Our children’s perspectives on our first year in Peru
September 8 marks the completion of our first year in Peru. This picture of Jacob running into the sunset illustrates how our children have run freely into this new season of life. In a “play-full way,” they have received God’s grace to endure the pain and pleasure of good-byes and hellos among family and friends, new places and routines, and a new language. May their words encourage you as you chase the Son, as their testimony of God’s victory by His grace has encouraged us and others!
Caleb’s Commentary:
In September 2014 we landed in Arequipa. There was an apartment that we stayed in, and it had four bathrooms! A few days later we went to a school called Rey de Reyes. Rey de Reyes is where I learned most of my 
Spanish. After four months, I went to summer school. I was amazed of how much Spanish I knew after summer school. I went to 5th grade, and this is where I got my Spanish going so I could understand class! After the hardest but most helpful seven months of my life, we came to the jungle.
After a week, I went to a school called CCPA [Colegio Cristiano Peruano Americano], and I am still there. And we go to a church called The Strong Tower [Torre Fuerte], and there is a guy named Norvil who has helped us so much. He
even makes lessons that are in English! For my
free time, I play soccer or
go fishing. Speaking of soccer, Calichines [a soccer league hosted by Kids Alive in San Jose for Sept-Oct] started, and our first game was under the lights, and I scored the only goal for our team at the very end! Ever since all that packing, moving, and learning, I feel like this is my home.
Jacob’s Journal:
I go to a Peruvian school. They only speak Spanish, but I’m pretty good at school. I know a lot of Spanish, and I’m learning more. When you live here you have to drink a lot of water, because it’s easy to get sick. The most popular sport is soccer, because 
everybody loves it. We go fishing a lot. We use a net. Sometimes we catch big fish, and sometimes we catch little fish. I’m learning to pray, and here is an example: One day I got a splinter, then I prayed and it came out. I even told my dad that something is happening to me. Something was happening between me and God. Thank you for helping us live here.
Rachel’s Reflections:
I love the stuff in Peru. And I like the stuff that would help the people like 
food for people who does not have food. I love the stuff like giving food, like helping people, and like playing with them. This is the end.
(Thanks to our friend and teammate, Cristina Thomas, for the pictures of Jacob running into the sunset and the boys in their soccer uniforms on the opening of Calichines).
Grateful for a great year,
Mark, Kristin, Caleb, Jacob, and Rachel Coté
Missionary family for discipleship and development based in Pucallpa, Peru
[Click here to partner with our family.]
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