lacking.
The Peruvian government began fumigating homes to aid in stopping the spread of coronavirus. However, due to overwhelming need, they are unable to do every home. With donations, we were able to have our home fumigated. We are in the process of purchasing a system to do this ourselves to our own home and to fumigate homes in the local community.
All About the Boys
The boys continue with their distance learning (pictured above).
A new tradition has started in the home during this time: every three nights, the boys and leadership all gather together to watch a movie. The boys eagerly look forward to movie nights!
Our team has been meeting with the young men of the home weekly on the topic of dating and relationships with a biblical worldview. This is something they really look forward to as a relevant topic in their lives!
Support staff member, Juan Manuel, has been very intentional about doing activities with the boys that bring joy. Recently he took them to a remote fishing spot. They didn't catch anything and the house dog almost drowned, but overall they had a fun day!
Marcos is a young man in our program who was visiting his family in another city on his summer break when the coronavirus quarantine began. Because he has been unable to leave and return to Casa de Reyes, we were successfully able to send him and his family supplies this month including food, cleaning supplies, and basic necessities. We were excited to also send extra essential supplies for his family to keep on giving and help other surrounding families.
Corporate Prayer
Thank you to all who joined us in prayer via Zoom call this month! It was a special time to come together corporately and plead on behalf of the country of Peru.
In true Peruvian fashion, our Peru family joined late, along with a friend from Lima, and several of our board members- we and the young men of Casa de Reyes sang together in worship and prayed for God's healing of this nation. From South Carolina to Alabama to Lima to Iquitos, we are grateful for technology and the Lord to connect us in prayer!
We pray you and your family are safe, healthy, and well. If we may offer any prayer for you personally, for physical, emotional or spiritual fervor, we would love to do so!