While attending Philadelphia College of the Bible, John and Phoebe Depue became aware that they had been chosen for service in South America. They attended the candidate class of South American Indian Mission group. In October of 1952, upon acceptance as members of the mission, they began to see the Lord provide the necessary "things" for their beginning of a life of mission Service in Bolivia, South America.  

On July 22nd, 1953, they arrived in Concepcion, Bolivia. It was in this town that they studied Spanish for a year. After this orientation, they went to San Ignacio where they taught Sunday school and preached in Spanish. In July 1955, John and Phoebe arrived in Zapoco, the only place that the South American Indian Mission had a sizable group of Ayore Indians. John constructed a house for his family there and they began learning the native language! 

In 1967 connection was finally made with the Ayore Indians through a peace gift. John encountered some from the Ayore tribe and was able to gift the chief with a machete. Until this moment, the people had thought all outsiders were enemies, but through this gift, John was able to establish a connection with the people.  

After serving many years for the Lord, Phoebe said, "The experiences that the Lord has let us through these 20 years have been his way of teaching us along life's way and we would not have missed them for anything. We are sure that he has more for us. May we continue in our labors for Him, that fruit may be multiplied during whatever time we may have left."