Bringing the Gospel to the Jungle
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Operation Christmas Child reaches children in remote Peru
Deep in the jungle of northern Peru, the Chapra people maintain a simple lifestyle with tight-knit family relationships.
Telling stories is an ancient tradition in this oral culture, and the indigenous tribe has never owned printed materials in their heart language. To cope with life's challenges, many people try to appease local spirits following the practices of their ancestors or abuse alcohol—a combination that has often left them hopeless and afraid.
The Lord has not forgotten the Chapra
…although they are disconnected from the modern world. God is working through Samaritan's Purse to bring them the light and love of Jesus Christ.
Operation Christmas Child outreach events for the Chapra people
In the Amazon, about 100 miles from the closest town, children gathered under a thatched roof for the first of many Operation Christmas Child outreach events to the Chapra people. While the scorching sun beat down on the village, the children's eyes remained glued to the poster boards displaying images of the Gospel story.
As they leaned forward on their wooden stools, their mothers stood nearby listening intently as fellow Chapra members shared the Good News. After the presentation, the children squealed with excitement as they received not only a gift-filled shoebox but also their own copies of The Greatest Gift, a booklet sharing that Jesus Christ is God's greatest gift. And it was in their native Chapra language.
They were handing out gifts, and my heart started to race with excitement because I had never seen those kinds of gift boxes being distributed.”
“They were handing out gifts, and my heart started to race with excitement because I had never seen those kinds of gift boxes being distributed,” said Piriba, a grandmother of one of the children who attended the outreach events. In her 78 years in the community, this was the first time she had seen a child receive a present. The Chapra are mostly subsistence farmers and have minimal resources.
Operation Christmas Child hosted several outreach events and provided the Chapra believers with the tools to continue spreading the Gospel throughout the jungle. But long before the outreach events, God had been preparing the hearts of the Chapra people.
Prepared by the Chapra for the Chapra
Masorashi Nochomata, leader of one of the Chapra communities, is passionate about sharing the Gospel with his people. A few years ago, his son Moises came down with a bad case of malaria. After trying everything from local witch doctors to medical professionals in the nearest city, Moises grew weaker and thinner by the hour and was eventually sent home to die.
After a visit from a missionary, Masorashi and Moises gave their lives to Christ. Since then, Moises has experienced complete healing, and the family is eager to share about the power of Jesus Christ.
I want everyone to know that Jesus is alive. And I also want them to know that God created the earth and the heavens, the waters, and so on. I want them to hear the Word and follow God.”
“I want everyone to know that Jesus is alive,” Masorashi said. “And I also want them to know that God created the earth and the heavens, the waters, and so on. I want them to hear the Word and follow God.”
The task of spreading the Gospel throughout the other Chapra communities was daunting for Masorashi and Moises, even though they were passionate about their newfound faith.
Children are taught from Spanish textbooks in school but still speak their native language at home. Masorashi knew that hearing about Jesus in their own language would be important to the children so that they could understand it fully.
“How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Romans 10:14
While still new to his faith, Masorashi began pastoring his community and adding to the body of believers, and the group began thinking about how to spread the Good News to all 31 Chapra communities.
That's when Operation Christmas Child offered to come alongside the Nochomatas to spread the Gospel. The first step was to translate The Greatest Gift into the Chapra language.
Mangutri panashish kasiru wanasre ano
God speaks to them in Chapra, and they can respond in Chapra.”
“God speaks to them in Chapra, and they can respond in Chapra,” said Belen Salazar, one of our international field representatives. “They don't need to learn a major language like Spanish in order for them to have a personal relationship with God. God created people groups. He created their language, and for them to realize they can speak to God in that language brings value to their people.”
Our regional leadership team in Peru worked with Moises, his wife Marcia, and three other people to translate The Greatest Gift into the Chapra language.
The Greatest Gift book helps because God showed His love for the whole world.”
“It was a bit of work because we were there three days thinking about some words that we didn't understand in Spanish and then translated them,” Moises said. “The Greatest Gift book helps because God showed His love for the whole world.”
The booklet accompanied the shoebox gifts given to children at the outreach events. The three communities where the events were held—Shoroyacocha, Inca Roca, and Pijuayal—are only accessible by boat, so the boxes were transported on handmade canoes up the Amazon River. The transportation process took one month, with Masorashi leading the effort.
In preparation for the events, Belen helped train the Chapra believers to effectively present the Gospel. One key is making sure the children understand that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are historical events, not just a made-up tale. As a child, she received a shoebox gift at an Operation Christmas Child event in Lima, Peru. Having experienced the impact of the Gospel presentation, Belen is now passionate about equipping others to effectively share their faith.
I always had asked God, after I finished school, to be able to be in a ministry that would not only teach children but teach teachers how to teach children. Operation Christmas Child gave me that opportunity.”
“I always had asked God, after I finished school, to be able to be in a ministry that would not only teach children but teach teachers how to teach children,” she said. “Operation Christmas Child gave me that opportunity.”
It was important to Belen and Masorashi that the children hear the Gospel story from their own people in their own language.
In less than one week, Operation Christmas Child hosted 15 events in 12 Chapra communities. As a result, 1,058 children received a shoebox gift and The Greatest Gift in the Chapra language.
The Lasting Impact of a Shoebox
One shoebox recipient was Masorashi's adopted granddaughter, Kati. Abandoned at birth in the jungle, she was left to die—that is, until Agustina, Masorashi's daughter, rescued the newborn and became her primary caregiver.
At the outreach event in her village, Kati received a copy of The Greatest Gift. While she is still learning to read, the book has become a treasured possession.
She [Kati] has asked me, ‘Mom, please read this book. I want to hear more about Jesus. Please read this book.’”
“She [Kati] has asked me, ‘Mom, please read this book. I want to hear more about Jesus. Please read this book,’” Agustina said.
Kati has even shared the Good News with her peers. “She tells her friends about Jesus when her friends fight,” Agustina said.
As the little Chapra children bubbled with excitement while clinging to their gifts, Masorashi observed with an approving grin. He knew the effort that went into transporting the shoeboxes up the river and translating the booklet.
“[The Greatest Gift] is really important because it's a way for people to know about the Gospel,” he said.
Having the opportunity to have the book The Greatest Gift translated into their language is something that is incredible. It's something that will transcend generations.”
“Having the opportunity to have the book The Greatest Gift translated into their language is something that is incredible,” said Yazna Bueno, a missionary partner of Operation Christmas Child who helped translate the booklet. “It's something that will transcend generations.”
Since the outreach events, the Nochomatas and other Chapra believers have met regularly with the children to work through a discipleship program based on the stories in The Greatest Gift.As the Word of God spreads throughout the communities, so does hope.
We invite you to join us in praying for our teams as they reach the remaining Chapra communities and other groups around the world who need to hear the Gospel. Your support and prayers strengthen and encourage our global network of volunteers as they bring Good News and great joy to boys and girls in need.
