Pope Leo XIV's September prayer intention calls the faithful to safeguard water "with gratitude, justice, and responsibility." One Catholic nonprofit, Vera Aqua Vera Vita, has spent nearly a decade answering that call directly — building clean water systems in rural Peru and, just as importantly, teaching communities to sustain them for generations to come.

What began as a single mission trip became a doorway to deeper service, professional growth, and cross-border collaboration. David Cowan shares how joining VAVV opened unexpected paths to serve through engineering, faith, and relationships.

This past March was a very special month for Vera Aqua Vera Vita; for the first time since 2019, VAVV got to send a team of missionaries from DFW into the rural communities of Piura, Peru to bring True Water True Life through service, education and camaraderie! See what progress having so many boots on the ground has made by reading this Project Status Update.

Peru is a country in South America that's home to a section of Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains.

Closely related to the Ilamas but much smaller, the alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid descended from the vicuna. Although alpacas are mostly raised for their soft and luxurious fleece, they constitute a savory traditional Peruvian food.

Take this fun quiz to test your knowledge on Peru, a country where Vera Aqua Vera Vita is doing an amazing work!!!