When Vilda Fretel Asencios, a single mom of four, joined Inspiradas por Cristo (“inspired by Christ”) savings group a few years ago, she saw the new opportunities that it would open to her. Supported by Comas CMA Church, HOPE International’s partner in Peru, the group brought together neighbors in Vilda’s community to pray, worship, receive training, and save money together.
As Vilda and the other group members have grown closer to Christ and each other, they’ve shared their dreams for the future, along with their fears. Both often centered around those they care about most: their children.
Vilda and her friends know that with limited opportunities, their daughters and sons face elevated risks of involvement with drugs and alcohol.
In response to the mothers’ request, the church began the first savings group for teens in Comas.
Members of the savings group for teens in Peru
Tender discipleship, even when results aren’t instant
Sebastian, Vilda’s 14-year-old son, says he remembers showing up at his house one day and seeing the youth savings group meeting for the first time. “My mom was already in the mom’s group, so I was invited to join,” he says.
The group wasn’t an immediate hit, with many of the teens expressing resistance. “At the beginning, I didn’t want to join the group,” Sebastian admits.
But Romena, the church volunteer guiding the new group, didn’t give up, mentoring and sharing Jesus’ love with Sebastian and the other teens.
God’s goodness breaks through
Eventually, Sebastian and his friends’ hearts began to soften.
First, he realized that saving was a helpful skill. “Because I didn’t have the money within my reach, since it was stored somewhere else, I wasn’t urged to spend it,” he says. “Now I see money as a tool to improve and not to waste it.”
And on December 10, 2023, Christ moved in a powerful way: During one of their meetings, Sebastian and every group member gave their lives to Jesus.
Sebastian says he has come to know the Lord as “the one and only Creator, and the only one who can help us to get better.”
A member marks himself present at his savings group meeting
Saving as an act of service
Today, Sebastian does chores at home to earn money to save, and he uses his savings to help his family. “At the end of the year, I gave all my savings to my mom so that she could buy more groceries,” he reports.
But saving has also inspired Sebastian with new dreams for his future. “I want to graduate from university, and I want to have a degree,” he shares, adding that architecture and robotic engineering hold special appeal. “I want to create something that makes history.”
Vilda, with Sebastian and two of her other children
Read more about Vilda and Sebastian—along with the stories of many other men and women we serve—in our annual report, coming in May! If you’re not already subscribed to HOPE email updates, sign up here to be notified when HOPE’s 2024 annual report is released.
