Beth Schelp grew up in British Columbia, Canada, attending Coquitlam Alliance Church and Fleetwood Christian Reformed Church. Through both, she heard from missionaries serving around the world, which sparked a passion for missions. In 2023, she experienced international missions firsthand on a trip to the Philippines, where she grew to love serving cross-culturally. She is passionate about seeing God work through people of all cultures to teach His character and His Word.
Beth has participated in three mission trips abroad—to the Philippines, Mexico, and the Isle of Man—and she is eager for another opportunity to serve. This summer, she will spend eight weeks in Pucallpa, Peru, a vibrant city in the heart of the Amazon, for a missionary internship. Living and working alongside experienced missionaries, she will serve in diverse ministries, including English classes, kids’ programs, river trips, missionary aviation, construction, and cultural immersion.
Pucallpa is the last reachable city by road before the start of the jungle, where many Indigenous communities are located. With over 310,000 residents, Pucallpa is a major jungle city that serves as a gateway to the Amazon and the hub for SAM operations within the country. SAM’s first missionaries in Peru traveled up the Amazon River to Iquitos in 1926 and began ministering to the unreached people groups of the Ucayali River basin. Today, SAM’s ministries include SAM Academy (1st-12th school for missionary kids), SAMAIR, Latidos de Esperanza (Heartbeats of Hope) Pregnancy Center, plus Refugio Deaf Education and Deaf Church.
Beth is excited for this opportunity because of her heart for building relationships and her desire to learn how God can use her to advance His kingdom. This summer, she hopes to learn from those who instruct her, those she serves, and those she serves alongside—growing as an ambassador and disciple of Christ.
