CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterin College alumnus and former men's soccer player John Odum went on a week-long mission trip to Santa Clara, Peru in July with the Westminster Presbyterian Church from Spartanburg, S.C.

The small village, located on the Amazon River, is a half hour boat ride from Iquitos, Peru. Odum and his comrades helped lay the foundation for a house, made and distributed water filters so people could have clean water to drink, led Vacation Bible School and taught women how to sew so they could make clothes and purses to sell.

Men's soccer head coach Bret Boulware donated soccer balls from PC to Odum to distribute during his trip.

“It was an awesome trip,” Odum said. “We played soccer every day while we were at the village. We handed out the soccer balls to a few specific kids and left the others for the church to keep. The kids have nothing in the village and it was nice to see a smile on their faces.”

Westminster Presbyterian has partnered with the village for 15 years to help improve their quality of living. The members also spent time with people of the surrounding villages, especially the children.