“Listen Learn Love” is the theme for our mission trips to Peru as we follow the ELCA global mission model of “accompaniment.” We have traveled in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2018 with about twenty people each time.
We listen to God’s call upon our lives. We listen to God’s Word, to one another and to our sisters and brothers in Christ in Peru.
We learn from each other about faith and culture as we work with friends in Pachacamac, together leading a Vacation Bible School for about 150 children, teenagers and adults. We visit our Lutheran World Relief office in Lima, our sister congregations Belen Lutheran in Lima, Filadelfia Lutheran in Lurin and Talitha Kum Lutheran in Cusco. Another highlight of each trip is a visit to the Huch’Uy Runa orphanage in Cusco that is supported by our ELCA world hunger offerings (www.elca.org/hunger).
As we listen and learn, we also find great joy as we grow in our love for God, for each other and for the people of Peru. We pray that this experience changes the way we live when we return home, that it might help us to love our Triune God and love our neighbor here, in even deeper ways, as well as be a stronger advocate for God’s people and God’s mission around the world.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the SAM’s Tram service from Ascension has been pretty quiet. However, now that many of us have vaccines and feel more comfortable being out and about, it’s time to reintroduce the program! SAM’s Tram is Ascension’s Senior Adult Ministries transportation service. We match seniors from our congregation that need rides to local appointments with Ascension volunteers that are willing to drive.
RIDERS
If you’re a senior who needs a ride (or a caregiver for one), please contact me with the ride details. My contact info is at the end of the article. The more lead time you can give me -- at least a week or two is best -- the more likely I can find a driver for you. I’ll let you know either way. The service is free! If you feel compelled to give something, you can give your driver a dollar to go to Ascension’s Caring Ones to help the needy in our area.
DRIVERS
We’re always looking for more volunteer drivers to add to our roster. There is NO long-term commitment. I blast out detailed ride requests via e-mail to all of our drivers. You need only say “yes” to a ride that works for your schedule, and your only commitment is for that one ride. Many of us work and can only drive occasionally. That’s OK! The more drivers we have on our roster, the more likely we can fulfill a given request, and the workload gets spread around. This is a simple and effective ministry and we’d love to have you join us! Please call or e-mail me if you’re interested.
TESTIMONIAL
“[SAM’s Tram was] a blessing to my mom when she could not drive anymore. The friendly drivers got her to her weekly hair appointments, and occasional other doctor/dentist appointments. The social interaction with the drivers gave her a lift and became a bright spot in her declining life quality. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased when two drivers who were more frequent came to my mom’s celebration of life service. What a dedicated group of people, making a difference in the lives of our elders!” — Excerpt from a thank you note written by the daughter of one of our riders
FAST FACTS
- Pastor Steve started SAM’s Tram in 2011.
- Since 2017 we have had 287 ride requests and fulfilled 220 of them (77%)
- 69% of our requests are for doctor appointments, 9% for worship services, 8% for beauty/barber, and 14% “other”
Please pray for our SAM’s Tram riders and drivers, and contact me anytime if we can be of service to you, or if you you’d like to join us as a driver.
Sincerely,
Brian Festerling SAM’s Tram Coordinator
805-558-8076 (cell)
ps - we've had an uptick in requests and could always use new drivers.