2022 marks the 18th year that the congregation of Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church (MOPC), 1199 Valley Road, Quarryville, has partnered with its sister church in Tamshiyacu, a village along the Amazon River in northeast Peru.

MOPC has a small congregation involved in local, national, and international missions. Typically, a team of volunteers travels to Peru each summer to provide physical and spiritual support to the pastor and his congregation; however, 2020 and 2021 were different. Due to travel restrictions, MOPC sent funds, medical supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the nursing staff and medical facilities in Iquitos, the major Peruvian city where past mission teams have stayed during their journeys to and from Tamshiyacu. According to MOPC mission team leader Daniel Henry, there will not be a trip to Peru this year, so the mission team will continue to provide medical supplies and funds for people in Peru to do maintenance projects at the Tamshiyacu church.

MOPC began its Peru mission in 2005 in conjunction with Daniel's brother, Dave Henry, who serves as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jefferson City, Mo. Together, the two churches raised funds to build a sister church in Tamshiyacu in 2008. Church members from both Pennsylvania and Missouri travel to Peru every year and stay for one to two weeks. While there, they lead Bible school and work on construction projects at the church and within the village.

"Our goal is to spread the Gospel and share the love of Jesus with the folks in the Amazon," said Daniel.

Over the years, the mission teams have completed several projects in Peru, such as doing maintenance on the church, building a playground for special needs children, installing a running water system for the church, and supplying malaria nets and parasite medicines.

To raise funds for its Peru mission, MOPC will host its annual yard sale on Saturday, April 23, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. After 11 a.m., most items will be half price and clothing will be free. There will be furniture, toys, household items, tools, local handmade items, small appliances, clothes, and more. Food, such as barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs, will also be available for purchase.

"We have been holding the annual yard sale for over 25 years," said Daniel. "It's a good church and community outreach event for us. We invite folks to donate items, or they can rent their own outside space."

MOPC will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2027. MOPC holds in-person worship services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

People can drop off donations at the church from Wednesday, April 20, to Friday, April 22, between 6 and 7:30 p.m. For more information about the yard sale, call MOPC at 717-786-3402. Those interested in renting a space can contact Daniel at 717-381-9947.