In March 2023, Cyclone Yaku struck Peru with devastating force.

What began as a storm soon turned into a humanitarian crisis. Torrential rains caused the La Leche River to overflow, unleashing landslides and catastrophic flooding across the Lambayeque region. Entire communities were submerged. Homes, schools, health centers, and roads were washed away, leaving thousands homeless and afraid. The destruction was swift and merciless, sparing no one in its path.

But the cyclone’s wrath didn’t end with the floodwaters. In its aftermath came disease. With water sources contaminated and infrastructure in ruins, a record-breaking dengue outbreak swept through the region. The healthcare system, already fragile, buckled under the weight of overwhelming need. Families who had lost everything now faced the terrifying reality of sickness and hunger, with nowhere left to turn.

Jerry and Christine Gregersen were in Peru serving the people of the Jayanca area. The day they arrived, it started raining. Having no idea that there was a cyclone coming, they were not prepared for what they would witness.

They stood in streets turned to rivers. They saw the despair in people’s eyes, not just for what was lost, but for what seemed impossible to rebuild. Government aid came in the form of temporary plastic tent shelters: a gesture, but not a solution. It wasn’t enough. 

But where others saw devastation, the Gregersens saw a calling.

From that calling, Peru Hope was born.

Their journey began with one family, the Juarez family, who had lost their adobe home. It had simply melted in the rain. Their story was one of heartbreak but also of resilience. Peru Hope helped rebuild their home, not just as it was, but stronger. Safer. The new home was built on higher ground, from brick and concrete, designed to withstand what had once destroyed it.

That one home sparked a vision: What if more could be done? What if hope could be rebuilt, one family, one home, and one future at a time?

Jerry and Christine purchased 17 acres of land, dreaming not just of homes but of a community, one rooted in empowerment, responsibility, and sustainable change. A place where dignity is restored, and people are given the tools to lift themselves out of poverty.

As the organization grew, so did its impact. They began supporting local orphanages, not just with food, but with time, compassion, and consistency. They delivered wheelchairs and medical supplies to those who had been forgotten. They partnered with government agencies to offer vocational training to help Peruvians earn licenses, find jobs, and even launch businesses of their own.

They created workshops that went beyond skills; they nurtured souls. Teaching everything from business mentorship to life-saving lessons in abuse prevention and sexual assault awareness. Gardening classes helped families grow their own food, food they could eat, sell, and rely on.

From the rubble of a cyclone, a new future is being built, not only of bricks, but of belief.

Peru Hope exists to restore more than homes. It restores faith: faith in self, in community, and in possibility. Their mission is simple and profound: to elevate lives, to restore dignity, and above all, to bring hope to the hearts of the Peruvian people.