Equal in the eyes of God
August 2026
“The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.” ~ Proverbs 22:2
How do we measure the value of a soul? That question stayed with me during our recent trip to Peru, where we visited Tony and Rosa and saw the work of Home of Refuge firsthand.
Hi, I’m Tony and Rosa’s daughter-in-law, Genel. This past month, my husband, Raul, our brother-in-law, Tony Jr., our youngest daughter, Micaiah, and I had the privilege of seeing what your generosity and partnership with Home of Refuge are making possible. I would like to share a few reflections from our visit.
One of the clearest lessons from our trip was how differently the world and God measure a person’s worth. People often place great value on beauty, youth, education, wealth, skill, talent, and influence. God looks at the heart. A person’s value to Him is not determined by appearance, accomplishments, education, or social standing.
A wealthy, educated young person living in an American city and an elderly farmer living in a remote Peruvian village may have very different lives and opportunities, but both are equally valuable in the eyes of God. Both need to hear the same message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The people reached through this ministry are those whom society has pushed aside. Mother Teresa once said:
“Poverty doesn’t only consist of being hungry for bread, but rather it is a tremendous hunger for human dignity. Not only have we denied the poor a piece of bread, but by thinking that they have no worth and leaving them abandoned in the streets, we have denied them the human dignity that is rightfully theirs as children of God.”
“Poverty doesn’t only consist of being hungry for bread, but rather it is a tremendous hunger for human dignity. Not only have we denied the poor a piece of bread, but by thinking that they have no worth and leaving them abandoned in the streets, we have denied them the human dignity that is rightfully theirs as children of God.”
While in Peru, we spent time with elderly Quechua-speaking people served every two weeks by Home of Refuge. Many live far from the places where most ministry takes place. They have little or no formal education, live in deep poverty, and are largely overlooked by society. Their bodies show the effects of years of difficult labor, poverty, and hardship.
Some recipients live several hours away on foot, so your giving also provides transportation to allow them to attend special services without making the long journey or carrying heavy groceries on their backs for miles.
We watched as they gathered, enjoyed one another’s company, and sang to the Lord. We saw them listen closely as the Bible was preached through a translator in their native Quechua language. For many, this is one of the few opportunities they have to hear the gospel in a language they fully understand.
Some came forward to profess faith in Christ for the first time. Although they and I could not communicate through a shared language, God understood every word. As we prayed for them, the Lord touched their hearts and filled them with joy.
One of the people we met during our visit was Gregorio Quispe.
Gregorio was born on May 25, 1944, in the district of Paccarectambo. His parents died while he was still young. Like many of the people Home of Refuge serves, Gregorio grew up in a rural area with little access to education, roads, or steady employment. He never learned to read or write and began working in agriculture at an early age.
In 1979, when Gregorio was 35 years old, he was taken from his home for military service. He spent two years in the barracks, far from his community and the life he had always known.
After returning home, Gregorio met Juana Quispe Baltazar at the age of 38. Juana had five young children, three boys and two girls. Gregorio had no children of his own, but he accepted the responsibility of raising Juana’s children as his own.
He worked hard in farming and livestock to provide food and shelter for the family. The conditions were difficult. Poor soil, frost, and limited pasture often made it hard to produce enough. Still, Gregorio continued working and providing the best he could until the children were grown and able to care for themselves.
Today, Gregorio is 82 years old. Juana passed away three months ago, and he now lives alone in a rural home with a thatched roof. He has no close relatives caring for him and has limited access to food and medical care.
Yet Gregorio’s heart is filled with joy and hope. Your giving to Home of Refuge provides him with groceries twice each month, and through this ministry, he has learned the truth of the gospel. Gregorio now has hope that reaches beyond this life and its hardships.
As we reflected on Gregorio’s story, we were reminded that although he may be unknown to most of the world, he is fully known by God. Reaching people like Gregorio requires food, transportation, translators, ministry workers, and a willingness to travel into communities that are difficult to reach. Your generous support makes this work possible and demonstrates that their lives and souls are precious to God.
Thank you for giving to this important work in Peru. The elderly recipients pray daily for those who support this ministry. They mention you with gratitude before the Throne of Grace, asking God to bless you and supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Your faithfulness to give in the weeks and months ahead means FRUITFULNESS in many, many lives. So, on behalf of all of those who serve at or receive from Home of Refuge, THANK YOU.
After seeing this beautiful ministry again, my personal prayer is that God would give me eyes to measure worth as He does and to value what He considers precious. May we all join Tony and Rosa in loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves, to the glory of Jesus Christ.
With gratitude and appreciation for this important work,
Genel Rivera
On behalf of Tony and Rosa Rivera
Home of Refuge International, Inc.
