Our History
From a calling to a home — the story of how one family’s obedience
became a refuge for Peru’s most vulnerable girls.
“We didn’t set out to build a children’s home. We set out to follow God — and He led us to the girls who needed us most.”
— Papa Rick, Founder
THE BEGINNING
A Heart for Peru’s Children
Rick and Sandra first traveled to Peru on a short-term mission trip, expecting to serve for a few weeks and return home. What they found changed everything. In the streets of Arequipa, they encountered girls as young as four living without parents, without shelter, and without hope. The need was overwhelming — but instead of looking away, they felt God calling them to stay.
They started small. A rented house. A few beds. Two girls who had nowhere else to go. Word spread quickly. Within months, more girls arrived — each carrying a story of abandonment, abuse, or extreme poverty. Rick and Sandra realized this wasn’t a temporary mission. It was their life’s work.
BUILDING A HOME
From Rented Rooms to a Permanent Refuge
Through the faithfulness of early donors and churches who believed in the vision, RCI was able to build a permanent home — a real home, not an institution. The facility was designed to feel like a family house: shared bedrooms instead of dormitories, a kitchen where girls help prepare meals together, a garden they tend with their own hands, and a chapel where they gather for worship.
Every detail was intentional. Rick and Sandra didn’t want to run an orphanage. They wanted to build a family. And that’s exactly what happened. The girls began calling them Papa Rick and Mama Sandra — not because anyone told them to, but because that’s who they became.
TODAY & BEYOND
A Legacy of Restoration
Today, Restoring Children International is home to girls ranging from age 4 to 18. Many of our graduates have gone on to university, vocational careers, and lives they once never imagined possible. Candy is studying psychology. Claudia is about to earn her degree. Maribel is pursuing nursing. Each one is living proof that a safe home, a loving family, and a faithful God can rewrite any story.
But the work isn’t finished. There are more girls in Peru who need what we provide — safety, education, spiritual guidance, and the unconditional love of a family. As long as there are girls who need a home, RCI will be here. And with your help, the next chapter will be the best one yet.
Be Part of the Story
Every chapter of our history was written by people who said yes.
Your support writes the next one.