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Lessons from the Large Trees
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“Teaming” with Life
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Catching up with Kristin
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Marching Forth
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To Cover Sin and Cast Out Fear
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Our Shepherd’s “Kind” of Life
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“Monday’s” Mission
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A 10,000 Foot-Ground Level Perspective
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Unfairness = Generosity
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A Mom’s Cry…a Dad’s Absence

Lessons from the Large Trees

In late spring, from a place of being worn out, we called out to our Father, trusting Him to speak and guide us to a place where we sequoia_Cote familycould begin to heal. We read Exodus 15:25-27, and He first called us to Himself as our healer:

“There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. And He said, ‘If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.’ Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.”

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Catching up with Kristin

IMG_3663If you were to ask Kristin what she loves to do, she would be hard-pressed to select specific things or activities. But this year we have been learning together how she thrives when she can “harmonize” with those around her. Harmony requires a melody, and what Kristin loves to do is come alongside and fill in around the service and work of others, which she does here on a daily basis. To catch up with Kristin is to do so constantly

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Marching Forth

“God will use any number of extraordinary things to chisel the detail of His ‘lily work’ in His children…He will use anything and IMG_3177everything, no matter what it is, and we shall always know when God is at work, because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring” (Oswald Chambers). Here is our family pictured on March 4, 2018, 10 years following our Victoria Grace’s passing from this earth into our Lord’s presence. Her living legacy of God’s victory by His grace marches forth. Here are a few glimpses of recent glordinary goings here in Peru…

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To Cover Sin and Cast Out Fear

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Only God Himself is pure, honorable, and powerful enough to cover sin and cast out fear. Because He is love, Peter and John tell us that His love both covers a multitude of sins and casts out fear (1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:18). John describes this love as “perfect” love, which carries the sense of completeness and wholeness. For the children we minister to through Kids Alive Peru, God’s love for the whole child casts out fear. It begins by seeing God’s love formed in our own lives as His servants, and it extends to children like the one in this story…

 

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Our Shepherd’s “Kind” of Life

God’s kindneIMG_3098ss is so strong that it leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). Repentance brings change. In surveying the pastures of Kids Alive Peru, over and over again we encounter changed lives among the little lambs, who were previously lost, scattered, broken, and sick (Ezekiel 34:16). However, joining in His search for the lost sheep, bringing them back, binding them up, and strengthening them comes at a significant cost. Our Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (10:15), then showing His followers His wounds overcome on His resurrected body, He then sends them as He Himself was sent by the Father (John 20:20-21). Read More

“Monday’s” Mission

How appropriate that Christmas falls on a Monday this year. Christmas has become something in our time that seems to fit best on the “weekend.” Monday mornings are dreaded by many as the start of another week of work and routine, with the next weekend being so far away. Sacrifice does not really excite us, and the many comforts associated with Christmas try to shield us from the reality of suffering. But the manger will not allow us to escape this reality. The birth of Jesus marked the beginning of the only sacrifice that could make all things new, so rejoice with us as we reflect on the unspeakable glories we remember this Monday…

A census called to measure greatness in man’s most powerful kingdom

The pregnant virgin with her betrothed journey from their home Nazareth, or “Nowhere”

To the city of Israel’s royal hope for everlasting rule, still with no king enthroned

Until the Child laid aside eternal greatness and was laid in a feeding trough

And grew to hold in His own arms those He called the least of these

Until He opened His arms to be lifted up, cursed, and killed on a tree

And broke the seal of death through resurrection victory

From the trough to the tree and to the throne above

Heaven’s hosts declared peace, favor, life and a promised return

To those in fields and faraway lands who came and knelt

To those who lifted their heads from their nets and were left looking into the sky

Waiting for the King’s return while following Him as sent ones to the least of these

To receive one such child…the One holding…and the One sending

 

Merry Christmas,

Mark, Kristin, Caleb, Jacob, and Rachel Coté

Director of Discipleship and Development, Kids Alive Peru

KAIverticallogo

mark.cote@kidsalive.org
kristin.cote@kidsalive.org

www.kidsalive.org
www.kidsaliveperu.org

Click here to partner with our family through support of Kids Alive, which sustains our missionary service. Click here for prayer requests related to our family and service. Click here to receive e-mail notifications of new posts on our Glordinary Goings blog.

Our mailing address:
Apartado 25
Pucallpa, Peru

 

A 10,000 Foot-Ground Level Perspective

IMG_2992When encouraging others to have a broader perspective, we might say, “Let’s consider this from a 10,000 foot level.” In such cases, the complexity and detail at ground-level can distract from seeing the big picture clearly. During our recent trip into the Peruvian Andes Mountains to the remote town of Andahuaylas, we literally flew on a smaller plane from an airport with an elevation of about 100 feet, and we landed at an airport outside of Andahuaylas at over 11,000 feet. At ground-level throughout our trip, we would once-again encounter first-hand the big perspective of the kingdom of God; and once again, children were at the center, called to His side.

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Unfairness = Generosity

IMG_2915From Caleb:

“In one of Jesus’ parables (Matthew 20:1-16), He talks about unfairness. It is where workers get paid the same, and some worked less than others. It says that the master, the one who paid them, was generous. So I came to the conclusion that unfairness is actually Jesus’ generosity. Read More

A Mom’s Cry…a Dad’s Absence

Huge celebrations occur around Mother’s Day in Peru. This year on Mother’s Day weekend, away from the noisy streets and large crowds, we heard a mom’s cry that we will never forget. Read More