Smuel is 10 years old. He lives in a remote village in the Peruvian Andes. There is no electricity and only a few years ago the road was built that leads into the village. Nearly all the families of the village make their living by doing agricultural work. They grow corn, potatoes and some vegetables. Samuel's family also owns two cows, two sheep, a pig, and several hens.

Samuel does not have many toys, but he does not have much time to play anyway. Before eating breakfast he already has to feed the hens. When he comes back from school, he eats lunch and than usually goes to herd the cows until it gets dark.

Katia, Samuel's mom, looks after her children very well. The family is poor, but there's always enough to eat and clothes to wear. Not all the children in the village are that lucky. Alcoholism is a big problem. And when the parents get drunk no one cares for the children. No one makes a fire to cook a meal for them. Sometimes they are even beaten by their drunken father. For a long time, Katia has been hoping that someone might do something for the children of the village. She hoped someone would tell them about Jesus, who loves them so much.

Katia can't read very well, so she was reluctant when I told her that she should be the one who teaches the children. But finally she agreed. About a year ago, she started to teach the children from the Bible. I gave her some materials and her son Samuel helps her to understand how to use them. She also came to some training workshop but because of the distances this is not always possible for her.

Just some time ago Katia told me: "Juan is one of the boys that come to Sunday school. His father beats him and his mother insults him, and as a result the teachers complain about his behaviour in school. So I've talked to him and told him not to use bad words and to obey the teacher and to do his homework. And now the teacher has asked me: What has happened to Juan? He has changed."

It doesn't really matter that Katia is not a reader. What matters is that she really cares for the children of her village. Together with Samuel, she tells them about God's love, and she shows them His love through her own life.

Learn more about training church leaders in Peru. Read "What Makes a Leader?"