Gratitude. Perspective. Purpose – Lessons from Peru and a Renewed Commitment to Serving Our Veterans
By Jen Rosas – August 4, 2025
Our family just returned from a 10-day mission trip to a small community outside Lima, Peru called Perales, and the experience is still fresh in our hearts and minds. The people we met, the projects we worked on, and the perspective we gained have left a lasting mark on us—one that’s directly shaping how we continue our mission of serving others, including our veterans.
We traveled as part of a team of high school students and leaders from our church, joining hands with a local partner church in Peru to support their ministry and reach into the surrounding neighborhoods. Our work was hands-on and varied—painting, tearing down walls to open up much-needed space, repairing a local school’s water well, and laying the groundwork for future improvements. Our daughter, just graduated from high school, served with the student team while Ed Rosas, our son, and I stepped into the role of translators, helping bridge language and connection across cultures.
One of the week’s greatest joys was watching young leaders take the reins—pouring themselves into Vacation Bible School programs full of laughter, stories, and genuine connection for the children of Perales and nearby Punta Hermosa. To be present while the next generation led with such passion and faith was both humbling and inspiring.
As co-founders of Avetus Partners, this trip was especially meaningful, giving us space to reflect on what truly matters and to witness our company’s values—integrity, collaboration, innovation, empowerment, and commitment to growth—take shape in new ways. We were reminded that service is about meeting real needs, fostering connection, and empowering others—across all backgrounds and stages of life.
The lessons from Peru resonate deeply as we return home and re-engage with our core
mission: serving our nation’s veterans. Just as in Lima, the needs of veterans require empathy, respect, and creative solutions. Our experiences abroad reinforced that every act of service, whether abroad or right here in our communities, is rooted in gratitude for those we serve, the perspective gained from walking alongside others, and a sense of purpose that calls us to do more.
We are profoundly grateful to our church, our mission team, and especially the community of Perales for embracing us and teaching us more than we ever expected. As we move forward, we do so with a renewed commitment to serve—honoring both our experiences in Peru and the veterans at the heart of our mission.
Thank you for letting us share part of this journey with you. Here’s to living out gratitude, perspective, and purpose—at home and around the world.
