The day of my farewell, it was at my house, one night in March 2001. A simple meeting with my closest friends. I was newly married to Bonny. Telmo, in his farewell words, told me: You are going to the United States as a Missionary.

I knew the word missionary theoretically, but in my heart there was no echo of its true meaning. I remember that Telmo and some brothers said a prayer for me. Finally, I came to live in the United States.

Telmo had given me the contact information for Pastor Marcelo Alvarado, who lived in California. In turn, Pastor Marcelo contacted me with brother Francisco Pérez, who was starting a Church in Sparta, and there I could help with my guitar.

The years passed, and from time to time I called Telmo. He always took time for me. I told him things about my life in the USA and he thought everything I shared with him was super extraordinary. The friendship grew stronger, and he always reminded me of “my missionary work.” I didn’t pay much attention to the matter, because although I agreed to be a missionary, my life was mostly dedicated to building my future.

It was a beautiful, sincere, disinterested friendship and God in his infinite grace was sowing in my life and in my walk, the feeling and the missionary walk. I had the opportunity to talk with Telmo on a visit to Peru about these issues, but without much impact, nothing hopeful. Since I was more focused on my own struggle for my spiritual and material survival here.

t is in 2019 that everything begins to take a turn, after 10 years without visiting Peru, I had the opportunity to go. One of my plans was to visit each of my friends with whom, while I was in the United States, we had developed a sincere friendship like Telmo’s.

One of the first was Jimmy Urquiaga. He was in Manchay and we met there. This is how our friendship arose from there our conversations were very rich and healthy

Also visited Alex Guillen and Pastor Juan Carlos Tazza. I had known Alex Guillén for many years, with him we went to many conventions and music and sports festivals. Our friendship is very sincere, I loved the song he composed and with which he won a Christian festival. “In Jesus I found the Way.”

With Pastor Juan Carlos Tazza we are united by a not very long but sincere friendship. I met him through my wife. While I was trying to help Bonny in a talk on psychology, I went to the Church of Villa in Salvador where Pastor Juan Carlos Tazza pastored. Now Pastor Tazza was already working with a Church where he served full time

My last Saturday in Peru, on April 20, I had planned to visit Pastor Justo Llecllish, another of my friends with whom I had planned to talk on this trip.

He had just told me to save that date to go to his house, chat and plan future events regarding the mission. Justo Llecllish is my coach, that’s what I call him. His friendship and leadership has been a blessing to me over the years.

Before traveling to Peru, I had prayed that if God had something for me, that he would let me know in Peru. Saturday April 19, 2019 was approaching to visit Justo Llecllish. And then it occurs to me to meet with all my friends, none of whom knew Justo, nor did they know each other. My wish was that they get to know each other and be able to help each other. One of my wishes for my friends has always been to help them in their ministries.

We all meet in a chicken shop in the center of Lima. We had a great time, we ate, we laughed, we introduced ourselves, each one shared about their ministry, it was an extraordinary meeting. At the end of the meeting, while contacts and telephone numbers were being shared, Telmo had the idea of continuing the meetings, without me, but to continue. It is then that the meetings began to talk about the ministry and the missions. I invited dinner and they met on my behalf. This is how the year 2019 passed until the pandemic arrived in 2020.

Within this whole context, zoom appeared and the idea of meeting virtually to pray every Thursday arose, and so we began to do so.

Abel Chuquiruna – FOUNDER