Lea Peters

Lea Peters is a lifelong missionary serving in Africa with her husband Jamie since 1987. Born into a family of immigrants from Finland in the USA, she grew up moving in between two cultures which helped prepare her for her work overseas. She has worked in church planting, feeding projects, education, micro finance initiatives, and leadership development. She is a wife and mother of four children and has two grandchildren. Of her accomplishments, she considers her family to be the greatest by far. When asked why she chose to serve on the mission field as her lifelong career, her reply "Why not?" Growing up in an immigrant family was almost serendipitous as the experience schooled her for what she calls life as a "Cultural Misfit" meaning never fully fitting in anywhere. Besides, she reckons that fitting in is overrated. Lea speaks five languages (English, Finnish, French, Swahili, Chewa, and some Kirundi) and has a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Education and a Master's Degree in Christian Social Ministry. Lea and Jamie live in Bujumbura, Burundi, with their youngest daughter Andreya. Besides loving her family and cross-cultural ministry, she loves her parrot (who she serves faithfully) and two small dogs (who love her unconditionally).