tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47853005613539911032024-02-20T11:04:24.147+11:00Go Into All The WorldDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-85567604126518514132020-04-21T13:11:00.000+10:002020-07-21T21:49:23.581+10:00Reflections on Being a Crazy Compassion Guy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2gRabiSR4ddcko7VREE_5Os2e3on4njeX39q5srHBXAYXlBIrha5HKuOlVzm5DlLoXn-VY9lzd2PyNmAT6VDm6OCcOP1KYwVGkB05-G0-6fIByj2gejKO481CzvXp08Ug0GOpV-W-E4/s1600/families.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2gRabiSR4ddcko7VREE_5Os2e3on4njeX39q5srHBXAYXlBIrha5HKuOlVzm5DlLoXn-VY9lzd2PyNmAT6VDm6OCcOP1KYwVGkB05-G0-6fIByj2gejKO481CzvXp08Ug0GOpV-W-E4/s400/families.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27.6px;"><a href="http://oursavorylife.com/around-our-table-the-next-compassion-blog-trip/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+compassionbloggers+%28CompassionBloggers.com%29" style="color: #ca6060;">"How can I turn away from the hurt of the world when I bear the Light of the world</a>?" (Brianne McKoy) </span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4px;">Since 2006 I have sponsored 85 kids with Compassion and <a href="http://gointoalltheworld.blogspot.com/" style="color: #ca6060;">visited 44 of them in 12 countries</a> (32 mine, 12 on behalf of friends). I have spent thousands of dollars and travelled thousands of kilometres for the sake of a few hours with these precious children and their families. I have been met with deep affection and sometimes no response at all. I have seen their <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/compassion-insight-5-home-visits.html" style="color: #ca6060;">homes</a>, communities and <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/compassion-insight-1-inside-compassion.html" style="color: #ca6060;">churches</a>. I have taken them to supermarkets, restaurants, malls, zoos and fun parks, often for the first time. I have cried with them, prayed with them and <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/compassion-adventure-2013-revisiting.html" style="color: #ca6060;">revelled in their child-like joy and excitement</a>.<br /><br />In return I have <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/generosity-and-sacrifice-in-developing.html" style="color: #ca6060;">received so much.</a></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9IM9Kl0dswmE7l4p_KgG1AzbrwrxyFkcP0-GnwwF2CLvmFFbC-fEvR_RsF5jJ8A2x6yT_VyO-kfMZ6Miq-FUw0TrNW3bmF-n9wwBv9qCWuFIIwvvRRfS10pIyl5InPUKoZjlf4adS9o/s1600/Gifts+from+Guat+and+Nic+%25282%2529.jpg" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9IM9Kl0dswmE7l4p_KgG1AzbrwrxyFkcP0-GnwwF2CLvmFFbC-fEvR_RsF5jJ8A2x6yT_VyO-kfMZ6Miq-FUw0TrNW3bmF-n9wwBv9qCWuFIIwvvRRfS10pIyl5InPUKoZjlf4adS9o/s400/Gifts+from+Guat+and+Nic+%25282%2529.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4tARTlt0PDVm8pPrsHsV-h8Hli3BL_GKcPAzlfjA5IE9nrCqzkGaRH38Q6838FtsMYIHC2nDALmivZ974D8-JXdDW4sVmua1rvUU259GExtHEQeMuGXy3niwmMhwZLYya0aF-g2jRv8/s1600/Table+of+Blessing.jpg" style="color: #ca6060; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4tARTlt0PDVm8pPrsHsV-h8Hli3BL_GKcPAzlfjA5IE9nrCqzkGaRH38Q6838FtsMYIHC2nDALmivZ974D8-JXdDW4sVmua1rvUU259GExtHEQeMuGXy3niwmMhwZLYya0aF-g2jRv8/s400/Table+of+Blessing.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such generosity and hospitality from those who have little to give. I have had parents give up their day of income earning just so they could meet me. I have had a father share with me the sweet liquid from a coconut which he would normally sell to feed his seven children. I have received gifts galore: drawings, paintings, photos, bags, drink bottles, t-shirts, hand-made scarves. All given with such love!<br /><br />To me, the whole thing is a picture of the grace and mercy of God. Unearned, undeserved but given freely, generously and extravagantly.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4px;">So what can I do in response but try in my own small way to pass on and model that extravagant and generous love of God? Since 2009 I have chosen</span><span style="background-color: white;"> to spend six of my birthdays</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> overseas visiting my Compassion sponsored children in Colombia, Brazil and the Philippines. Birthdays are generally self-indulgent days which are "all about me," but I was trying to flip it on it's head and make it "all about them."<br /><br />In 2012 I took all ten of my sponsored kids plus their families to a fun park in Brazil and in 2013 I returned and celebrated at one of the Projects with a jumping castle, trampoline and cotton candy. To give these kids a day of joy, freeing them from the challenges of their daily lives and allowing them just to be kids, even for an afternoon was a profound privilege.</span></span><br /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUszPoQi6uUBc8DWgW-mvIX1sYEISLYI8b-bwKKDy5exGSQdBOXmWv-jHlMP_p7jgh5A4uqMfxzkt2rQ4KnpQALoH_7ccNEbV8rH8bSBtNNdF1hMwIVPgZm-sQKKZJ060vhX5wmUrAAE/s1600/Brazil+birthday+2012+%252872%2529.JPG" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUszPoQi6uUBc8DWgW-mvIX1sYEISLYI8b-bwKKDy5exGSQdBOXmWv-jHlMP_p7jgh5A4uqMfxzkt2rQ4KnpQALoH_7ccNEbV8rH8bSBtNNdF1hMwIVPgZm-sQKKZJ060vhX5wmUrAAE/s400/Brazil+birthday+2012+%252872%2529.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA_GbedpLScu1Gez4oKaRqMeo7lacXTq6h6l-k2QbCr_26ESn7MeTwkSlgOEsaqPBBhYXnqrVHl1fUHEyTmWDpzZUQOK5q2LJMTrhKdZS2a2gs7Y_txY-Vbz_sBDhb5HekLzYUGqjxVs/s1600/Brazil+birthday+2013+%252813%2529.jpg" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA_GbedpLScu1Gez4oKaRqMeo7lacXTq6h6l-k2QbCr_26ESn7MeTwkSlgOEsaqPBBhYXnqrVHl1fUHEyTmWDpzZUQOK5q2LJMTrhKdZS2a2gs7Y_txY-Vbz_sBDhb5HekLzYUGqjxVs/s400/Brazil+birthday+2013+%252813%2529.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Compassion journey has received a fair bit of publicity over the past few years, with articles, interviews and I've even published a couple of books. <u>My single motivation as a Compassion sponsor and advocate has always been this: </u><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">to share the love of Jesus with them</b><u>. Not to raise myself up as some sort of hero or saviour, but to represent The One who alone can put an end to their sadness, hurts, fears and worries. The only One who can give them love, joy, peace, faith, freedom and hope for the future.</u><br /><br />“<i>He must become greater, and I must become less</i>.” (John the Baptist, John 3:30)<br /><br />It’s all about <b>Jesus</b>, and as a Christian I am His hands and feet. He has equipped me, in partnership with Compassion and His church, to <a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/5-14.htm" style="color: #ca6060;">bring His light</a> to the dark places.<br /><br />In my travels I have come <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/visiting-olga-in-mexico-worlds-of.html" style="color: #ca6060;">face-to-face with poverty</a> and the impact that it has, not just on a person’s circumstance, but their soul and their whole outlook on life. I have been <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/re-visiting-br-458-tough-day.html" style="color: #ca6060;">smacked around by it</a>, angered by it, <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-turning-point-reflecting-on.html" style="color: #ca6060;">paralysed by it</a>. Taunted by it, in my well-meaning quest to ‘save the world’: “<i>You’re just one person. What can you possibly do to stop me</i>?”<br /><br />In reality, Satan is just bluffing. He knows that the <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/the-power-of-love-in-action.html" style="color: #ca6060;">love of Jesus</a> is real, life-transforming and relentless and we demonstrate it through our actions. Through our regular letters, children are given words of life, hope, encouragement and love. If we are given the opportunity to visit, they know that someone cares enough about them to travel, often halfway around the world, to step into their lives and physically BE WITH them. Just like Jesus came to earth from heaven, God in human flesh, to BE WITH us.<br /><br />So, just in case you’re still wondering WHY I and many other sponsors do what we do: <b>it is worth every dollar spent and every kilometre travelled to share this message with my sponsored children and their families</b>:<br /><br /><i>You are loved. You have infinite value and worth because you have been created in the image of God and you are special to Him. You are a supporting actor in His eternal story and He has created you with special gifts and talents that He wants you to use for His glory. Trust in God and never give up</i>.</span></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-69994056594627805222018-10-07T22:05:00.000+11:002021-09-18T13:20:40.072+10:00Compassion Trip #11: Brazil 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHWM_ER5zmcj0U9uP4m2-7XvaDSuDiFh18PU1FqR9al2FnzyjhH20ZucBcHgEte9txR6tRPyaAXRT5_awWp022-esua_YtiwHkBC_Ka0m3nTaSgNFYmhpAiNe-1DUlgl_tH3Eazi2pXk/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252826%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHWM_ER5zmcj0U9uP4m2-7XvaDSuDiFh18PU1FqR9al2FnzyjhH20ZucBcHgEte9txR6tRPyaAXRT5_awWp022-esua_YtiwHkBC_Ka0m3nTaSgNFYmhpAiNe-1DUlgl_tH3Eazi2pXk/s400/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252826%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br />I have devoted the last twelve years of my life to sponsoring with Compassion International.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">75 kids sponsored from 26 countries. I have also visited over 40 kids and their families in 12 </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">countries.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">In September 2018 I went on my eleventh trip, visiting Brazil for the fourth time. The trip looked different in a couple of ways to when I first planned it. The original plan was to take my wife Sharon with me, but when we found out she was pregnant earlier in the year we decided it was too risky for her health. I had also hoped to meet my sponsored child Ana Cristina one more time before she graduated, but I found out that she chose to leave the Compassion program and therefore I was unable to meet her.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman";"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">11 of the 12 kids I visited on this trip were on behalf of friends, so on the surface this trip was "not about me." But given the amount of time and money I sacrificed, and due to my fallen humanity, I often made it about me. Internally I sometimes harboured attitudes of disappointment and fr</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ustration when things did not go as I expected or the kids did not respond as I'd hoped.</span></span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "times new roman";"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span><br /><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "times new roman";"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "times new roman";"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The Bible says that those who give to the poor are giving to God and He will repay them. On this trip I was repaid in full and then some left over. Everywhere I went I was the recipient of lavish and extravagant hospitality and love from staff and kids alike. I was welcomed and treated like some sort of hero when I don't really feel like I deserve it. Songs, dances, parties, smiles and hugs all especially for me. It was humbling</span></span></span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "times new roman";"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></span></span><br /><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "times new roman";"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The reality these kids face is beyond anything we in the developed world can understand. Danger, violence and poverty are part of their daily lives. The children are so innocent and vulnerable, but through the church and Compassion they have a safe place where they are loved and can learn and grow. Compassion Projects are places of life, love, joy, peace and hope.</span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "times new roman";"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br />On this trip I visited 12 kids and their families at seven different Projects:</span></span></span></span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "times new roman";"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /><b><u>Visit Day #1</u></b> - <i>Alice (BR110) on behalf of her sponsors Garry & Helen Zimmerman</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">I sponsored Alice until I moved to the Philippines in 2014 and her sponsorship was taken over by my friends Garry and Helen. I have visited Alice and her family four times</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyQPWMLc1i1LIiAUnsSsMKnyxGJsTs8fIvJH9efLac50VVq44HIvOdUHaLW71rt1XJ58cvWQA2wFRCXMTVaf8DHaTrxCOD6L-dAuWuurE4MEjAvqYEBtcNJZcKnDJTw3gooRtySl5FAQ/s1600/BR110+Visit+%2528Alice%2529+2018+%252812%2529.jpg" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyQPWMLc1i1LIiAUnsSsMKnyxGJsTs8fIvJH9efLac50VVq44HIvOdUHaLW71rt1XJ58cvWQA2wFRCXMTVaf8DHaTrxCOD6L-dAuWuurE4MEjAvqYEBtcNJZcKnDJTw3gooRtySl5FAQ/s320/BR110+Visit+%2528Alice%2529+2018+%252812%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCuT5tTV0I_R_VzjzRZyUFFr99bVJYvK9vAs6JsxwyjNfcibIcTLxjyf4IXrmiMVpLrTni86FA1l6NbHO3TyMvp8_KcU1fWxJ2aaoOO9Kut2PSg4gORWf3VAc0LZNAyrEfGH9s6-K67I/s1600/BR110+Visit+%2528Alice%2529+2018+%25286%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCuT5tTV0I_R_VzjzRZyUFFr99bVJYvK9vAs6JsxwyjNfcibIcTLxjyf4IXrmiMVpLrTni86FA1l6NbHO3TyMvp8_KcU1fWxJ2aaoOO9Kut2PSg4gORWf3VAc0LZNAyrEfGH9s6-K67I/s320/BR110+Visit+%2528Alice%2529+2018+%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /><br /><b><u>Visit Day #2</u></b> - <i>BR453 (just Project visit)</i><br />I had visited this Project twice previously when I visited Jasmiel and his family on behalf of his sponsors Brian and Lisa Crawford. Unfortunately Jasmiel had moved away and was no longer going to the Project, but I asked to come back anyway because of my previous experiences at the Project.<br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFyJkhMOo0kuGzqgYrcdISGFrprElEofHsMEz3Hyl0-9bw4ZKgLu7aBKTCEpYo2dSXZtz5rv7Aei9Zv9Pwd_4gD2y5Qi5HbvjY_U6mIdhhYX3KE9irnuDRKlRqNo4Cs1ckW53Eee71_4/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252824%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFyJkhMOo0kuGzqgYrcdISGFrprElEofHsMEz3Hyl0-9bw4ZKgLu7aBKTCEpYo2dSXZtz5rv7Aei9Zv9Pwd_4gD2y5Qi5HbvjY_U6mIdhhYX3KE9irnuDRKlRqNo4Cs1ckW53Eee71_4/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252824%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><b>Visit Day #3</b> - <i>Gizelle and Estella (BR417) on behalf of her sponsors Hannah & Eric Hinojosa</i></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">I visited these two girls and their families on my previous trip to Brazil in 2016</span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHS3m01S-LEVxZoV3Hon503zynqysKlkiQie-syKIW9PQenPFhjzO-Bsc2SyjGiy5JcTQI3WlQ09fJvuUk2C4syhWlDXijfx5oAe1YAUnZTGv_76J8eYJehobzzjGW3XL5R_RYOqaZSU/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHS3m01S-LEVxZoV3Hon503zynqysKlkiQie-syKIW9PQenPFhjzO-Bsc2SyjGiy5JcTQI3WlQ09fJvuUk2C4syhWlDXijfx5oAe1YAUnZTGv_76J8eYJehobzzjGW3XL5R_RYOqaZSU/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLerIe8nzntEgH4FETOb9nQ7Cw8yFOEtmV4mZcXGf3Dj7wS7dWqJYxmhSDX58fKE_NoSNgMVb29az9BPHNRBgoBp5zOkKxhm5uf-Uyz5m2IehwmRq1ipXGVdK8P_I-bsdQOpHJSb9jhWA/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLerIe8nzntEgH4FETOb9nQ7Cw8yFOEtmV4mZcXGf3Dj7wS7dWqJYxmhSDX58fKE_NoSNgMVb29az9BPHNRBgoBp5zOkKxhm5uf-Uyz5m2IehwmRq1ipXGVdK8P_I-bsdQOpHJSb9jhWA/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25282%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczXMpTpQXxaG4pKX2ylQYlCWHBrAZ-MLXmf4Au9XBJdWOI62otDkYq3lrB-18r_oZhAlLk8eCviiCi6a4gwxnqZ6KANPkwmJPh-7DxRXT24liYZggDh4sAn0cBvIfOf_4lHcFnPXdA9k/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%252835%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="869" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczXMpTpQXxaG4pKX2ylQYlCWHBrAZ-MLXmf4Au9XBJdWOI62otDkYq3lrB-18r_oZhAlLk8eCviiCi6a4gwxnqZ6KANPkwmJPh-7DxRXT24liYZggDh4sAn0cBvIfOf_4lHcFnPXdA9k/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%252835%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkPlB5UEq1nayY7Lc_-JY5UBuAMCwglaqjBbkGMtCojmF9VwV5WYj6k3qm1ukhjRRG8D8ZeyAO5ogHnuygIZMuPMRtk4jZqyub4vkrlW6wa8k8bbUbvgdxdSZ57vQOa9_seR0cDssnxU/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%252824%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="869" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkPlB5UEq1nayY7Lc_-JY5UBuAMCwglaqjBbkGMtCojmF9VwV5WYj6k3qm1ukhjRRG8D8ZeyAO5ogHnuygIZMuPMRtk4jZqyub4vkrlW6wa8k8bbUbvgdxdSZ57vQOa9_seR0cDssnxU/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%252824%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /><br /><b><u>Visit Day #4</u></b> - <i>Sara, Dafyne, Weverton (BR417) on behalf of their sponsors Naomi Harrison, Bill & Karen Berry, Elizabeth Berry</i><br />I visited Sara and her family in 2016, and was visiting Dafyne and Weverton for the first time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIce6hByilPztyjscYcGZjYgB_hfsudK9c3h6uIRoMr9y_lUsUThum3gO58AMC2w-UQeXeQg_DGhzch0sGvocifOyGpUFzX6Ci3Jqif1SgIa7hsBWWC_VSNNLFofINn8cCK6i4WQFdXhc/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Dafyne+Sara+Weverton%2529+2018+%25287%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIce6hByilPztyjscYcGZjYgB_hfsudK9c3h6uIRoMr9y_lUsUThum3gO58AMC2w-UQeXeQg_DGhzch0sGvocifOyGpUFzX6Ci3Jqif1SgIa7hsBWWC_VSNNLFofINn8cCK6i4WQFdXhc/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Dafyne+Sara+Weverton%2529+2018+%25287%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmwIJqG9LRXn6JbOiPUmrtSkQVl52Xv79NldJNCIW7IGd4LfjuWZ3iJ4khMwHmn-V0n9UxDFrPrMUz_t3uuzVDUY6BwbnimwI6MTT_MnAgjzNRkIAkokk5HaSHPbmJn5b8Pl8mGlQilY/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Dafyne+Sara+Weverton%2529+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmwIJqG9LRXn6JbOiPUmrtSkQVl52Xv79NldJNCIW7IGd4LfjuWZ3iJ4khMwHmn-V0n9UxDFrPrMUz_t3uuzVDUY6BwbnimwI6MTT_MnAgjzNRkIAkokk5HaSHPbmJn5b8Pl8mGlQilY/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Dafyne+Sara+Weverton%2529+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEltLz8w4l9jEBJ-6QAI6fue1gR8ia7cukOAuaM6py_c6yD5eb9y9JL7_FA7-23j2_aDIeXxmCgCN10-worQE_Id0cofKElWO-cpJgMDXWwAX27N6rBGUFw1jADVaklBes_rlMlDlkg0/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Dafyne+Sara+Weverton%2529+2018+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEltLz8w4l9jEBJ-6QAI6fue1gR8ia7cukOAuaM6py_c6yD5eb9y9JL7_FA7-23j2_aDIeXxmCgCN10-worQE_Id0cofKElWO-cpJgMDXWwAX27N6rBGUFw1jADVaklBes_rlMlDlkg0/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Dafyne+Sara+Weverton%2529+2018+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZlPLsv7F7zAyD6nnWzPnGV2f2VxFOP89dsgCH-WhPv-Kw3G_0er_fDzn546kPXFwxE43PLc6-LHbFUvInGZlEmAFkcWRuS8CVrVk05BuXkl1dJRYG5hqGvHip92H7Q-A6bRT93IGxto/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Dafyne+Sara+Weverton%2529+2018+%252814%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZlPLsv7F7zAyD6nnWzPnGV2f2VxFOP89dsgCH-WhPv-Kw3G_0er_fDzn546kPXFwxE43PLc6-LHbFUvInGZlEmAFkcWRuS8CVrVk05BuXkl1dJRYG5hqGvHip92H7Q-A6bRT93IGxto/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Dafyne+Sara+Weverton%2529+2018+%252814%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><b><u>Visit Day #5</u></b> - <i>Jessica (BR458) on behalf of her sponsors Amanda & Bruce Newton</i><br />I sponsored Jessica until I moved to the Philippines in 2014 and the Newtons took over the sponsorship. I have visited Jessica and her family four times.</span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRI352SNUXx3nKF2zDqloha5nssS5XY0DlfRj8bCg4IGoEf0UkSB7RtydRL9nf7yjMmLAm5UxP-59tJNN8Dwd4eKWbd1Jsl8xeV74oGGVnIzJmXjkIa4lXCwjZlcOKXZ87RsY8wClEcX8/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252815%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRI352SNUXx3nKF2zDqloha5nssS5XY0DlfRj8bCg4IGoEf0UkSB7RtydRL9nf7yjMmLAm5UxP-59tJNN8Dwd4eKWbd1Jsl8xeV74oGGVnIzJmXjkIa4lXCwjZlcOKXZ87RsY8wClEcX8/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252815%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNjDWGipEnUuEuCNgmAXqKEnZWOBfkxp5lU5ajCZy4ACDDidpOFgCovlWABedexrnRX5wenW61JowcVPFnH0FwWPzenH4QPcyx8IJTysrifrTaB3hLqrdIkRhnKlZ_-z7g7OUXEJkBew/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252824%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNjDWGipEnUuEuCNgmAXqKEnZWOBfkxp5lU5ajCZy4ACDDidpOFgCovlWABedexrnRX5wenW61JowcVPFnH0FwWPzenH4QPcyx8IJTysrifrTaB3hLqrdIkRhnKlZ_-z7g7OUXEJkBew/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252824%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6xQ_m5lkoMngt24Bmu6CJG8vXoAu4amUck-BzNIdPhwrefgLbcvIFQdT7ErnsBV1OvmVbEM8rivWwnRRbpSzD8CsFdGzUfqiQmIyZi24F2U3HddK_ahkUpR8BzQWylT7xk2Je5HnVLQ/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6xQ_m5lkoMngt24Bmu6CJG8vXoAu4amUck-BzNIdPhwrefgLbcvIFQdT7ErnsBV1OvmVbEM8rivWwnRRbpSzD8CsFdGzUfqiQmIyZi24F2U3HddK_ahkUpR8BzQWylT7xk2Je5HnVLQ/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><b><u>Visit Day #6</u></b> - <i>Larissa (me) and Emily (BR329) on behalf of her sponsors Leandro & Kes Candido</i><br />I was asked by my friends the Candido family to take a gift to their sponsored child in Brazil. The plan was to give it to the Compassion office and they would deliver it to the Project. Two days before the visit I looked at the gift and they had written her child number, which started with 'BR329.' I thought "Hey! I'm visiting BR329 on my birthday!" and was able to arrange to meet Emily and her mum at the Project. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWVV0_ODaSfC_HI4DdP2BgtzTwcvno5wlOl8_r2NOe_HYHEhytwoZFwfXARngCLLMm9Lz9dLP2dMc34PDuYT63dWaSS506N23gqrHPCxa9hpgTnoGhJF6Y17mu3ZKs7prJmW-_xRG6YE/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252874%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWVV0_ODaSfC_HI4DdP2BgtzTwcvno5wlOl8_r2NOe_HYHEhytwoZFwfXARngCLLMm9Lz9dLP2dMc34PDuYT63dWaSS506N23gqrHPCxa9hpgTnoGhJF6Y17mu3ZKs7prJmW-_xRG6YE/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252874%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwyicl3uv_fp0UpQy0a5fN6lf20qDq120GRZrZJbH6-wGsKYw9UEg6_HsPSj3NuM9xBV182Ju-lUlPlZu4qXY7R4v2uWDanUdetNstYzeJ0faTRORAXgQzbZc4c7KPR7Cq8WvsYPHM3w/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252873%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwyicl3uv_fp0UpQy0a5fN6lf20qDq120GRZrZJbH6-wGsKYw9UEg6_HsPSj3NuM9xBV182Ju-lUlPlZu4qXY7R4v2uWDanUdetNstYzeJ0faTRORAXgQzbZc4c7KPR7Cq8WvsYPHM3w/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252873%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiI8gI6vrnaIppumzl__TmRJXqTKBCR-DbBjRaJEOyIExejYXjeq44noPkQbmZDWRkqUK1xiPoXIlyHV_1wxJ_PmzQVO92HXruicPNyQgMLMYO__XEPnfLTpTsHgtv4r2PzRfYgKpvpE/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252871%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiI8gI6vrnaIppumzl__TmRJXqTKBCR-DbBjRaJEOyIExejYXjeq44noPkQbmZDWRkqUK1xiPoXIlyHV_1wxJ_PmzQVO92HXruicPNyQgMLMYO__XEPnfLTpTsHgtv4r2PzRfYgKpvpE/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252871%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqaIBSYkkurt8R4ocnpD7eMDuij4P563y33H2A08QsqFWTtqV23nIkEZyVPlP9vWA1MNmRV4Vo08EMjZJs2QTDWx12uHzDiIHzBeqx7Q2dFMpCgowerQpmEsE7-WoQhnsfLHqfxu8r7g/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252867%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="591" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqaIBSYkkurt8R4ocnpD7eMDuij4P563y33H2A08QsqFWTtqV23nIkEZyVPlP9vWA1MNmRV4Vo08EMjZJs2QTDWx12uHzDiIHzBeqx7Q2dFMpCgowerQpmEsE7-WoQhnsfLHqfxu8r7g/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252867%2529.jpg" width="118" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoeE96W5E1SavvNu3EdhudY1k7hepUSU7BY_GA9-RYndcyvxgpL49tqo5mrE49EXlSwM4DaU0mfSN6mT9j7BRe-yPp_BOL7loAbLMOeJxRoLV6MzjzXGrWgQl5QY6CAu8RaahN5LVdqg/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252823%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoeE96W5E1SavvNu3EdhudY1k7hepUSU7BY_GA9-RYndcyvxgpL49tqo5mrE49EXlSwM4DaU0mfSN6mT9j7BRe-yPp_BOL7loAbLMOeJxRoLV6MzjzXGrWgQl5QY6CAu8RaahN5LVdqg/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252823%2529.jpg" width="269" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><b><u>Visit Day #7</u></b> - <i>Eduarda & Lara (BR322) on behalf of their sponsors Kayla Groth and Corinne Goodchild</i><br />This was my first visit to BR322 and it was a great day. Both girls were very responsive and friendly and the Project is a shining light in a dangerous community. We weren't able to visit Lara's home because it was too dangerous to go there.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j4UJsGbMv8163cwz8SXQUxDtzLTdGoAmif0PdjIrENwmOlNFdFlezZp1x3JL7Rvc0gozkHg2W6UH8MRi9wN3D1oGnCQOV8gg0Nj9wJpk29SYPgK9FTwLsIuyvh_OWyRyLQYqhT_AoCI/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252829%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j4UJsGbMv8163cwz8SXQUxDtzLTdGoAmif0PdjIrENwmOlNFdFlezZp1x3JL7Rvc0gozkHg2W6UH8MRi9wN3D1oGnCQOV8gg0Nj9wJpk29SYPgK9FTwLsIuyvh_OWyRyLQYqhT_AoCI/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252829%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCA2ANUO5D2heX4eCyBd0B3I_MH662AYilSHXYmW9lYxfzcaKvBGdlE-npPnZLcRmqezCFv5jUhMliFmpDXXNWcuC_iUUyD6nNzsQ7yf3kT7msmJf9IgR1fHMvZFUa41XAuInEuvfazLA/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252834%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCA2ANUO5D2heX4eCyBd0B3I_MH662AYilSHXYmW9lYxfzcaKvBGdlE-npPnZLcRmqezCFv5jUhMliFmpDXXNWcuC_iUUyD6nNzsQ7yf3kT7msmJf9IgR1fHMvZFUa41XAuInEuvfazLA/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252834%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-_-nByNDOKqZfV4kdudasQIcCncNRqBzcXWYktjOCmXb_hpxE2c9K7Mer8WXdQk4oDkIXZpSQC80LoReV92hv7JasKqPC6IbWl2MKn3h3ARzI8tRNr4-8a9DKKJKgu5ej7jHMUz_kVA/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252838%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-_-nByNDOKqZfV4kdudasQIcCncNRqBzcXWYktjOCmXb_hpxE2c9K7Mer8WXdQk4oDkIXZpSQC80LoReV92hv7JasKqPC6IbWl2MKn3h3ARzI8tRNr4-8a9DKKJKgu5ej7jHMUz_kVA/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252838%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><b><u>Visit Day #8</u></b> - <i>Lorene (BR432) on behalf of her sponsor Judy Myers</i><br />This was my first visit to BR432. The kids were curious and friendly and Lorene was bright, beautiful and talkative. After seven days of me having to drive all the conversations it was great to be able to sit back and listen to her talk.</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PA8XR9QWlN-BKp4txlxgb2djJpnsnA5QWmjeT2FTZg8XlBrhLF2e9tn-wP0hYIad5gkfoehfG0JFw_45DQ_lMRddQXmPj5QSQmHACQ-Pg__VSddOiulV6zT6HIUjMMCAWhJJppDeFoU/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252833%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PA8XR9QWlN-BKp4txlxgb2djJpnsnA5QWmjeT2FTZg8XlBrhLF2e9tn-wP0hYIad5gkfoehfG0JFw_45DQ_lMRddQXmPj5QSQmHACQ-Pg__VSddOiulV6zT6HIUjMMCAWhJJppDeFoU/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252833%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><u>Groups of Kids at the Project</u></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WanJyWoPvC6-Q8jpLslBFVFUc7NoLV0FdXTGo_Njf7IjEayNCpaVlz8TOC1FFYvahPEktoMupE0r4BNGlaM1AW8KxsXGD2ydPzu64qACZmHVgvaIg06WIcri19lD-xE2kl9A5F3AdlY/s1600/BR110+Visit+%2528Alice%2529+2018+%252817%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1158" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WanJyWoPvC6-Q8jpLslBFVFUc7NoLV0FdXTGo_Njf7IjEayNCpaVlz8TOC1FFYvahPEktoMupE0r4BNGlaM1AW8KxsXGD2ydPzu64qACZmHVgvaIg06WIcri19lD-xE2kl9A5F3AdlY/s320/BR110+Visit+%2528Alice%2529+2018+%252817%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YbhFKHBeEdYlExpuhFbl3PQswiKuiC-zDW0NqPc-She8Pqxb_tnV0CcaaVy5Q3pIKeEJ8RQGEbd6y-q1N6xIVxQ8gmRP2DZwMtE3MRuuBHpnQ52Abs4OBGfyf22vNXdvqfi3qpiEjDo/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252866%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YbhFKHBeEdYlExpuhFbl3PQswiKuiC-zDW0NqPc-She8Pqxb_tnV0CcaaVy5Q3pIKeEJ8RQGEbd6y-q1N6xIVxQ8gmRP2DZwMtE3MRuuBHpnQ52Abs4OBGfyf22vNXdvqfi3qpiEjDo/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252866%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbNecfLsPWt7VLr708ZD915wRy_ArEvxkxxkxA1Jxu3rBFkEUqbyXFOuQU7O15JchJxqkGEsH0fVP4yD95mWJkuCMc7N-MmSKhUDcJfM7k-zyW_W2Ew_Bqjju4ufllc18DP_aHWdFgSM/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%2528133%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbNecfLsPWt7VLr708ZD915wRy_ArEvxkxxkxA1Jxu3rBFkEUqbyXFOuQU7O15JchJxqkGEsH0fVP4yD95mWJkuCMc7N-MmSKhUDcJfM7k-zyW_W2Ew_Bqjju4ufllc18DP_aHWdFgSM/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%2528133%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIY165gboI9VslZcgmBBM380oxtt3uWo9dNkfXQqDLiPjeUukhw-sGkqhwFm_dVxGHjqUE9YN2mgfbLIS5qAMXxnv5DwpQy3mU6MDKCgDuhHzGpegfZWBD39woycOF8UssMCnhXILmj8/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%2528135%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIY165gboI9VslZcgmBBM380oxtt3uWo9dNkfXQqDLiPjeUukhw-sGkqhwFm_dVxGHjqUE9YN2mgfbLIS5qAMXxnv5DwpQy3mU6MDKCgDuhHzGpegfZWBD39woycOF8UssMCnhXILmj8/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%2528135%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm2RGLM-JXsqwLoBXp547Kp7VoCuIodtfa1CaXLk5UKw5o1ZWM-rijMLhiuuva-vyUJRmi_mq7gze7HFAAG3NPL5Bufw6ffoiCrVJUq9sFQ7TD5RT47Cyn3z4NcLQCtraXc13_QEED08/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25288%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm2RGLM-JXsqwLoBXp547Kp7VoCuIodtfa1CaXLk5UKw5o1ZWM-rijMLhiuuva-vyUJRmi_mq7gze7HFAAG3NPL5Bufw6ffoiCrVJUq9sFQ7TD5RT47Cyn3z4NcLQCtraXc13_QEED08/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25288%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlIvoOMynr60tUmnHazCf34WBoZUhfCIMinFIwG_MTJy6wyWf7xd2gAUK_KGICPBV8YqW_0J5WjCAu68tuii3nWpZLG2P1RyvsyZLD0yBbUp_w8Bs7jiY_c76Zx9NjGDYkaDct5YXK70/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25289%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlIvoOMynr60tUmnHazCf34WBoZUhfCIMinFIwG_MTJy6wyWf7xd2gAUK_KGICPBV8YqW_0J5WjCAu68tuii3nWpZLG2P1RyvsyZLD0yBbUp_w8Bs7jiY_c76Zx9NjGDYkaDct5YXK70/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25289%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sgC_-KXprpCXwMGxK_SuK8J1wOOE8qUsdxHa4GeIpDwZIeF0IRKTjvzZ5Xj9_uFs_9gAYKrvH5a25sdIig1j98cPGCPHpBq9w6_VQy61Z6Dy9ACAiHLVuhClFEqsm7mP5KhVGAk9suQ/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sgC_-KXprpCXwMGxK_SuK8J1wOOE8qUsdxHa4GeIpDwZIeF0IRKTjvzZ5Xj9_uFs_9gAYKrvH5a25sdIig1j98cPGCPHpBq9w6_VQy61Z6Dy9ACAiHLVuhClFEqsm7mP5KhVGAk9suQ/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEhmvnYJcpjAuwa1IyRAge4I58JJbsOz3wdB5LM4urpcFto0DG0LmR89kc8088qNhOmnTC3_fdis_n5D3kmok3jZfbWFd09PA6ZS_gC1J0kCJpNps1FcjEO0gtfj0HiuZOQrWGagLZyE/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252810%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEhmvnYJcpjAuwa1IyRAge4I58JJbsOz3wdB5LM4urpcFto0DG0LmR89kc8088qNhOmnTC3_fdis_n5D3kmok3jZfbWFd09PA6ZS_gC1J0kCJpNps1FcjEO0gtfj0HiuZOQrWGagLZyE/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252810%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_aNF2HrjVIvbD-DU2nLxycZj4_dauuQMmraJI144rcmzTtTq2kWScLCT2bXuSxUXTFDGUQjPIwT719aTuCPibcDBAWJJlmtJHIJpWaobwqDd1aL4onFASobDSi07h8wVvQwmTz48J90/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%25287%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_aNF2HrjVIvbD-DU2nLxycZj4_dauuQMmraJI144rcmzTtTq2kWScLCT2bXuSxUXTFDGUQjPIwT719aTuCPibcDBAWJJlmtJHIJpWaobwqDd1aL4onFASobDSi07h8wVvQwmTz48J90/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3I9gIgMnYKAtnP1cpFhrLh_mOb4PlUqGz6aNeTDZ_xBid8NUDU4QAbZqvKLx3Eq50hpVCrkQ-f_QirtHy0vQZq5w9BAb_6J_qb6xXvJEZOdC0T7CwoUVK7T_rqQ-HORC76Bs7Xe41-k/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3I9gIgMnYKAtnP1cpFhrLh_mOb4PlUqGz6aNeTDZ_xBid8NUDU4QAbZqvKLx3Eq50hpVCrkQ-f_QirtHy0vQZq5w9BAb_6J_qb6xXvJEZOdC0T7CwoUVK7T_rqQ-HORC76Bs7Xe41-k/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxdqT9Q_sJu_p1dWkIaADWgWC8nMiQgsMJOtAWfm4bp2xk2RzEClOdjdLQD2jvgTfXr61dxvrNEmaoFsL0uTbsENyNkN1W-7C1-tupgZWip7QoEBNlAYwKPwjhcfQAtz7QAYexFvdhQE/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252812%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxdqT9Q_sJu_p1dWkIaADWgWC8nMiQgsMJOtAWfm4bp2xk2RzEClOdjdLQD2jvgTfXr61dxvrNEmaoFsL0uTbsENyNkN1W-7C1-tupgZWip7QoEBNlAYwKPwjhcfQAtz7QAYexFvdhQE/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252812%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVjpLM1cRVDpc2dgz5GkfDdeMk5XaR-hpcU127KYb0pJgJwzxh7yPNUSbPZ6kdEn-LB5FHr3GqGGeexU51zib8ihxpqAaW73R4fL4GyZwwrpqp2UbnfagOnPfxzwoVZLo4ada7BOXXXo/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252815%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVjpLM1cRVDpc2dgz5GkfDdeMk5XaR-hpcU127KYb0pJgJwzxh7yPNUSbPZ6kdEn-LB5FHr3GqGGeexU51zib8ihxpqAaW73R4fL4GyZwwrpqp2UbnfagOnPfxzwoVZLo4ada7BOXXXo/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252815%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsehppE6PSBMxeFThiqqfgkP3_1a5uN3zVT0CB7gumhzbsZBDQ4fsdK3R4QKCZMF7p0pk4sdKE1odTNEJrkscqaJZlwBMugdSSHA-RlPN-mzZ-cMJDuqITvLfBJt-3T376hAQQ6inlu5Q/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252820%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsehppE6PSBMxeFThiqqfgkP3_1a5uN3zVT0CB7gumhzbsZBDQ4fsdK3R4QKCZMF7p0pk4sdKE1odTNEJrkscqaJZlwBMugdSSHA-RlPN-mzZ-cMJDuqITvLfBJt-3T376hAQQ6inlu5Q/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252820%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWKCKQVUSCBMqe4I1BCeSYiEIfFyWAn8X1h4TnpKGgwdn4SI3M50Xm-W3KMOYJ4M-W7onpPaFUwsNEVCW3KQDjveaFR432SfyS6LFnmJnJ1dUYao1md0R3gceNz1R8DK3uX2ruHy7C1o/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252826%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWKCKQVUSCBMqe4I1BCeSYiEIfFyWAn8X1h4TnpKGgwdn4SI3M50Xm-W3KMOYJ4M-W7onpPaFUwsNEVCW3KQDjveaFR432SfyS6LFnmJnJ1dUYao1md0R3gceNz1R8DK3uX2ruHy7C1o/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252826%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wk7sClUWhbptLs-I2zoRcR5Wqu-Wuki62Hw8zc0yp82UkwANeLNChwPGSKXkyXfGUc2wGsX4rYB6-0RLokURRHgy3YIKxbiJ6Vuo5scHgTHb67vFgwJquuwlKtQ975iTQuPWYDEbyJY/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252823%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wk7sClUWhbptLs-I2zoRcR5Wqu-Wuki62Hw8zc0yp82UkwANeLNChwPGSKXkyXfGUc2wGsX4rYB6-0RLokURRHgy3YIKxbiJ6Vuo5scHgTHb67vFgwJquuwlKtQ975iTQuPWYDEbyJY/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252823%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOHoUORd-gDDXrTyg7JVy5LFe_0uWbVE3L_Xa75q8RwozTejwcPb-wu6DW1AHiBWFdtoEgeddFkE0l9YaIBocYIRMus5t93MznpIQh7QSOBKJGECzVctn5XzQqgY_E2zZvh-BUPv5QsU/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252822%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOHoUORd-gDDXrTyg7JVy5LFe_0uWbVE3L_Xa75q8RwozTejwcPb-wu6DW1AHiBWFdtoEgeddFkE0l9YaIBocYIRMus5t93MznpIQh7QSOBKJGECzVctn5XzQqgY_E2zZvh-BUPv5QsU/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252822%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw1USSr5cgromeiT5qdzeTXUGFbeTQmmuTQprnwgBERbXkBaoF5ua3BEgjNWbSYJZLdjUBUjkoalQLYSf1h1R9Wj0rqEaDbC3d6gC627GFeEa7hnuyAPGznRn0Yz-cOWwonLX5hZn3TI/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252836%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw1USSr5cgromeiT5qdzeTXUGFbeTQmmuTQprnwgBERbXkBaoF5ua3BEgjNWbSYJZLdjUBUjkoalQLYSf1h1R9Wj0rqEaDbC3d6gC627GFeEa7hnuyAPGznRn0Yz-cOWwonLX5hZn3TI/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252836%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFftI9pFwdJA73dUmPFMDdEiB4bZswNdKvTFZZSVy6HCWBdr1yId6g0Y37DD_JCxtIBpZJ5zJ-TlLxYAeDSlmHoRUTWPx1ZerpsE0lia3nHSzTWzKrxjiSEZ2xAcEQSIXTJs4dUAaHAng/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252843%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFftI9pFwdJA73dUmPFMDdEiB4bZswNdKvTFZZSVy6HCWBdr1yId6g0Y37DD_JCxtIBpZJ5zJ-TlLxYAeDSlmHoRUTWPx1ZerpsE0lia3nHSzTWzKrxjiSEZ2xAcEQSIXTJs4dUAaHAng/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252843%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RK2j06H6zXGDTn4gqvbx-UlrJ8MAK9DXg_GcoGrTJ0oEIby26Faz5EKqpTQ4erCN050BlAiFznekUUpw2y5PdgQCswnU58BePtJ5jxlBY0KQ2-j9Ahxa3Jrk8POkS30NpFMinVyru_0/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252845%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RK2j06H6zXGDTn4gqvbx-UlrJ8MAK9DXg_GcoGrTJ0oEIby26Faz5EKqpTQ4erCN050BlAiFznekUUpw2y5PdgQCswnU58BePtJ5jxlBY0KQ2-j9Ahxa3Jrk8POkS30NpFMinVyru_0/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252845%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55Mqv7AZh8MI1ryjHSM3QYEC5IDOTMVpJHvosDXBwuNKFvLga1iRftT_-IoKuX5LXJA6dcc_cP-avNKT1HGiGZTbK9BUhZPd32Di6W9owJd038nHhUk0-Qmsg5D5VH74hYSzIq_USOvo/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252812%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55Mqv7AZh8MI1ryjHSM3QYEC5IDOTMVpJHvosDXBwuNKFvLga1iRftT_-IoKuX5LXJA6dcc_cP-avNKT1HGiGZTbK9BUhZPd32Di6W9owJd038nHhUk0-Qmsg5D5VH74hYSzIq_USOvo/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252812%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm3Bg0a-bNkCw6xBUa2xzRrLyrjn_TXOCrxf-sEoFwe0Wo3jeOOAHVyMg5iCteyyDUx7ZJ8920A66_L_REZr_dGm_lGLcejh3PhaowBQ1FNUtKOVV5bXRKjZnc2Tgtk43efg3ZiB0Kuo/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252813%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm3Bg0a-bNkCw6xBUa2xzRrLyrjn_TXOCrxf-sEoFwe0Wo3jeOOAHVyMg5iCteyyDUx7ZJ8920A66_L_REZr_dGm_lGLcejh3PhaowBQ1FNUtKOVV5bXRKjZnc2Tgtk43efg3ZiB0Kuo/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252813%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXRbezbb-TYSqa3furaajBoFwN_vkoHnoWWgQgRfVtqetGtE1WCrguhIEVz3kuAqhuuc5zsZGeXRVtM2uOPp2fHIY9hHKqSWOKLnIn9q1ahHrQcTzZ4nSyEscMFCaynnQ39ZgIwPGPeU/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252814%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXRbezbb-TYSqa3furaajBoFwN_vkoHnoWWgQgRfVtqetGtE1WCrguhIEVz3kuAqhuuc5zsZGeXRVtM2uOPp2fHIY9hHKqSWOKLnIn9q1ahHrQcTzZ4nSyEscMFCaynnQ39ZgIwPGPeU/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252814%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJb_4iHWEbRVd5Wt0WXgVIMWVyhHP9SzPL77Sgdpam94nvY-1CBAn-iOBcxx9PvBlpELDlcPR6Ds094rZlGwf1meMsUK_ulFuGatyQwHmeZQXvV5eZtabH2L8Cs4T3SeZFjybj-qZax4/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252815%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJb_4iHWEbRVd5Wt0WXgVIMWVyhHP9SzPL77Sgdpam94nvY-1CBAn-iOBcxx9PvBlpELDlcPR6Ds094rZlGwf1meMsUK_ulFuGatyQwHmeZQXvV5eZtabH2L8Cs4T3SeZFjybj-qZax4/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252815%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJKvqLmQlWi9QCj0Q40HDAG67SIfOm1TQBTweU2eYsI1l2EFeoFpxgCMf2BoFxlKgQAmuscUMb3v4unZhlkttQQN9eG9C7Bz5Qh7Dlg1Ry2Qf1dL4k941kb6hWJjtQClFfG1s-jNKKZ4/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252816%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJKvqLmQlWi9QCj0Q40HDAG67SIfOm1TQBTweU2eYsI1l2EFeoFpxgCMf2BoFxlKgQAmuscUMb3v4unZhlkttQQN9eG9C7Bz5Qh7Dlg1Ry2Qf1dL4k941kb6hWJjtQClFfG1s-jNKKZ4/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252816%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2amJg-LrbI8eskZKHlnT22H3EaDTt4Wo7CFtUN3V5ByCJfmzwq2_6GIYM9O2-1tmpcupawIDTuORTOectL6PInm5EDtVAIHQ215by1aOWM3bUoMg6kwvQdmYpzl9ekynrFo49YIK-06I/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252818%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2amJg-LrbI8eskZKHlnT22H3EaDTt4Wo7CFtUN3V5ByCJfmzwq2_6GIYM9O2-1tmpcupawIDTuORTOectL6PInm5EDtVAIHQ215by1aOWM3bUoMg6kwvQdmYpzl9ekynrFo49YIK-06I/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252818%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTvYU2dmrTD04VExsoVkEN0t9Rnwf-Zvvm2hzhp6gjorlOmt4vnbvQwb68BW0YhY5m4RaIGZqc7WE7vqr_UBmdgRarJ8cfG-84SsO8IKuSnaFQA4pnvSsNm2eYDuUTPhLcAshNrbH04Y/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252825%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTvYU2dmrTD04VExsoVkEN0t9Rnwf-Zvvm2hzhp6gjorlOmt4vnbvQwb68BW0YhY5m4RaIGZqc7WE7vqr_UBmdgRarJ8cfG-84SsO8IKuSnaFQA4pnvSsNm2eYDuUTPhLcAshNrbH04Y/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252825%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfok9VGXQHkNzDr-pRdNgQkLHAk35zhiI2U45Hb8mW-tqMCaN-yu5kue3sWNc_eYE7pv9iuVVdAECGDh_KcDu9zukV9QJpUgZpb-s5TigsCe-p7MwxU8Wsdz76NZueM-OFIoqGT4LXIX4/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252822%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfok9VGXQHkNzDr-pRdNgQkLHAk35zhiI2U45Hb8mW-tqMCaN-yu5kue3sWNc_eYE7pv9iuVVdAECGDh_KcDu9zukV9QJpUgZpb-s5TigsCe-p7MwxU8Wsdz76NZueM-OFIoqGT4LXIX4/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252822%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9mFZlJAhaDBJFOoXTf1pD-JNr57pfYX1sdmSudXCAmm9IE92l7d0XUvud1Jp9u-JquhpR9wfBgCp_gbgM-66RfdB6xp3S94QXr6iTR8Db6Kx4KA1mFUMP4zYRUsLE_ORx5A9MdVUwQU/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252820%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9mFZlJAhaDBJFOoXTf1pD-JNr57pfYX1sdmSudXCAmm9IE92l7d0XUvud1Jp9u-JquhpR9wfBgCp_gbgM-66RfdB6xp3S94QXr6iTR8Db6Kx4KA1mFUMP4zYRUsLE_ORx5A9MdVUwQU/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252820%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQnxosxokYLm5C-RCP-6KzFYVF0vxaA7szIz9_JmHa7bJSI8kFVLZfPDZOTgDX0MIk_b_V5Sb4ABjFp8RE2tXoxaqJlLg9IJbI61a2zDGRsJnEhv9baQSEdAJl_FytcjGVBCd95iVOd8/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252826%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQnxosxokYLm5C-RCP-6KzFYVF0vxaA7szIz9_JmHa7bJSI8kFVLZfPDZOTgDX0MIk_b_V5Sb4ABjFp8RE2tXoxaqJlLg9IJbI61a2zDGRsJnEhv9baQSEdAJl_FytcjGVBCd95iVOd8/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252826%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGYHcDzMkaG40ZkItlqkaEUuk74hGwC-b2w1wVGAhHgmYFlc5nnNWCcHVZp9x6sJrHZoQ66PV4f2mDcDf3BPiktfZYUmnrkUGEp_rM4haB05JVuybh3apsNWCPf9NRQN3dOawz12778s/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252829%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGYHcDzMkaG40ZkItlqkaEUuk74hGwC-b2w1wVGAhHgmYFlc5nnNWCcHVZp9x6sJrHZoQ66PV4f2mDcDf3BPiktfZYUmnrkUGEp_rM4haB05JVuybh3apsNWCPf9NRQN3dOawz12778s/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252829%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbXSbvP8lQdSgE1_BisVnuZfPsvL8U4ItUqCqlLwRZdLfhJLH5WP47C2aX0_tUS0scwZxkTc4ckndcuTphTV_qx4nL7TgfFDmf0y55luJqKJGJlV86cvg50vYH1eO6zTr6tCe0KXo-ss/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252830%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbXSbvP8lQdSgE1_BisVnuZfPsvL8U4ItUqCqlLwRZdLfhJLH5WP47C2aX0_tUS0scwZxkTc4ckndcuTphTV_qx4nL7TgfFDmf0y55luJqKJGJlV86cvg50vYH1eO6zTr6tCe0KXo-ss/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252830%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaecemfJie_IF3eSO9WXHkMZbWPll5TmheuJwTVO7cqgSdqZw_3X7hlPFdn1tnHU8MzXfhE40QZDzzOBrb8vFN9uVo2YCwdweiBjWDx94R-pty6IiV70jWCnHHEONYyB0e1E7qz0oFrI/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%25288%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaecemfJie_IF3eSO9WXHkMZbWPll5TmheuJwTVO7cqgSdqZw_3X7hlPFdn1tnHU8MzXfhE40QZDzzOBrb8vFN9uVo2YCwdweiBjWDx94R-pty6IiV70jWCnHHEONYyB0e1E7qz0oFrI/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%25288%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzlRMymPyJ0H3acfsKMXiDu67ks_dLEBZ36Y4AsLxGXTSB3OCaM4PXhA-gJUGSfvXo6Et3Rcd8bCfSMP2IhBzR6WDUVfyXsZL-LfgTA-5MX0PKOXGUux8NYCzqVcGWEY5UFdgUnN2OHo/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzlRMymPyJ0H3acfsKMXiDu67ks_dLEBZ36Y4AsLxGXTSB3OCaM4PXhA-gJUGSfvXo6Et3Rcd8bCfSMP2IhBzR6WDUVfyXsZL-LfgTA-5MX0PKOXGUux8NYCzqVcGWEY5UFdgUnN2OHo/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapA9P4lKtD9MiSKu1-vOgKYvg6i_kHiMZdopVo3AgtEkqloCRN5tk3uabI_Y8CDEn5hxdlUadVSkZrvOEl15XvFDkhECDzkXMz7Q6_wDh__i1ZV0OY7QLhkzQ1gASivODHE3CH-BZmnk/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252834%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapA9P4lKtD9MiSKu1-vOgKYvg6i_kHiMZdopVo3AgtEkqloCRN5tk3uabI_Y8CDEn5hxdlUadVSkZrvOEl15XvFDkhECDzkXMz7Q6_wDh__i1ZV0OY7QLhkzQ1gASivODHE3CH-BZmnk/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252834%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-j-b7I2PdvYQJz8j9RjKT_gpb5WEXSP9S28CqNh9lgpVfOItjZK-dvc7ls5ElJQvwsfXJ0PKy2DsC5CyVV8g2Xx-g3x1XxYxJGpbHkN7DY7r644KH2tN2EfNgEBAhtIJy8jL_tY0tNY/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252810%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-j-b7I2PdvYQJz8j9RjKT_gpb5WEXSP9S28CqNh9lgpVfOItjZK-dvc7ls5ElJQvwsfXJ0PKy2DsC5CyVV8g2Xx-g3x1XxYxJGpbHkN7DY7r644KH2tN2EfNgEBAhtIJy8jL_tY0tNY/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252810%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ8O0ACe4z2P9WvSChJNzMgobBx5Sm06WXaFdnK8hONhJu6qhyphenhyphen5nRA9yFevAGHqpvXizuTb1ZTIh1ZyVLcQFNfqpWxf-OvuEXLetaAcSkzSh8R4RUBpG7pxO1pRSRTRgzqBnw615a7As/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252811%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ8O0ACe4z2P9WvSChJNzMgobBx5Sm06WXaFdnK8hONhJu6qhyphenhyphen5nRA9yFevAGHqpvXizuTb1ZTIh1ZyVLcQFNfqpWxf-OvuEXLetaAcSkzSh8R4RUBpG7pxO1pRSRTRgzqBnw615a7As/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252811%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCz3B7jrI16YyNYnhKkm5JON3zv-_yITYbzbajdgFTyDoXsK1IyydEWKK9_To3YvfZanLVVdDAzRG9uoymBG17wXpkM226U_IsvOOTBnVAk8VN0oK0ppZdO8TUZzlsp652Iq7_PmRRec/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252821%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCz3B7jrI16YyNYnhKkm5JON3zv-_yITYbzbajdgFTyDoXsK1IyydEWKK9_To3YvfZanLVVdDAzRG9uoymBG17wXpkM226U_IsvOOTBnVAk8VN0oK0ppZdO8TUZzlsp652Iq7_PmRRec/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252821%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Fun and Games</u></b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">: I love to have fun, and I always take Uno, Dominoes and an Australian football along to the Projects. When I get the chance I jump on a guitar or a drum kit too.<br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRkGWgAuzwoWADYGQxAIJtp2ocdJHZ6yoU-7xdcuDMTTbB2XXTlDVATDVvGAWp8mtOWZ5gbDTbf_vo44G4JSbgx29WJohLb6izc3yPdad7V2Fiv631u_kvRGPdj6Duqf0J7POcB0Q4zY/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRkGWgAuzwoWADYGQxAIJtp2ocdJHZ6yoU-7xdcuDMTTbB2XXTlDVATDVvGAWp8mtOWZ5gbDTbf_vo44G4JSbgx29WJohLb6izc3yPdad7V2Fiv631u_kvRGPdj6Duqf0J7POcB0Q4zY/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsr1xH2NPMYJ_mD1LXFA4ELQpqABdGLjXPv57Sq_Fcupidl5DvQk0xEHOCJy9edhbbYzepO-rwcLIqb3q2HMk35S_oWH4ZyKU07dK814euxIXTjbi61us92iNS_9M6nlGrlg9YMF8Ees/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%25286%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsr1xH2NPMYJ_mD1LXFA4ELQpqABdGLjXPv57Sq_Fcupidl5DvQk0xEHOCJy9edhbbYzepO-rwcLIqb3q2HMk35S_oWH4ZyKU07dK814euxIXTjbi61us92iNS_9M6nlGrlg9YMF8Ees/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_N-ETJ631HFSUI2OEbblgMGPJv9SPHElvSK9gV8uhR0QNovaE37gX3YGwob4ncyk1LFaNkZO1F5OSm1sazBoAfRpiOPym0-vHGhu1maVJhVaL4Lm2dBu5N7PrfohTqhuN13b8HfXlkz0/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252816%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_N-ETJ631HFSUI2OEbblgMGPJv9SPHElvSK9gV8uhR0QNovaE37gX3YGwob4ncyk1LFaNkZO1F5OSm1sazBoAfRpiOPym0-vHGhu1maVJhVaL4Lm2dBu5N7PrfohTqhuN13b8HfXlkz0/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252816%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKltrn-Xt154K2F7D2OuS0Q4ecr-kYVWtrua-Q_uyVl5Gftk6vUNS7ECJFog-bsJQIcjjkdwnvAMtDsZHsSk-hh4Iyex_O7RS8eKijm4eC87XUaBcl9gkkTi_x6SO5_c85BimSpDmCYs/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252823%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKltrn-Xt154K2F7D2OuS0Q4ecr-kYVWtrua-Q_uyVl5Gftk6vUNS7ECJFog-bsJQIcjjkdwnvAMtDsZHsSk-hh4Iyex_O7RS8eKijm4eC87XUaBcl9gkkTi_x6SO5_c85BimSpDmCYs/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252823%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUC6nP4-G95cNuTZyBwKi-9NyCl6v4gXxn4PKgTUjbo6QmYZ1I1tuO_eStLnebjV0oYjuVU6ngmX6AoT0LKrQyIHGQYmn4jhuuF3V9hM_YDfJntzhFBY29BOmCTvMWWMRj36QCoty7gN8/s1600/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUC6nP4-G95cNuTZyBwKi-9NyCl6v4gXxn4PKgTUjbo6QmYZ1I1tuO_eStLnebjV0oYjuVU6ngmX6AoT0LKrQyIHGQYmn4jhuuF3V9hM_YDfJntzhFBY29BOmCTvMWWMRj36QCoty7gN8/s320/BR417+Visit+%2528Gizelle+Estela%2529+2018+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOOFxuuTHWwsa9a320q4Yjx402mxr4Q7jG8sf6mkCqh1ZKX7vsegGjR6ZmAzGTNqhohMX6sdKaZALXVcnBaTsmDI1qTv8RpQYyqBd3GDga2UZElESHMLm00gC9d8yemBHSVLfYlk5bvs/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252840%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOOFxuuTHWwsa9a320q4Yjx402mxr4Q7jG8sf6mkCqh1ZKX7vsegGjR6ZmAzGTNqhohMX6sdKaZALXVcnBaTsmDI1qTv8RpQYyqBd3GDga2UZElESHMLm00gC9d8yemBHSVLfYlk5bvs/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252840%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-NMCetzzqCR4w1wV9yniznR4tYgGaYXHo6u45VtbgqtDU3ZzTWpvesztLgeW1SUhRU1BEw_WnwJa0f52MUZxhm19OwzXQ5gYHbesOdrOwTHTS9vtcZ5jQQ3Ew28bjUKLg-_mxWfquNE/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252841%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-NMCetzzqCR4w1wV9yniznR4tYgGaYXHo6u45VtbgqtDU3ZzTWpvesztLgeW1SUhRU1BEw_WnwJa0f52MUZxhm19OwzXQ5gYHbesOdrOwTHTS9vtcZ5jQQ3Ew28bjUKLg-_mxWfquNE/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252841%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeSUHwDE4w41kR7V_2juj_GglzkingugANELuL4Wo2z_d7sQiqDA-PMDewOp8v-_5KIF_18nCl7N5UOSEQ0lIsmB6dPcnPU_ClVVHgIwfLTRnEyPNGMKdG2kFJZw79_EdUKtZcpyN-RE/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252814%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeSUHwDE4w41kR7V_2juj_GglzkingugANELuL4Wo2z_d7sQiqDA-PMDewOp8v-_5KIF_18nCl7N5UOSEQ0lIsmB6dPcnPU_ClVVHgIwfLTRnEyPNGMKdG2kFJZw79_EdUKtZcpyN-RE/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252814%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagdIctyjDRvTv3B16OcF0lxLUZPXp1n2Dp0ejdd4QEy-TjvvJy29_1d7cBGYuqZhSyRqDZAA5a63ljp-SrKp35TlSbl2ZcROdn68r-8uZeFDkpld1UIkg9b8JuBC_nueUt8hnYfpI0cw/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252850%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagdIctyjDRvTv3B16OcF0lxLUZPXp1n2Dp0ejdd4QEy-TjvvJy29_1d7cBGYuqZhSyRqDZAA5a63ljp-SrKp35TlSbl2ZcROdn68r-8uZeFDkpld1UIkg9b8JuBC_nueUt8hnYfpI0cw/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252850%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54oWrCbO5KSMqMyJr7vmOvbHlEBSoixorMzTh1I841ZpjznZnukrziSZMf3TF4FL53aX3mOyC3eWgBNFthGc6lp0VFUFFRfASlTLfA9eAIyjU5ZhmOFSdK5VyvSg3CjDozmrgRO-78eE/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%25287%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54oWrCbO5KSMqMyJr7vmOvbHlEBSoixorMzTh1I841ZpjznZnukrziSZMf3TF4FL53aX3mOyC3eWgBNFthGc6lp0VFUFFRfASlTLfA9eAIyjU5ZhmOFSdK5VyvSg3CjDozmrgRO-78eE/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3que4rXKaZqbsXPUEG5wp5JkLZJXKPyXkM-oxrZB79O7AVjiijg8h75CCkhVOhyphenhyphenqHG2wMMCcUSXsDt7Ng_AcPgcjDikiSJOgu_muiGl52ls2_bg5awsZ_bakzFa8kzG7JG4NgJCAYLQA/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252896%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3que4rXKaZqbsXPUEG5wp5JkLZJXKPyXkM-oxrZB79O7AVjiijg8h75CCkhVOhyphenhyphenqHG2wMMCcUSXsDt7Ng_AcPgcjDikiSJOgu_muiGl52ls2_bg5awsZ_bakzFa8kzG7JG4NgJCAYLQA/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252896%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5lFMNwbs-1hvnlD-trsIgHtxKqnq26CyO7Hb6peFI9jxRVyFVY03MMFtzyHZgqFsP-GzAcMm-tEci4Elk7GlLmkeeLuvNUHf2Nap1lIWJkQcTQlcOSFZRHWRFCDsWdB4Ns8XBbewqIk/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252844%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5lFMNwbs-1hvnlD-trsIgHtxKqnq26CyO7Hb6peFI9jxRVyFVY03MMFtzyHZgqFsP-GzAcMm-tEci4Elk7GlLmkeeLuvNUHf2Nap1lIWJkQcTQlcOSFZRHWRFCDsWdB4Ns8XBbewqIk/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252844%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><u>Welcome & Birthday Stuff</u></b><br />I was overwhelmed by the love I received at each Project. Banners, processions, songs, dances and cakes all for me. It was very humbling.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L7AJO636KKdslqRckhl1UDSzKKE72ov9Kf1x81Ace4NmXJz77dtCrz46wzDr1EabSi_j-0LZfnS1s_OfIYI5X3pAsd6XkPhgkrUp3glyHhG-hTjkSd5O5HLwjghK6J-SlxD0LKKiIa4/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L7AJO636KKdslqRckhl1UDSzKKE72ov9Kf1x81Ace4NmXJz77dtCrz46wzDr1EabSi_j-0LZfnS1s_OfIYI5X3pAsd6XkPhgkrUp3glyHhG-hTjkSd5O5HLwjghK6J-SlxD0LKKiIa4/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCNaYd9DfxpEOUlt-ZyZG2p-Cq3ogbw_S8IWT7unVbYLMVTVWp9DPekOcaSj8fxAQWqWrWRriae8PEoBwhytu4SYebizoSdQGolE20IKK0JyeRqe5SFgub_VrmeLKDusMRZSCpABMu-I/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252825%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCNaYd9DfxpEOUlt-ZyZG2p-Cq3ogbw_S8IWT7unVbYLMVTVWp9DPekOcaSj8fxAQWqWrWRriae8PEoBwhytu4SYebizoSdQGolE20IKK0JyeRqe5SFgub_VrmeLKDusMRZSCpABMu-I/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252825%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBNHcq0uGiQGikUjR3VAXTYtE7Skm0Gl2POyMp8wTKQEthWgQ84LN5M8pqkDAs1xT8t2SI043XFyz0G89AZDYZdw0bH-dP0iQ6OVAmNW72dl1a995S6QEPHHCsohD4PmkqOJxQf3X-Zk/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252826%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBNHcq0uGiQGikUjR3VAXTYtE7Skm0Gl2POyMp8wTKQEthWgQ84LN5M8pqkDAs1xT8t2SI043XFyz0G89AZDYZdw0bH-dP0iQ6OVAmNW72dl1a995S6QEPHHCsohD4PmkqOJxQf3X-Zk/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252826%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dsfzRtQA7TK_lWOlIIHCs-BUTUX5w91P8e7tUd8a9b6n04T6Oy0m3XxuOYVHc8zh1mXkZZESfRLYlJO8-ARdLCv0N37ndTCFkZckpSUA0P5RDLVSQlYPDChzkEAITDxgHox_21J2ZQw/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252857%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dsfzRtQA7TK_lWOlIIHCs-BUTUX5w91P8e7tUd8a9b6n04T6Oy0m3XxuOYVHc8zh1mXkZZESfRLYlJO8-ARdLCv0N37ndTCFkZckpSUA0P5RDLVSQlYPDChzkEAITDxgHox_21J2ZQw/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252857%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNYsv8O1yRUFOE9Qefzg53VrsEM5kt7adhDdvIXdqgN6-ZIGEmV9AZRPfVLGne6igw3-80ZWQzRHMuou908fQxq50YQjTDPUjQDog9qqo7fgMdl7x41Z53F6v9sgUdNrMFm6dRwBuBak/s1600/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252866%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNYsv8O1yRUFOE9Qefzg53VrsEM5kt7adhDdvIXdqgN6-ZIGEmV9AZRPfVLGne6igw3-80ZWQzRHMuou908fQxq50YQjTDPUjQDog9qqo7fgMdl7x41Z53F6v9sgUdNrMFm6dRwBuBak/s320/BR322+Visit+%2528Lara+Eduarda%2529+2018+%252866%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKSVsl6d0pLH_UuUz4mdakBA_WxD69yjwAJO0SllI9ZUCGLQyGZq8jvntI-itA8pl6jUb4MUZA07Q7D2bSrR4CVVWWKZ-8AGHNIhbOrJh_dnq0NQ_FMC1FmCEPrNxwKMIigAA84-4GhY/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKSVsl6d0pLH_UuUz4mdakBA_WxD69yjwAJO0SllI9ZUCGLQyGZq8jvntI-itA8pl6jUb4MUZA07Q7D2bSrR4CVVWWKZ-8AGHNIhbOrJh_dnq0NQ_FMC1FmCEPrNxwKMIigAA84-4GhY/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvIJ84zfg7c6S6Crx_EArd2RCiRL75Y2OV3E6mCITmqYCQZ79La-3WFo-pQVflrBj9Plwob-wdTX8iqMo5d8aEz4Kf8zAr0ISw5qu9uvpS1dWdl6_CVOtsvwJughbP7HLeMlrwTJJVUA/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252815%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvIJ84zfg7c6S6Crx_EArd2RCiRL75Y2OV3E6mCITmqYCQZ79La-3WFo-pQVflrBj9Plwob-wdTX8iqMo5d8aEz4Kf8zAr0ISw5qu9uvpS1dWdl6_CVOtsvwJughbP7HLeMlrwTJJVUA/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252815%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O7I_h7sQnPmKssIAXOTZiMZwhMkqpAeEMRAeEJLZHMXtyVzP4uYAwJIf530W0ULDhLEgtOwbp3n2aOKIJuva3s3-1VNeVw_GKOnqo7vVkncixsMUeMaIOUXzLnQnqhirSQBuP9aqVR0/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252884%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O7I_h7sQnPmKssIAXOTZiMZwhMkqpAeEMRAeEJLZHMXtyVzP4uYAwJIf530W0ULDhLEgtOwbp3n2aOKIJuva3s3-1VNeVw_GKOnqo7vVkncixsMUeMaIOUXzLnQnqhirSQBuP9aqVR0/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%252884%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2Jv0dzIgqaVeOebjf4FCnNkv1eHWpD4w_K4O3eCd-12F5NNxt1XLsmZ0NYWoDVry0HEevIDrslXvD0ZM3JbNu-uFzVyxEH2uhMmLR4B3zz_F6IkYcVFvhy4cNtpNBpmjpLI5F4OeLek/s1600/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%2528124%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2Jv0dzIgqaVeOebjf4FCnNkv1eHWpD4w_K4O3eCd-12F5NNxt1XLsmZ0NYWoDVry0HEevIDrslXvD0ZM3JbNu-uFzVyxEH2uhMmLR4B3zz_F6IkYcVFvhy4cNtpNBpmjpLI5F4OeLek/s320/BR329+Visit+%2528Larissa+Emily%2529+2018+%2528124%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HUsFKi_DEdRqeo-OH_OpTN1rEcq8YHjQpLkZwYfNM2UQrBp7ab_68twyidaZytVz2eWP-OjLt22VueXMRikddCXGYQ53PkbUR05rPEfY5UW8YSZM7BDzJE1WvNuLHCWaKQE0rBwJyd8/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HUsFKi_DEdRqeo-OH_OpTN1rEcq8YHjQpLkZwYfNM2UQrBp7ab_68twyidaZytVz2eWP-OjLt22VueXMRikddCXGYQ53PkbUR05rPEfY5UW8YSZM7BDzJE1WvNuLHCWaKQE0rBwJyd8/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLQii3EEB5Tn11F3Ttk8dkT-B7tEEA6vA2Rv2BFXZiwNvNQyfGDh_oUjJPIDhUdNKJ8wIG_vQeQN2t3TRJ5iG73_hhfDWDi1Itpz4_T34JkUpxqupxHU-dWrRIN7PrhDqxAALtoZEjtc/s1600/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252819%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLQii3EEB5Tn11F3Ttk8dkT-B7tEEA6vA2Rv2BFXZiwNvNQyfGDh_oUjJPIDhUdNKJ8wIG_vQeQN2t3TRJ5iG73_hhfDWDi1Itpz4_T34JkUpxqupxHU-dWrRIN7PrhDqxAALtoZEjtc/s320/BR432+Visit+%2528Lorene%2529+2018+%252819%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv71tPXLzR3O5fnXn-Mpvc_vWPv3-xZMvcgguNiHpTn2QgH-MB8J8XfljEoLozdDBwKmdavQMBQjX6BrOQCOVFIU8G9LBA43M6wGbXpbbNlXjGnsoJiI0Y_t3OuSWX0GhBjGlqNN_g-Ug/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252819%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv71tPXLzR3O5fnXn-Mpvc_vWPv3-xZMvcgguNiHpTn2QgH-MB8J8XfljEoLozdDBwKmdavQMBQjX6BrOQCOVFIU8G9LBA43M6wGbXpbbNlXjGnsoJiI0Y_t3OuSWX0GhBjGlqNN_g-Ug/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252819%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhf5bIwbJ4scCodcVAHHwpBOb2hhLiZOIik_DqA6rVcgtRfA-D1KYMBmgHZnsRjxAaGigUpk8X33k9b4bieVC10sLfZRzdBi1WDdjITyOfrS_bIHUKjoFGPRnSuXxBd2egTZu4PA-eHs/s1600/BR453+Visit+2018+%252837%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhf5bIwbJ4scCodcVAHHwpBOb2hhLiZOIik_DqA6rVcgtRfA-D1KYMBmgHZnsRjxAaGigUpk8X33k9b4bieVC10sLfZRzdBi1WDdjITyOfrS_bIHUKjoFGPRnSuXxBd2egTZu4PA-eHs/s320/BR453+Visit+2018+%252837%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDEzFgFD3vz50jO5pUJKj_EXwDvK_fAgEO-UCfuA9FDLeXf19OMcAvAQ1ATfbtplMZChEE5GIjGpi4dPhtEwGvZs9pjuqsJyJTLI3Pgjf9yrUNQU24ScyXo7X45MSBBkmT7DOeTUhwi8/s1600/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252813%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDEzFgFD3vz50jO5pUJKj_EXwDvK_fAgEO-UCfuA9FDLeXf19OMcAvAQ1ATfbtplMZChEE5GIjGpi4dPhtEwGvZs9pjuqsJyJTLI3Pgjf9yrUNQU24ScyXo7X45MSBBkmT7DOeTUhwi8/s320/BR458+Visit+Jessica+2018+%252813%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-54710776318798503622017-02-19T21:17:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:22.702+10:00Celebrating Ten Years of Global Poverty Fighting with Compassion<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My name is David Chalmers and I am a Global Poverty Fighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While that may sound grand, all it means is that I am a sponsor and advocate with child development organization <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.compassion.com/" style="color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Compassion International</span></a></span>. Compassion started in 1952 and currently partners with the local church in 26 countries releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name through providing food, water, medical care, educational help, a loving sponsor to speak words of life and encouragement, and the opportunity to have a relationship with Jesus.<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a 35-year-old teacher from Australia and I started sponsoring with Compassion at the end of 2006. God put Compassion on my heart to such an extent that since then I have been a financial and correspondent sponsor for 75 children in 26 countries. I have also visited the homes and communities of 32 of my kids in 12 countries, as well as some others on behalf of my friends who also sponsor.<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Despite my inexhaustible passion for the ministry of Compassion, I must make it clear that I am not a Compassion employee or spokesperson</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Just an 'Average Joe' who has seen the effectiveness of Compassion in action and I want everyone to know about it. While there is no easy answer or quick fix to the problem of poverty, joining the local church around the world in partnership with Compassion is a good start. <span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have embraced a life of simplicity, generosity and sacrifice for the sake of others and I am trying to set an example, particularly for Christians in the developed world, that we can make a difference in the lives of others rather than living a life devoted to self, ease, comfort and pleasure. That is not what God has called us to. I choose to do it through Compassion sponsorship.<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One day we will all be accountable to God for the way we used what He gave us to look after, and to use for His glory. Did we use it for ourselves, or to help others?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The last ten years of sponsorship and advocacy with Compassion have been amazing. On my travels God has taken me to see and experience things that have both brought me to the depths of heartache and lifted me to the heights of joy.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some highlights: </span><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8214439281344471654" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig13Zoirt15kXZAaLmVaAiu_Dga0ZV9md1SyZMQFuwnGbamoTS0RRthnBJqTT5YY4ZTGol2HwZgxsr-BJe41A48H7YShn5LtXS8Ps8hNoorCUo0TX8FAEYhE9NQ2AcWeZq-z1UkSnhg3A/s400/Current+kids+Feb+2017.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my current Compassion family: 15 financially sponsored and 15 correspondent kids from 15 different countries.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7m_Evow6wweHY6Eo7variLqA67aZ0nywYa6FRRmH-arxV6h_kubq__1aOP7OmgxhoYsiiF8FBnrpC9qo_M_DyR1jA9K8LXuPZ50ZVucv0o3MC64WrqpZbyl5FKvD3eokSdBg-CdBLrU/s400/Desktop2.jpg" width="400" /></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">I was humbled to have my Compassion journey feature in the September 2013 edition of the Compassion magazine.</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGlHjgISczhc1l8l6T-AHtrdC8PBMW49DBELhDbC90r3wSS3KQRFfJvWQhGYxOdIkbfw4i9cJjC8wGfBktCDpAqnGfSwl97IXbFPlbGW-1HE2LXqQteKlbWgD3WCOBijuf8g_gG35eT4/s400/Latest+observer+article.jpg" width="130" /></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This is an article that appeared in the </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Portland Observer</i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> newspaper on Friday January 9th, 2015. Portland is a small town in southwest Victoria where I lived and worked for three years.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4TQGObdk5tyhRcpsfdoaUL5vwvLZQJKlAdU-hQYxr_Qk6ACdoQcCHh6vMLTwwIP0Qvxw-h7hpUUBXbdg9ZD-Gk5a3tlwBSvHJq_WjckL7K5fSmnyh0W9JP0JIghGvCFJD-Sw9Sc4E-k/s400/Obby+article+2012.jpg" width="400" /></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This article appeared in the <i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Portland Observer</i> in October 2012, shortly after I returned from visiting ten of my sponsored children in Brazil.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOm6XIWq18bAbZkWzIJFopriCW5I8FEQqHEIMNGYSVo851i2IaZ76-mbbTU7ohmRUS7BTq_v50VylUk46F_THzN8ueN0PjvEIqr-bzzbb5l_QZiZltHM0Z9Qg8Y27Os2tLvSPSnWWmp4/s400/Sight+Mag+%25231.jpg" width="225" /></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHRIRayoE5awtGRRHq99wu8gPfnp0NMk4k8fE_q735exstRzgSnmWbBABiM0tCjfDB6Det_ptlEEF1lD7oxzjMNVxAreachSRQ32kN8EUWFTwYAZnubDiQD3Nmum3LsYa_pnzFLvagG8/s400/Sight+Mag+%25232.jpg" width="396" /><br /><span style="color: black; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have loved being able to share about Compassion at churches and in classrooms.</span></span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEA1K2Yp_3Q9JwQeuza0jxI2DDDbTHZfY0hIjU1Gxwixqagl98zxR9k4JVPmhOsZAuHzweSaIcS8jw9Zj7LlLw0m7PzUds0TMX5versXFS26nb4l-X8ONedppfnaYAGr-qqiMF8uuLfC0/s400/Comp+Sunday+Encourage+Church+Romsey+2016+%25284%2529.jpg" width="390" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5-Mmh8YVjNdlzKEiiP1eHQmYh0W7Xi1ebhiBRxXgshw201BGXXtgLGpRctxVAOD2rtLvOxAw8676z4J8NOSs67fRRj35cN0BMZZJ-4ehCmYJXYY_3JYjK9GxQK_2-uHalqcSG-ZxQx4/s400/Comp+Sunday+May+3+2015.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwizsi25jh299RutiEMch84op-M9XHVSwkIQQq8Ep9pE6eeAX4qqSyxu7mOQCXpBNcysfXuakDxRtVtDvu_nsG1v9SWoJOUOQH2wYz4Zx5p_aP8pLFu-ZwET_1LjZhyfQhhnHdeq_7uA/s400/Comp+Sunday+St+Pauls+Lutheran+2015+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR_3JSugnwIddPo6wDLd4eFpINStMruANcgcFrLR2KxK-f6CGV1tZj4QhijgxPlWvlI1BjAjSLOJoBBEgeVhTEDpYBZpGupKPm0NwXuIBdzonoK4IbTjW9GLeQKgJdrhPC5gAB66dMa0/s400/Grads.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been privileged to meet many Compassion graduates: young adults who grew up in the grip of poverty but, thanks to God and Compassion, are making a genuine positive impact on their families and communities.</span><br /><br /> <img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlya9rNO7omefRW7yTtDtHUebIxIFTQDfNAPtx0sWwbWQlVrSUMYfbcEsTe-InVhSeL1iQIZuXiQD28nApZ3mdXwmTie444rIGF_RC4qTzfyzFBR37M-sdglJsfPHtND17fREZTYmBrM/s400/10477444_10152896764563643_6826594731623701986_o.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">This is the cover of the book I published in 2015 with Ark House Press in Australia. It is all about the work of Compassion and contains stories of many of the trips I have taken to visit my sponsored kids. It is not a warm-fuzzy feel-good read. The stories are all real and are not fabricated or embellished in any way. The stories of the home visits to people trapped in poverty are often tragic and heartbreaking, but on the flipside there is so much tangible joy and hope for the future in the work that Compassion does. I have seen it for myself and I want to share it with people.</span><br /><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">To purchase the book:</span><br /><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><a href="http://arkhousepress.com/shop-56/biography/go-into-all-the-world.html">Ark House Press</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.koorong.com/search/product/go-into-all-the-world-david-chalmers/9780992572600.jhtml">Koorong Book store</a> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.word.com.au/Go-Into-All-The-World/David-Chalmers/9780992572600"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Word Book store</span></a><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br />Non-Australian friends:</span><br /><a href="https://www.createspace.com/5215742"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CreateSpace</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Into-All-World-Compassion-International/dp/0992572606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425220157&sr=8-1&keywords=david+chalmers+go+into+all+the+world"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazon</span></a><br /><u style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">Here are some blog reviews of "Go Into All The World"</span></span></u><br /><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1qc.1:3:1:$comment10153025602523643_10153025603293643:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1qc.1:3:1:$comment10153025602523643_10153025603293643:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aimee Esperaz</b><br /><a href="http://mamaof2greatkids.blogspot.ca/2015/01/come-meet-this-man-with-50-kids.html">http://mamaof2greatkids.blogspot.ca/2015/01/come-meet-this-man-with-50-kids.html</a><br /><br /><b>Hannah Hinojosa</b><br /><a href="http://forshamim.blogspot.com/2015/01/go-into-all-world.html">http://forshamim.blogspot.com/2015/01/go-into-all-world.html</a><br /><br /><b>Sarah Tummey</b><br /><a href="https://childrencount.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/living-generously-go-into-all-the-world-book-review/">https://childrencount.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/living-generously-go-into-all-the-world-book-review/</a><br /><br /><b>Jill Foley</b><br /><a href="http://www.compassionfamily.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/go-into-all-world-by-david-chalmers.html">http://www.compassionfamily.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/go-into-all-world-by-david-chalmers.html</a><br /><br /><b>Crystal Kupper</b><br /><a href="http://www.crystalkupper.net/the-man-with-50-kids-a-review/">http://www.crystalkupper.net/the-man-with-50-kids-a-review/</a><br /><br /><b>Kerri Kaczynski</b><br /><a href="http://givinggratefully.com/2015/01/07/go-into-all-the-world-book-review/">http://givinggratefully.com/2015/01/07/go-into-all-the-world-book-review/</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Megan Prence</b></span><br /><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".1d4.$mid=11427038937292=2da92f4b8f8eaa61326.2:0.0.0.0.0" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span data-reactid=".1d4.$mid=11427038937292=2da92f4b8f8eaa61326.2:0.0.0.0.0.0" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://thisomerofmanna.blogspot.com/2015/03/go-into-all-world-review.html">http://thisomerofmanna.blogspot.com/2015/03/go-into-all-world-review.html</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Here are a couple of other blogs in which I feature:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Dave Miers</b></span><br /><a href="http://davemiers.com/the-man-with-50-kids-david-chalmers/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://davemiers.com/the-man-with-50-kids-david-chalmers/</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Michelle Wright</b></span><br /><a href="http://www.bloggingfromtheboonies.com/2012/07/joy-beauty-and-hope-guest-post.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.bloggingfromtheboonies.com/2012/07/joy-beauty-and-hope-guest-post.html</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">In February 2015 I was blessed to have interviews for both radio and TV in Australia, promoting my book and Compassion.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">On February 21st I was flown up to Sydney by </span><a href="http://www.wesleymission.org.au/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">Wesley Mission</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> and interviewed for their weekly TV program "</span><b style="color: #222222;">Wesley Impact TV"</b> </span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qMD71cnG6E" width="560"></iframe><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">."</span><br />It was aired on </span><u style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b>Sunday May 24th, 2015 at 5.30am on Channel 9 </b></u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">(Australia) and on the internet a week later. </span><br /><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHDWtIcyv53OfYsSAbCIhnSd0Mb9i4lEFWMoc3fD0omthY5cniKGCdakktAskw1ZUuf78ADASljpR9nnqY0onzQfZyWUmc413luHrGBUEMSZg3DNfv-msiOWkICmoatnU1bew-lcHRUE/s640/History+makers+roadio.jpg" width="640" /></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br />Four days later I recorded an interview for </span><a href="http://www.vision.org.au/" style="color: #888888; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Vision Radio</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.historymakersradio.com/" style="color: #888888; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">History Makers Radio</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"> which was aired on April 5th, 2015.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><a href="https://www.podcat.com/podcasts/myelx9-history-makers-radio/episodes/d6y0ar-david-chalmers">https://www.podcat.com/podcasts/myelx9-history-makers-radio/episodes/d6y0ar-david-chalmers</a><br /></span></span></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/71016925" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/71016925">The Man with 50 Kids</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/simstories">SIM Stories</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1bQr1iYdTO0" width="560"></iframe><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">This video featured during the kid's segment at Glen Waverley Anglican Church's Compassion Sunday in 2014. I was told 15 kids were sponsored after the service, and to even have played a small part in that was amazing.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-84708542433470446002017-01-28T20:24:00.000+11:002021-09-18T13:09:49.449+10:00Compassion Trip #10 (Philippines 2017) - Visiting Aljane (with Sharon!)<br /><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGElyWAfGA2wsMWCgOFPzWQQx2HaFi1ZMv3Xg39kNJ_MemaDRdmYUx3uZq147iWXVm9ZCORW6ZY5mXrGfXn3Ur9WXJGcb4b7JkgoMVgvSG3wUp764x6CpE2_E9dcwoDGJdS4Nhxle_c3o/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252815%2529.JPG" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">In 2014 I left everything behind and moved to the island of Oriental Mindoro in the Philippines to <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/ten-months-in-philippines-picture.html">work in an orphanage</a> called the <b><a href="http://www.ruelfoundation.com/">Ruel Foundation</a></b>. While I was there I connected with a Compassion partner church called United Evangelical Church (PH268) and when I returned to Australia I sponsored a child from that Project so I would have a good reason to return and visit in the future.<br /><br />In January 2016 I returned to Ruel for three weeks and while I was there <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/compassion-visit-aljane-in-philippines.html">I was able to visit Aljane and her family</a>. It was a special day and I knew I would have to come back again.<br /><br />During 2016 I began a relationship with a beautiful woman named Sharon. Sharon loves God, kids and footy (Australian football) just as much as I do, and I promised her that if I got full time work before the end of the year I would take her to visit Ruel over the January holiday period. God provided and we were able to go. I was also excited about Sharon joining me to visit Aljane and seeing Compassion's work up close.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />When we arrived at the Project, the kids were participating in their "Awana" program, which is an international children's and youth ministry run in 104 countries around the world. The church has partnered with Awana so that a greater number of kids are able to join in, rather than just the Compassion-registered kids.<br /> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_0tYtVwNapn0pKXuAP8nLScPf4ugWblaTdFO957hKyCO9MuarA5tf16m09bJh7B5cKfMf4c8ECxkMOc_9Ex1nl-ZQbVjqOukffbpdMK_sDSycb09yLfu4NuSX2d821SWwgXnjCz3wdA/s1600/Aljane+Visit+%252819%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_0tYtVwNapn0pKXuAP8nLScPf4ugWblaTdFO957hKyCO9MuarA5tf16m09bJh7B5cKfMf4c8ECxkMOc_9Ex1nl-ZQbVjqOukffbpdMK_sDSycb09yLfu4NuSX2d821SWwgXnjCz3wdA/s400/Aljane+Visit+%252819%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSZdM5DTN1BxW0-0xpvSOIuNS7QWEEGDS7zYiCUGfZKKhXv5ctGs5HKos3TR1ShgWHjnbLCxCjzhpHTqN0dTP7Nng2kzEucRyhSPxPCcaeYrYgdBSyRYjB-Dak9SCHbClWOh4mgBVxWs/s1600/Aljane+Visit+%252818%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSZdM5DTN1BxW0-0xpvSOIuNS7QWEEGDS7zYiCUGfZKKhXv5ctGs5HKos3TR1ShgWHjnbLCxCjzhpHTqN0dTP7Nng2kzEucRyhSPxPCcaeYrYgdBSyRYjB-Dak9SCHbClWOh4mgBVxWs/s400/Aljane+Visit+%252818%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uZkUCq4c_2URhqgqI57NNl-Lh6jCWPYMAnadeXwrfKlDqL8OLzpkQgDqEt8N71SWY_vCBcF86y0H04Mzfpagnp_WO8UCPY8hGApyaiNbF_LFqv3fHRIznO7yv84U5LDvs66MqQMKWE0/s1600/Aljane+Visit+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uZkUCq4c_2URhqgqI57NNl-Lh6jCWPYMAnadeXwrfKlDqL8OLzpkQgDqEt8N71SWY_vCBcF86y0H04Mzfpagnp_WO8UCPY8hGApyaiNbF_LFqv3fHRIznO7yv84U5LDvs66MqQMKWE0/s400/Aljane+Visit+%252817%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After meeting with the Project director and going through Aljane's comprehensive file, we caught a tricycle to her house. </div><br /> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeCXA2HY5HIPrVisUPumCV8Duh0B8-Bz6dwRY24AdrMdctlP3v_URH-1GTdih6_KSylvpA_dMarBFV0ape5022_baJzt0nw1BW-HFJ4QCQZ4rsl8tVtVkytpmOXdqoN8QtBqKkzSKC_U/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25286%2529.JPG" width="300" /><br /><br /> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaCJ81yo-Bp2wAD4RXHcxUnNzUMb2ZthTfx2zYNY4blGIEuZx_kmexCSPYRwiSDg52l53KH_fmLkdtVtNkDHrEuC3ulj8ilxrKH1FJyt02Dk2vAQaZIMr8LwGeNsdBYMOKr3PsdEbeD4/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252817%2529.JPG" width="300" /><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPeCq-2ag4w3mrtI54_zpS6BuN2jCcIx1pRfnCHepM4CQeR12L3KHesWoPzI7vNUMay95eu54mzxFTtBoIvj8jduji-pXdceHRYoiEM4UvBeW7tpKHzAe7BGvcsSregiIcH8LUGPwtaM/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br />I met Aljane's four siblings and introduced Sharon. I chatted to the kids and we talked about what they remembered about my visit the year before. I showed them some photos, then UNO and dominoes were popular.<br /><br /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IrERLzBkNmClY1eVx54dsGL-mkPdoH9thUNHUbYrNVlYRURxJEZMGU5fqhKA3s-WpzpynaTUr1_jpdtQoAMA6ce-yZ57yA8iRZZU5ZTuCLyoMLsOfOmCXhev5eDSxPoxdo1mIRPHNFw/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252821%2529.JPG" width="300" /><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAosoG6buzd0Itv7XHvy742jCt30gs1yRsNICbnm38tE_Eb6Fagl7nyNEt9k3sQ1PF-1ZgPKZR9ETTkcienpmiLlgQMQ3jgkNj5kz0sL5EpN8DfhByIayQrpz4nZJFK_abQhjliTNR0QM/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25284%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqhzp8xTKHnSYtVZRTV2G2PAy3XPY6-1nV96E5m7zE9IxJQEFohmKGhzzz5XsSuzoi-hWuWvW0X2YZTnEWy22uA_j0kltnzqNyO2qrp65Hivgb5uyXhfrMqDje-j4mAL7nraqiyAdFks/s1600/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqhzp8xTKHnSYtVZRTV2G2PAy3XPY6-1nV96E5m7zE9IxJQEFohmKGhzzz5XsSuzoi-hWuWvW0X2YZTnEWy22uA_j0kltnzqNyO2qrp65Hivgb5uyXhfrMqDje-j4mAL7nraqiyAdFks/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25288%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFNYnl8BR9KmSBm4TC5YqlKaZ8GX7pBRd49BvNU8vLTb6KcuWiyMZuLAB5qaA_NVU-AiCJ7SHhI0O9-q8-b33FTrr0wD0i22Kd5kLuUqC8J8xxRIMtnODFDcj-eFfxIsrNT8STQf7FhA/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25289%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmHNH-aZ7mxxZVSkoGs5TAyJ3hL7Iu08FZW6rx10xBVCcupf27sqDu5DBC7f3Ce-hT9CZHLngRMhTb59kVNmGIeN-cbYmc8Uze4S9yWT09XwLr651x6wb435yMSM_oVBOGMSCsNEtNmc/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252810%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br />After the home visit I took the family to a local shopping mall. The previous year we had gone to Jollibee for lunch, but this time Aljane chose "Inasal."<br /><br /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0ejf5i6orktpijp3OBCKxJb9jCqarOeKUxZO0gYWv_uNGdYGrdyaLTat6SrGO6iZIiOagxjVmNWOVb7dN2zkuPlkTbtq8c_y6VYW1qDvbLFP4fdSeSKZXDRtKw1I-_Eq_TijhMZCVIQ/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252811%2529.JPG" width="300" /><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzIWdpaH5fUWK90PT3I89qGYKsaSeQ9kx3dbRSdji1u5Cyp-0nUte6XQwRTvg1EIQq5kBVM3GEjMXlwQWvd-tb3U8yqll95zGtxCMzHSKfcqXTCOf7AtguZHOIdyYRMGXYCRX9jSFR60/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEg1QXmZ-CGgYDgvbH_VyQoJBhbPsNGeLvvU84jRLqzYMCnsn5F892aOqCXNbqdAo-ZKE7AnmplK5wTX0YVkivLYHBrSZJL2wJycHyynjaNOKvZYoLdxN_hDXMzeVN0Er97By2HCxqXCA/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGuJ4Bkpec0wJXIVsiaryMUaxfCTnKcuPgwIFKHVOjw5zRW4na76pzsA7BqGNvoVC9oNDT0_oOiMLVPOhc_ZBoUtjvK8gczrcoD51qeFXAdv5gdNb0UIYGxNQ0i3YJLtkQA1H9THyR2k/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252812%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br />One of my favourite Filipino foods is a dessert called "Halo-halo."<br /><br /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAq-ksfLp3m2yfqSb1t9NXEnhQ7Mk_rojfXWGEeblgy29dPSwruEHmnax31cMgpBjriKemnalbw_hyphenhyphenAgc5nsFalcauqLSFBNr_aCDrVZut0wEo1kwOEVlwi04knlmjMe-C_te29yb7seM/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252813%2529.JPG" width="300" /><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNozZWBJ4DNQnyTv2hWAbiajfxELH_4RtVBQbVWEkf5AT8ycPOMqdDLpJ3jbVaG5rQjx01wL5uN0Z5PaThK8zKPIMwyB5235F14bnyZuDFLKdNpI4K61TwJ62YIVXpreclvdIXZwpL6E/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252814%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br />After lunch I took the family grocery shopping at a supermarket. I have never looked at grocery shopping the same way since taking families out in the developing world. It is an exciting adventure for them, and an opportunity for me to help them in a tangible way.<br /><div style="text-align: start;"><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI114cv8dngGyuD3fdvGhO9RGtCVRbjh-KUbeoOlyNPq8F63gSE-3uN_-VsJyIJLrScA4iCK0SdoAvwATrUmCyYR3y9W4CNFl7H1hmdEshMtUmHZqJ_6aCPzdpL2TQHUUg_K9eEGCrou4/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25285%2529.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="400" /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9W1LptutHNFvO1MsLvkWa3-xcyGHoqzJCW3iyA0TwfWhIkTMViJrcKLhB74M_-MyTVe5uHoRT1BxmZMf31oJLmdlI2eukogJxfaC-ycVxdyfpKpTFvnYoJylApKMiEubPtTyX9VMl1Y/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252818%2529.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The final stop was ice cream!<br /><br /> <img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuhGmJcYMdIOq0ccp-rF9Rstv99RnREm7hVzsvlMSKYO4G4zWLM9roMaE5C6vMkAxygNqNjAjhT_QdZT9aQ7Xm6Wc-P9HvGzFR-zOOSFwyLSJBzHCnw0MfRSsL3kg7ilc7_EH0FBMi38/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252816%2529.JPG" width="400" /><br /><br />After going to the supermarket I took the family upstairs to a department store and enabled each of the kids to choose a gift for themselves. Aljane's older sister formed an immediate connection with Sharon. She chose a teddy bear and when asked what it's name was, called it 'Sharon.' <br /><br /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizesOMKHshXLhK3GFYrcI1DFXUi7YTtyHD_o06X3Q6aOXTQoXWh-D_gp8PBsNfpZcTdqH5PaEX1pT-Wfv_X6N_414DZPttZEcD_jqXbcxt1zMyrwdN8Zu_Cf-S7HM-tCupW6evcuC1WPw/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%25287%2529.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="300" /><br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78yE4cof6tgZlTGR2gpsjAxS2KlWuWS-w0Eklr0QlYDbLusr44lq4y91HOst3jNnuROGWXYMEBbqS7mFZB9QDtRBOZU8oLLow0uMTGF3C-nUPuehhyphenhyphen7iy5eTGQMScQn3scfHJcMoVRk4/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252820%2529.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="400" /><br /><br />With the Project Director TinTin (above) and with some of the kids and leaders of PH268 (below).<br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFgpfGadRYEFgzddyvIxDFVsmaqPWpryQJCeeTj7TQVcBBnKNbdx_2ROAn7JR1tKxhJQ6xYcttolpa9UQgLMRjPB_087Lk-lSi_mCzfVc5GJvTyP_UgRXa1HduQQKmNALKd9OJC3iTPc/s400/Aljane+Visit+Good+ones+%252819%2529.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="400" /><br /><br />Having travelled with Compassion extensively over the last few years, I didn't necessarily see or experience anything new. However, having Sharon there to experience Compassion in action up close for the first time made the day extra special.<br /><br />Aljane's family of seven has their challenges, but the love they have for each other is tangible and I feel privileged to be part of their lives through Compassion sponsorship.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-66024329338478556472016-09-23T06:39:00.000+10:002021-09-18T13:19:33.575+10:00Compassion Trip #9 (Brazil 2016): The Big Birthday Bash!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpHSW5u4d6e37zZ0BcB2w8MrGpaA4L3GuYknFDIxq81vE5VqLtUMQtOMQIfq0eHPuWz_HcNJ4VBLdCTSf9F2VSvtfT0cuA6JwuLCIxi_j6eX9PoWwKEtoJdeDV7GbthLwbVdOEoVxRsw/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528103%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpHSW5u4d6e37zZ0BcB2w8MrGpaA4L3GuYknFDIxq81vE5VqLtUMQtOMQIfq0eHPuWz_HcNJ4VBLdCTSf9F2VSvtfT0cuA6JwuLCIxi_j6eX9PoWwKEtoJdeDV7GbthLwbVdOEoVxRsw/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528103%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMBAAixAVUaT1J9SWaN9oyKuEhjMOS1wizC9LrFp045vkG-Cyo5P3lHoszYUC4pt1Aw79iLVntiq-D5iVWrD509Ho7LFLYSti9KHiMGnmfJVKu1gwRniK0E9qdNwu42OAbq1-ti4rfmI/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528180%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMBAAixAVUaT1J9SWaN9oyKuEhjMOS1wizC9LrFp045vkG-Cyo5P3lHoszYUC4pt1Aw79iLVntiq-D5iVWrD509Ho7LFLYSti9KHiMGnmfJVKu1gwRniK0E9qdNwu42OAbq1-ti4rfmI/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528180%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><u><b>Brazil Compassion Adventure blog series</b></u><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-intro-and.html">Intro & Visit Day #1 (BR417)</a><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-2.html">Visit Day #2 (</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-2.html">BR453)</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3.html">Visit Day #3 Part 1 (BR110)</a><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3_29.html">Visit Day #3 Part 2 </a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3_29.html">(BR329)</a></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-4.html"><br />Visit Day #4 (BR458)</a><br /><br />Several years ago I read <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">about</span> the then-owners of Gloria Jeans Coffee throwing a huge party for their 250 Compassion sponsored kids in Brazil at a waterpark. <br /><br />Trying to imagine what an incredible heavenly day of fun and joy that must have been, I was <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/birthday-in-brazil.html">inspired to do something similar</a> (on a smaller scale) when I visited my ten kids in Fortaleza in September 2012. I took all ten kids plus as many relatives as were able to come, to a special park which had a swimming pool, soccer oval, animals, horse rides. After stepping into their lives and seeing a glimpse of the challenges they face every day, it really was a profound experience to give them a day of just being able to be kids, even for a short time. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBX14TGiPDBuSCpayiHTzGZXBxOT-06eSSBHOV-0AyOpQ9q-Wrw558PhyphenhyphenwwDA62ArsNOhgJ8kXxATgDlFtRO6G_ay78r2LfEpgodjfCNorEx4O9OZmoGAab8cy4hcW8ZZXG1b8J7irLSs/s1600/Birthday+In+Brazil+2012+%252885%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBX14TGiPDBuSCpayiHTzGZXBxOT-06eSSBHOV-0AyOpQ9q-Wrw558PhyphenhyphenwwDA62ArsNOhgJ8kXxATgDlFtRO6G_ay78r2LfEpgodjfCNorEx4O9OZmoGAab8cy4hcW8ZZXG1b8J7irLSs/s400/Birthday+In+Brazil+2012+%252885%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjOa_Ha2aRhvCZ-cED6y2gnhWnGqxZOSPsrJ5-_0ShqsOKn0ak9ozDbzgJia84OxJKI5X3byZU9DrYbjcgcPunKxIOj0ZdME8fqIUTP3IInNAolQBWY-wYFrzQCmYj621-hCjiWvFPGQ/s1600/9+compassion+%252810%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjOa_Ha2aRhvCZ-cED6y2gnhWnGqxZOSPsrJ5-_0ShqsOKn0ak9ozDbzgJia84OxJKI5X3byZU9DrYbjcgcPunKxIOj0ZdME8fqIUTP3IInNAolQBWY-wYFrzQCmYj621-hCjiWvFPGQ/s400/9+compassion+%252810%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />When I went back one year later, I decided to repeat the dose. I hired a jumping castle, trampoline and cotton candy machine and <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/birthday-in-brazil-2013-day-like-no.html">had a big party at Project BR-329</a>. It was a day of deep glorious joy, fun and excitement.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloVkVdKvqsIYy6TV_UZsbtB5Ak9LBuQbmn6baNPMXSOJvsR9GMolSjho9Dgn2TGsw7yJlCgtJQcyEfXtzbHnttT9JCOg7hUazY61qlmoqWPewM7poOZJLoO64yJLSZ0jBr61_s_kjriQ/s1600/9+compassion+%252821%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloVkVdKvqsIYy6TV_UZsbtB5Ak9LBuQbmn6baNPMXSOJvsR9GMolSjho9Dgn2TGsw7yJlCgtJQcyEfXtzbHnttT9JCOg7hUazY61qlmoqWPewM7poOZJLoO64yJLSZ0jBr61_s_kjriQ/s400/9+compassion+%252821%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgrE4ZLqGzVM4ZaQmyhrwlwFBu6-HzYpM3f_ODqVzjJ9nO7D-fJB6pMEzQClNCVdEk_e4xoD56gITnhI1zGijUdLg1iv0xLjpgiHdAXCzJZxLPUI8RkBIOe_QekTKs3oOORtzFFzXaFA/s1600/Brazil+birthday+2013+%252813%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgrE4ZLqGzVM4ZaQmyhrwlwFBu6-HzYpM3f_ODqVzjJ9nO7D-fJB6pMEzQClNCVdEk_e4xoD56gITnhI1zGijUdLg1iv0xLjpgiHdAXCzJZxLPUI8RkBIOe_QekTKs3oOORtzFFzXaFA/s400/Brazil+birthday+2013+%252813%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I wanted to do the same thing for this trip but was unable to have it at a Project, so it was arranged to take the kids, parents and Project workers to a place called <b>Velas do Cumbuco Restaurant</b>. Similar set-up: right on the beach, playground, swimming pool etc.<br /><br />My main concern in the morning was whether Cristina was going to be there. Yes I was obsessing, but I just really wanted to see her since I wasn’t sure when I would be coming back to Brazil. I had many people praying and God came through with the goods, as she turned up with her mother and sister right at the start of the day. I asked her how she was feeling and she was honest and gave the little universal shrug that means ‘so-so’ or ‘meh.’ This was understandable given the circumstances of the past few days.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb-YlauLuGWdZTWXxCziny7GHxwlzBkVR30tWszkGpCNqkq_wX0ir8TqhknB1ZLwHXF6yxX8HOGNlgPo5Oticko81t-B8cpyeXuLXT6EiHDxXKEhpnWlzHcQ87AF1V92rajMLtIr9-FM/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528119%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb-YlauLuGWdZTWXxCziny7GHxwlzBkVR30tWszkGpCNqkq_wX0ir8TqhknB1ZLwHXF6yxX8HOGNlgPo5Oticko81t-B8cpyeXuLXT6EiHDxXKEhpnWlzHcQ87AF1V92rajMLtIr9-FM/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528119%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjeMxxMdBEJWEET9VVQJq6kuNypFmDN1G8oGm8ZFTK3t30ga5zhbC_wmxQ9ssi_HKhFx5MSwr2Eh1bm06B31Tzc1JP4gwFeab5gl7yAqoNd0YNDN4IAW1KAJPUa_FRImBvuuul7Msf8M/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528163%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjeMxxMdBEJWEET9VVQJq6kuNypFmDN1G8oGm8ZFTK3t30ga5zhbC_wmxQ9ssi_HKhFx5MSwr2Eh1bm06B31Tzc1JP4gwFeab5gl7yAqoNd0YNDN4IAW1KAJPUa_FRImBvuuul7Msf8M/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528163%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The little ones from BR-417 arrived nice and early and were keen to get into the pool straight away. The biggest challenge on a day like this is making sure you try to spend time with everyone. I started off in the pool, throwing a ball around with Jasmiel and Christian. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWXNnK-k2b93-DwYX4lk1XC6IDDHphsY6HGehuhvpntj_XD0pvQAYbYA_5bEYsQWfxU4OO8B2q_Fe7yeskymdR1lUsIuW8YpetONX5tiHjqq-xKR5t2u85njZAf-yIuzSQLejDA9YNhY/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%25286%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWXNnK-k2b93-DwYX4lk1XC6IDDHphsY6HGehuhvpntj_XD0pvQAYbYA_5bEYsQWfxU4OO8B2q_Fe7yeskymdR1lUsIuW8YpetONX5tiHjqq-xKR5t2u85njZAf-yIuzSQLejDA9YNhY/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm9PAYiPRHMQpBNoUead2nHLOmDjGz_4yrxjL5NqnUOSzIDUxBqg3yc_bR5mlvcFANEWYqLNVR6jQ7uXoYRC6ZOmvMpdvA1Madto9R6CK-thuR9tJJ5r7sUyncq80hixvx3M8NSADDeE/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252818%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm9PAYiPRHMQpBNoUead2nHLOmDjGz_4yrxjL5NqnUOSzIDUxBqg3yc_bR5mlvcFANEWYqLNVR6jQ7uXoYRC6ZOmvMpdvA1Madto9R6CK-thuR9tJJ5r7sUyncq80hixvx3M8NSADDeE/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252818%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />In 2012 I had made the mistake of not wearing a hat, and my head was a nice shade of pink within a couple of hours. I did not allow history to repeat itself on this day. After a while I got the footy out and played with Jessica and Cristina from BR458, as well as Cristina’s younger (but taller) sister.<br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154777632513643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVfqZ_qyq_oQrG1RN9AWVRgkeUNlmMwXK92PX9zB8ozIDqLiddWqEktZiBPYCwx_YcJVg4YI6qa2hUEc-SuVpHMWBmxbrYXC2i9jxmj6-6I9MI4kQoMpeWWTeYz1yLktilwi41Fsy6-k/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528107%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVfqZ_qyq_oQrG1RN9AWVRgkeUNlmMwXK92PX9zB8ozIDqLiddWqEktZiBPYCwx_YcJVg4YI6qa2hUEc-SuVpHMWBmxbrYXC2i9jxmj6-6I9MI4kQoMpeWWTeYz1yLktilwi41Fsy6-k/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528107%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxIx9cgrRMvLB5VNUEiUxcDANN57zGyv1ZXiTc5N_2L_Ld5XNAH96X_tdYT_E8tPvMYut2_trzgzQiQqJGAzbnsw9oaw_MezFXU8qe2LJj90I-4P4rmXsPppKI27tYnReJvdhUkHfrmU/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252838%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxIx9cgrRMvLB5VNUEiUxcDANN57zGyv1ZXiTc5N_2L_Ld5XNAH96X_tdYT_E8tPvMYut2_trzgzQiQqJGAzbnsw9oaw_MezFXU8qe2LJj90I-4P4rmXsPppKI27tYnReJvdhUkHfrmU/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252838%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwufvyv4j8zTgCUxM3LscaXka7cRA34Riu3VlpNf0iFBHwKMVnvmhXd85GW9OkXtkIDSk4KAJg-lM6qGkDyTx1Qb1jK_Ipi50NKMWKRduP2n-MCq_qo9P5QJRD4icnHlWx0aB7U1mPhIE/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252844%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwufvyv4j8zTgCUxM3LscaXka7cRA34Riu3VlpNf0iFBHwKMVnvmhXd85GW9OkXtkIDSk4KAJg-lM6qGkDyTx1Qb1jK_Ipi50NKMWKRduP2n-MCq_qo9P5QJRD4icnHlWx0aB7U1mPhIE/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252844%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBad9ldqFUDCjsMXyzSURteBBoHJDu3ON_3w4LKu32jZZc4gDPWPa5PMiaoeX1bm9SGZgsfpqujoAvHw7xn9LwIEIdWyipPignahrP88zVhWtANrAO3IDhqIJgg5aiFo6LULTtgIgaqs/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252847%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBad9ldqFUDCjsMXyzSURteBBoHJDu3ON_3w4LKu32jZZc4gDPWPa5PMiaoeX1bm9SGZgsfpqujoAvHw7xn9LwIEIdWyipPignahrP88zVhWtANrAO3IDhqIJgg5aiFo6LULTtgIgaqs/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252847%2529.jpg" width="302" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-6ctvXbm0PbkOHzjomz1xX8y8c-oz_RDanq9I8-T4VHNZcjoijpZg8nmR6WQr8L_RhFviefyhbJ959zvzin4pfHPr6DS4f7un1SNqGk3yPoXa7K73tUXtqZzTpIvM-D9hoZOu1yzdCw/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252836%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-6ctvXbm0PbkOHzjomz1xX8y8c-oz_RDanq9I8-T4VHNZcjoijpZg8nmR6WQr8L_RhFviefyhbJ959zvzin4pfHPr6DS4f7un1SNqGk3yPoXa7K73tUXtqZzTpIvM-D9hoZOu1yzdCw/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252836%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVfZzW-RCDfw80xAoeMcbiouuprsXnnvdFHF1nUo7qtobJJ2yodg1o_KUoNYdZtyj2RHxYJZGyLccXcGwnnka9qlLraLC7PbahkFtP8G6fFoJbg_DxUNpUYo27h3RQR7pEZX1Fd7hFnI/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252832%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVfZzW-RCDfw80xAoeMcbiouuprsXnnvdFHF1nUo7qtobJJ2yodg1o_KUoNYdZtyj2RHxYJZGyLccXcGwnnka9qlLraLC7PbahkFtP8G6fFoJbg_DxUNpUYo27h3RQR7pEZX1Fd7hFnI/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252832%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ir6drYgTpm5YOkk1Ffa6xRipL-Zapwa90PW7aa35ssSMvfw0U4TwnF8Jad9Xhb5FZHPzq9XzxDqK6nq3JdMJf4L1C_e44hzfNq4Xfmb3K9oI2ldar47ziD2_O_Xpx6aQEqR3mvEJCDo/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252849%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ir6drYgTpm5YOkk1Ffa6xRipL-Zapwa90PW7aa35ssSMvfw0U4TwnF8Jad9Xhb5FZHPzq9XzxDqK6nq3JdMJf4L1C_e44hzfNq4Xfmb3K9oI2ldar47ziD2_O_Xpx6aQEqR3mvEJCDo/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252849%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Soon after I sat down with Cristina and her sister, showed them some photos and had a chat. On my previous two visits she had hardly said a word, so I was really hoping she’d open up a bit more. Thankfully she did, responding well to my questions and asking questions of her own, particularly when I got out the page of pictures I call the “Sharon page” (my girlfriend). She soon relaxed, and laughing and smiling came easily to her. It was so good to see her enjoying herself.<br /><br />Lunchtime came around quickly and we all gathered together under <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">the s<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">hade</span></span> and enjoyed a delicious meal. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS1_URuFKApfqx3T4I1JI-jGJHjghSaWid471a-L2jqAYK5f8VJ5a-DNp4_0DB4TKjK_fOjqA5yLfXs2ylNddKMZonEuajYKEtbNSxWB_QTaUr0kNX-nInlZDhUEzbP_iG2VwV-hhTjA/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252861%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS1_URuFKApfqx3T4I1JI-jGJHjghSaWid471a-L2jqAYK5f8VJ5a-DNp4_0DB4TKjK_fOjqA5yLfXs2ylNddKMZonEuajYKEtbNSxWB_QTaUr0kNX-nInlZDhUEzbP_iG2VwV-hhTjA/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252861%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />There was a little playground with bridges, trampolines and ladders which cost extra, but I could see the younger ones were itching to have a go, so I agreed to give them a ticket each to have a turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154777632508643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Next up I got back in the pool, joined by a few of the kids. I had brought some tennis balls as well as the little red Australian football, and they flew back and forth as we splashed and played and just had a great time. The little ones hovered around the outside of the pool, holding on to the edges. They’d swim as far as they could toward me and my translator Davi before flailing around and waiting for us to catch them. It was a good trust exercise, and they showed they trusted us completely.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSZKuzSU-WhMwWROfwz3GPimDb-GunMwzzrvHbdJPz2h7LZsuA6mesJJ9dXEVYUAzpaIxtPpca1PBAbeugg0WfdPrGWSB9StGXV3jYKcXuUtHsJcDG0B5PJqGgWhsRQuYfOKFHvi6Q9g/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252884%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSZKuzSU-WhMwWROfwz3GPimDb-GunMwzzrvHbdJPz2h7LZsuA6mesJJ9dXEVYUAzpaIxtPpca1PBAbeugg0WfdPrGWSB9StGXV3jYKcXuUtHsJcDG0B5PJqGgWhsRQuYfOKFHvi6Q9g/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252884%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVlSlXTn53gGPlt8dioaeKcpqS9LS5yQSmws_b0SZW_DP1Tf-Ch8w7OMKY4TqqxYtEO9hmQhFCMqjr21ETSxiGJDxWbMlb8lE5dsFnSY-nsIVKFohliIYttHHBJjQd-Mpc6X8GgrUews/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252875%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVlSlXTn53gGPlt8dioaeKcpqS9LS5yQSmws_b0SZW_DP1Tf-Ch8w7OMKY4TqqxYtEO9hmQhFCMqjr21ETSxiGJDxWbMlb8lE5dsFnSY-nsIVKFohliIYttHHBJjQd-Mpc6X8GgrUews/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252875%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVYvusVlzmjPp6TncCqKOQ0eV-19YG5WwUCls2hyphenhyphen_gTB5MvGqLLKJvb6B25KzQ6d1o8ZKap8DYpKry6JSSY3XgSJZBllxoB9SCcOpBClNtrgro0SSazZWy8BSUOn-xWbaQAdyVnQPC8I/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252881%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVYvusVlzmjPp6TncCqKOQ0eV-19YG5WwUCls2hyphenhyphen_gTB5MvGqLLKJvb6B25KzQ6d1o8ZKap8DYpKry6JSSY3XgSJZBllxoB9SCcOpBClNtrgro0SSazZWy8BSUOn-xWbaQAdyVnQPC8I/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252881%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KuoeEDRheQ0KQZQkJ8r4iOEcSFv90ucaEdCqM-oCpJd6NBwXqXDSui1u5cYysbOlKfStVV-OroKP5x_yRD_X6jDgX8fah9ZRknj6RigFXU7eUFQ7XibuGMDOALPKxrCA_Qotq3i_m1w/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252882%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KuoeEDRheQ0KQZQkJ8r4iOEcSFv90ucaEdCqM-oCpJd6NBwXqXDSui1u5cYysbOlKfStVV-OroKP5x_yRD_X6jDgX8fah9ZRknj6RigFXU7eUFQ7XibuGMDOALPKxrCA_Qotq3i_m1w/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252882%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNB1ZtGZlVyhNYfhzI7DlPncfwo1HQisSD_3Brjv7EE8DqHW8mo9IG4VZ1DYtbWyebdOcvw71H_dcrg4dU-J3sgcsLBNsvV2jMlJSxleZDJaFDHZG4AAYtI-Chhg965YeMnFTLt6H32o/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252883%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNB1ZtGZlVyhNYfhzI7DlPncfwo1HQisSD_3Brjv7EE8DqHW8mo9IG4VZ1DYtbWyebdOcvw71H_dcrg4dU-J3sgcsLBNsvV2jMlJSxleZDJaFDHZG4AAYtI-Chhg965YeMnFTLt6H32o/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252883%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh125Byh2XJsaDxQMX3owCs7YjpNYZ8A3ZGARs2qMu4f0tCijky3SOAU-6b3NIUs63ltDO-RHsRrTt7z1w4SrTLqDvDTj-kPk2gQT4Gq7t89Caka0Xv6CZxxBeHXk-61VUbUP3KpHb5ZLY/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252885%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh125Byh2XJsaDxQMX3owCs7YjpNYZ8A3ZGARs2qMu4f0tCijky3SOAU-6b3NIUs63ltDO-RHsRrTt7z1w4SrTLqDvDTj-kPk2gQT4Gq7t89Caka0Xv6CZxxBeHXk-61VUbUP3KpHb5ZLY/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252885%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_aza6n4jJRZn_yemxgNxc-u9LTAIeAqzRRpzJnQOMkRKH6xbKN8jBssfniAmCRcqxu0vhCI-pOilMIwTag3w410Lr2__-aiNW2to8F6EktvEb1lpxWecOqzEBAWu8BDnUfj3VzsUXV4/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252886%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_aza6n4jJRZn_yemxgNxc-u9LTAIeAqzRRpzJnQOMkRKH6xbKN8jBssfniAmCRcqxu0vhCI-pOilMIwTag3w410Lr2__-aiNW2to8F6EktvEb1lpxWecOqzEBAWu8BDnUfj3VzsUXV4/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252886%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />One highlight from this day was Cristina’s mum. 24 hours earlier I had sat with her in her house, trying to engage in meaningful conversation and talking about her daughter’s potentially serious health issues. Today she was a different woman, and the transformation was incredible! She was the only parent to get in the pool, and the joy that emanated from her as we played and threw a ball around was amazing to experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi253gCU-zVNwKe_ZiUNZfD7prU_597LxZ-560Ue6ymcLWcol2Zm422m56nybT9MyzkLj8FMjidzT644oxuRpKAnlk4lPbmiaO7_3mUTluchy9gMf6CBnY6xp9dJMk3LIqsM9z5kAd_8wM/s1600/Desktop5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi253gCU-zVNwKe_ZiUNZfD7prU_597LxZ-560Ue6ymcLWcol2Zm422m56nybT9MyzkLj8FMjidzT644oxuRpKAnlk4lPbmiaO7_3mUTluchy9gMf6CBnY6xp9dJMk3LIqsM9z5kAd_8wM/s400/Desktop5.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />After I had exhausted my nearly-35-year-old energy I got out and dried off. Pretty soon we were being summoned for cake and farewells, which came much too quickly. I had thought long and hard about what I wanted to say, since I couldn’t take it for granted that I would ever see them again. I made sure I included both kids and parents in my speech. I thanked them for coming and for having me in their homes. I made sure they knew why I was there – that I was motivated purely by the love of God. It wasn’t because I was a good person or I was doing a nice thing. It was so much more than that; it was about giving them a taste of the love of God – relentless, extravagant and life transforming. <br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154773747543643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYejEAGGk-CWcsmFT7nntkYm45r13KpUTWmULCDSUkVV9lgQmfQWKzsP466uREtmcoQOWorSRAB8IgVoK1LsF7owUCPL0ajEU3FXO_CbrVReKjZ2HawRYx1181ZJ6binwLg2ZiJzuUoz8/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528176%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYejEAGGk-CWcsmFT7nntkYm45r13KpUTWmULCDSUkVV9lgQmfQWKzsP466uREtmcoQOWorSRAB8IgVoK1LsF7owUCPL0ajEU3FXO_CbrVReKjZ2HawRYx1181ZJ6binwLg2ZiJzuUoz8/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528176%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpiBSgyNvK2FYA7Umb9hjsC6SizOmvGTPn7HnbJEP59m6JWhBormF1u8c0nYN_ENiLdUPpLcqNYYvT88mu7KUmNaFxxls7M0ymDcV5ZZaJzTGhIbbipeitREYOxNQaDIJGMVdH-wcQu4/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528177%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpiBSgyNvK2FYA7Umb9hjsC6SizOmvGTPn7HnbJEP59m6JWhBormF1u8c0nYN_ENiLdUPpLcqNYYvT88mu7KUmNaFxxls7M0ymDcV5ZZaJzTGhIbbipeitREYOxNQaDIJGMVdH-wcQu4/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528177%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSw82S_dD3uVuOpxqZlsJef_hsobAuAAxokFiYpB4e8hyphenhyphenhg1Zw1IjeGvklV4szTbmDDhXFy707U0xPV83-n3l8kT0AQSl7_5HMwLTudLUTHD8iFjolSd3wzxclr7ZhXCAmWtX68Nx-qvk/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528179%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSw82S_dD3uVuOpxqZlsJef_hsobAuAAxokFiYpB4e8hyphenhyphenhg1Zw1IjeGvklV4szTbmDDhXFy707U0xPV83-n3l8kT0AQSl7_5HMwLTudLUTHD8iFjolSd3wzxclr7ZhXCAmWtX68Nx-qvk/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528179%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3ZFVCa_nQ_c57zf_yLWqv3utaycCRfnsta-VUPrNlydosZFaNVnkRwDk1-2Dg57CXJjHdSp4ggVrfXOfYAB9i-8xIX8DmisMDaxzVD_zEgWEleSGYbsmAFJkkPM5pP6Jbo9qkRX9WcQ/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252897%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3ZFVCa_nQ_c57zf_yLWqv3utaycCRfnsta-VUPrNlydosZFaNVnkRwDk1-2Dg57CXJjHdSp4ggVrfXOfYAB9i-8xIX8DmisMDaxzVD_zEgWEleSGYbsmAFJkkPM5pP6Jbo9qkRX9WcQ/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252897%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1JdMu-KJtq8fXBbeWWeYo77y6o8N5Q67o-ld3IOrYrgRMcadvNEjVCwNy1Ld-4VSp2knbp0Ut44cznk7TFEkddLVH3xqSg7eMDkdUAc6KJqY5UMY6MI6agQ9wt_zN1u_f3-LbUzODtA/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252895%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1JdMu-KJtq8fXBbeWWeYo77y6o8N5Q67o-ld3IOrYrgRMcadvNEjVCwNy1Ld-4VSp2knbp0Ut44cznk7TFEkddLVH3xqSg7eMDkdUAc6KJqY5UMY6MI6agQ9wt_zN1u_f3-LbUzODtA/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252895%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18-_6Wo7Xy0tbTOScTJV2z3Svb2MIWo8bh06wBla7tsPtYITicymY4GFDaAPdn6q4yad6anYvUYfz78eLJ9WJHeNzJPaKZz9fp07DIRaEIvMMarqQNOiZepxDZBOATwOiMLdTqrd9Fjk/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528106%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18-_6Wo7Xy0tbTOScTJV2z3Svb2MIWo8bh06wBla7tsPtYITicymY4GFDaAPdn6q4yad6anYvUYfz78eLJ9WJHeNzJPaKZz9fp07DIRaEIvMMarqQNOiZepxDZBOATwOiMLdTqrd9Fjk/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528106%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw7myL-oQcZ_5ghEDAkjJ1TveleD05ZGXMk5Of28pASwvbpHL4KjLXGqKx5P7SHpjZAe_UN9fyqpvq4Q44hY3niWwe9Huu-3BbsV1Dv5kP-9-MuegRBSdB29FGOupw-WRMysVZNZSsHE/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528100%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw7myL-oQcZ_5ghEDAkjJ1TveleD05ZGXMk5Of28pASwvbpHL4KjLXGqKx5P7SHpjZAe_UN9fyqpvq4Q44hY3niWwe9Huu-3BbsV1Dv5kP-9-MuegRBSdB29FGOupw-WRMysVZNZSsHE/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528100%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPZihfMX9PptQieNoOM_ejJPaWg0P_w1tGIk7gfNMg9rHT9vN7-sj0eCLk3uS9iAthv7aRjyQ5Kt7GeYnHPAENNhtUPPfqn5uLHQPpQhZiNBRo1WCs35KRmAY3d1Srd6X45HIf3CuLuc/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528101%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPZihfMX9PptQieNoOM_ejJPaWg0P_w1tGIk7gfNMg9rHT9vN7-sj0eCLk3uS9iAthv7aRjyQ5Kt7GeYnHPAENNhtUPPfqn5uLHQPpQhZiNBRo1WCs35KRmAY3d1Srd6X45HIf3CuLuc/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528101%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />A couple of the groups had to rush off, including Cristina’s, so I didn’t get the time with her at the end that I had hoped for. Her sponsor Cathy had sent along some gifts, including a beautiful necklace and earrings. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirePxBXXAKx9YXdCY3_25j0HF5STWmrie18q4r-ngnAO1g8d-OiYTwpJQ2TyhVvjrvJDOcafDCjnd68W05ukwi7Lnxnk3LhLNUObopgNkNvIuZzBeZGCruNcw_Tk1dKXda8iZSECDVAM/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528115%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirePxBXXAKx9YXdCY3_25j0HF5STWmrie18q4r-ngnAO1g8d-OiYTwpJQ2TyhVvjrvJDOcafDCjnd68W05ukwi7Lnxnk3LhLNUObopgNkNvIuZzBeZGCruNcw_Tk1dKXda8iZSECDVAM/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528115%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbO-LOuiQ6DnCaczTTDd0nUB9DQHsrgTRqzM_ARbAZCKdhHCp_WdyOM5Oc6D8U8H6IeaDz_C5V5tI3BXosODzENBgAV3WKxyHFr94T9mlxDxbBg7YmKW_LuDK1d3Yg51WNtnwmzt-q3Io/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528114%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbO-LOuiQ6DnCaczTTDd0nUB9DQHsrgTRqzM_ARbAZCKdhHCp_WdyOM5Oc6D8U8H6IeaDz_C5V5tI3BXosODzENBgAV3WKxyHFr94T9mlxDxbBg7YmKW_LuDK1d3Yg51WNtnwmzt-q3Io/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528114%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M6sYZU61QU7UZddz-DGSMY-tIjNhvLTUTIRXwX1pPtzvukhJ_oUkPE1mNNMQGw96JlNwE7odE12Ar1wM-jcSli5rvaGq2EuU1lduOYyD3kMg9rroCrmN5MDAU6H2AkIx4yziJLvepSg/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528113%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M6sYZU61QU7UZddz-DGSMY-tIjNhvLTUTIRXwX1pPtzvukhJ_oUkPE1mNNMQGw96JlNwE7odE12Ar1wM-jcSli5rvaGq2EuU1lduOYyD3kMg9rroCrmN5MDAU6H2AkIx4yziJLvepSg/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528113%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDy3GY9xEvO1GVDVpojKPbe96cxJLwIHb4agqipYa1AXrPMKIqgiNjtovf2phxhDhgoG1pwm75vqqGQtzQ9B5TOKj86lvpEh3fFWs1l1yHkwV3w7STYP5bfWn8EyzRjTvZP_bH89BHbc/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528116%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDy3GY9xEvO1GVDVpojKPbe96cxJLwIHb4agqipYa1AXrPMKIqgiNjtovf2phxhDhgoG1pwm75vqqGQtzQ9B5TOKj86lvpEh3fFWs1l1yHkwV3w7STYP5bfWn8EyzRjTvZP_bH89BHbc/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528116%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Being able to pray with her in person was a holy and profound experience. This girl had already been through so much with her health and family situation. I had watched on helplessly much of the time, but today I was able to lift her up to the only One who is able to do anything to change her circumstances. I prayed with confidence for healing, protection, strength and comfort.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqFbdCBGSLiSiUnOxd0T41KXkaFkambnBFkCxNngoinUZxwWhRPWEEfK59G9dro_evz5-6azqAgkF1pLpqKMbi0pNWPxdG3J-H0hjJNnI2OU8rpMACRYi-gi4S4jEIHY-3evotFkwcWk/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528123%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqFbdCBGSLiSiUnOxd0T41KXkaFkambnBFkCxNngoinUZxwWhRPWEEfK59G9dro_evz5-6azqAgkF1pLpqKMbi0pNWPxdG3J-H0hjJNnI2OU8rpMACRYi-gi4S4jEIHY-3evotFkwcWk/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528123%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshDE_Fk22tqZoiyO9fzRe9YURU0YiVicaj_6s3Mfdaa_USlMQU9YyxtNvBi21tdbNJifWf8ZDTPOVO8ozO9NgvO4gn_w5sIIfAFchmk6fH_iNij4CmcqGflkPRVu0Gjozng17_s44jEo/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528124%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshDE_Fk22tqZoiyO9fzRe9YURU0YiVicaj_6s3Mfdaa_USlMQU9YyxtNvBi21tdbNJifWf8ZDTPOVO8ozO9NgvO4gn_w5sIIfAFchmk6fH_iNij4CmcqGflkPRVu0Gjozng17_s44jEo/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528124%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoihTVCb_spArJBTqbUQOJdjUnwoRbvgmx1lxsUH7bcWv3RKSa7jnWbazv-MaN2WOPWL-Ge_xfnfDn5bFgjkDMRbS423jM-QhDUGu8YsnJVuQeZpw5ZRkxYBxBu_kpeZqSl3MHHPqZsXo/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528125%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoihTVCb_spArJBTqbUQOJdjUnwoRbvgmx1lxsUH7bcWv3RKSa7jnWbazv-MaN2WOPWL-Ge_xfnfDn5bFgjkDMRbS423jM-QhDUGu8YsnJVuQeZpw5ZRkxYBxBu_kpeZqSl3MHHPqZsXo/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528125%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I gave out some gifts, took some last photos and all of a sudden the whirlwind week was over. I had received such extravagant love, generosity and kindness from these people. Honest and hard questions were answered graciously. My heart had been pushed, pulled, stretched, broken and filled up again in such a short space of time, but God was always with me, strengthening and protecting.<br /><br />Having stepped into poverty in twelve countries with Compassion in recent years, I have developed a tendency to let the hard stuff overwhelm me; I take life very seriously and I often have trouble relaxing and enjoying myself. I made a conscious decision on this trip to embrace the joyous moments (and there were plenty!). I didn’t ignore or shut myself off from the hard <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">realities</span> but I just didn’t let it overwhelm me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><b>Everything that happened this week was because of, and for, Jesus. He is the source of all the Love, Joy, Life and Hope that was experienced. He is the only One who can transform lives and turn the hard stuff that I saw into something good.</b><br /><br />Thank you Compassion. Thank You Jesus.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgb_OfF9fE9tZvjkOmd2V8SvxRgmMJo0rP8N6NtdsnHa30esw6OKHgh3MN5L9DjYG_GabNWH37IEg15Jrmv-B3lLzOUgihyUA4NkxbxbiDMqfDPt1nwWhfaA13zNbGFou3E1I6wDNbXQs/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528181%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgb_OfF9fE9tZvjkOmd2V8SvxRgmMJo0rP8N6NtdsnHa30esw6OKHgh3MN5L9DjYG_GabNWH37IEg15Jrmv-B3lLzOUgihyUA4NkxbxbiDMqfDPt1nwWhfaA13zNbGFou3E1I6wDNbXQs/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528181%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJK3z3VC-1TjDMs7W_FjIDmEffyO2BskCOBN_dQv3EfjVdPEsjRCSjzBn5s-jcPq3PT-1_HOjU3BB2VvJIlkxdzUhK4Jes3YJok1p0FHkZ8tO4YH6SUITt3lOf06GQGXRITacsVxy37k/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252824%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJK3z3VC-1TjDMs7W_FjIDmEffyO2BskCOBN_dQv3EfjVdPEsjRCSjzBn5s-jcPq3PT-1_HOjU3BB2VvJIlkxdzUhK4Jes3YJok1p0FHkZ8tO4YH6SUITt3lOf06GQGXRITacsVxy37k/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252824%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdyzi_g6Q4rSq8qTk8m9lQQgq-baTkV5OJ92jN4Cs-W082z9LkQKp9roQtRYOHZBCGiEhQgbv0TKWnsUcA0OkNXQ2oU8PCZEqushethwI_TfsBjPieLnXJCgoPAo8v4f2RRauunfiX4w/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdyzi_g6Q4rSq8qTk8m9lQQgq-baTkV5OJ92jN4Cs-W082z9LkQKp9roQtRYOHZBCGiEhQgbv0TKWnsUcA0OkNXQ2oU8PCZEqushethwI_TfsBjPieLnXJCgoPAo8v4f2RRauunfiX4w/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252823%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOXYeIeeKF-50X_bTdddzT3RM7Wf6tChERk3OiJ-GT-3gBERLR9ygmPTZOPrOKl6bV0clvMustO9_OehkQedO2F9rnrY6bD80srO00LgZwhFnx7cFID34NZKGIHxdra8ZNm2YqraxlMw/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252825%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOXYeIeeKF-50X_bTdddzT3RM7Wf6tChERk3OiJ-GT-3gBERLR9ygmPTZOPrOKl6bV0clvMustO9_OehkQedO2F9rnrY6bD80srO00LgZwhFnx7cFID34NZKGIHxdra8ZNm2YqraxlMw/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252825%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVqyK4_vtgAMsBipvLW1ENn37MQI-cN5ixULVc_tHOxEIWQX5UTFsvEL_gJ8-9j44mn72Fw6nDd0umLKWDs5yasAO9tmCgcbyjsIHBLvQKE-dGl3JVTZo2yMkLn1BzX6XeXSFlJhowGA/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252865%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVqyK4_vtgAMsBipvLW1ENn37MQI-cN5ixULVc_tHOxEIWQX5UTFsvEL_gJ8-9j44mn72Fw6nDd0umLKWDs5yasAO9tmCgcbyjsIHBLvQKE-dGl3JVTZo2yMkLn1BzX6XeXSFlJhowGA/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%252865%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCBfKq5teluzEDHUYjrLFhZ7yDu2u0yJDRsYdVwPAr2ONTxaSrwd-_gUyifOeH_wLsLEsNs4XNtJBCRcXsboDRUus8rNNuoCh6HMXRnr3BuDfVN7j35qAR-Bo0IV3BEreG4G8_tO41NM/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528132%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCBfKq5teluzEDHUYjrLFhZ7yDu2u0yJDRsYdVwPAr2ONTxaSrwd-_gUyifOeH_wLsLEsNs4XNtJBCRcXsboDRUus8rNNuoCh6HMXRnr3BuDfVN7j35qAR-Bo0IV3BEreG4G8_tO41NM/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528132%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ceS_jWGtYArQmk0_UekgylFWRYXEkVIxgVgLFWCDt4tPHs0xRTVc-vZ_52ZW2TGHyfCjV_y58yxwsevSjFRTpacg_BO3hvR6QeRuvYwhOk1-4QTdtIpev5pJnLzpDaR4vMpPWOdMAAg/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528127%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ceS_jWGtYArQmk0_UekgylFWRYXEkVIxgVgLFWCDt4tPHs0xRTVc-vZ_52ZW2TGHyfCjV_y58yxwsevSjFRTpacg_BO3hvR6QeRuvYwhOk1-4QTdtIpev5pJnLzpDaR4vMpPWOdMAAg/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528127%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkn1XsUB0sieFbEsIcQltS_gEV2hrxjNIRRdb5MScoyOcBvWF7GJWJzHBZRg078qn1h2Bwn4ekDj2fCaRggLiyd3gcaNZmt-5lt9Y-sAXyaaMDXOTpjI_oyaTi97OsbQ3yrJGExPe2aw/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528134%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkn1XsUB0sieFbEsIcQltS_gEV2hrxjNIRRdb5MScoyOcBvWF7GJWJzHBZRg078qn1h2Bwn4ekDj2fCaRggLiyd3gcaNZmt-5lt9Y-sAXyaaMDXOTpjI_oyaTi97OsbQ3yrJGExPe2aw/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528134%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscquTVVuLDGVbU3TCkTnjRGsAoOdZLywlsqGgFL70BfGQretYYO4TslEzrQ6PpL9ALhcHsJphAegFYbfGu3RhseenxoKfw-ejGIeQ1gb48qZFHdyXQjElMC0Xeme0aPI7Q9UWBRLmC40/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528144%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscquTVVuLDGVbU3TCkTnjRGsAoOdZLywlsqGgFL70BfGQretYYO4TslEzrQ6PpL9ALhcHsJphAegFYbfGu3RhseenxoKfw-ejGIeQ1gb48qZFHdyXQjElMC0Xeme0aPI7Q9UWBRLmC40/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528144%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVWiro__PrdZ1gQkjxQjRRmZmh6qyDHEi4hRlKYp2_y8E01tj5B6eG93dAlV7N5hGe0BwxwML7vpjYK9kDVujUZKp-UInXnNSuQWNLKNSZHWXJHm1jqbIShh_dgh77A7ypGJwnaRz28Q/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528147%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVWiro__PrdZ1gQkjxQjRRmZmh6qyDHEi4hRlKYp2_y8E01tj5B6eG93dAlV7N5hGe0BwxwML7vpjYK9kDVujUZKp-UInXnNSuQWNLKNSZHWXJHm1jqbIShh_dgh77A7ypGJwnaRz28Q/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528147%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEDw6sAsG54BMuftqPEZ-HuFuWaAtmf4AJoDyrcpICv_VjuIc-CbZWfixa2jxVovBmwoEzNXqK6sj6aMp3mhEeulLK9NQU1omSyv6W9BiBVOJEevbzxwXut-V2QL0wRRGjWfJCF8Lt5o/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528149%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEDw6sAsG54BMuftqPEZ-HuFuWaAtmf4AJoDyrcpICv_VjuIc-CbZWfixa2jxVovBmwoEzNXqK6sj6aMp3mhEeulLK9NQU1omSyv6W9BiBVOJEevbzxwXut-V2QL0wRRGjWfJCF8Lt5o/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528149%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycTghXqWh551_i9yrgW1zHgr8gcvS7-PVULNLLeZAp8dWb95JY3T8Th9-WXXAP1dMQYL47qQnnn1ROcuqL8OSZeHvSyvilt8wfHJuiS09VAOL3b3guuH-wW7T64dgQclJsGKQgIFGfR4/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528166%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycTghXqWh551_i9yrgW1zHgr8gcvS7-PVULNLLeZAp8dWb95JY3T8Th9-WXXAP1dMQYL47qQnnn1ROcuqL8OSZeHvSyvilt8wfHJuiS09VAOL3b3guuH-wW7T64dgQclJsGKQgIFGfR4/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528166%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9opiJpaTI50BUf_6Gkljn0uLYd1-3WgRCRv30UEgPkz3yLXMrX1C6rTINeuxWvCUqipTrmD4fy8oQqZ-voakdlTGbQumvKUZy3D3qGME9RyoSHTnqwyzWEzS_gbVkP77FMBXgGQD2aP4/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528165%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9opiJpaTI50BUf_6Gkljn0uLYd1-3WgRCRv30UEgPkz3yLXMrX1C6rTINeuxWvCUqipTrmD4fy8oQqZ-voakdlTGbQumvKUZy3D3qGME9RyoSHTnqwyzWEzS_gbVkP77FMBXgGQD2aP4/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528165%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8f4PibvM9IZQQ6j5Kda0nbwC5w8dEvAaCq6iJ4MeWgaThDTG86Z28HykI4P7cgdW_NoQUNbRmKJAu1O2v_4EDrtSsPYBjrnGW2IgcH4-KUKDAD-owWU1aKICgCFApNPEblqVWA-tohc/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528153%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8f4PibvM9IZQQ6j5Kda0nbwC5w8dEvAaCq6iJ4MeWgaThDTG86Z28HykI4P7cgdW_NoQUNbRmKJAu1O2v_4EDrtSsPYBjrnGW2IgcH4-KUKDAD-owWU1aKICgCFApNPEblqVWA-tohc/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528153%2529.jpg" width="400" /><br /></a><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD99Q24E2xF9v4oXAujileBvoYXQ9LCXq6XPXcIUPxbp_484_v64Kha8LtKGdBDhE4uipks4LkWZeFGcG0wmpJ4XGmhQBQE6X4wvfVl1WzK3ug31FiAFtFcUff9P3Nc_LaMz-qCp2l528/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%25287%2529.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgdSLWgAG9rAep4yRr5TwDFcJPSDkRYMqoluIMM8OyVo5kZLPtCFYTxGSeXyf1c_nULSauLFdQWkNnBaI8UsAVi3HpQ28KVq5VQexw39qlJ9OBh7nQ6raoPZhgJZMMs7n6bMF8V2cj3E/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%25289%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgdSLWgAG9rAep4yRr5TwDFcJPSDkRYMqoluIMM8OyVo5kZLPtCFYTxGSeXyf1c_nULSauLFdQWkNnBaI8UsAVi3HpQ28KVq5VQexw39qlJ9OBh7nQ6raoPZhgJZMMs7n6bMF8V2cj3E/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%25289%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcm1Y1FsCAj9opQMagkfDHAQmzQFwcGFnQej6ObXV2cZGeJe9jFWZjDdZUB3H2yv7u-ynJRjJoubUDyo5bjWcu24Tmu7Wj7ZQpEEmDk7UaH5eBKcihr_6fQdj6MXPL_IG9cV31e5fmKg/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%25288%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcm1Y1FsCAj9opQMagkfDHAQmzQFwcGFnQej6ObXV2cZGeJe9jFWZjDdZUB3H2yv7u-ynJRjJoubUDyo5bjWcu24Tmu7Wj7ZQpEEmDk7UaH5eBKcihr_6fQdj6MXPL_IG9cV31e5fmKg/s400/Birthday+Fun+Day+%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8f4PibvM9IZQQ6j5Kda0nbwC5w8dEvAaCq6iJ4MeWgaThDTG86Z28HykI4P7cgdW_NoQUNbRmKJAu1O2v_4EDrtSsPYBjrnGW2IgcH4-KUKDAD-owWU1aKICgCFApNPEblqVWA-tohc/s1600/Birthday+Fun+Day+%2528153%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-52964863686245498582016-09-22T22:40:00.000+10:002021-09-18T13:18:28.198+10:00Compassion Trip #9 (Brazil 2016): Visiting Jessica, Cristian and Ana Cristina at BR-458<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brazil Compassion Adventure blog series</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-intro-and.html"><br />Intro & Visit Day #1 (BR417)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-2.html"><br />Visit Day #2 (BR453)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3.html"><br />Visit Day #3 Part 1 (BR110)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3_29.html"><br />Visit Day #3 Part 2 (BR329)</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-big.html">Birthday Bash</a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br />The final visit day before my Big Birthday Bash was to Project BR-458 to visit <b>Jessica</b>, <b>Cristian</b> and <b>Ana Cristina</b>. </span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5T5SPWU4Le6B-prwm7_1ubMaLfxtRPowJ8GyyMgGrAdAaV_sFC3Ti9Dbf7wG3s830WVNsuZGNFuD8Bj3AuMC-gEZYjCSv6x0ZrL77WFBMgsOUqALWkthzdhBXOAbiaTeeDcro5YV0Qw/s400/14352527_10154756501368643_8401125221347068281_o.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First visit back in 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJasF0TRB1GbUoWYBer_MNcsIt083J2sToi70w3JievdEUqQNT45jk3_T4zPh131VFxV5_ByTJksCGRLA-yYV4cLKAqZ_p2b_T3uXhyMTTxRsQxFot3yqpPCmSuKlobO4vUldkwJSR8YU/s1600/14463180_10154761522373643_2867290329617624630_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJasF0TRB1GbUoWYBer_MNcsIt083J2sToi70w3JievdEUqQNT45jk3_T4zPh131VFxV5_ByTJksCGRLA-yYV4cLKAqZ_p2b_T3uXhyMTTxRsQxFot3yqpPCmSuKlobO4vUldkwJSR8YU/s320/14463180_10154761522373643_2867290329617624630_n.jpg" width="215" /></a></span><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-Wissxm5-Lss4RFA-nl6vCeHvDmo7d1RWbEzQ3f2zOJ9DyC8kwPJHpwZ-KrCijHzkSCUPs5WVZgL5cSDbXrg8SFWQiexycBKwR-80_DKqDjMRXrDjmpruxkW2-BEZy8Ufiptyj05ntE/s320/14380180_10154761843633643_6356188612225773264_o.jpg" width="104" /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW4WsxGLuBo8jz8qmD00wTGG0szenlYbBH8j0vNi2282un1hfSLcJkCIKMEMfPsqGQ3__jhPlZBv6DB0ybefaz4ERf9bnrWLFFlanrEMG3HpVNJBX6JyVXQ10bukxoerADQMOJr9znl8/s320/14372110_10154761828238643_5946286644562621119_o.jpg" width="164" /> </span></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />I previously sponsored all three of these kids and visited twice but my friends <b>Cathy Ward </b>(Cristina) and <b>Amanda and Bruce Newton </b>(Jessica and Christian) took over the sponsorships when I moved to the Philippines in 2014..<br /><br />I have written a lot about my <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/david-and-brazil-god-story.html">connection with Ana Cristina</a>. She was my first sponsored child from Brazil, God used her tragic family situation to move my heart and I ended up sponsoring and visiting 12 kids from the same area over the next few years. My <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/re-visiting-br-458-tough-day.html">visit to her family home</a> in 2013 was among the hardest days of my life. Seeing the reality of their lives crushed me, and reminded me that poverty is a beast and Compassion is not some sort of magical instant quick fix, but a long term process.<br /><br />I was looking forward to seeing Cristina again and I remember thinking it couldn’t possibly be a harder day than last time. How wrong I was. <br /><br />The day started off so well. We were welcomed by lots of joyful noise and a confetti shower by a group of curious kids. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154776462343643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakBZrI7yJmCStTN6lSiqSltXSI3jXY11LQMmUnhuQQq3oF4ISKsGfXgvm0YoigMI3RrqPSXTDM3r_YLIReU1Lc_T1u6jse5Oaw4VPZkEsUbY5cYjFBFo1Np2MdWoQe4lr-rpdMLi1FtM/s1600/BR458+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakBZrI7yJmCStTN6lSiqSltXSI3jXY11LQMmUnhuQQq3oF4ISKsGfXgvm0YoigMI3RrqPSXTDM3r_YLIReU1Lc_T1u6jse5Oaw4VPZkEsUbY5cYjFBFo1Np2MdWoQe4lr-rpdMLi1FtM/s400/BR458+%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UMMhxTRCS3rquUNtfevdHuJv-puHlaxeUPOvW0wZK_4Xrx6thWpo9X8gKSU8deNtOqgVPL9k5rEdcKQYYzC8mdTAluSU7_mDEdp0e_1vPAd6C6XL6Rzh8rOpA4SS6xLZd1XxXfplX2E/s1600/BR458+%25286%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UMMhxTRCS3rquUNtfevdHuJv-puHlaxeUPOvW0wZK_4Xrx6thWpo9X8gKSU8deNtOqgVPL9k5rEdcKQYYzC8mdTAluSU7_mDEdp0e_1vPAd6C6XL6Rzh8rOpA4SS6xLZd1XxXfplX2E/s400/BR458+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic80NOgBYxcdpbnQFfprRhUjTmW2EBmossYwpCl76jONpFGLh15bA8_wQzpQW4GS1vg8I9-QkRna2Y1r-ow3FZM02OWorl7Gsv43CS_4-l_q2TZE1urJy_Eark7a12CzjN7ZzA3EPHF3k/s1600/BR458+%25288%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic80NOgBYxcdpbnQFfprRhUjTmW2EBmossYwpCl76jONpFGLh15bA8_wQzpQW4GS1vg8I9-QkRna2Y1r-ow3FZM02OWorl7Gsv43CS_4-l_q2TZE1urJy_Eark7a12CzjN7ZzA3EPHF3k/s400/BR458+%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I met 12-year-old Jessica and her sister Gizelle. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_kWPfNsV4sKSVq3CuNZz4uGrAIKFxBCOicOJr-zn0ie7ZjLGC_Zuf0qBTz91XASTfHxNFNNONIf1r3kd7qisovwpRPvPn8IqqIVUpiuyRM_pjB9I__bfP81cGKHu3HR3_6EwLn1479Q/s1600/BR458+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_kWPfNsV4sKSVq3CuNZz4uGrAIKFxBCOicOJr-zn0ie7ZjLGC_Zuf0qBTz91XASTfHxNFNNONIf1r3kd7qisovwpRPvPn8IqqIVUpiuyRM_pjB9I__bfP81cGKHu3HR3_6EwLn1479Q/s400/BR458+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_UZ4wEj8zePbf6pyjphmrIZw4FrDaq3lX2RLy5LAgJ18fsC-NrBqt3ENZrOWrxmZxcORABHJRnF8ICBNdJIOLBq4DP9JoOD45I5MX34G9QMfjN90oGapMoTYR9_ZK1Pj1sOnCtVG9nc/s1600/BR458+%25289%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_UZ4wEj8zePbf6pyjphmrIZw4FrDaq3lX2RLy5LAgJ18fsC-NrBqt3ENZrOWrxmZxcORABHJRnF8ICBNdJIOLBq4DP9JoOD45I5MX34G9QMfjN90oGapMoTYR9_ZK1Pj1sOnCtVG9nc/s400/BR458+%25289%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA8r6nQPN4Ma_BIZeu4AQycGYiP1v17hKmlmUUBIKp6Qo95CaZZ3pncochkhZk_XUpIBLaUcszGQZvTt6yRqIrOD3uq178SRiQvtvzxUwZns-PVy0XT1GHPDtXnFs_n0tgGa0K-AfedM/s1600/20160922_100218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA8r6nQPN4Ma_BIZeu4AQycGYiP1v17hKmlmUUBIKp6Qo95CaZZ3pncochkhZk_XUpIBLaUcszGQZvTt6yRqIrOD3uq178SRiQvtvzxUwZns-PVy0XT1GHPDtXnFs_n0tgGa0K-AfedM/s400/20160922_100218.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazecAZ2qU9GvhNIWyjWZZ0t7BEm0Um-kwXCAUKl8IWI2VaMndBeQxYcgqophU_CxSzihqORKDYystKbLmYc7W-yZ16iptW2gLzZwS9LF7W6uWZ_tg5ZTTzREDr_Falsb16cxiTae4IHo/s1600/BR458+%252822%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazecAZ2qU9GvhNIWyjWZZ0t7BEm0Um-kwXCAUKl8IWI2VaMndBeQxYcgqophU_CxSzihqORKDYystKbLmYc7W-yZ16iptW2gLzZwS9LF7W6uWZ_tg5ZTTzREDr_Falsb16cxiTae4IHo/s400/BR458+%252822%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinh6fP8ptW8OkdMjOCnRepQW8ylS3Ez3JgU6ePdkyc3K_v4hmTfbBqToaRMvtLUTXevFzbXo1tXyC9qTpuJuktbpJDe0X7u1Wcb0KyctQ1JUr_Ce-eqPn6TTkT-PD7oK90WFeMh3OJXUI/s1600/BR458+%252813%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinh6fP8ptW8OkdMjOCnRepQW8ylS3Ez3JgU6ePdkyc3K_v4hmTfbBqToaRMvtLUTXevFzbXo1tXyC9qTpuJuktbpJDe0X7u1Wcb0KyctQ1JUr_Ce-eqPn6TTkT-PD7oK90WFeMh3OJXUI/s400/BR458+%252813%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I learned that Christian was at school and I would meet him in the afternoon. They also mentioned that 16-year-old Cristina was away having <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">tests for a potentially serious medical issue</span>. Wow. So much for an easier day.<br /><br />Fair to say this played on my mind all day but I was aware of the need to stay present and engaged for the other two visits. I re-introduced myself to Jessica and Gizelle and went through some photos. I got out the Uno and elastics and we had a play before the home visit.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpHlK7pJ_C9d1OkhX_94iaj8vKctSbrhZUmTj4Wj-cOOzEJo1zg7SfenhsOxgAz45FPNPjPO1YEj30EXXGi48z1i_w9QuFInHZ4xr6XPool0a4EyKb-2WVuy9OotteVc79Hi1CL7pSgA/s1600/BR458+Showing+Pics+to+Jessica.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpHlK7pJ_C9d1OkhX_94iaj8vKctSbrhZUmTj4Wj-cOOzEJo1zg7SfenhsOxgAz45FPNPjPO1YEj30EXXGi48z1i_w9QuFInHZ4xr6XPool0a4EyKb-2WVuy9OotteVc79Hi1CL7pSgA/s400/BR458+Showing+Pics+to+Jessica.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxKDAOcTCsDySqD89aq31tMWu2c2ZTcungoCM8_tMB0bReEr3uB7UDlSk7rM1gG8XIT0wprS5RJQeWTgOyUm7L8H0njkPfkkkAoC1ctXaeLBCW58xPe-VV_Ip_aSFtOgGsGr-0hYnlwo/s1600/BR458+%252836%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxKDAOcTCsDySqD89aq31tMWu2c2ZTcungoCM8_tMB0bReEr3uB7UDlSk7rM1gG8XIT0wprS5RJQeWTgOyUm7L8H0njkPfkkkAoC1ctXaeLBCW58xPe-VV_Ip_aSFtOgGsGr-0hYnlwo/s400/BR458+%252836%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS1Akp_rxFU_x9Et0jboIa7RJRigBdR3quEerBgeeB_4zljVd0_M_BKPe6KFIvGDcNU7z-9bqFHthk5BG0IC-dGkOJpR6r9kHaQMVeM6fGEj2PguH7ZSmR-RLXydF0DKN88xea_lBlkA/s1600/BR458+Playing+elastics+%25287%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS1Akp_rxFU_x9Et0jboIa7RJRigBdR3quEerBgeeB_4zljVd0_M_BKPe6KFIvGDcNU7z-9bqFHthk5BG0IC-dGkOJpR6r9kHaQMVeM6fGEj2PguH7ZSmR-RLXydF0DKN88xea_lBlkA/s400/BR458+Playing+elastics+%25287%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkwiFS1eaEHIx7wfyE2F3_TSCgvcZbf9WNq6JqJuDTgsF5h1SYV8DXBu89wz8YYqrgB5VQX5MCOdv-Kdf-kcnud1DveT-rxhpeueJGrtmZPbBDhEGrJgfP91z8cb2_LkYKvSduyEK5Zs/s1600/BR458+Playing+elastics+%252814%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkwiFS1eaEHIx7wfyE2F3_TSCgvcZbf9WNq6JqJuDTgsF5h1SYV8DXBu89wz8YYqrgB5VQX5MCOdv-Kdf-kcnud1DveT-rxhpeueJGrtmZPbBDhEGrJgfP91z8cb2_LkYKvSduyEK5Zs/s400/BR458+Playing+elastics+%252814%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsL7yNA8gBCIU-ALOgiIwcH1lSFTEGKjS8F07V6iUSCPe1tZUgjnjyfRWUlJ8FGFUA1Hs4zKu1MgNNl1W8prMpjHmsN1uSw8NIKeF2AuvKoW7QFY7L-pbv4EaSPnKvaL_ulXl0rFGTGw/s1600/BR458+Playing+elastics+%252821%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsL7yNA8gBCIU-ALOgiIwcH1lSFTEGKjS8F07V6iUSCPe1tZUgjnjyfRWUlJ8FGFUA1Hs4zKu1MgNNl1W8prMpjHmsN1uSw8NIKeF2AuvKoW7QFY7L-pbv4EaSPnKvaL_ulXl0rFGTGw/s400/BR458+Playing+elastics+%252821%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKuvmYLb6yQPFVSjInLKJSGZg1wcb_XjGPw-Cl71t8iFyGjDwvkB5Q-8foHoBxCd-yJMmttMhfRT09ZicRO2aKk8oO_EnnyZnXzEYnPmEBTQG2puVMpIBcGJpXo_CVBUTFpFb-qKnIP0/s1600/BR458+Playing+Uno+with+Jessica+%25289%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKuvmYLb6yQPFVSjInLKJSGZg1wcb_XjGPw-Cl71t8iFyGjDwvkB5Q-8foHoBxCd-yJMmttMhfRT09ZicRO2aKk8oO_EnnyZnXzEYnPmEBTQG2puVMpIBcGJpXo_CVBUTFpFb-qKnIP0/s400/BR458+Playing+Uno+with+Jessica+%25289%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDyKe8eEeK90pbY2L4WQLiDIguhCdfX3tj7RFdmjojrx9G5MbuAIRfZ-GO3h8InR49sHRqk2zu3rgDu5M6wXGZKeuCvQpkZtCWJKoTtpa9swz0kOFxCLvsss5eMTDQpGg2U2nWmwH4jY/s1600/BR458+Playing+Uno+with+Jessica+%252811%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDyKe8eEeK90pbY2L4WQLiDIguhCdfX3tj7RFdmjojrx9G5MbuAIRfZ-GO3h8InR49sHRqk2zu3rgDu5M6wXGZKeuCvQpkZtCWJKoTtpa9swz0kOFxCLvsss5eMTDQpGg2U2nWmwH4jY/s400/BR458+Playing+Uno+with+Jessica+%252811%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIXx_8dDTg9iOZeJm7P3jJHEsOzuc5LWVBKpE3qAkXiBFnFPou6-svUi9wf6RWw-TUMrPfQIT0iZMJanN5WCYL3Cs_An6yivNGt3N6HSy0EaqIpKns3FX111LRzo2-JDzh9NX9JO_V5g/s1600/BR458+Playing+dominoes+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIXx_8dDTg9iOZeJm7P3jJHEsOzuc5LWVBKpE3qAkXiBFnFPou6-svUi9wf6RWw-TUMrPfQIT0iZMJanN5WCYL3Cs_An6yivNGt3N6HSy0EaqIpKns3FX111LRzo2-JDzh9NX9JO_V5g/s400/BR458+Playing+dominoes+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO15M7ziq2SUgTTCL755QztRsL-0eoFVCLyag3MWcve_FtkXiYzf9ckIKvuZsPhN29yASuhXJYmerVSmKO0AGRTBRAvWutYgIaQgvMPvFj3FmI3rZ8cCQwU_9jS46J_ieh9j14GjdY6Ac/s1600/BR458+Playing+Memory+%25286%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO15M7ziq2SUgTTCL755QztRsL-0eoFVCLyag3MWcve_FtkXiYzf9ckIKvuZsPhN29yASuhXJYmerVSmKO0AGRTBRAvWutYgIaQgvMPvFj3FmI3rZ8cCQwU_9jS46J_ieh9j14GjdY6Ac/s400/BR458+Playing+Memory+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB-TuNH6o-JgE26LlSICXU6qUvatYxOALiJ4VzO1vRwuN3t7KsnqyVBaHMv7CKPdpm1-lZPqnDuI_TeIgOm3p8mN1x7ZFTS3GSeER1opG7vCnlpD03XAcSZqjmSB0iZuTQJHcaTnleOU/s1600/BR458+Playing+Memory.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB-TuNH6o-JgE26LlSICXU6qUvatYxOALiJ4VzO1vRwuN3t7KsnqyVBaHMv7CKPdpm1-lZPqnDuI_TeIgOm3p8mN1x7ZFTS3GSeER1opG7vCnlpD03XAcSZqjmSB0iZuTQJHcaTnleOU/s400/BR458+Playing+Memory.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Jessica and Gizelle live with their mum and five-year-old younger brother. We also met their 10-year-old uncle (Mama’s little brother). We teased him in a friendly way about whether his (older and taller) nieces obeyed him. There is no father at home. Their mother has her own sewing machine and has a job sewing lace onto bras and underwear. It is not stable or consistent. Both girls were very shy and I struggled to get much out of them. Jessica was unsure when I asked her about her future, what she wanted to be etc. My guess is that the people in her community just see what’s in front of them. I encouraged Jessica that God has given her gifts and abilities, even if she was unsure about what they were at this stage.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmgEgtcraN4yTCZLMmeZSeRRQOtLg-PUY0aPMnzt9HHbUQn8aWSWEBuW5DTrGVKApGyTMgr3lotwqSsq2hvclE8KWHfzhSA3EHcadzz489lhFQfllsTffYLGKWmfDHjzECcs0np8V5ko/s1600/BR458+Jessica+Home+Visit+%252817%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmgEgtcraN4yTCZLMmeZSeRRQOtLg-PUY0aPMnzt9HHbUQn8aWSWEBuW5DTrGVKApGyTMgr3lotwqSsq2hvclE8KWHfzhSA3EHcadzz489lhFQfllsTffYLGKWmfDHjzECcs0np8V5ko/s400/BR458+Jessica+Home+Visit+%252817%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEnox0gho4MxM7NZQSy89vGgPWlxc9k6dlwVt0kxutIIiJ2Qf0qfw-4oKRM3AnOc6rIxaLlMznD9Tmi-r7I3CDGk7d7X1xLWCSL8TloG7xcbBcmwr8u7QHe7j0Yr8Qc4wxdVLXTCX46Y/s1600/BR458+Jessica+Home+Visit+%252820%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEnox0gho4MxM7NZQSy89vGgPWlxc9k6dlwVt0kxutIIiJ2Qf0qfw-4oKRM3AnOc6rIxaLlMznD9Tmi-r7I3CDGk7d7X1xLWCSL8TloG7xcbBcmwr8u7QHe7j0Yr8Qc4wxdVLXTCX46Y/s400/BR458+Jessica+Home+Visit+%252820%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W-gg_yhCTWSs71HPnSjKj8QnUKzcIN7CSz5Bi8UTOW-NoKvFkZ2kCi6aunv0wZovLvinvNZ87fi4oKkwUCzDsMkFqb6uohyphenhyphenJuOQVWABu1PFmmWwo9TuB5ins3ilHlWSnL1UUf7_Qb9c/s1600/BR458+Jessica+Home+Visit+%252822%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W-gg_yhCTWSs71HPnSjKj8QnUKzcIN7CSz5Bi8UTOW-NoKvFkZ2kCi6aunv0wZovLvinvNZ87fi4oKkwUCzDsMkFqb6uohyphenhyphenJuOQVWABu1PFmmWwo9TuB5ins3ilHlWSnL1UUf7_Qb9c/s400/BR458+Jessica+Home+Visit+%252822%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Little bro didn't want to be in a photo, so I had to take this sneaky shot.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqxpbnvLDmWeNjo2Ba2-ySdEHCVab66IhHUaX2KZwI4WH6maYGARqvNfLjSsjBr2S5ufx3Rr_zSjgHicM64bhsoQBoTFyClXhdyi-dmtCe4UhA7tEpOLAZPDhkEo7sEeqjgvfK0hnDLs/s1600/BR458+Jessica+Home+Visit+%252823%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqxpbnvLDmWeNjo2Ba2-ySdEHCVab66IhHUaX2KZwI4WH6maYGARqvNfLjSsjBr2S5ufx3Rr_zSjgHicM64bhsoQBoTFyClXhdyi-dmtCe4UhA7tEpOLAZPDhkEo7sEeqjgvfK0hnDLs/s400/BR458+Jessica+Home+Visit+%252823%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />We went back to the Project for lunch, where I was met with more bad news. Cristina had to go to another medical facility for different tests and I would not be meeting her on this day. There was also a possibility that she would not be attending my birthday the following day. This left me shattered and I pleaded with Renato to do everything he could to ensure that I was able to see her.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4hnO5MCCYMjNtbRd9Ln-vuOHqFM3RfRRUijtBHXjVxaI7NBJ7ysBpFs386B9Zg-11oKbNM70RLBMxVcQF9T76zqbk9s_MIvGWMMGUFTQADWMSyOik9eUMjIHwdU-oVFCiEYeLZVWNio/s1600/20160922_104820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4hnO5MCCYMjNtbRd9Ln-vuOHqFM3RfRRUijtBHXjVxaI7NBJ7ysBpFs386B9Zg-11oKbNM70RLBMxVcQF9T76zqbk9s_MIvGWMMGUFTQADWMSyOik9eUMjIHwdU-oVFCiEYeLZVWNio/s400/20160922_104820.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsmJB2qvg4elt3gNEkHViJeJTOSAJyN-U4RMRH-L_73wGNJC1lCJa4BHlWiFBL4Sf2mlC62c_GXCGyzNxS9RBIEwKT0RtGji7isGat_cPvkKL-sD4GgK2tpw1gXaJnXyQZaLacNa9Ls4/s1600/BR458+%252827%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsmJB2qvg4elt3gNEkHViJeJTOSAJyN-U4RMRH-L_73wGNJC1lCJa4BHlWiFBL4Sf2mlC62c_GXCGyzNxS9RBIEwKT0RtGji7isGat_cPvkKL-sD4GgK2tpw1gXaJnXyQZaLacNa9Ls4/s400/BR458+%252827%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUgyBe2b9m2wd9tE92gTngDU0p-BemC3acekSHJMO5cWIugD2vsDl15IfmchOlKlAAMwhA_cj1HsQ3nO6n8HT0zrA_as5J-FDbTyYdEHNviiqEfD3C8M_Zth7fy_vxGGEDkLsfBu3UT4/s1600/BR458+%252815%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUgyBe2b9m2wd9tE92gTngDU0p-BemC3acekSHJMO5cWIugD2vsDl15IfmchOlKlAAMwhA_cj1HsQ3nO6n8HT0zrA_as5J-FDbTyYdEHNviiqEfD3C8M_Zth7fy_vxGGEDkLsfBu3UT4/s400/BR458+%252815%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Despite Cristina’s absence we still went to visit her mother. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXMEDSXdi1RKxei2a7zBjRYQtLQp2OxE0Fa9bpLN7XqW11JakNBTP33lPoxvvHxgX0Q0YgWe_LvZL28dJa9BUuNn0bi0v8ssd-CZmgHb3Lsk1sb2zHc4oK3kWgK63Wbv2-1vOX9fl2L4/s1600/BR458+Cristina+Home+Visit+%252819%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXMEDSXdi1RKxei2a7zBjRYQtLQp2OxE0Fa9bpLN7XqW11JakNBTP33lPoxvvHxgX0Q0YgWe_LvZL28dJa9BUuNn0bi0v8ssd-CZmgHb3Lsk1sb2zHc4oK3kWgK63Wbv2-1vOX9fl2L4/s400/BR458+Cristina+Home+Visit+%252819%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />She was there by herself, as her husband and four daughters were out and about. Last time I visited they were living in their grandmother’s house, now they were living next door. I did my best to rustle up some conversation, and she was more open and honest than on my previous visit. As it was election time they were employed as one of the thousands of people waving flags and handing out pamphlets for the election candidates. It’s only temporary and they have nothing else. I found out her oldest son was in jail for riding a stolen motor bike. She was convinced he did not steal it himself. We had a look at a couple of Cristina’s ultrasound results<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and prayed for the family.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br />After this it was time for the third home visit of the day, to the house of Christian and his parents. We were told that normally after school he goes straight to his grandparents house, as it’s closer, but when we arrived there we found out that he had already headed home. His grandfather came with us to direct us to the house. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t1KGg9L26ba1niIiL_bD3-kZRj2nuy_E5JctiPf1S0CgUfDdAzaDtTsGcxVoQeXAY4s9sVWUV50osQdNR6FUcVRDZW9jXO43k7qtvNWrdPqEipO-Hl6S31zWT6AFjYd5X0FKM68SXyk/s1600/BR458+Christian+home+visit+%252824%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t1KGg9L26ba1niIiL_bD3-kZRj2nuy_E5JctiPf1S0CgUfDdAzaDtTsGcxVoQeXAY4s9sVWUV50osQdNR6FUcVRDZW9jXO43k7qtvNWrdPqEipO-Hl6S31zWT6AFjYd5X0FKM68SXyk/s400/BR458+Christian+home+visit+%252824%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVfeKwSv_6nNWKJnQNaKAaBuSUBT_vhjvf18wnzfFrVshduU57nhC8WIlRa0OFCOicCNgDNcGIghyphenhyphenuUXSC8AvwPwfwfxkSyTm9y0hxeqBYk37kROJEaJI1hugQYmrB1TrOQO_BlYgidE/s1600/BR458+Christian+home+visit+%252826%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVfeKwSv_6nNWKJnQNaKAaBuSUBT_vhjvf18wnzfFrVshduU57nhC8WIlRa0OFCOicCNgDNcGIghyphenhyphenuUXSC8AvwPwfwfxkSyTm9y0hxeqBYk37kROJEaJI1hugQYmrB1TrOQO_BlYgidE/s400/BR458+Christian+home+visit+%252826%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />I visited Christian back in <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/br-458-projeto-sementinhas-little-seeds.html">2012</a> and <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/re-visiting-br-458-tough-day.html">2013</a>. His parents have had a rocky relationship but that changed about four years ago when his father genuinely gave his life to Jesus. Now their whole existence revolves around church activities and sharing the gospel. His father was a smiley, friendly chap who is the resident “fix-it guy” and has a workshop next door to their house. I had a chat with Christian, the highlight of which was when he got out his guitar and strummed a few chords.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />Time was running out so we headed back to the Project for a final play. I entertained a group of kids with pictures of my family and some Australian animals, then we got out the footy which was once again a big hit.<br /><br />Before we went, I had another look inside the church. It is still amazing to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">me to think that thischurch went from construction zone (2<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">012) to sanctuary (2013) in the space of a year, thanks entirely to the tithes and offerings of the church members</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdz_d-jZCamiYA129lZKthz4fVZ1mzsVTDracEgU12ElRJofv5TzG0UVdLI7kFNLlq0KxUdazYJew_o_QX7ENtyp_fU1vczjTsfiUDZHiSZUHkQ6A2lHbyy6jZsH6jHTqGkBsigUZxDg/s1600/David+docs13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdz_d-jZCamiYA129lZKthz4fVZ1mzsVTDracEgU12ElRJofv5TzG0UVdLI7kFNLlq0KxUdazYJew_o_QX7ENtyp_fU1vczjTsfiUDZHiSZUHkQ6A2lHbyy6jZsH6jHTqGkBsigUZxDg/s640/David+docs13.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8ybrDBQ32fyr0Oe-yMoWMXMQo-q12lSAvyxEiL_A5QflORBSYGOl5WWrkSXWsbRw4FokXH9tI0O6TWwk5w2e_rZ-AzeXwpptYadNe9ez5-MgC7pE3iW3u8BzuZxOTLVcyh7Y4_V5V5o/s1600/BR458+The+Church+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8ybrDBQ32fyr0Oe-yMoWMXMQo-q12lSAvyxEiL_A5QflORBSYGOl5WWrkSXWsbRw4FokXH9tI0O6TWwk5w2e_rZ-AzeXwpptYadNe9ez5-MgC7pE3iW3u8BzuZxOTLVcyh7Y4_V5V5o/s400/BR458+The+Church+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRAebLvj74_t4VlZeFRBrl3BY-rE9iQ6A8ETLaKbxogJWseemmrJLnJDB9ewR0_ADkm4fgFe-jpJP1rTVGxneTkORX2BDjdw7BlH9xvQ_GnMeLn6batdzztzSxA9iOBgqx-suKH0Fq2o/s1600/BR458+The+Church+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRAebLvj74_t4VlZeFRBrl3BY-rE9iQ6A8ETLaKbxogJWseemmrJLnJDB9ewR0_ADkm4fgFe-jpJP1rTVGxneTkORX2BDjdw7BlH9xvQ_GnMeLn6batdzztzSxA9iOBgqx-suKH0Fq2o/s400/BR458+The+Church+%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Despite the news about Cristina, which had the potential to overshadow the whole day, my visit to BR-458 was a positive experience this time around. I was thankful to God that he enabled me to be present and engaged for the remainder of the day. </span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-81106388040417178622016-09-21T11:47:00.000+10:002021-09-18T13:16:47.216+10:00Compassion Trip #9 (Brazil 2016): Visiting Larissa at BR329<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--> </span></span></span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brazil Compassion Adventure blog series</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-intro-and.html"><br />Intro & Visit Day #1 (BR417)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-2.html"><br />Visit Day #2 (BR453)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3.html"><br />Visit Day #3 Part 1 (BR110)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-4.html"><br />Visit Day #4 (BR458)</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-big.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Birthday Bash</span></a></span></span></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzUSnc72CV0fiznF0x4fIMfBAkUpsCtp3IhYSSYd35rFU43AVqlu3KLhkBRGjcofBfkYTNtmZCJrJV7w2EmeMQ-99Jf-Z01LLVsd5LWW3wwoqkn3yapNPhSJaHpH8emEoU0DD8kLp6vU/s400/BR329+%252889%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span><br /><br />After visiting Alice at BR-110 in the morning, we then stopped off at</span> Project BR-329 which, <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/birthday-in-brazil-2013-day-like-no.html">as I have documented extensively</a>, is <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/br-329-projeto-nova-vida-new-life.html">my favourite place in the world</a>. Such life, love, joy and hope among the poverty outside the walls. I was finally visiting my own sponsored child Larissa, who had recently turned eight. The first time I visited she was just four, and wouldn’t have a bar of me. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2uFwRPnlnBVzjLr5oYOQKoXWofQCK1z-GsNkbrV9j-COWCiNRhRCiRb8sNKUWIfFNzZjGjJCtX3PzLhuzX7qG1tD6tDqIyZLV6hC-BrFGBlTzJV8P_R5tuLgrDAZZB2xoO7-j1-HSy8/s1600/BR329+2012+%2528199%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2uFwRPnlnBVzjLr5oYOQKoXWofQCK1z-GsNkbrV9j-COWCiNRhRCiRb8sNKUWIfFNzZjGjJCtX3PzLhuzX7qG1tD6tDqIyZLV6hC-BrFGBlTzJV8P_R5tuLgrDAZZB2xoO7-j1-HSy8/s400/BR329+2012+%2528199%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />One year later I went back and she was much more receptive.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBl3SU4W2qcGNdiIJBRGm2zi4dHPUP2kcBjfAPwgFAPVVeL4TlkKyyHs9Dv3QJQuFDlZCUwOoi5ZfkgLpM85Oc9wOtP3Xo8oV4YsuZ9MvzJpFB2snkuolxRuzPxQWNl9MT8tYuJC6QGM/s1600/Larissa+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBl3SU4W2qcGNdiIJBRGm2zi4dHPUP2kcBjfAPwgFAPVVeL4TlkKyyHs9Dv3QJQuFDlZCUwOoi5ZfkgLpM85Oc9wOtP3Xo8oV4YsuZ9MvzJpFB2snkuolxRuzPxQWNl9MT8tYuJC6QGM/s400/Larissa+%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><br />I was met with joy by the Project director Francisca. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am humbled and overwhelmed by their gratitude and love, and thankful to God for the impact He is using me to have. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGskn1q7KJZO9vOB0ONRilSA2jSx4DOvp34eCPunOfYQG9Uozz3ihjrCHY7hzamyXt1gdga2LwcZQYQTdlsBjmQFD6fKQuiRG8THhjJoGD5M8gbhewjbW17qTuU-rDiYw9gaZgb5WOjc/s1600/BR329+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGskn1q7KJZO9vOB0ONRilSA2jSx4DOvp34eCPunOfYQG9Uozz3ihjrCHY7hzamyXt1gdga2LwcZQYQTdlsBjmQFD6fKQuiRG8THhjJoGD5M8gbhewjbW17qTuU-rDiYw9gaZgb5WOjc/s400/BR329+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqnCv-dwJswQ92QeQMBKOhBwYsSW0KaF7eQnOiOtT8-T9qvuRLY6ip9St12-mICYsQUvRHnb_X25Ypbs2GdG84IhlBJ03U-TpOUZjZATAi_F6xsokwhOoMep8ivbJ1fJSwUMZBXty8FA/s1600/BR329+%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqnCv-dwJswQ92QeQMBKOhBwYsSW0KaF7eQnOiOtT8-T9qvuRLY6ip9St12-mICYsQUvRHnb_X25Ypbs2GdG84IhlBJ03U-TpOUZjZATAi_F6xsokwhOoMep8ivbJ1fJSwUMZBXty8FA/s400/BR329+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />We retrieved Larissa from her classroom and said hello. She was still very shy at all the attention. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05OjnvUh-YtyaWbvb2qWWy8SUuZ2dslaU0VT9dijvKYowPACu-eUMwXFPE5_rcpW5I5wfE0h93hsuSO1BC2a62D961DH21VS8Bp5ysxXeNqNPw5EBa_XsMPjBpA0awpyW-1I-t_Snh8/s1600/BR329+%252810%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05OjnvUh-YtyaWbvb2qWWy8SUuZ2dslaU0VT9dijvKYowPACu-eUMwXFPE5_rcpW5I5wfE0h93hsuSO1BC2a62D961DH21VS8Bp5ysxXeNqNPw5EBa_XsMPjBpA0awpyW-1I-t_Snh8/s400/BR329+%252810%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmM77_ABfwY_UI3cPmJDnlvi6MFGi2fuFMkDqTDdXEhNeswKeE7lldf5SMg5lJ5Nxpraw2Myk5PNpHzvriGiE81eGgiP9wRUzQAn5FrvqykMorQMS7by90wFmtEQv2KqVh-ZqSJUbmBE/s1600/BR329+%252819%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmM77_ABfwY_UI3cPmJDnlvi6MFGi2fuFMkDqTDdXEhNeswKeE7lldf5SMg5lJ5Nxpraw2Myk5PNpHzvriGiE81eGgiP9wRUzQAn5FrvqykMorQMS7by90wFmtEQv2KqVh-ZqSJUbmBE/s400/BR329+%252819%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a><br /><br />The Project has been undertaking massive extensions, in order to accommodate close to 2000 children and I marvelled at the progress that had been made since my previous visit. We took a tour and I spent some time with Larissa, showing her photos and having a chat. I had put together a collage of photos from my previous two visits and she was just transfixed.<br /><br />Music plays a massive part of life at BR329, and I had felt right at home from the first visit when I hopped on the drums and played with a bunch of talented teenagers. As part of the renovations they now have a soundproof room where they do the music classes. Naturally, we stopped by and I had a bash on the drums.<br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2Fvb.522578642%2F10154756674068643%2F%3Ftype%3D3&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf8IHRp81HlXiLKPiofZkbvjsi8LdjDa1IRtx2dLMDKGh_tzU8FTAMwSdChcsj7fUfaoR2_ubnDKPUEYxFNdReyY4QEUj9oGLfEJ-PH7V28_5EiTLu5RRN4HXEnVNd42vmISseah5bbI/s1600/BR329+%252824%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf8IHRp81HlXiLKPiofZkbvjsi8LdjDa1IRtx2dLMDKGh_tzU8FTAMwSdChcsj7fUfaoR2_ubnDKPUEYxFNdReyY4QEUj9oGLfEJ-PH7V28_5EiTLu5RRN4HXEnVNd42vmISseah5bbI/s400/BR329+%252824%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60sUTWG_qqYD_99-LHvofMeJ2x1BAeB1-hO0mw5LNUNLsqnsS3eWDeyjCaDklqCm0kcAS6ACTBC9G1JgWHL9STIz3EueoQawQQQ0ZldUZr_0bRnBcxjXmXUD-LBA5gMmLYbGyAMFn-xI/s1600/BR329+%252829%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60sUTWG_qqYD_99-LHvofMeJ2x1BAeB1-hO0mw5LNUNLsqnsS3eWDeyjCaDklqCm0kcAS6ACTBC9G1JgWHL9STIz3EueoQawQQQ0ZldUZr_0bRnBcxjXmXUD-LBA5gMmLYbGyAMFn-xI/s400/BR329+%252829%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBXlBW6nfwDfLrSbrODUlMrfuuAozIQNe8p8aWeVOqdNn7P_91qssL_CE0e1Bg4FzaRzr7Lajndvo6FlnKjB0US-f7QEfwtwtnBYNUygKAwIXFtUDuBNQhoo2RjbcRxQVU8v0NOlqB_8/s1600/BR329+%252834%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBXlBW6nfwDfLrSbrODUlMrfuuAozIQNe8p8aWeVOqdNn7P_91qssL_CE0e1Bg4FzaRzr7Lajndvo6FlnKjB0US-f7QEfwtwtnBYNUygKAwIXFtUDuBNQhoo2RjbcRxQVU8v0NOlqB_8/s400/BR329+%252834%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />One highlight of the day was seeing my former sponsored child Monalisa who dropped by even though she is now 22 and studying at college. It meant a lot to me that she made the effort to be there, and we had a good conversation.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJYqR1N72cN0gywWjW2-8fLYaoKzv36SE-qH6sfL1dFK_fh_euu-DggvRPJlVIP5JEGjKnZHnxNaqBf_iQhNR9F6npM0NSSwredrw48017XEf8NVutASLtRTm9C-qlk9CCKqHk40pP04/s1600/BR329+%2528101%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJYqR1N72cN0gywWjW2-8fLYaoKzv36SE-qH6sfL1dFK_fh_euu-DggvRPJlVIP5JEGjKnZHnxNaqBf_iQhNR9F6npM0NSSwredrw48017XEf8NVutASLtRTm9C-qlk9CCKqHk40pP04/s400/BR329+%2528101%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWeucW7RQXDiEmRu6s9kalESHHmMUbe3sRbXRrMQ5Dh68_sN9SeGTI56ao5USIjd0zILVd-E1n779kGbQN1y_xCc0KCxaOZ9zovfzqAwyjlFlS8C7VDIiYVz2JCMHMmgsF9DhO6iOqO8/s1600/BR329+%252847%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWeucW7RQXDiEmRu6s9kalESHHmMUbe3sRbXRrMQ5Dh68_sN9SeGTI56ao5USIjd0zILVd-E1n779kGbQN1y_xCc0KCxaOZ9zovfzqAwyjlFlS8C7VDIiYVz2JCMHMmgsF9DhO6iOqO8/s400/BR329+%252847%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKMog1WieLsYRkG-kDmCwxHkU3vhSaNqWh1pqXNCZaSsQJSjTRVc21KudtBRD6AcmgcIeGSPi1RiQb_uNW1ArPY1TCMlxIej9Ko5oa0KVqnfH2m_RYOXCXEgW8NFJxyNo7DvI_Ia1I3o/s1600/BR329+%2528104%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKMog1WieLsYRkG-kDmCwxHkU3vhSaNqWh1pqXNCZaSsQJSjTRVc21KudtBRD6AcmgcIeGSPi1RiQb_uNW1ArPY1TCMlxIej9Ko5oa0KVqnfH2m_RYOXCXEgW8NFJxyNo7DvI_Ia1I3o/s400/BR329+%2528104%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a><br /><br />Toward the end of the day we were upstairs playing Uno and having a chat<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">...</span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_wMBLSyYUjzZUtswwPmwpw5NI-fSkzbu7dj3trX9SlxU1P7_fPcgEyMVnsytqDynTAGiuVB7wFCZ4bT2iUr5ta35Evq1XX3ACHBhQnHmUQxEcPS1O0nxi-7ncEQLXWtQZYFfwt6NluQ/s1600/BR329+%252864%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_wMBLSyYUjzZUtswwPmwpw5NI-fSkzbu7dj3trX9SlxU1P7_fPcgEyMVnsytqDynTAGiuVB7wFCZ4bT2iUr5ta35Evq1XX3ACHBhQnHmUQxEcPS1O0nxi-7ncEQLXWtQZYFfwt6NluQ/s400/BR329+%252864%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxtu5B7vLFz1H9HrTXK_3L9IsBAewZPbx_wSYtYUZWrzELn1rZ_0L1Jfetst5AB5i2aEOCHFMeKMoUEvrbjYg_VXeF6dd5t5RAzT92nVryYGoC0P-gOEfxkl2pcpV3OOCRVwQ7B0Tagg/s1600/BR329+%252861%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxtu5B7vLFz1H9HrTXK_3L9IsBAewZPbx_wSYtYUZWrzELn1rZ_0L1Jfetst5AB5i2aEOCHFMeKMoUEvrbjYg_VXeF6dd5t5RAzT92nVryYGoC0P-gOEfxkl2pcpV3OOCRVwQ7B0Tagg/s400/BR329+%252861%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xZS5lPBD7LzGB8g0t7R2Bf2tD5yLkPpQFpFrE3bbncitiNbkoZ7vtog12i-VUG7zZeQk4FysC7lEnjgpAYKbjSu68kyqtTlfMJP11BC4cBWri-adEPZ0HvllkL4-SVQUJZSWr6lg_U0/s1600/BR329+%252865%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xZS5lPBD7LzGB8g0t7R2Bf2tD5yLkPpQFpFrE3bbncitiNbkoZ7vtog12i-VUG7zZeQk4FysC7lEnjgpAYKbjSu68kyqtTlfMJP11BC4cBWri-adEPZ0HvllkL4-SVQUJZSWr6lg_U0/s400/BR329+%252865%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiwh_qolrM2MB_Ei_xVKODwbGrOYhYoFwCUrk_8sBacssKNifvNxMAtzGiDZo2wSKkEAuuSS_MovjyQAdc8GhxHXfFxghLvZb0tjm_ycL7RUoF33Y82vqZn5W9gTv3ojhj2CQ4oskMOc/s1600/BR329+%252873%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiwh_qolrM2MB_Ei_xVKODwbGrOYhYoFwCUrk_8sBacssKNifvNxMAtzGiDZo2wSKkEAuuSS_MovjyQAdc8GhxHXfFxghLvZb0tjm_ycL7RUoF33Y82vqZn5W9gTv3ojhj2CQ4oskMOc/s400/BR329+%252873%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrtIJAB2iTCUo1urOnJnoVHkdVfyXqFHzBXmiIULq72Nwzp0QJJwD2WoEQ5SqQmbRcunnRXQ9ZcuUZcqm-w1sQEPGHNVksFh18S07OS9V303iyULs33hWLHgvXzu9FxxTVJHD5fV7k7E/s1600/BR329+%252876%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrtIJAB2iTCUo1urOnJnoVHkdVfyXqFHzBXmiIULq72Nwzp0QJJwD2WoEQ5SqQmbRcunnRXQ9ZcuUZcqm-w1sQEPGHNVksFh18S07OS9V303iyULs33hWLHgvXzu9FxxTVJHD5fV7k7E/s400/BR329+%252876%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORZ60sWTzAJmrzLGGWhlCTs-EU9ktmmwxYRKmbRRZOguz_cR4RJH0Q0Qzm082kBWOphYHUhOkiRBQEEl-KVq3RVmqZIpKnks4G35t0_IE3N88s9FudnfsOln8C2oghaR9zfu26QTABHQ/s1600/BR329+%252878%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORZ60sWTzAJmrzLGGWhlCTs-EU9ktmmwxYRKmbRRZOguz_cR4RJH0Q0Qzm082kBWOphYHUhOkiRBQEEl-KVq3RVmqZIpKnks4G35t0_IE3N88s9FudnfsOln8C2oghaR9zfu26QTABHQ/s400/BR329+%252878%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />...when Renato came to me with some “bad news.” He said, with a completely serious face, there had been a problem and we had to leave early. I churned inside as I digested this news. We stopped by the music room to sa<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">y</span> goodbye, and this is what I found:<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHqgf0pJGxkO5RYCbyK3OPYW0Afx5u91OKDTqSbzzhMpGu4S6JV9YaX1HGAJ6eTp5WRGFMGBVaUPW2MClhrLd8LtypHkU-B6Ap_yG2V_0HCRQlwCr57gvPFXwT6dgChSF5obYdf4wwtQ/s1600/BR329+%252884%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHqgf0pJGxkO5RYCbyK3OPYW0Afx5u91OKDTqSbzzhMpGu4S6JV9YaX1HGAJ6eTp5WRGFMGBVaUPW2MClhrLd8LtypHkU-B6Ap_yG2V_0HCRQlwCr57gvPFXwT6dgChSF5obYdf4wwtQ/s400/BR329+%252884%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzUSnc72CV0fiznF0x4fIMfBAkUpsCtp3IhYSSYd35rFU43AVqlu3KLhkBRGjcofBfkYTNtmZCJrJV7w2EmeMQ-99Jf-Z01LLVsd5LWW3wwoqkn3yapNPhSJaHpH8emEoU0DD8kLp6vU/s1600/BR329+%252889%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzUSnc72CV0fiznF0x4fIMfBAkUpsCtp3IhYSSYd35rFU43AVqlu3KLhkBRGjcofBfkYTNtmZCJrJV7w2EmeMQ-99Jf-Z01LLVsd5LWW3wwoqkn3yapNPhSJaHpH8emEoU0DD8kLp6vU/s400/BR329+%252889%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154776368158643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe> <br /><br />I did NOT see that coming. The nasty trickster had completely fooled me and they successfully surprised me for my (early) birthday. <br /><br />Francisca the Project Director p<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">oured on the love<br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154776367078643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">.</span></span><br />Then I was able to return<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> the favour: <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154776353283643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe> </span>There was music, laughter, cake and coke, Portuguese chatter I didn’t understand. I just sat back and took it all in.<br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154776287648643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154776287763643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Before we left I came up with a plan. It was the day of my nephew Archer’s 8<sup>th</sup>birthday back in Australia and unfortunately I couldn’t be there. So I asked the eight-year-old class at the Project to sing happy birthday to him. This is the extremely cute result:<br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2Fvb.522578642%2F10154755406483643%2F%3Ftype%3D3&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Eventually it was really time to go and after the ordinary start to the day, it finished so much better than I could possibly have imagined.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-59713431240204683162016-09-21T07:31:00.001+10:002021-09-18T13:15:49.409+10:00Compassion Trip #9 (Brazil 2016): Visiting Alice at BR110<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brazil Compassion Adventure blog series</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-intro-and.html"><br />Intro & Visit Day #1 (BR417)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-2.html"><br />Visit Day #2 (BR453)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3_29.html"><br />Visit Day #3 Part 2 (BR329)</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-4.html">Visit Day #4 (BR458<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">)</span></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-big.html">Birthday Bash</a><br /><br />As a consequence of wanting to fit all the visits in the space of a week, Day 3 had two Project visits, meaning only half a day at each Project. This is a mistake I won’t be making again. The day started off ordinarily, but progressed to a positive day of joy and celebration.<br /><br /><b><u>First Stop: Project BR-110</u> </b><br />In the morning I re-visited Alice at BR110. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcv5t-kPl-3C09RX2mxpXbjAX0CYvkPToyb_VkWcuT5uW2VysX0uSNhzELy9Pz8qfWBGiv9Y5Z-SQbvp59crfoRMvKN0ntL0_ZeYzHgPEZ9XKxUb6FIPfkkq4mIRBkiui-hKJ1i27NQQ/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252888%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcv5t-kPl-3C09RX2mxpXbjAX0CYvkPToyb_VkWcuT5uW2VysX0uSNhzELy9Pz8qfWBGiv9Y5Z-SQbvp59crfoRMvKN0ntL0_ZeYzHgPEZ9XKxUb6FIPfkkq4mIRBkiui-hKJ1i27NQQ/s400/BR110+Visit+%252888%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />To start with we were 45 minutes late, which meant even less time to spend with Alice. I then learned that she still thought I was her sponsor, even though the Zimmermans had been investing in her for almost three years. I wondered how that happened, and we quickly cleared up this misunderstanding. <br /><br />I learned that the Project had partnered with Coca Cola to provide employment skills to members of the community from 16-30 years old. We began by watching some presentations by members of this Program. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIqsL90wz8asizzIHGiSPuWE6q7D7gtP8bgSdVD5UKxsn2dr0QCHpTEWX0q0Mfls4tPgziNm0CQemIzGDwXTlz6cLQIVNP7KGI6-L0DWavDevX0fLj9UoJEvMKWz0CsBLfWPszWCkzGM/s1600/BR110+Visit+%25288%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIqsL90wz8asizzIHGiSPuWE6q7D7gtP8bgSdVD5UKxsn2dr0QCHpTEWX0q0Mfls4tPgziNm0CQemIzGDwXTlz6cLQIVNP7KGI6-L0DWavDevX0fLj9UoJEvMKWz0CsBLfWPszWCkzGM/s400/BR110+Visit+%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy0taFEpMRU5Ue3NTZKAqUD5w58Uz8z2quQqxQdHCr9bI8-2cKTI1RrjV56HbmZiNT3YI_Ph9BFjNijxhOU6w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihk-ay12KC1EIoNuPYomAfMIrX1u6WwTxVm7y7RB6ogF2nHZAtSPXYvWuT8tBcLAk6Qpjk-r09GJ8x-ignnBwVWV8MkbhLAvIdBQLV0nElNipSLQ0RH6YgbcyqidLWHMlBkcequCXckdc/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252812%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihk-ay12KC1EIoNuPYomAfMIrX1u6WwTxVm7y7RB6ogF2nHZAtSPXYvWuT8tBcLAk6Qpjk-r09GJ8x-ignnBwVWV8MkbhLAvIdBQLV0nElNipSLQ0RH6YgbcyqidLWHMlBkcequCXckdc/s400/BR110+Visit+%252812%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The most memorable part of the morning was the home visit. While not necessarily ‘positive,’ it was powerful and impacting, and God used it to put my petty frustrations in perspective.<br /><br />Alice is 13, shy and quiet with a beautiful smile when it can be cajoled to appear. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-0zze5h35YY8f1suJoxcy9nIPvzcXRJr0eq58CxeKAni-7lJ_V2wWc_InrmU30BjXwp4p5vmmo1hfGOLh8QV0J1uBUSBiW7Uk3yfAPwHb2xAfdMemXDBtFAr2nDZYDXHQp3G0qAn2oE/s1600/14462737_10154762677158643_5194359961402994653_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-0zze5h35YY8f1suJoxcy9nIPvzcXRJr0eq58CxeKAni-7lJ_V2wWc_InrmU30BjXwp4p5vmmo1hfGOLh8QV0J1uBUSBiW7Uk3yfAPwHb2xAfdMemXDBtFAr2nDZYDXHQp3G0qAn2oE/s400/14462737_10154762677158643_5194359961402994653_n.jpg" width="223" /></a><br /><br />Her personality hasn’t changed much since I <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/br-110-espaco-esperanca-hope-space.html">first visited four years ago</a> and despite my conversational ‘interrogation’ I had trouble getting much out of her. Alice and her three siblings live in one room out the back of her grandmother’s house. ONE ROOM. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssIzgUIEqhUpyqodzvJWHJjvI0GpyoIbMyciia8mgOfq2_0ZSdjazITHqmyzZmUQBOGAtnN7GyhyphenhyphenrnavoqRZkbqyLR6GhPQtRSD5z6v-UIzWrvD2hSGdqkB-1967jESBKjjomt7PyFQI/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252846%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssIzgUIEqhUpyqodzvJWHJjvI0GpyoIbMyciia8mgOfq2_0ZSdjazITHqmyzZmUQBOGAtnN7GyhyphenhyphenrnavoqRZkbqyLR6GhPQtRSD5z6v-UIzWrvD2hSGdqkB-1967jESBKjjomt7PyFQI/s400/BR110+Visit+%252846%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />A big double bed takes up most of the space, while a fridge, sink, stove and wardrobe sit against the walls. No bathroom. On previous visits we had only seen the grandmother’s place because they had been too embarrassed to show me their place. <br /><br />Alice was unable to tell me what she was good at or what she liked to do. She didn’t immediately list a dream for her future. Nothing appeared to come to mind. The turning point came when I dug a bit deeper and asked about the challenges she faces in her life, and what she could change if she could. Her father was mentioned. Apparently he is a drug addict and has been absent from the family for a long time. This wounds Alice’s 13-year-old heart deeply and she started crying.<br /><br />It’s situations like this where the role of a sponsor is extra important, to provide that voice of love, encouragement and hope to fill the gaping wound of abandonment and insecurity that affects so many kids. Letters are so important. The kids often keep them in a secret place.<br /> <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhccFtEjbNr96CyP4NcDzdtJANa9PZfEMIpw20O43JOUabkyT9kZTgtUrB9iGKCB12Wl-h-Y3WCZKDrzgD4k3NoeX9ZM3-KOxeIoIuMFvyBo8kr1RXK4YE-1WzR71LL1MmYRG_xyJcVc/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252855%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhccFtEjbNr96CyP4NcDzdtJANa9PZfEMIpw20O43JOUabkyT9kZTgtUrB9iGKCB12Wl-h-Y3WCZKDrzgD4k3NoeX9ZM3-KOxeIoIuMFvyBo8kr1RXK4YE-1WzR71LL1MmYRG_xyJcVc/s400/BR110+Visit+%252855%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I felt so helpless and my heart hurt for this precious girl. I thanked God for the opportunity to pray for Alice. It was a holy and powerful moment. I reminded her that God promises that He will never leave us or let us down, even when our family members do. I prayed for God’s strength and comfort, and encouraged her to keep her eyes on Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />We returned to the Project for a nice lunch prepared by the Project staff. I LOVE the generosity and hospitality of the Project staff. We played some Uno and I took a quick tour of the Project and got some photos before it was time to leave.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfD8Fmu_2Z1p7TnDsKbDSeU8O3RTWLymiJXObh2A7-lky1ejDuNT2ts1kmC3BFaTUSNoliKcHauJXRIImLpGTCf2kHWzFXoqXvRxEzgVYvc7gkMVD-m6GsDuoGyLwmH1hiWjWT5Gbp75Q/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252823%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfD8Fmu_2Z1p7TnDsKbDSeU8O3RTWLymiJXObh2A7-lky1ejDuNT2ts1kmC3BFaTUSNoliKcHauJXRIImLpGTCf2kHWzFXoqXvRxEzgVYvc7gkMVD-m6GsDuoGyLwmH1hiWjWT5Gbp75Q/s400/BR110+Visit+%252823%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NMfzh17iefOolJtEQyCl-DrLHLkTO1oRwiHgv7XVUDW26S0FULuHSsTaywiHcd_kDpCzR_9oVeKX1SahKA79F9pfZnTGPnkCmJSxT0sk-YYzWX13XiG3w-TDLjYuAXKEgQrGk8BH9Ac/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252825%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NMfzh17iefOolJtEQyCl-DrLHLkTO1oRwiHgv7XVUDW26S0FULuHSsTaywiHcd_kDpCzR_9oVeKX1SahKA79F9pfZnTGPnkCmJSxT0sk-YYzWX13XiG3w-TDLjYuAXKEgQrGk8BH9Ac/s400/BR110+Visit+%252825%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxklmbFQpIv7rABEFKv9i2QS9QPfTBvZWdIvjnIlu8qswlYpE1-MxNSRBwp-UiEJzvbrKFIzSP5yqOfv4v41jWGcyIukK-rP_QZrRsiVSdlHZDLCZ5xym9l5kNElqegM1S8AZxHwwU2OM/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252858%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxklmbFQpIv7rABEFKv9i2QS9QPfTBvZWdIvjnIlu8qswlYpE1-MxNSRBwp-UiEJzvbrKFIzSP5yqOfv4v41jWGcyIukK-rP_QZrRsiVSdlHZDLCZ5xym9l5kNElqegM1S8AZxHwwU2OM/s400/BR110+Visit+%252858%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xaMlXXjR644quO6Wm5WmrF2cJqF6SDSe11tfNGdjOeoNcbLxqjB9XjMnoTKvGDOcFeoLAFypqwwZBByHmQxH6hOCaeVS5H4hbA9C9C6Gst1C-5PvvTH0DCw-tlPIEQOB8a7S-voYiok/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252859%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xaMlXXjR644quO6Wm5WmrF2cJqF6SDSe11tfNGdjOeoNcbLxqjB9XjMnoTKvGDOcFeoLAFypqwwZBByHmQxH6hOCaeVS5H4hbA9C9C6Gst1C-5PvvTH0DCw-tlPIEQOB8a7S-voYiok/s400/BR110+Visit+%252859%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSKStzozFwU10u5HYVBi4VCweFY2Zq6scD7pJis3yvn1Mq4US26LuexhEWMPL9iVgRLlIazvsZXqtRJHANRiUMLZPdQXt7NoDFmoKESsS8g1wxcuYwFShuk9NuyPrBUNKftce9F1_IAM/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252828%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSKStzozFwU10u5HYVBi4VCweFY2Zq6scD7pJis3yvn1Mq4US26LuexhEWMPL9iVgRLlIazvsZXqtRJHANRiUMLZPdQXt7NoDFmoKESsS8g1wxcuYwFShuk9NuyPrBUNKftce9F1_IAM/s400/BR110+Visit+%252828%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14eHVSn0QcC862mBXkW4MbNxXPUi2rPchkinGcpJZFrrwrDiLGWHFjkv0S_eBYy_53AsPZbxUCdeEEpvyHDnjJBgYU3OOE-NjD7dVMILxQcCT2aajs1zJKdANe6KUxRMz1UaaiFjySMs/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252831%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14eHVSn0QcC862mBXkW4MbNxXPUi2rPchkinGcpJZFrrwrDiLGWHFjkv0S_eBYy_53AsPZbxUCdeEEpvyHDnjJBgYU3OOE-NjD7dVMILxQcCT2aajs1zJKdANe6KUxRMz1UaaiFjySMs/s400/BR110+Visit+%252831%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA0ZYbNf6UCaE61ibFH_TeZp0a0HIwSZQwOIK6DLYkMfVOu_EsDacMqsg0LS3_D6BVfSdNvVJj2uN46wetJHUGSVMbHEM-nBhJkD8elxg7QxKkAi1YGWQABYzupueoztbY7Dr5dqDpMs/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252837%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA0ZYbNf6UCaE61ibFH_TeZp0a0HIwSZQwOIK6DLYkMfVOu_EsDacMqsg0LS3_D6BVfSdNvVJj2uN46wetJHUGSVMbHEM-nBhJkD8elxg7QxKkAi1YGWQABYzupueoztbY7Dr5dqDpMs/s400/BR110+Visit+%252837%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHQU65bUjJ6iKTk1byHdo4r4LxciJvujDVESyl1szerfFL8HWJmWUrWGYbfREqh8pI_U0GMSRknl9M1Vl8BfcdcfXclMel0My_8pyn2BCKiue4pb9vl_Zvce5S4X1m4mC9PygGFz_o-8/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252838%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHQU65bUjJ6iKTk1byHdo4r4LxciJvujDVESyl1szerfFL8HWJmWUrWGYbfREqh8pI_U0GMSRknl9M1Vl8BfcdcfXclMel0My_8pyn2BCKiue4pb9vl_Zvce5S4X1m4mC9PygGFz_o-8/s400/BR110+Visit+%252838%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7QvFwDLQaK0LUzsPAFTaUG0QpHQUCnFcC8gXmgA7tJbEaUXBZnh3ldxa1Dd4E-CYhPQZRi35LzWPUv-w0nbid4OwsGUkv00PAXtw5OMF8QQOo_iAHwvcNYB5p7TKxvimaZTJcIMbYks/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252839%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7QvFwDLQaK0LUzsPAFTaUG0QpHQUCnFcC8gXmgA7tJbEaUXBZnh3ldxa1Dd4E-CYhPQZRi35LzWPUv-w0nbid4OwsGUkv00PAXtw5OMF8QQOo_iAHwvcNYB5p7TKxvimaZTJcIMbYks/s400/BR110+Visit+%252839%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZFouQseFm6AfF387Psd6-aLk4pmf8J8WLlDWkkSRE_F4aDgWvWMpLxFr3Dfd1MisLuABMhQvJuDt7QqDWiE2PTJuVnLNzDRwZ2i5zEiA6q0_pCzN-Fe3RzeyDM6ZtXUgRJE0fDqo5lA/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252860%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZFouQseFm6AfF387Psd6-aLk4pmf8J8WLlDWkkSRE_F4aDgWvWMpLxFr3Dfd1MisLuABMhQvJuDt7QqDWiE2PTJuVnLNzDRwZ2i5zEiA6q0_pCzN-Fe3RzeyDM6ZtXUgRJE0fDqo5lA/s400/BR110+Visit+%252860%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoQO64P6SXEeeE9Cike36cTxgLpq0o_xhJR4c50Zyyx0E8Pz1B2vt9TPzZJuWrnkJax-G8R2GVwIkkZXmDMj6mOHn_YWJedQYphMqkgqYgzjd5wC7OzomcZAEhXyhvYq8gs9EodUonKk/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252866%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoQO64P6SXEeeE9Cike36cTxgLpq0o_xhJR4c50Zyyx0E8Pz1B2vt9TPzZJuWrnkJax-G8R2GVwIkkZXmDMj6mOHn_YWJedQYphMqkgqYgzjd5wC7OzomcZAEhXyhvYq8gs9EodUonKk/s400/BR110+Visit+%252866%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-HVXU2You3XKJ7aWsj8PWjEy0j162h7pwNGhyphenhyphen4zL414Vt8OcshLv4k30d-PYwWftrLr1KTbHGw10FoGf6Dzw-OU1aa-TfHv-1zrlLakuLj9nKcVZqGUbxGIBt88V3JMiUkxrvrtF_1U/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252875%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-HVXU2You3XKJ7aWsj8PWjEy0j162h7pwNGhyphenhyphen4zL414Vt8OcshLv4k30d-PYwWftrLr1KTbHGw10FoGf6Dzw-OU1aa-TfHv-1zrlLakuLj9nKcVZqGUbxGIBt88V3JMiUkxrvrtF_1U/s400/BR110+Visit+%252875%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zCtKu7etw1_vMaY3l9PdyP-vzOyeaz9Uwz2mAxaRd9CIdJf9JVJR5w9SDSWhmv3RDqvA-9rXR_MEp4R-dkrYsgH8KD_Rd5qnGb7yqI4im39qVnXehEhEASvgZBjEddA1AymbjmmyGzQ/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252871%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zCtKu7etw1_vMaY3l9PdyP-vzOyeaz9Uwz2mAxaRd9CIdJf9JVJR5w9SDSWhmv3RDqvA-9rXR_MEp4R-dkrYsgH8KD_Rd5qnGb7yqI4im39qVnXehEhEASvgZBjEddA1AymbjmmyGzQ/s400/BR110+Visit+%252871%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbsOtwZ4m1kEaZO2YzCu_8QhmuiVXnVxq999aWzsqBqedCVqA4mc975DSU5dLjmdvhhna9aKL1r7EQzhV_6Ce4YVanppPN2lOI3NE_zShm16Eqxa3tpkEmjgOjuK60VSbgoUcqXW_zs4/s1600/BR110+Visit+%252876%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbsOtwZ4m1kEaZO2YzCu_8QhmuiVXnVxq999aWzsqBqedCVqA4mc975DSU5dLjmdvhhna9aKL1r7EQzhV_6Ce4YVanppPN2lOI3NE_zShm16Eqxa3tpkEmjgOjuK60VSbgoUcqXW_zs4/s400/BR110+Visit+%252876%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-9453674431941840492016-09-20T06:43:00.000+10:002021-09-18T13:12:24.760+10:00Compassion Trip #9 (Brazil 2016): Visiting Jasmiel at BR-453<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brazil Compassion Adventure blog series</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-intro-and.html"><br />Intro & Visit Day #1 (BR417)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3.html"><br />Visit Day #3 Part 1 (BR110)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3_29.html"><br />Visit Day #3 Part 2 (BR329) </a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-4.html">Visit Day #4 (BR458<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">)</span></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-big.html">Birthday Bash</a><br /><br />On Tuesday September <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">20</span><sup>th</sup> I visited Jasmiel at BR-453 on behalf of his sponsors Brian and Lisa Crawford.<br /><br />I first visited the family in 2013. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo0VQsaUZqdA6gtaYtVcc7S2AsK7Fn-SuXh5010D4iRYd3gINxlSDJWEOkC6vKA6C9OJy8qSCNyCPk7wWp8SysQ1G_7OZSgwkA-SThR1W62Sl3TPSFnL1MkOyFVMJZhXtygai6LdOdYU/s1600/14361177_10154750705568643_3272810197499156438_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo0VQsaUZqdA6gtaYtVcc7S2AsK7Fn-SuXh5010D4iRYd3gINxlSDJWEOkC6vKA6C9OJy8qSCNyCPk7wWp8SysQ1G_7OZSgwkA-SThR1W62Sl3TPSFnL1MkOyFVMJZhXtygai6LdOdYU/s400/14361177_10154750705568643_3272810197499156438_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />It was Dad and three kids; their mum left the family, dad was unemployed. Jasmiel had an older sister and younger sister who was sponsored. Brian had kept me updated and from what I found out they had had a tough three years, so I wondered how the day would pan out.<br /><br />I arrived, with my driver Renato and translator Davi, to lots of cheering and a confetti shower from the Project staff. Sponsor visits mean just as much to the Project staff as they do for the kids, possibly even more. We were late because of traffic and I was told later that the Pastor arrived in a taxi and they thought it was me, so they started cheering.<br /> <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LZEUHqrNBVkPQUEQ1RdyhHTi6JEQLU5L49rzAkIknaRaOFsA-iTRd-NQ6O5IcWyOjiFYkDevJS4vj-Fc-P3w0gYQ57LWDVncJyd67ehkd9t9K5U2FPa9ccCrNa1RQz5IXayRIk6yK-A/s1600/BR453+%252847%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LZEUHqrNBVkPQUEQ1RdyhHTi6JEQLU5L49rzAkIknaRaOFsA-iTRd-NQ6O5IcWyOjiFYkDevJS4vj-Fc-P3w0gYQ57LWDVncJyd67ehkd9t9K5U2FPa9ccCrNa1RQz5IXayRIk6yK-A/s400/BR453+%252847%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />We were served an early lunch at the Project, then we walked to Jasmiel’s house. In the course of conversation we found out several things about the family’s situation <br />* Jasmiel’s father had a new partner, Julianne (six months). Jasmiel loves her.<br />* The house has been completely fixed up and rearranged.<br />* Jasmiel (13) now has a step brother Gabriel (12). They get along well.<br />* Jasmiel’s older sister (15) is four months pregnant and is now engaged to the baby’s father. Her father likes her boyfriend, which is positive.<br />* Jasmiel’s younger sister is a full time student, so she doesn’t have time for project activities. The Project staff are negotiating for her to stay in the program.<br />* Jasmiel’s father still has no steady employment; Julianne has tooth problems<br />* Sponsorship impacts the parents as much as it does the kids. When I asked Jasmiel and his father if they had a message for his sponsor, his father’s message was longer than Jasmiel’s.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPcKQ9kyZVc241qqc4naGgzHfE7vXWbnrsi759_U00bI2oEjHhJbS16XipRNnmk3_TojQ_2iuTpcEaQw70kawZpbtxmoym5blungMypyKVrIl-T3swzY6AKlPVO3U4IOqfiFQx0oXBYI/s1600/BR453+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPcKQ9kyZVc241qqc4naGgzHfE7vXWbnrsi759_U00bI2oEjHhJbS16XipRNnmk3_TojQ_2iuTpcEaQw70kawZpbtxmoym5blungMypyKVrIl-T3swzY6AKlPVO3U4IOqfiFQx0oXBYI/s400/BR453+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdAYHQoeNJOpVX-k9T6FyO87Kxu6KYb0nHYerdtBdI1bTFGKFnE2tYGZ5CKxkjG4maRLpK_LrAn268fUfTciJDptqxDObSBry5OhzgCE5i_bnaSPF2LmY0MSKjedbZbXsE10uWQZiIYA/s1600/BR453+%252823%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdAYHQoeNJOpVX-k9T6FyO87Kxu6KYb0nHYerdtBdI1bTFGKFnE2tYGZ5CKxkjG4maRLpK_LrAn268fUfTciJDptqxDObSBry5OhzgCE5i_bnaSPF2LmY0MSKjedbZbXsE10uWQZiIYA/s400/BR453+%252823%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZythBSbWi8yiAWC79TdKlvuLBIcOiKkXhSEOW6sihmT-b00-GU4I914kVPxEiJT_UioHo9NJE9PCJGk2_UNgJpVH2X_VOuMYVTzpIkMG-OvGDxnrp5uik82gMkuHrcmKBOeZkiwQJnrA/s1600/BR453+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZythBSbWi8yiAWC79TdKlvuLBIcOiKkXhSEOW6sihmT-b00-GU4I914kVPxEiJT_UioHo9NJE9PCJGk2_UNgJpVH2X_VOuMYVTzpIkMG-OvGDxnrp5uik82gMkuHrcmKBOeZkiwQJnrA/s400/BR453+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXH5KM9V_tDprO-Bo_E9EIoTS3G2Y2n-W3hmPfvzZVvFtmUhFuqUlmZU6bOUoNplu-D-5ApO4pNXQKhmirX0CuKCc4RSr49spl-RJVWj3tQ6NVnnGzJuvGrjW2RQXSzrUd7T1pYp9BuI0/s1600/BR453+%252815%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXH5KM9V_tDprO-Bo_E9EIoTS3G2Y2n-W3hmPfvzZVvFtmUhFuqUlmZU6bOUoNplu-D-5ApO4pNXQKhmirX0CuKCc4RSr49spl-RJVWj3tQ6NVnnGzJuvGrjW2RQXSzrUd7T1pYp9BuI0/s400/BR453+%252815%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The family’s pets also got actively involved in the visit. While we were talking, their cat came over and started clawing at my shoes. While we were praying, the dog came into the middle of the circle and joined in.<br /><br />We walked back to the Project in time for the afternoon session just as the gates opened. There was a flood of kids and I was immediately engaged by curious and fascinated little ones. I got out some photos to show (Australian animals, my family etc) and was mobbed. Davi had to get them to sit down. The language barrier was a pain, but not insurmountable.<br /><br />After a while we all went inside the church for a performance, where each age group from 3-12 sang a couple of songs. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzav0BFxUyTNjxueZJ-qfiSlNNEGetSLuXdxgV1Q8KOHJtJL6VZ_gH7aAKOYI2WcCGcMRfFuuLtFYANGfW_jA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzdh-OG9BQUPUfFvCRxo3Tc1RRJJDyd99UesNddrrWZDMA_yh4141f6Oa4w8uYTFRvj_UHFSW_ikP8G5Q3gaQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpoSm3EiWpDVSTDnWA-ObiUKfOCTc0wriqS-3Y5cN4Jrydd6EdN80jbnDExIRWWq_wyRy6nGib8PLAQDVcug' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />I got up and sang “One Way, Jesus” while playing guitar. After I had finished, I sat down pretty pleased with myself only to see a little guy in the front row fast asleep. </span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxRqPL1FfI37bolpODJaeY6dZivoHP1YYj5Iih9w9BpHoAs0XSL__1XQnSaAfmXTjWZv8JKraL9doqxLQpnValTbkzpXiaiwYRso1iEqTTPXc4OOoBpDaK0S73tiZinhuH1o3KtX_5CI/s1600/BR453+%252829%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxRqPL1FfI37bolpODJaeY6dZivoHP1YYj5Iih9w9BpHoAs0XSL__1XQnSaAfmXTjWZv8JKraL9doqxLQpnValTbkzpXiaiwYRso1iEqTTPXc4OOoBpDaK0S73tiZinhuH1o3KtX_5CI/s400/BR453+%252829%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2j6F5gl7iLwug_TFw_2GXIS_1HR1nxR4gKxl2-pEHW8a2e2FBDk9trgUcmrf7WHPTxwBAhbs8YmPD6yakRm6JjVi1pFNwBwrrhvOOUsuaF2fnprrhfVxv219-keKMvqOg-zsNlftmhI/s1600/BR453+%252832%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2j6F5gl7iLwug_TFw_2GXIS_1HR1nxR4gKxl2-pEHW8a2e2FBDk9trgUcmrf7WHPTxwBAhbs8YmPD6yakRm6JjVi1pFNwBwrrhvOOUsuaF2fnprrhfVxv219-keKMvqOg-zsNlftmhI/s400/BR453+%252832%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRE-SvwrEVfRpBE8wA6gkF2qJjHfUUZsOwMhsY74HkUBDxuDtH0lv3xS0Y3ALzzeS7M3k6Mk90J90dvHOCYL-RB4GMRbMROt8MwkaKAeyVNicw38slB53YTTZNhox_pPnIeXK9HV_c38c/s1600/BR453+%252835%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRE-SvwrEVfRpBE8wA6gkF2qJjHfUUZsOwMhsY74HkUBDxuDtH0lv3xS0Y3ALzzeS7M3k6Mk90J90dvHOCYL-RB4GMRbMROt8MwkaKAeyVNicw38slB53YTTZNhox_pPnIeXK9HV_c38c/s400/BR453+%252835%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br />I told them a bit about myself and I was also able to speak into their lives. I can’t recall the exact words, but it was along the lines of “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everyone has been given gifts and talents by God and even if you don’t know what yours are yet, your Project teachers love you and want to help you find them. God created you and loves you, and I am happy you are in a safe place, like the Project</i>.” <br /><br />It was a bit chatty when I was talking, but when I started to pray, a hush fell over the place. It was a profound and holy moment, as these words from God started to sink into their minds and hearts. Poverty is a beast, it steals any sense of worth, value, hope or dreams for the future. I am convinced that while the money we send is an important part of helping these kids, they need to know that they are loved and they have value, which comes from being created in the image of God. They need to know that there is Hope for the future in this life and the next, because what they see in front of them tells them the exact opposite.<br /><br />For a snack we enjoyed some tapioca and then it was outside games time. The leaders had the unenviable task of wrangling 100-ish excited, crazy kids into groups in the hot sun and doing relay races. I’ve done my fair share of PE teaching and on this occasion I’m glad it was them and not me. <br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2F10154776242258643%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />I’m not competitive or athletic due to my bad knees but I got cajoled into having a jumping race against the other leaders with our legs tied together. I lost but the kids loved it and it was good fun. <br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdavid.chalmers.14%2Fvideos%2Fvb.522578642%2F10154752741913643%2F%3Ftype%3D3&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />In my Compassion travels I always take a footy with me. At some Projects they take a bit of a look before going back to their soccer balls, but on this day it was an object of endless curiosity and fascination. I taught them how to handball and pretty soon there was a flood of kids lining up wanting to have a go. Eventually it would get a bit rough and competitive so I’d stop the game, then start again sneakily with a couple of kids before the others would descend like a flock of seagulls on a hot chip. <br /><br />After a bit of a run-around it was time for classes. The kids are divided into age groups: 3-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-12. I popped my head into each class to have a bit of a chat, tell them about myself and see if they had any questions for me. I asked if anyone had a sponsor from Australia, and a few did. I said “Now you can say you’ve met an Australian in real life!” and their faces lit up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQM4DG2N2CLcgp5R6slNlZ0PUdMu3sUMJAhf2sC5AFOVwJvvwOzqeFyGcvLCO5_jQtZyJJZXZ3HM5Xcc4BoWcYgd3p37wb1vAuGPG0Pr3BuuQqae5NVV8vJklP0BWrSTN_Uu24sC2v3k/s1600/BR453+%252850%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQM4DG2N2CLcgp5R6slNlZ0PUdMu3sUMJAhf2sC5AFOVwJvvwOzqeFyGcvLCO5_jQtZyJJZXZ3HM5Xcc4BoWcYgd3p37wb1vAuGPG0Pr3BuuQqae5NVV8vJklP0BWrSTN_Uu24sC2v3k/s400/BR453+%252850%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIYt3Vba7ueIJkxFZkUqnGotoxE_eGhqtqKtujntvAWSbcdO9EYuzbEcrbHt3Nme9WiQlMcV0UFvj61jn95StlRfycdJXpXVmd31HI0kXz8bebDkS9m1EWSk0j1b7Cq9G13DLSnPE1EA/s1600/BR453+%252854%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIYt3Vba7ueIJkxFZkUqnGotoxE_eGhqtqKtujntvAWSbcdO9EYuzbEcrbHt3Nme9WiQlMcV0UFvj61jn95StlRfycdJXpXVmd31HI0kXz8bebDkS9m1EWSk0j1b7Cq9G13DLSnPE1EA/s400/BR453+%252854%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8OD8OiBl0DFHCKMwuY_rI_MkgD9Su1sqK9dzYhceTcgxc4nA729AWjPfyR_1WX-y2Og2b74ky63trLYTDetkXKAIhQkqDPJ6v_akbzEjU6GHN7COrl3znmpXJNtRkz9OCAuYeYCExWU/s1600/BR453+%252858%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8OD8OiBl0DFHCKMwuY_rI_MkgD9Su1sqK9dzYhceTcgxc4nA729AWjPfyR_1WX-y2Og2b74ky63trLYTDetkXKAIhQkqDPJ6v_akbzEjU6GHN7COrl3znmpXJNtRkz9OCAuYeYCExWU/s400/BR453+%252858%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n_y7UBuera8RwToS-AtW2IKkkWSn-Gpb05rgSIvix2BBrnVzqVMBpcTbAgf92G8R3ZpUExzd9THY25csrrgR7b42Fmh_7EuGy-MWy4jWMUY1mFhFsj62q7ipzyU7pa3kENfPN_GhuN8/s1600/BR453+%252859%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n_y7UBuera8RwToS-AtW2IKkkWSn-Gpb05rgSIvix2BBrnVzqVMBpcTbAgf92G8R3ZpUExzd9THY25csrrgR7b42Fmh_7EuGy-MWy4jWMUY1mFhFsj62q7ipzyU7pa3kENfPN_GhuN8/s400/BR453+%252859%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkEDPK0EClA58MPAiQGpl9NfEle4hyphenhyphenQRLcS12FzQZVoz3IupQag5cW0tK6vqpvTzVTWKXiv8t16RAXcgmaEfW_HlOzFSsklvYJd8XqimhLjlS6VDznqz4-PH2-Jvao6w8AWsbZ8cOscs/s1600/BR453+%252863%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkEDPK0EClA58MPAiQGpl9NfEle4hyphenhyphenQRLcS12FzQZVoz3IupQag5cW0tK6vqpvTzVTWKXiv8t16RAXcgmaEfW_HlOzFSsklvYJd8XqimhLjlS6VDznqz4-PH2-Jvao6w8AWsbZ8cOscs/s400/BR453+%252863%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9P9nOuU9m4VhY0uYbvvfqx2YuI4fdK-6xUyrb9oUBi1kB5cODduYeWXR9mz9EB-BuEuUqgw3kz1CqCcj0MfMXQJd1on5xGLab7v9c220fpeIRep2Mjh1otrhfGG6vxldVND5NZRM7ak/s1600/BR453+%252872%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9P9nOuU9m4VhY0uYbvvfqx2YuI4fdK-6xUyrb9oUBi1kB5cODduYeWXR9mz9EB-BuEuUqgw3kz1CqCcj0MfMXQJd1on5xGLab7v9c220fpeIRep2Mjh1otrhfGG6vxldVND5NZRM7ak/s400/BR453+%252872%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLn-8K0ydHFrmEaHv7XRfWq_i4wrm3EtS80APiPr-5oWUUfuQHVIxOkCFeFsTitWhxby1hbxousNit1jSnbaFIIGplmQSS3H-XrikbTF2fd7ylc8vAMHb5XGMV1SEp4HSlfCZl-V1OG4/s1600/BR453+%252877%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLn-8K0ydHFrmEaHv7XRfWq_i4wrm3EtS80APiPr-5oWUUfuQHVIxOkCFeFsTitWhxby1hbxousNit1jSnbaFIIGplmQSS3H-XrikbTF2fd7ylc8vAMHb5XGMV1SEp4HSlfCZl-V1OG4/s400/BR453+%252877%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG1p4phO4_99sykS7lNowSL7-ivJZ6oLcpOWWUamr3yJXnkn7RlqugYcucOdWVmzjOS1hhsMUFtV18a1jLL6CPISOQM5o-zyOjkAWrLGB_3_kjMCpBf2vXBTmNWsnHFpNru721sSl7lw/s1600/BR453+%252880%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG1p4phO4_99sykS7lNowSL7-ivJZ6oLcpOWWUamr3yJXnkn7RlqugYcucOdWVmzjOS1hhsMUFtV18a1jLL6CPISOQM5o-zyOjkAWrLGB_3_kjMCpBf2vXBTmNWsnHFpNru721sSl7lw/s400/BR453+%252880%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDI4FwoVggyllC4znYEMvdezgfYWNQRtOkfjXdOuw7LCGWOdR3XW7C8AS_PoV0VPhpRBINbQMDCHWch2fRSHQvtfixc_RshEOUr-6UPu1TmOkwp-dACA6qCyMEwNNh8HwofEa0B2vKL8/s1600/BR453+%252884%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDI4FwoVggyllC4znYEMvdezgfYWNQRtOkfjXdOuw7LCGWOdR3XW7C8AS_PoV0VPhpRBINbQMDCHWch2fRSHQvtfixc_RshEOUr-6UPu1TmOkwp-dACA6qCyMEwNNh8HwofEa0B2vKL8/s400/BR453+%252884%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzexCDiXKEdHH6_-gF7MyS4JM1In7V15Wsg2xW8QWemuUhPgrQSfd5gHSsdsDTrEMLoARYEkiZ1orUm7FB3qtsWCi8cmX3tkXFSYSRuCBJL_RpfoedLbDVC8zHFt-Zb_litkQmIKLHQU/s1600/BR453+%252888%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzexCDiXKEdHH6_-gF7MyS4JM1In7V15Wsg2xW8QWemuUhPgrQSfd5gHSsdsDTrEMLoARYEkiZ1orUm7FB3qtsWCi8cmX3tkXFSYSRuCBJL_RpfoedLbDVC8zHFt-Zb_litkQmIKLHQU/s400/BR453+%252888%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />One thing I love about kids is their honesty and lack of filter. There were references to my ‘gold teeth’ (they’re not in good shape but I prefer ‘off-white’) and when I explained about the 13-hour time difference, someone piped up “Oh, so that explains your red eyes.” The previous day I had visited BR417 and made a bracelet, which I was wearing. I’m not really a ‘maker’ and thought it was pretty clumsily put together. However, one of the kids admired it and asked if I had any more. Unfortunately I had to tell them that this was the only one. I was flattered that they liked it though.<br /><br />Over the course of the day there was a young teenage boy hanging around. We interacted a bit and I had assumed he was part of the Project and one of Jasmiel’s friends. However I was told later that he was a drug addict, his dad was in jail, his mum abandoned him and he was looked after by his elderly grandmother. He was not in the Compassion Project but they let him hang around for the day for my visit. I realised that this meant he sat in on the songs the kids were singing, heard my words to the kids about their worth, value and hope in God, and the words of God I prayed over the group of kids also fell on him and hopefully sunk into his mind and spirit.<br /><br />How incredible it is to be used by God in someone’s life even when you don’t realise it.<br /><br />The thing that stood out most was the way I was received by the kids. There was immediate trust and affection shown. Despite the language barrier. Despite the fact that many of them come from situations where they are abused, abandoned and taken advantage of. Yet this stranger comes in, plays some games, sings some songs and I was immediately treated with such love and joy. It was humbling and was a day I’ll never forget.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53JSh8cxtmMIWeUqqp9UkfSzW_NX1lgSH9uoUBrJK43SKeNQjkH2P3zFkvCYHCk-6He8aDasQpdFv3NGA3OAq8CNFcSA8-S8cQt97ej5Ra4b2cHewqIkrYdvfn7MvEtcF64el5SBkdPo/s1600/BR453+%252894%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53JSh8cxtmMIWeUqqp9UkfSzW_NX1lgSH9uoUBrJK43SKeNQjkH2P3zFkvCYHCk-6He8aDasQpdFv3NGA3OAq8CNFcSA8-S8cQt97ej5Ra4b2cHewqIkrYdvfn7MvEtcF64el5SBkdPo/s400/BR453+%252894%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g4bT5rnejfYL70AcXoNxLKJPVKSGxw916kag4TiB3mDwF8bX4-ar6pxwt4p1t6OQnVz5UF_ibZyhiB3o0OGequ5GxVhbPC8pf7sMkm3vK8Ly5eR5uibyweWckOzn3ypFAUCDfjZP3Ds/s1600/BR453+%252896%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g4bT5rnejfYL70AcXoNxLKJPVKSGxw916kag4TiB3mDwF8bX4-ar6pxwt4p1t6OQnVz5UF_ibZyhiB3o0OGequ5GxVhbPC8pf7sMkm3vK8Ly5eR5uibyweWckOzn3ypFAUCDfjZP3Ds/s400/BR453+%252896%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I have honestly never felt such love and acceptance as I did on this day. BR-453 is located in an industrial area which is dry, hot and dusty, and its residents do not see much evidence of hope in their daily lives. The church and Project are a beacon of Hope, Love and Joy in this community where their children are safe, loved and free to grow up dreaming to become the person God made them to be. I was also pleased that Jasmiel and his family seemed to be in a much better place than my previous visit three years earlier.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl00vP0L94WXsU2Jdch_y2hLWAA0beRbiv3wVz8VfEexb0GOFnwc1uBOSCgFpfCOvy4sE_0oqcjU9bdhGf_uPVzTrPuvOlami5PEY9pMsHDb1nuoKsXRNCv-LZqV4Fcu-gsDLzzr29Noc/s1600/BR453+%252899%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl00vP0L94WXsU2Jdch_y2hLWAA0beRbiv3wVz8VfEexb0GOFnwc1uBOSCgFpfCOvy4sE_0oqcjU9bdhGf_uPVzTrPuvOlami5PEY9pMsHDb1nuoKsXRNCv-LZqV4Fcu-gsDLzzr29Noc/s400/BR453+%252899%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CukuZVSSIEx6a55juWh5_JiEfed9NO0brToRVtAhBAiSBnK_6ZEy_1aFXxM-RwtJW9aijwGLBINnpNDhDJ_blVhoMVPLzWA8wTGSpepMotd2dgIyPLbC8AGMmIDN8Uuzc1i1SlnElm4/s1600/BR453+%2528105%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CukuZVSSIEx6a55juWh5_JiEfed9NO0brToRVtAhBAiSBnK_6ZEy_1aFXxM-RwtJW9aijwGLBINnpNDhDJ_blVhoMVPLzWA8wTGSpepMotd2dgIyPLbC8AGMmIDN8Uuzc1i1SlnElm4/s400/BR453+%2528105%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkQQLaqh7g0jNtrHKZI9bGlRu3kN2zkLI6w-jF18Pux-SSgfFJnmDz_-DQvkBSCiz4r304OfIvgkI07DOLWO6HOs5rLIbdkKS4qvy2nhOIBhGkQh_YynYyDcdiuJM7Cajh3Nid-kDhS0/s1600/BR453+%2528111%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkQQLaqh7g0jNtrHKZI9bGlRu3kN2zkLI6w-jF18Pux-SSgfFJnmDz_-DQvkBSCiz4r304OfIvgkI07DOLWO6HOs5rLIbdkKS4qvy2nhOIBhGkQh_YynYyDcdiuJM7Cajh3Nid-kDhS0/s400/BR453+%2528111%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE4SCdiU4tKtqK_ZzRnmPB7v8xgwzKVW8rraHi4hMdU6kvuo9JdreP0TIl4L9TDV6E2SMZQJ2FsR0q9yL2utz1zniehMzky6lt65TzvwsZN27LAHsQ-44q7h0h9ry54gfBD8uyzCH0lo/s1600/BR453+%2528113%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE4SCdiU4tKtqK_ZzRnmPB7v8xgwzKVW8rraHi4hMdU6kvuo9JdreP0TIl4L9TDV6E2SMZQJ2FsR0q9yL2utz1zniehMzky6lt65TzvwsZN27LAHsQ-44q7h0h9ry54gfBD8uyzCH0lo/s400/BR453+%2528113%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXsjwX2GERhUDSxONKTA13X7grmoqx6aWLPbR74-ZJYZUDx3XXjSZXBsnbA5exIJLkDtPWdUYrvSvM1y933skZuEtLohKTPp6ZKcrMv-F3H6JyYeOKRLbai2J8LpNTA-r7CE1vC1wl40/s1600/BR453+%2528115%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXsjwX2GERhUDSxONKTA13X7grmoqx6aWLPbR74-ZJYZUDx3XXjSZXBsnbA5exIJLkDtPWdUYrvSvM1y933skZuEtLohKTPp6ZKcrMv-F3H6JyYeOKRLbai2J8LpNTA-r7CE1vC1wl40/s400/BR453+%2528115%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-62956867971190542342016-09-19T05:55:00.000+10:002021-09-18T13:13:50.206+10:00Compassion Trip #9 (Brazil 2016): Intro and Visiting Gizelle, Estela, Sara and Bryan at BR-417<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brazil Compassion Adventure blog series</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-2.html"><br />Visit Day #2 (BR453)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3.html"><br />Visit Day #3 Part 1 (BR110)</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3_29.html"><br />Visit Day #3 Part 2 (BR329) </a></span><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-3_29.html"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-visit-day-4.html">Visit Day #4 (BR45<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">8)</span></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/brazil-compassion-adventure-big.html">Birthday Bash</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />I recently embarked on my ninth sponsor visit trip with Compassion International. The original plan was to travel to Honduras and Brazil, but it ended up being too expensive. I had really wanted to go to Honduras, since it is the only Compassion country in South/Central America I haven’t yet visited and I sponsor three girls there who I haven’t met. However, if it was a choice between Honduras and Brazil (my love for the latter country has been well-documented), then Brazil was always going to win.<br /><br />The original plan was also for the last week of September, since I wanted to spend my actual birthday (October 1<sup>st</sup>) celebrating with the kids as I had done on my two previous visits. However, two factors changed this. As part of the Olympics/Paralympics, Brazil was offering a visa waiver (save $250) if you arrived in the country before September 18<sup>th</sup>, and I also gained employment for term 4 and the term started on October 3<sup>rd</sup>, so I wouldn’t have arrived back in time to start my job. <br /><br />So the trip was changed to mid-September. The other difference about this trip was that of the ten kids I was visiting, only one of them was actually sponsored by me; the rest were on behalf of friends, although four of them were previously sponsored by me but my friends kindly took over the sponsorship when I moved to the Philippines in 2014.<br /><br />As well as taking all the kids to a special resort for my birthday, I would be visiting:<br />* <b>Estela</b> and <b>Gizelle</b> (BR417 on behalf of <i>Hannah and Eric Hinojosa</i><br />* <b>Sara</b> (BR417) on behalf of <i>Naomi Harrison</i><br />* <b>Bryan</b> (BR417) on behalf of <i>Lindsay Makowski</i><br />* <b>Jasmiel</b> (BR453) on behalf of <i>Brian and Lisa Crawford</i><br />* <b>Alice</b> (BR110) on behalf of <i>Garry and Helen Zimmerman</i> <br />* <b>Ana Cristina</b> (BR458) on behalf of <i>Cathy Ward</i><br />* <b>Jessica</b> and <b>Christian</b> (BR458) on behalf of <i>Amanda and Bruce Newton</i><br />* <b>Larissa</b> (BR329) who was my sponsored child.<br /><br />So I left chilly Melbourne on the 30-plus hour journey (took the long way but saved a lot of dosh) for the sunny skies of Fortaleza. I had chosen to cram all the visits into the space of six days, which in hindsight was a mistake, but we live and learn. <br /><br />My first stop was a church called “Igreja Planalto de Aeroporto” which I had attended during my previous visit to Brazil and had the strong desire to return to. They had inspired and challenged me with their incredible faith in the midst of very difficult circumstances. I had walked the neighbourhood with my friend Debora Silva and she had been pointing out how many drug dealers live in each street. I had felt despair, hopelessness and violence in the atmosphere like a roof over our heads and the enemy seemed to have complete control, yet these people were defiantly standing in the House of God and praising Him. It certainly challenged my comfortable little Christian worldview.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToqoMSxxVgFsQMZsnkwsGgF5F5w_Jwc4UxijGzpQ2R1cMpr72pwbXZjkWpBUi-qLxE9i3Vs05tdFlTbhL5-i5whUkKqOI8fRZfA1pfxhSQXVlrWD9QYcT5TqjVupS78OU8eKKwGDd7mo/s1600/14292485_10154747144678643_7612460927231306760_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToqoMSxxVgFsQMZsnkwsGgF5F5w_Jwc4UxijGzpQ2R1cMpr72pwbXZjkWpBUi-qLxE9i3Vs05tdFlTbhL5-i5whUkKqOI8fRZfA1pfxhSQXVlrWD9QYcT5TqjVupS78OU8eKKwGDd7mo/s320/14292485_10154747144678643_7612460927231306760_n.jpg" width="249" /></a><br /><br />So I had planned to return there on this trip, but Debora had moved to another country. So she organised for a friend of hers to look after me. Denise, who is a freelance translator for Compassion, took me out and about in Fortaleza on Sunday afternoon before taking me back to the church and translating for me. Denise ended up also being my translator for three of the five visit days.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Visit Day #1 – BR-417 (Gizelle, Estela, Sara, Bryan)</u></b><br />I certainly didn’t ease myself into the trip, with four home visits on the first day. This was my first visit to BR417, whereas I was re-visiting the other four Projects. In the morning I met my hosts for the week. My translator Davi was being trained up and I was his first sponsor visit. My driver was Renato, who was also the Tour and Visits Specialist for Compassion Brazil. The people in this role have a massive job and they normally delegate the sponsor visits to others, but Renato had heard/read a lot about me and travelled from a couple of states away just to be my driver on the visit, which was pretty cool. It was awesome having two English-speaking people assisting me, since that didn’t usually happen on my other trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />We arrived at the Project and met the four little ones. The three girls are all eight years old and Bryan is six. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH77fI2s-AinU79JZ_t0LVB6MNlaEJ8O4CQwzxKuFDeIuf7LgjqS2Y5hZiQdt24JqbWuE0KE8nRRvKY_OJOsnEh-7sOEvfnLCYMupDuw5q_dNTzJaf86fqiIScaZKfudOjcXZzdFdIgAM/s1600/14324668_10154749885408643_8801062115294203658_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH77fI2s-AinU79JZ_t0LVB6MNlaEJ8O4CQwzxKuFDeIuf7LgjqS2Y5hZiQdt24JqbWuE0KE8nRRvKY_OJOsnEh-7sOEvfnLCYMupDuw5q_dNTzJaf86fqiIScaZKfudOjcXZzdFdIgAM/s320/14324668_10154749885408643_8801062115294203658_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH3g1v0pzkGUpPPrZ6ML8hN086AFKHYq3KsdC8cS-leQVoqS_FCF5GnV_Ygw_xE7_1p4WiY1fgMUT-QL0WNMMr1Sdl8kWllruRziSc2wUNd1KldrhEFB0yTt0XzKD-AKjYXsEEjvK-Mc/s1600/Estela+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH3g1v0pzkGUpPPrZ6ML8hN086AFKHYq3KsdC8cS-leQVoqS_FCF5GnV_Ygw_xE7_1p4WiY1fgMUT-QL0WNMMr1Sdl8kWllruRziSc2wUNd1KldrhEFB0yTt0XzKD-AKjYXsEEjvK-Mc/s320/Estela+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUQZTwwsR8ntasOYLZW_daNwX8b495qrunyzGIP_PwX5xehcP0C_jsNM74rIa1v18w3-Kuuv1uXVMezW7gnei_DguxH0aVjYjMW4zB___1O-zbn0YwkLtF17el8Y1sFnZ43CfBaz14Rc/s1600/Giselle+%252810%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUQZTwwsR8ntasOYLZW_daNwX8b495qrunyzGIP_PwX5xehcP0C_jsNM74rIa1v18w3-Kuuv1uXVMezW7gnei_DguxH0aVjYjMW4zB___1O-zbn0YwkLtF17el8Y1sFnZ43CfBaz14Rc/s320/Giselle+%252810%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSnvUj1eYe9ybdXRi2hkml1aJOBiiNznqwzZ5I7zwWQPBjs1i-UZevRxY-agSghUgRLFvV0kUXUCvpL6tby0Sa-IygBhtzLmiFZagiba_oSkYKzqPFWA7yCkpqvIqs6jh91u44U0S5ow/s1600/14352179_10154749612508643_3587984978175768758_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSnvUj1eYe9ybdXRi2hkml1aJOBiiNznqwzZ5I7zwWQPBjs1i-UZevRxY-agSghUgRLFvV0kUXUCvpL6tby0Sa-IygBhtzLmiFZagiba_oSkYKzqPFWA7yCkpqvIqs6jh91u44U0S5ow/s1600/14352179_10154749612508643_3587984978175768758_o.jpg" /></a></span><br /><br />When they were asked who I was, they all shouted “My sponsor!” simply because I was there in person. They had a hard time comprehending that I was there on behalf of their sponsors. I quickly rectified the misunderstanding by giving them photos of each of their sponsors and explaining who they were. <br /><br />We met the Project staff and had a bit of a play before embarking on the first of the home visits. In order to avoid the awkward silences of previous visits I had come well-prepared, with Uno, Dominoes, Memory, tennis balls, elastics and plenty of photos of life in Australia sure to keep them occupied. It was interesting seeing the kids interact with each other. I had visited four kids at once on a previous visit and they got along really well and there was no hint of jealousy or anything like that. On this day however, a couple of the kids were extra competitive and got a bit grumpy on occasions if things didn’t go their way. Normal kid stuff.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsojySCbOXVqKt9EMNr_euTnwrtBF1gtptcSzE9ZsLuqHQ0xf3asHz3g7zJ1OI3y0U-ONYuQSRlGfNmFeZa1Qsw2FFg7YXQF5ZZAmMBkqrik23M9KGxa6ETSGqzOiZjzb_B4tBRMw77fI/s1600/BR417+-+At+Project+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsojySCbOXVqKt9EMNr_euTnwrtBF1gtptcSzE9ZsLuqHQ0xf3asHz3g7zJ1OI3y0U-ONYuQSRlGfNmFeZa1Qsw2FFg7YXQF5ZZAmMBkqrik23M9KGxa6ETSGqzOiZjzb_B4tBRMw77fI/s320/BR417+-+At+Project+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aiKYaA8oH5n5tVPVtvdup9GdzrsdPKx5UyPmiT3jWj45BFjddduTDL5CS1VFP_NpmBIHo4bS7rwY2GieZSNWRpFovEycMfgYa3_PkYeHoaCC3lK_ohedI__zTEHjEFDYBeVr-aldnv0/s1600/BR417+-+At+Project+%25289%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aiKYaA8oH5n5tVPVtvdup9GdzrsdPKx5UyPmiT3jWj45BFjddduTDL5CS1VFP_NpmBIHo4bS7rwY2GieZSNWRpFovEycMfgYa3_PkYeHoaCC3lK_ohedI__zTEHjEFDYBeVr-aldnv0/s320/BR417+-+At+Project+%25289%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKITvR3v65mbld1EVYSbg_-d4zu92bSOsLgU8nvUmE4HReIebHI4-ngwZF8ZaJ0pRD-8fTYAW_uSn-Huade-dJYJeDkFHggfHF7Mm70v6gaW6MAwCdfw2hjL7t2w7aD61nE5Wr-QSxkw/s1600/BR417+-+At+Project+%25286%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKITvR3v65mbld1EVYSbg_-d4zu92bSOsLgU8nvUmE4HReIebHI4-ngwZF8ZaJ0pRD-8fTYAW_uSn-Huade-dJYJeDkFHggfHF7Mm70v6gaW6MAwCdfw2hjL7t2w7aD61nE5Wr-QSxkw/s320/BR417+-+At+Project+%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3KcI_0sxaWiCa41ygMIgbea6Ih1aWjnoVVXyZSjMt8OGJq9sUJgiWsib0insx7ggAcDFdyzqvXVmolB3AHrWJjwQsrHRizYApJU6pCBYvVJEW7GOjYTHLX15vkCwxLmTYUvYW3aKtqs/s1600/BR417+-+At+Project+%252820%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3KcI_0sxaWiCa41ygMIgbea6Ih1aWjnoVVXyZSjMt8OGJq9sUJgiWsib0insx7ggAcDFdyzqvXVmolB3AHrWJjwQsrHRizYApJU6pCBYvVJEW7GOjYTHLX15vkCwxLmTYUvYW3aKtqs/s320/BR417+-+At+Project+%252820%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Because I was visiting these kids on behalf of four friends, I had approached this visit with a journalistic mindset. I was determined to capture as much information and take as many photos as I could. I put pressure on myself to provide a satisfactory experience for ‘my client.’ This ended up being my downfall, as there was simply too much information to process with four home visits. The one saving grace was that I recorded the home visit conversations on the sound recorder on my phone, which relieved the pressure of having to remember every little detail. I was able to send these conversations to each sponsor, which hopefully gave them some insight into their child’s life.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZd-Gn8YoeT6JCn1C9V_k-mAcMRiVo1_fFSMSN3IQ7UQ45hJXjaJFViTXgKrCzQVHf2ZZnENX3EAz03JuFQLKiI_QE_2HmNZy1WudK468_WyLIt0CPn_IC7JhY50xKjLOInPvy1QjGnlg/s1600/Brian+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZd-Gn8YoeT6JCn1C9V_k-mAcMRiVo1_fFSMSN3IQ7UQ45hJXjaJFViTXgKrCzQVHf2ZZnENX3EAz03JuFQLKiI_QE_2HmNZy1WudK468_WyLIt0CPn_IC7JhY50xKjLOInPvy1QjGnlg/s320/Brian+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU7fnj1Ee-FCc3kUHBsU1cfDHLnDisG5bBIdchZ583xHGmBwxofGWkEuFEULtQGgWkqiGEBBZ4hHCUfw_FwfALfbKiGyupr6dRaFVEKwo3wumCxxvgzx0KL2luDvRV8vtRby7OKpznyI/s1600/Estela+%25287%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU7fnj1Ee-FCc3kUHBsU1cfDHLnDisG5bBIdchZ583xHGmBwxofGWkEuFEULtQGgWkqiGEBBZ4hHCUfw_FwfALfbKiGyupr6dRaFVEKwo3wumCxxvgzx0KL2luDvRV8vtRby7OKpznyI/s320/Estela+%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHkdMpNWHu_bSIZIdBul-RgS6_Poen9SIRKhWsPaRZmz-l9p_fwCAGjuuD45wFKPIv9jAIKEYxzJdDhA__ZvXTGS_jUPsPiX1edtVHWS63J9aOVOiYT5DciM0ab8nxfUYVDiqqhCrRnM/s1600/Giselle+%25289%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHkdMpNWHu_bSIZIdBul-RgS6_Poen9SIRKhWsPaRZmz-l9p_fwCAGjuuD45wFKPIv9jAIKEYxzJdDhA__ZvXTGS_jUPsPiX1edtVHWS63J9aOVOiYT5DciM0ab8nxfUYVDiqqhCrRnM/s320/Giselle+%25289%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLALW5OwsuJ8vZFeCWDn5lG9KLivR1BbSiBKv_LYOr9GKB_0H3I_-hVSzKV5f5IuvOMbu9VhwXD8WQLENhiZjuSXGdZqWcewNljwN2K8snH56Ci9SsGreRFKKJPNT8s8nMxjNhQ56XRG4/s1600/Sara+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLALW5OwsuJ8vZFeCWDn5lG9KLivR1BbSiBKv_LYOr9GKB_0H3I_-hVSzKV5f5IuvOMbu9VhwXD8WQLENhiZjuSXGdZqWcewNljwN2K8snH56Ci9SsGreRFKKJPNT8s8nMxjNhQ56XRG4/s320/Sara+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />A couple of the families in particular were having tough times in relation to their fathers both having accidents and being unable to work. In the developing world it is still largely the father who is the protector and provider for the family and without insurance or sick leave, no work means no income. Both fathers had been in accidents involving motor cycles. One had a fractured leg and was on crutches, the other had been in hospital for two months and had only recently returned home in a bad way. I could tell it was tough for the little ones seeing their fathers incapacitated.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosP3awwxm9ARIMPISz6_cg3PrvsgnWY6Gpf8m6iC11b5OT9KKA7xa_EHrtMRtNEmaYmNMQdCyJBpLPg5fTtHy0G9G9e31G1o5wgEWvZQGBfQM_qTDROTZ9fiJQlqlxazN1G1hi1xjA88/s1600/Giselle+%252811%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosP3awwxm9ARIMPISz6_cg3PrvsgnWY6Gpf8m6iC11b5OT9KKA7xa_EHrtMRtNEmaYmNMQdCyJBpLPg5fTtHy0G9G9e31G1o5wgEWvZQGBfQM_qTDROTZ9fiJQlqlxazN1G1hi1xjA88/s320/Giselle+%252811%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRjqfTIp7cwTN_hOrnZXImGd06_pis3VBP1bd54wsw4QMnXniMgmQd82CC2a15tO2HtsfWt2GWYKut7buvx_wUpNVpcYafXPhJ1Lwi9tzI590u3FpjFvYTwnIs5nsNAict23gi468pRk/s1600/Giselle+%252812%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRjqfTIp7cwTN_hOrnZXImGd06_pis3VBP1bd54wsw4QMnXniMgmQd82CC2a15tO2HtsfWt2GWYKut7buvx_wUpNVpcYafXPhJ1Lwi9tzI590u3FpjFvYTwnIs5nsNAict23gi468pRk/s320/Giselle+%252812%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a><br /><br />Once again due to my journalis</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">tic mindset, I had put a lot of thought into the questions I would ask; I made a conscious effort to engage each member of the family, the conversations were free-flowing and positive, and there were very few awkward silences. All the families were very open and honest, and I thanked them for sharing with me.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Project is located right near the beach but is directly opposite a massive garbage dump, which means the community is hot, dry, dusty and it stinks. Apparently the garbage dump is illegal, but the government turns a blind eye to it. Bizarrely, discarded and dilapidated fairground equipment such as merry-go-rounds just lay on a vacant block nearby. It almost felt symbolic. Beaches and fairgrounds for those of us in the developed world symbolise fun and relaxation; in contrast the people in this community have both but life is so hard.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily5vVoACx5q02W2nt_JYcZnmlcimrZZA01k-j2qmqCFJpMRDQCZCEmBp_Svsp22ccBmgtkFac5etxu6ef8TqPYjNAcAAbRUxRYwrtz-nIG_OibrDa6UUswe0eZJwnUD8hkptoDiKyeZA/s1600/BR417+-+At+Project+%252815%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily5vVoACx5q02W2nt_JYcZnmlcimrZZA01k-j2qmqCFJpMRDQCZCEmBp_Svsp22ccBmgtkFac5etxu6ef8TqPYjNAcAAbRUxRYwrtz-nIG_OibrDa6UUswe0eZJwnUD8hkptoDiKyeZA/s320/BR417+-+At+Project+%252815%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H8GFD5du0bHYqaPVLQSZiKv2aKGPX8SOc1QMvJ-2AwKzQNJJjX3-S3y_CKGx8h_9WG2zF6MueH8Fayptf8eYUDw0OigTwNGxOdpoNsow7VeZsTmihzxBoa_nPTMZ4lEbmmTFXGPDi0U/s1600/BR417+-+At+Project+%252814%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H8GFD5du0bHYqaPVLQSZiKv2aKGPX8SOc1QMvJ-2AwKzQNJJjX3-S3y_CKGx8h_9WG2zF6MueH8Fayptf8eYUDw0OigTwNGxOdpoNsow7VeZsTmihzxBoa_nPTMZ4lEbmmTFXGPDi0U/s320/BR417+-+At+Project+%252814%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ60ibVIbXHGLByuKxRSheGSG6xyLavu-SYalD-TpuFQA64R3DRK8ePBYvWw1UzfRErr5hW4MH5csAB4MPBDpCSVnXQMyqWV01JOg8PFAm175y5CsBTTuoD06qQcEja-Q2wRq0hjCOBCo/s1600/BR417+-+At+Project+%252818%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ60ibVIbXHGLByuKxRSheGSG6xyLavu-SYalD-TpuFQA64R3DRK8ePBYvWw1UzfRErr5hW4MH5csAB4MPBDpCSVnXQMyqWV01JOg8PFAm175y5CsBTTuoD06qQcEja-Q2wRq0hjCOBCo/s320/BR417+-+At+Project+%252818%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />After the home visits we returned to the Project, had a play and some food and finished off by making bracelets. As part of Compassion’s long-term strategy for releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name, each Project teaches the kids income generation skills to enable them to assist their families. I was invited to join them in making a bracelet. I’m not normally a ‘maker’ but I wasn’t going to say no on this occasion.<br /><br />I was given a block of wood with a nail at each end. Two pieces of string were tied around each end of the nail and with the loose end they showed me how to twist and plait it. “Over, under, under, over” was my mantra until I had run out of string and made an entirely serviceable bracelet. I have not yet taken it off and don’t plan to for a while.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyeCamofGBo_9rMwP17DOZsUdBicDIeyJwfl2j8uD67yZy_-D6fn5Pj2vlfpyWBZePjnVUyDjW_26qba347By7W10tQjLLKXcFrCSYvM0Gl5jvhNQx4VkWwXLfoxnpLwIe0EV4_jE8Us/s1600/BR417+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyeCamofGBo_9rMwP17DOZsUdBicDIeyJwfl2j8uD67yZy_-D6fn5Pj2vlfpyWBZePjnVUyDjW_26qba347By7W10tQjLLKXcFrCSYvM0Gl5jvhNQx4VkWwXLfoxnpLwIe0EV4_jE8Us/s320/BR417+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhdI7TX4i7uCSw_3DWkHeEDLbbQ7Vby7z7vFDybjTcFbK7ncnTjVkj8XHdO3V3ki64hsmyj8kjs2W55V-KazyJXj9BlYinAPkRo9hGjnOCqwUsWTbusXfKDeWVdN4dgVRiEEqAQ1vWxc/s1600/BR417+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhdI7TX4i7uCSw_3DWkHeEDLbbQ7Vby7z7vFDybjTcFbK7ncnTjVkj8XHdO3V3ki64hsmyj8kjs2W55V-KazyJXj9BlYinAPkRo9hGjnOCqwUsWTbusXfKDeWVdN4dgVRiEEqAQ1vWxc/s320/BR417+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6fhZFRFHni1oSTjVnAFUayr-98cHXCGZX_DBkJTycK8AC578ViCWNdPzrFW8UvcDz6T7XJ3wn4H3iaZ7uPSLHf4FSckne2V7Ox9A7mBWr_M-Wip7G6O04AV9b5hyphenhyphens897tbu_gSFsag8/s1600/BR417+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6fhZFRFHni1oSTjVnAFUayr-98cHXCGZX_DBkJTycK8AC578ViCWNdPzrFW8UvcDz6T7XJ3wn4H3iaZ7uPSLHf4FSckne2V7Ox9A7mBWr_M-Wip7G6O04AV9b5hyphenhyphens897tbu_gSFsag8/s320/BR417+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />It was a fun end to a positive day. I was suffering from information overload after the four home visits but left feeling that I had done my best to give the four sponsors an insight into their child’s life. There was some hard stuff, but before the trip I had made the conscious decision to not let the hard stuff overwhelm me as it had in the past. </span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-13176454459793621232016-07-15T22:11:00.000+10:002020-07-21T21:49:21.501+10:00Reflections on volunteering with Compassion at Hillsong Conference 2016<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Disclaimer: You are about to read a bunch of amazing stories relating to Compassion International. I am a sponsor and a volunteer advocate. I am not a paid employee or staff member. This is my perspective on the week and all views, opinions and insights expressed here are my own. I am not writing these stories, nor do I sponsor, travel or promote Compassion in order to get noticed, earn bonuses or brownie points. There is no ulterior motive, apart from:</span></i></b><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>- Seeing children released from poverty in Jesus’ name<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />- Challenging, encouraging and inspiring people who have been given much to help those who don’t, through my own personal example. </b><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />I have just returned from one of the most amazing, impacting weeks of my life.<br /><br />As well as being a sponsor, I have been an Advocate for <a href="http://www.compassion.com/"><b>Compassion International</b></a> since 2007. Advocates undergo extra training in terms of the way Compassion works in order to better inform and engage people about the work Compassion does. They can also help at events and sign up new sponsors.<br /><br />Apart from speaking at a few <a href="http://www.compassion.com.au/compassion-sunday"><b>Compassion Sundays</b></a>, I had never worked at an event. I didn’t really consider it ‘my thing.’ My main platform is the classrooms I have found myself in over the last few years as a primary school teacher. Sharing about my Compassion kids with students, parents and other teachers has been a joy and produced much fruit.<br /><br />Earlier this year I began a relationship with a beautiful woman. We are currently doing the ‘long distance thing,’ as I am in Melbourne and she is in Sydney, having just finished up at the <a href="http://hillsong.com/college/"><b>Hillsong Leadership College</b></a>. <a href="http://hillsong.com/"><b>Hillsong Church</b></a> have a great relationship with Compassion and we have a strong presence at the <a href="http://hillsong.com/conference/"><b>Hillsong Conference</b></a> which happens in Sydney every July. <br /><br />As a way of seeing Sharon, who was working in the kids program at the conference, I came up with an ingenious plan: I would volunteer to help out at the Compassion Marquee for the week and get to spend some time with her. Everybody wins!<br /><br />The conference started on Tuesday night and I drove up from Melbourne on the Monday, a nice 10-hour trek. Based on previous years, the target number was for 700 kids to be sponsored. Little did we know what was in store.<br /><br />Honestly, during this week I was way out of my comfort zone. Engaging with strangers is not one of my favourite things to do. I was also surrounded by Compassion staff and employees from HQ, so <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">from my end</b> there was an element of trying to impress and making sure I was doing everything right. Even as a ten-year sponsor and experienced Compassion traveller, I was swamped by thoughts of “<i>You’re <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">just</b> an advocate</i>,” “<i>Do I really belong here</i>?” and “<i>Do I have what it takes</i>?” This was not caused by anything the staff members and employees said or did, but just from my own insecurities.<br /><br />I want to share some stories from this amazing week:<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The Impact of Sponsorship Causes Tears</u></b><br />I was scheduled on the main marquee on the opening afternoon, and I nervously and excitedly awaited the crowds. The first person I encountered was a young woman and she uttered those sweet words that every advocate loves to hear: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I want to sponsor a child</i>.” No prompting, encouraging or persuading needed, as God had already done that in her heart.<br /><br />She said it was something she had wanted to do for a while and perused the two big walls of children who were waiting for a sponsor. Some people have a definite preference in terms of country, gender or age of the child but this woman didn’t. She ended up picking a teenage girl from Brazil and then something amazing happened. When she was holding the child sponsor form in her hand, something unseen clicked in her mind and heart, and the sheer impact of what she was about to do caused her to cry. Through sponsorship, she had become a symbol of Life and Hope to this girl in Brazil. I was able to share a couple of my experiences in Brazil to let her know just what a positive impact she would be making.<br /><br />There is so much need in the world, and when we decide to trust God and realise that we can make a difference to that ONE, but also that the love we show through sponsorship often has a flow-on effect to their families and communities, it is often too much for our hearts to bear.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The Ugandan Pastor</u></b><br />During the conference sessions there were far fewer people walking around outside, so things were quiet in the Compassion marquee. On the Tuesday night an African man was hanging around out the front with his hands in his pockets, looking in tentatively. I was the only one around, so I approached him and started a conversation. He started asking questions about how Compassion worked and I answered them to the best of my ability. After his curiosity was satisfied he started telling me about himself.<br /><br />He was a Pastor from Uganda visiting for the conference, and his church ran a ministry for 185 children similar to what Compassion does, without the sponsorship element. I asked if he had considered contacting Compassion about partnering with them. He said he had, but Compassion has a policy of only having a certain number of Projects in a given land area, and there were already other Projects in his community. He also commented that his neighbour was the former country director of Compassion Uganda and that he did not trust World Vision but Compassion was doing some amazing things in his country.<br /><br />He left after about 20 minutes and we wished each other all the best. I realised this was another example of stepping outside my comfort zone and it’s amazing the things you find out about people if you just have a chat.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Wednesday – Here Comes The Flood</u></b><br />Compassion has been blessed by their partnership with Hillsong Church, and every year at conference we get to feature on the main stage in what we call our “Hands Up Moment.” A video was put together, showing the real life story of a little boy called Collins and his grandmother. Collins was left as an orphan when his mother died, and his grandmother took care of him. Only problem was, she had no permanent place to live, so they spent years drifting from place to place. Collins became registered with Compassion and through the Critical Needs program we were able to build them a house of their own. A place of safety, stability and security. True life change and transformation.<br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCompassionAU%2Fvideos%2F10153644596517155%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />The video was shown on the first morning of conference and then child sponsorship forms were given to those whose hearts were moved to take the step of sponsorship. In the afternoon it was pretty quiet and myself and another staff member were joking every time a couple of people trickled to toward the marquee, “Here comes the flood.”<br /><br />Then the afternoon session finished and our joking ceased, as there was a literal flood of people. I was engaging with someone, then all of a sudden I turned around and the place was packed! We had all hands on deck and all staff members and advocates were fully engaged with new and potential sponsors. It was incredible! By the end of the first full day we had close to 300 kids sponsored. I don’t know exactly how long the deluge lasted, but when the crowds dispersed for the evening session it took me a long time to recover and get my energy back.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Pray Big, Dream Big, Let God be Big</u></b>.<br />One thing I love about Hillsong Conference is the teaching. It’s even better when we see a principle that is taught during conference played out in real life, in other areas. <a href="http://mosaic.org/erwinmcmanus/"><b>Pastor Erwin McManus</b></a> from <a href="http://mosaic.org/"><b>Mosaic Church</b></a> in California was one of the speakers, and he talked about not limiting God and letting Him do his thing. When we pray small we limit what He can do and we will only receive small. One line that stood out was “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God will often give us more than we deserve, but He will NEVER give us more than we ask for</b>.” <br /><br />With this in mind, the next morning at the Compassion marquee when we gathered to pray, a number of us had this concept on our hearts. We were convicted about revising our target figure (700) and although nothing was mentioned officially, I believe that a four-figure result was on the hearts of many of us.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>A Dream Turns to Reality</u></b><br />At one point I was away from the marquee and on the smaller Compassion stand in the Expo, an undercover area full of little stalls from many different organizations. A friendly Samoan-Australian guy came up to me and introduced himself as Moses. He said he and his wife had one of the child forms from the Wednesday but it was in his wife’s bag and they would bring it in later. We then got chatting and he told me a bit about God’s faithfulness in his life. This led to a dream he had and the country Bolivia was mentioned. He found this strange and didn’t even know where Bolivia was. During the “Hands Up” moment on Wednesday he put his hand up to receive a child form, and the boy he received was from Bolivia. He took this as a sign from God and an opportunity to repay God’s faithfulness so, despite having four kids of his own and struggling financially, he and his wife took the leap of faith and decided to invest in this young lads life through sponsorship. Once again, a random conversation with a stranger turns into an amazing story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Sponsors Come in All Shapes and Sizes – The Bikies</u></b><br />On Thursday, a guy called Mike came into the marquee and said he was there on behalf of an Australian Christian Motorcycle group. They were wanting to sponsor an older child as a group but didn’t have any preference, so I picked out a lad from Africa who was one of our priority children (been waiting for a sponsor longer than 300 days). I can’t wait to see the look on the kids face when he gets the first photo and realises that his sponsors are a group of 34 big tough bikies! Any bullies had better watch out. Awesome! Mike also wanted to know how his group could partner with Compassion and do more in terms of advocacy, so I referred him to a staff member and they connected. Exciting times ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Little Angel – Alone No More</u></b><br />One thing I LOVED seeing was the number of families with children coming into the Compassion marquee and choosing a child similar in age to their own children. Each family had a variety of reasons and motivations for this but I love that having a brother or sister to write to, pray for and care for will plant the seed of generosity in that child, and there will be a flow-on effect as they get older.<br /><br />On Friday, one of the first groups to enter the marquee was a mum and her three young girls. After looking around for a while they chose four-year-old Angel from the Philippines. Looking at her personal details I realised and pointed out to the family that Angel was an only child, but thanks to their decision to sponsor, she now had three sisters! That sure got the morning off to an amazing start.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>God’s Timing Is Perfect – His Eye Is On The Sparrow</u></b><br />When you believe in God, sometimes with the way things work out it’s just too good to be coincidence. There’s a gospel hymn that says “His eye is on the sparrow,” meaning that even the things or people who are considered littlest or seemingly least important are not beyond the eyes of God. <br /><br />On the Friday evening, a man approached me with a child sponsor form. He had taken it on the Wednesday, prayed about it but could not commit to sponsoring. That’s fine, it happens. So I held in my hands the picture of a four-year-old girl from Indonesia who was looking for a sponsor. Not even five minutes later, a young woman walked in on a mission. She was going to sponsor a child but had no idea where to start. She spent a couple of minutes looking at the pictures and then I had a brainwave and did a mental facepalm. I showed the lady the picture I was holding in my hand and asked “What about her?” I explained that I had received her back five minutes before and she was looking for a sponsor. The lady was visibly moved and signed up to change the little girl’s life through sponsorship. His eye is indeed on the sparrow.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>“You’re a Great Salesman”</u></b><br />When someone signs up to sponsor, part of my job as an advocate is to talk them through the different sponsorship options. We were encouraged to talk about Compassion’s relatively new program, <a href="http://www.compassion.com.au/critical-needs"><b>Critical Needs</b></a>, which is an extra amount which covers emergencies and other things not covered by basic sponsorship. We were told to ‘read’ each individual in terms of whether they would be open to it. It was always an option, never a hard sell. As I was going through it with one couple they said “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You make a great salesman</i>,” and there may have been a mention of ‘upselling’ in a not-so-complimentary tone. They still sponsored the child and the remarks stung for a while, as it was never my intention to come across that way. I had a chat to a couple of staff members about the wording and language they use, and it wasn’t an issue after that. However, reflecting on it afterward I figure that if I’m going to be labelled a great salesman, doing it in the name of Compassion child sponsorship is not a bad cross to bear.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Undercover Boss (‘s Wife) Moment</u></b><br />A bit of humour to finish off. Compassion Australia’s CEO was often seen at the marquee during the conference, and I was introduced to his wife on the first night. A couple of nights later I saw a woman browsing the children’s pictures on the wall and I approached and asked her if I could help her or answer any questions. She looked at me, chuckled and said she was fine. A few minutes later, as I saw them walking out together, I realised that I had approached the CEO’s wife. I was just a bit embarrassed, but at least I was doing my job.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Conclusion</u></b><br />In the end, <b>970 children sponsored at Hillsong Conference 2016</b> was the official figure given. That doesn’t include the ones that trickle in through the post in the couple of weeks after the conference, so we could well reach 1000. <i>That is 970 real stories changed, real lives transformed and real hope injected into previously hopeless futures</i>. Plus the flow-on effect to the families and communities. It is incredible to be a part of, and I wouldn’t be doing anything else with my life.<br /><br />Compassion does not use guilt, persuasion or coercion as tactics to convince people to sponsor. We connect and engage with people, present a real need and invite them to use what God has given them to respond, partner with local churches around the world and meet that need. When talking about the <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/compassion-letter-writing-2-true-impact.html">impact of a sponsor</a> or the <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/compassion-letter-writing-1-true-impact.html">impact that letters have on the life and heart of a child</a>, there is no melodrama or hyperbole used. I’ve been there and I’ve seen it. It is true, real and genuine.<br /><br /><u><b>Compassion International is God’s business and it works</b></u>.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-25576226625837563442016-02-22T15:29:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:21.875+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #1: The True Impact of Letters<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><i>I have come to the understanding that the letters we write to our sponsored kids are more important, treasured, cherished and valued than we will ever understand. <b>Compassion sponsorship is about relationship</b>, and the letters are the way that we get to know each other. It's not meant to be a chore. We are able to speak words of Life, Hope, Encouragement and Love into these little souls who desperately need to hear that someone loves and believes in them. </i><br /><br /><i>Bottom line: If sponsorship is more than a "good deed"; if you want to develop your connection and relationship with your sponsored child, you need to write regularly. Write about your family, job, hopes and dreams, send Bible verses, send pictures and photos. They love it all!<br /><br />Our letters bring them<b> joy</b> for the present, <b>hope</b> for the future and make them feel <b>loved</b>. Here's proof:</i><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of us especially my parents are very happy about your letters. I am very glad that you always remember us.<br /><br />I am so grateful for your letters. <b>They have been a great blessing to my life</b>.<br /><br /><b>I always wait for your letters anxiously</b> and I thank God in my prayers for sending me someone like you.<br /><br />She thanks you for your kind words to her and her family, <b>you really encourage her</b>.<br /><br />She had joy to receive your letter and <b>she has it well kept</b>. She says that she admires your pictures.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />When I see your photo or I read your letters <b>I imagine that I am seeing you in person</b></span>.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />I look forward to receive other letter from you, they make me very well, <b>it is a way to have you closer to me.</b></span><br /><br />Thank you for your love for me and for the letters and <b>I keep them with love</b>.<br /><br />I get happy when I receive letters from you, and <b>I know that you like me very much</b>. I like to receive pictures of you, your nieces and nephews are pretty, actually all your family is pretty, I love to see all your students, they are very beautiful.<br /><br />Thank you very much for all the beautiful pictures you sent me. <b>Thank you from the bottom of my heart.</b><br /><br />I like when you tell me what you do with your students<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. <b>I feel like you’re giving me the letter personally because I feel close to you when you write me</b> and send me pictures of your students and you.</span><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Every time I write to you <b>I get courage to go on</b>.<br /></span><br />Thank you for the letters you have sent to me and for the time you dedicate to write to me. When I read the letters you send me I am so happy to know more about you and I know every day you enjoy lots of things with your family, students and friends and other sponsors. <br /><br />I have the honor of having a sponsor like you; you are one of my best examples to follow because it is wonderful to read the letters you sent to me. <b>It is as if I were close to you</b>; <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When I write letters to you I<b> get inspired because I imagine you with me. I don’t know how, but it is like magic writing these words because I do not say them, my heart says them, and with lots of love</b></span>.<br /><br />I am so happy because you wrote me again, <b>even if it was long to read.</b><br /><br />Thank you because even your so busy but you spent your time to write to her. Thank you very much because you treat C as your daughter and she said <b>she is so happy for that and every time you mention in your letter that she is special to you.</b><br /><br />Thanks for the beautiful letters and photos, <b>I keep them with love</b> and I read them from time to time. I love when you write because <b>the verses you give to me are a blessing</b>.<br /><br />I greet you with a lot of blessings, I am happy to write to you again, <b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">your letter fill me with happiness</span>.</b><br /><br />I also like to get your letters. <b>It’s nice to know that you care for me</b>. I like your letters and pictures.<br /><br />The question that you wrote to me says did you know that words can hurt or cure any people?<b> I didn’t know, but thanks to you I know it</b>. Thank you very much.<br /><br />M was very happy to receive your letter. She was very much glad to you and God. Also that you have remember her. <b>After receiving your letter she was full of joy</b>. Thanks to you for your lovely letter and also she is very excited and she was very happy to see the special photos of your family and your class.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />L feels very secure now, especially when she heard father’s words in your letter, <b>you words are hopeful.</b><br /></span><br />Father, <b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">L</span> feels very happy and joy</b> because you are diligent to send letters for her regularly.<br /><br />God bless you, I’m happy for receiving a letter from you again. <b>Your words are really beautiful</b>, thanks for your support.<br /><br />My family is well. <b>We are better with your letter</b>.<br /><br />Thanks! You are great and I love you very much, <b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the words that you write me are a blessing for my life and strengthen my spirit and esteem</span></b>.<br /><br />Thank you so much for the letter and beautiful pictures you sent me. <b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When I read your letter, my self-esteem was strengthened, and I was able to see life in a different way</span></b>. Thank you so much for giving me advice. It’s very important to me. <br /><br /><b>What a thrill to get your letters</b> and nice pictures with your friends. Thank you for writing me and sending me the beautiful poster. I enjoyed to read them a lot.<br /><br />Thank you for everything, thank you for everything, <b>thank you for the letters and the care you have given to me and my family.</b><br /><br />Thank you for your <b>letter full of love</b>. You are beautiful and your baby’s cute. I like him very much.<br /><br />It’s always a joy for me to write you a letter. <b>Your letters make me very happy</b>. I like especially of the pictures. Our love for you is very beautiful.<br /><br />Thank you very much for the letter and the picture. <b>When I look at the picture you enclose with the letter, I see the love of God</b> and all special people in the picture. I’m very happy.<br /><br />I’m so glad to receive your picture. <b>Your picture makes my family happy</b>.<br /><br />K is grateful for the lovely letter you sent him. He tells you that <b>he was really happy to read it and knows how much you love and care for him</b>. He adds that the official school class photo was really pretty and hanged it in his mothers bedroom where <b>he will always see it and remember how much you care for him.</b><br /><br />I am happy to read your letter. <b>Your words are encouraging</b>. May God bless you.<br /><br />It's lovely to read your letters and <b>it touches his heart</b> and all he says was "Oh what a lovely sponsor that he has."<br /><br />Thank you always for your <b>words of encouragement</b>, says your child.<br /><br />B thank you for your words and encouragement shown to him all the time. He really feel at home and appreciate your support. <b>At first child has been going to school late and nowadays he is the first person to step the school compound</b>.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />B has received all the letters you have been writing to him, <b>but there are some few children in the project who do not receive letters quite often from their sponsors and it makes them feel sad at times.</b></span><br /><br /><b>Your letter brought me so much joy</b>. Thank you so much for the photos and especially for the verses.<br /><br /><b>It is a delight to receive your letter</b>. Thanks for the verses, your prayers and love. I hope that the school children are fine.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Thank you for your letters, <b>they are a great help for me during my sad moments</b>.<br /></span><br />The last letter I read from you was <b>very fantastic</b>.<br /><br />I always like reading your letters. <b>I keep them in a very special place</b>.<br /><br />I was glad to get your letter. I’m respectful to you. <b>When I was reading your letter I would know how much you love me</b>. I also love you. <br /><br />Thank you for all the letters because <b>I have learned a lot</b>.<br /><br />I am happy receiving your letter, and writing this letter because<b> sharing of events happening in his life is the way of appreciating his efforts and doing something like what you did</b>. He enjoy watching photos of your cute nephews.<br /><br />I am very happy to read your letter and look to your picture when you were a child. You are so very cute in the pictures. Your girl friends were so beautiful, when you was young your face is so glad and so nice! I thank God that you were my sponsor. Thank you for the letters you’ve given to me and the letters was really nice and thank that you included your pictures way back when you was young.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-84316043049934295272016-02-22T15:17:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:23.474+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #2: The True Impact of a Sponsor<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>On the surface, what we do, and give, as Compassion sponsors may not seem like much. It may seem like a pretty simple, insignificant thing. $12 a week, the occasional letter. Doing our little bit to make the world a better place, right? <br /><br />I'm here to tell you different. What I have received in nearly ten years worth of letters from my Compassion kids tells me that we can never underestimate how important we are to them. I have been repeatedly blown away by pages dripping with love and gratitude. What seems so little for us means so much to them.<br /><br /><b>As you read the following sentiments, I want to make it clear that by publishing them I am not intending to show off or boast about what an amazing sponsor I am. It is incredibly humbling that they would think like this, and I thank God that He is using me in th<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">eir lives</span>. These words are how every child feels about their sponsor, I have just been blessed that my kids have expressed them to me</b></i>.<i><b> I hope you get a sense of the true impact we as sponsors make, and are inspired to sponsor more or write more.</b></i><br /><br />I feel very excited to write you again, and tell you that I’m proud that you be my sponsor. I loved your letters and your pictures<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. It’s amazing what you do for us, and I say “we” because all the children who appear in the picture are your children. Sponsor, my classmates were amazed to watch every one of those children. Thanks. I don’t know how to pay you for all what you do for us.</span> I send you a nice drawing that I drew especially for you.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Do you know something incredible? You are a hero for J, she would like to be like you when she grows up – a great professional. She wants to work with children, and the same as you, to be mature spiritually in faith. J wants that you never get apart from Jesus. J would like to be like you because you follow Jesus Christ’s footprints.</span><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />At the project I have a very good teacher, and she said that you are an angel sent by God to me.</span> I agree with her, for me and for all the kids.<br /><br />My family and I are happy and okay for your valuable support<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. You have given me the chance to succeed.</span><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />You are a blessing for me and you are an angel.</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God’s glory shines like the sun in you</span>.<br /><br />I remember your nieces and nephews as if they were my own family, and I love them like my siblings because I feel that they are a part of my family now.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />For M, you are a great gift that God has put in her life</span>.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />You bring me joy and I like you so much.</span><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />She is also thankful to God because God give you to her as an instrument and guided her as she grow.</span><br /><br />I am very proud of you, every day I thank God for putting you on my way and because you have been a blessing for me and my family.<br /><br />I love you very much, and I’m very proud of you because you help many children like me and you make them smile each day. May God guide your path forever!<br /><br />I thank you so much, because <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">if it is not you, I wouldn’t be where I am right now</span>. I thank God for joining me together with you and be with you forever<br /><br />Thank you very much for sponsoring me. It is such an honour to be sponsored by a person like you.<br /><br />I want to thank you for sponsoring me. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You are a blessing from God to me</span>. I want to tell you that. <br /><br />I’m happy for you because you are very important to my life.<br /><br />I am glad to know that there is someone who loves me so much.<br /><br />You are very intelligent, you play many musical instruments and you also know how to sing and I also liked to know that you sponsor several children at my project.<br /><br />I hope you are fine and I thank God for sponsoring me because <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God has blessed me so much through you.</span><br /><br />I prayed God so you would communicate with me again because you have my love and my trust. I feel proud to have you as my sponsor again.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />I love you very much and I know that a lot of people love you also</span>.<br /><br />I am thankful for sponsoring me. I feel so proud of you for your kindness and also for being intelligent.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Only God knows how lucky and happy I am to have you</span>.<br /><br />I feel so proud to have you. God loves the happy giver and it’s great you give your students time<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white;">.</span><br /></span><br />C said that she was happy because of the blessings that she received from you as well as for sharing those blessings to other children.<br /><br />C and my family was so thankful to God for giving you to us. I am very happy and thankful to God because you are so kind and spending your time to me. Thank you also for sharing your life to me as the instrument of God. <br /><br />At home, we all think about you and you’re always in our thoughts and hearts.<br /><br />You’re so blessed, you are so lucky, multi-talented kind of person. I know that all of this is a gift of God. <br /><br />You are so lovely because you like helping others. Receive hugs and kisses from me and my family.<br /><br />All of my siblings and I are very lucky that God never forsakes us and God always gives us His love through you. You’re lovely. I believe that God is very lovely too.<br /><br />It’s good to know that you like to help people and kids and may God bless you more and more. <br /><br />She <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thanks</span> you for the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">love </span>and tenderness you have for her. She expresses her love for you and says that she loves you very much.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Thanks</span> for sponsoring me, and I know that all the kids are blessed by you are very <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">happy</span>. May God bless you.<br /><br />The girl K says that she is <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grateful</span>to God and you, she cares about you and she <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">loves</span> you.<br /><br />I hope that you will be successful in serving the Lord through <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">helping</span> the children like me.<br /><br />It is surprising to know that you support many children. Is there any child special for you? I thank God for giving you the desire to help and serve others.<br /><br />I am so <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grateful</span> to Mr David Chalmers, who is so kind, giving me attention and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">love</span>. Please always remember me and pray for me, although we are far apart. I believe that I always be close to your heart.<br /><br />I like to hear from you because you are very kind, and I know that our God will not forget of you and for that reason I encourage you to do well with respect in your job.<br /><br />Hello dear sponsor, how are you doing? I am very pretty and smiley, everything has gone well here. I want to tell you that I love you very much and I thank you for all the things you have done for my family and for me. <br /><br />A wants the Lord Jesus Christ to bless your life! The child says he is happy to be in touch with you and tell you that he is very proud of you and know how much God loves him. He thanks you for the support that you give him and he always prays for you and your family. He made a drawing for you and hopes you like it.<br /><br />I am so thankful for introducing me to my fellow children and for taking me as your child<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. I thank God for making you the way to lead little children and teaching them through the word of God, so that we may grow spiritual, physically, getting knowledge and growing our faith</span>.<br /><br />Be blessed so much. Congratulations for a good work of sponsoring. God will give you another child to sponsor. <br /><br />I am so happy to know about our Compassion family. Please convey my greeting to all my friends. I showed photos to my friends in our project. I am so lucky that you are my great sponsor. <br /><br />I thank you so much for sponsoring me. I am so lucky and pleased to be your loving child. God has given great blessings. <br /><br />He feels so happy about Richmond Wandera and Michelle who have gone through Compassion's Leadership Development program and how God is using them to touch the lives of people in their countries. He feels so much motivated and hope that some day he will also go through the LDP.<br /><br />We thank you for your love and decision to sponsor her. Your contribution was essential so that the word of God was planted in her heart and she received all our benefits what is a privilege that just a few have because they live in a dangerous and poor community with the risk of floods, gangs, prostitution and drug sales, and many children get involved in these practices and die. Your love gave her eternal moral and ethic values very important for her life. May God reward you. <br /><br />Her family change positively their circumstances and this child doesn’t need Compassion’s assistance any more. We thank all your love to sponsor a poor child that needed your support. Your contribution was very important to her because here she could receive many benefits. Her community is dangerous and poor. It’s a place with risk having floods, there are many gangs, drugs, prostitution and many children involved pass away. We know that all values will be so precious for her life. May the Lord reward you in double.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-25940186162870255932016-02-22T15:15:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:21.928+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #3: The Impact of Visits<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>It's no exaggeration to say that, among children sponsored through Compassion International, their biggest dream is to meet their sponsor. I have been blessed to visit 32 of my sponsored kids in 12 countries, and while it hasn't always been the picture-perfect, fairytale day we all hope for, there is no doubt in my mind that it is the fulfillment of a dream.<br /><br />Here is a sample of what I've received in my letters, in regards to visits.</i><br /><br /><u><b>Part 1 - Throwing It Out There With Subtle Hints</b></u><br />I would like to meet you because I would like to know you and your toys.<br /><br />J asks God that you come to Ecuador. She wants to see your eyes and tell you she loves you.<br /><br />I wonder if we will be able to meet face to face someday.<br /><br />I would like to hug you. You are very kind. If God allows it I will be able to meet you.<br /><br />I want to tell you that I love you and I would like you to come and meet me face to face.<br /><br />My dream is to meet you someday.<br /><br />I would like to meet my sponsor because I want to know your face and way.<br /><br />I’m looking forward to your visit and I’m very happy to meet you.<br /><br />I would like you to come to Chiapas so I could meet you.<br /><br />I hope that the day we can meet comes soon and we will enjoy together.<br /><br />I would like to meet my sponsor Mr David because I want to hold you and shake hand with you.<br /><br />Some day I would like to visit your house, meet your family and be able to see the wonders of your beautiful country. I would like to get to know you, hug you, and thank you for each of the details you have had with me, the events of your life you share with me and the pictures you send me.<br /><br />I am praying that you could come to visit me to be able to hug you so much.<br /><br />Someday I would like to meet my sponsor.<br /><br />Someday I would like to see my sponsor and Jesus.<br /><br />Someday I would like to meet my sponsor because I love him and I miss him so much. <br /><br />I want you, David, and your student friends to visit and play together at Thailand.<br /><br />K concludes by saying he is longing to see you soon<b>.<br /></b><br />I am glad to express that about your lovingness upon me. I hope one day we meet together. I pray for this good chance.<br /><br />J loves you, and for her, the wish to know you is the most beautiful in her life.<br /><br />She wants you to know that she would like to know you in some moment to share with you nice moments.<br /><br />When will you come to see us here in Brasil? I liked to know your toys Sam and Ted. Will I play with them one day?<br /><br />I like all your verses and keep all your letters, I wish to show them all to you some day.<br /><br />She would like you to come to celebrate her birthday.<br /><br />I ask God for the opportunity to meet you.<br /><br />I hope meeting you some day and you can be able to meet Nicaragua.<br /><br />My dream is to meet you in person so we can take lots of photos together. That way you can share them with all your other kids. <br /><br />If I could travel anywhere in the world I would like to go and meet you.<br /><br />I wish to meet and hug you. I want to spend a special day with you like you do with the children in the photo, I want to take photos of us.<br /><br />I will pray to God so He heals you soon, and also so we can achieve the dream of knowing each other personally and sharing a soccer game together. I would like to listen to you play the piano.<br /><br />J also says that she would like to meet you someday. <br /><br /><u><b>Part 2 - Dream Fulfilled!</b></u><br />I am so happy that day we were in Manila that is my first time in Manila and first time in airplane. I am so happy that I see you and hug you and got a picture with you. My favourite part of our time together is where in the bus that you share lots of stories about your family and your cute nephew and where in the sea lion that we play the Australian football. That is my favourite day with you. And thanks for the gifts that you gave, bag, teddy bear, picture of Australia, book of Australian. Thank you so much. I hope I’ll see you again one day. I am very excited because I am 1<sup>st</sup> year high school (junior) now, new friends, new teacher and new school room. I use the bag that you gave to me. I share lots of stories about you and your family, with my new friends in school. I say what you did with me and what we doing when we were in Manila. I am so happy to share with them.<br /><br />I always remember when you came to visit me, <b>I will never forget those moments</b>we shared, I enjoyed when we were with all my family.<br /><br />I also want to say that J is the happiest child because she can meet you, <b>that day was the most beautiful of her life</b> and she would never forget that day and she will keep it in her heart.<br /><br />It was good that you came to my country and I am thankful to the Lord for you. I never thought that I was going to know you in person and I loved you here. I loved being by your side and that we could go to the pool. I hope that we can celebrate many birthdays together and it was unforgettable. <b>I cannot forget all the times that I could hug you</b> and I remember you and it was wonderful to be with you. It is going to be in my life forever.<br /><br /><b>I remember all the moments we were together</b>. I know that when this letter arrives there we would have seen each other and it is going to be great. Please, when you come here, please bring me the baby Amelia, because I just saw her through the picture and I like her very much.<br /><br /><b>Thanks for coming to visit my country and family</b>. And I also thank you for the lunch and also coming to visit the place where I receive my classes.<br /><br />Thank you for your visit at my house, the presents and the outing. Everything was very good and <b>I will remember that day for the rest of my life</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will receive a CD with all our pictures from the Project and every day I will remember these two days we spent together. They were funny days, full of fun and emotion. Thank you very much for everything.<br /><br />The swimming pool day was very good and thank you for coming to Brazil and know me.<br /><br />I also say thank you very much for coming to Brazil and for the day we spent in the pool.<br /><br /><b>I am missing you</b> and I want to see you again.<br /><br />I also want to say <b>thank you for your visit and I loved it very much</b>, you are very funny.<br /><br />She loves your letter, pictures, teddy bear and especially your presence and her family and everyone else here in the Project were also happy.<br /><br /><b>My favourite day was the day we saw each other</b>. I was happy.<br /><br /><b>I was very happy because my dreams would come true</b>, I am so eager, that will be an unforgettable day for me and my family, it’s the first time the sponsor will come to visit. I know it was your decision, our dream would come true. Thank you for the time you give me.<br /><br />I pray for you every day because now I know that dreams can come true asking God with all the heart. Thank you for all the time you gave me and for giving me your love and attention.<br /><br />I am happy, like with your presence in my humble home. <b>It was so great when you were with me. I will never forget that day</b>. If I lived with you it would be a great life, sad-happy, full of blessings and joy. I ask God for the day that you would come to my humble home.<br /><br />I thank you so much for your visit. <b>It was a wonderful surprise for me</b>.<br /><br />Thank you for visiting me and <b>it was a great blessing to me and to my family</b>. I am praying that we can see each other again.<br /><br />I am so happy that you came to visit me. I dream to give you a big hug.<br /><br />J says that <b>she was so excited when you visited her house</b> and ate together.<br /><br />I want to tell you that <b>I felt very good about your visit</b> to all my classmates and I invited them to come to the Compassion program because it is a great blessing the gifts we get. <br /><br />I hope you can come to Chiapas again. I will be waiting for you to hug you and tell you that you are very special to me. <b>I hope you will come back to Chiapas. We will be waiting for you with much joy</b>.<br /><br />I hope you can visit me again soon. I will be waiting for you to give you a lot of kisses. I love you!<br /><br />Thank you for coming and give me the opportunity to meet you. You are so kind, and feel that God have many beautiful things in you. <b>I was very surprised I never imagined that you would give a surprise like that</b>.<br /><br />The visit you paid to her area <b>pleased C a lot, and it really motivated her</b>.<br /><br />I want to thank you because you’ve visited me and for sponsoring me. <b>I’m still very excited</b>.<br /><br />When you came, <b>it was one of the best days of my life</b>. I have enjoyed your company and joy. I remember what you said to me, and that you were coming back, and you were going to learn Spanish.<br /><br />I tell you that <b>I am still thankful for the time you came to visit me home</b>, that time you made me feel happy. I was very nervous but I felt very happy and that’s why I tell you are very nice. I always take the koala you gave me to school the Thursdays also, to make me company like if you were there.<br /><br />You are very good with me. I had a great time that day too, what I remember most is when you played the instrument in church.<br /><br />When you came, the time went by really fast. I like sports a lot so that when you come back here I would like that you teach me your favourite sport that you like to play.<br /><br />My family and I are very thankful to God for the life he gave you and for the opportunity He gave me to be able to meet you. <b>It was really nice when you came to La Paz</b>, it was really fun, but I was scared of laughing too much.<br /><br />Dear Coach David, Thank you for visiting us in our house. Thank you for taking us to Jollibee and Robinsons. I am very glad that we played Uno cards. I really enjoyed that time. Thank you for being my sponsor. You are really kind. I will never forget all the happy memories we had when we strolled and played with my siblings at Robinsons. I will miss you so much. My favourite part of the visit was when we played Uno because you taught me, my siblings, my Mom and Coach AM how to play it. Thank you again.<br /><br />I want to tell you that <b>I enjoyed each moment I shared with you</b> and your family. I also enjoyed meeting you.<br /><br />I am very much excited to meet you in person here in the Philippines.<br /><br />Thank you for the bond that we have last April in Manila. <b>I really enjoyed being with you</b>. I enjoyed riding on the plane for the first time. I miss you Mr David.<br /><br />I expect your visit with joy, I’m so excited and I felt the most blessed person by God, since He gave me a sponsor like you.<br /><br />She said that she misses you and she loves you very much.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-85429065936643421652016-02-22T15:10:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:23.554+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #4: Dreams For The Future and Funny Stuff<i>One of the incredible things about Compassion sponsorship is that it enables kids to dream for their future, and equips them with skills and opportunities to achieve that dream. It is nothing short of miraculous. These kids are growing up in abject poverty. I have walked the streets of many developing countries and literally tasted the pervasive hopelessness and despair. Yet because of the love of God, the church and Compassion, they have an opportunity to dream. </i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Here are some of the dreams of my sponsored kids over the last few years.</i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />When I grow up I want to become a <b>teacher</b> like you</span>.<br /><br />When I get older, my dream is to become a <b>teacher</b> like you. I want to <b>help my family </b>and my younger siblings.<br /><br />She says she’d like to be a <b>doctor</b> in the future, to help sick people.<br /><br />When I grow up I would like to be <b>successful</b> and I dream to be a <b>nurse</b>. I worry that my family doesn’t have the finances to be able to pay for my studies to be a nurse. It is a dream to me.<br /><br />According to C, her dream in life is to become a <b>teacher</b> so that she can impart the knowledge that she learned to the children also.<br /><br />When I grow up, my dream is to become a <b>successful teacher</b>.<br /><br />In the future, after L graduates from Senior High School<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, she wants to be a <b>nurse</b></span>.<br /><br />When I grow up I want to be a <b>nurse.</b><br /><br />I want to tell you about my dreams. When I grow up I want to be a <b>technician in clinic laboratory</b> and I also would like to be a <b>hair stylist</b> and I would like to <b>go to Australia and the United States</b>.<br /><br />I want to tell you about some of the dreams I have in my life. I would like to <b>finish my studies</b> and being a <b>professional woman</b> to earn money and <b>help my family</b> by buying a very big and nice house. <u><i>Also, I would like to sponsor children as you do.</i></u><br /><br />Someday I would like to <b>help my family</b> by building for them a good house and buying for them good clothes.<br /><br />Someday I would like to be like my sponsor so that I will <b>help the needy</b>. <br /><br />When I am older I want to <b>help needy people</b>.<br /><br />When my son grows up he wants to <b>be in the military</b>. He wants to help us even in a simple way.<br /><br />If I could go anywhere in the world I want to go there in Australia with you and experience a real snow in winter season.<br /><br />Here in our school we do not have camps like yours in Dunkeld. Only private schools can afford these activities, but since I am in a public school I’ll never experience that. And I wish someday I’ll experience that.<br /><br />When I am older I will be a <b>doctor</b><br /><br />I want to be a <b>soldier</b>.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><u><b>Funny Stuff</b></u><br /><i>As the relationships with my sponsored kids have developed, many of them have become more comfortable and have come out with some stuff which I have found honest and often random and funny (I'm sure unintentionally on their part).</i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br />I am okay at school with good grades, <b>but I have to stop talking</b>.<br /><br />I thank God that He placed you in my life. Thank you for the affection that you have for me and <b>you can be assured that I also like you!!!</b><br /><br />I am very happy to be writing you again. <b>Believe me Sponsor, I am very happy</b>.<br /><br />I hope a lot of people thank you because you are a good sponsor.<br /><br />I like helping my dad take care of his poultry. <b>Do you practise breeding?</b><br /><br />I don’t have any female friends, <b>they don’t know how to play soccer</b>.<br /><br />I participated in contest of chant at Project without intention, <b>because I hate to sing. I would rather play soccer.</b><br /><br />Thank you very much for the photos. <b>You look nice. I like flowers. Your flowers are nice!</b><br /><br />K asks you <b>whether cats go to heaven when they die</b>.<br /><br />Thanks for the letters. I would like to hear how Australia is. Are there kangaroos as I watch in the movies?<br /><br />Would you like to be a pastor later? <b>May God grant you strength!<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><u>Wife Watchers</u></span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"> </span><br />My relationship status has often come</i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><i> under scrutiny, since all my sponsored kids are from countries where people get married and have <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">a famil<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">y</span></span> at a very young age</i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><i>, and if you don't</i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><i>....Nah, I really do appreciate their concern.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />I hope that one day you will finally meet the woman meant for you.<br /><br />I hope that you will find someone who will take good care of you and love you so much. I know God will send her to you, because a good man like you deserves to be happy.<br /><br />P says he is praying for you to get good wife from God.<br /><br />I can pray for you and maybe God has a special woman for you to be your wife. I hope that she loves God’s kingdom.<br /><br /><u><b>Kids With Kindness (<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Insert <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Blushing Here</span>)</span></b></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Thanks for loving J. She is very glad to have your affection. She wants to thank you for the nice pictures you sent<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. J says you are very good-looking boy</b>. She wants to know, what did you see in her that made you want to sponsor her? She is very small, but has a big heart and wants you to know she loves you.<br /><br />J wishes that God blesses you abundantly. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You are photogenic</b>. She says goodbye with love and kisses.<br /><br />I am very happy and I am happy to be able to see you in your photo. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You are very cute with your beloved</b>. I love you very much.<br /><br />I love you very much. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You are the handsomest guy in the picture</b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><b>.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><br /></b></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-18552516454721384482016-02-22T15:08:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:21.716+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #5: Struggles and Hard Stuff<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a Compassion sponsor, I made the decision to invest in the relationships with my sponsored kids and their families by making a conscious effort to write them at least monthly and also visiting their homes and communities. I realize the second thing is not possible for everyone, but everyone can write regularly. And trust me, it is worth the effort.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><br />I found that the more I wrote about my life and took an interest in them, my sponsored kids trusted me more and I started getting some incredibly honest and often heartbreaking letters. Far from being the generic template that some sponsors complain about (and I've had my fair share), these kids were opening up and trusting me with the hard stuff in their lives, which is a privilege I don't take for granted. <br /><br />I'd like to share some here. (no names have been used to protect identities).</i><br />Last October 15-16 was our scouting at our school but unfortunately I didn’t join because I couldn’t afford to buy a girls scout uniform.<br /><br />Ten years passed since our little house was built but until now it is not yet finished because my parents earnings are just enough for our everyday food.<br /><br />I only celebrate my birthday with my family. But no party at all because my parents could not afford it.<br /><br />My Dad has been very sick with much bones pain, and he suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. We have been going through hard time because of my aunt’s death.<br /><br />Please pray for me and my dad who is at the hospital, he is grave.<br /><br />We do not have the necessary things we would need to build a house that has all the things we need. I want to tell you that we do not have access to basic services. We get water from a well but during summer it dries. On weekends I enjoy washing my clothes in a small brook. <br /><br />I am fine now, thanks to God. I was some days sad and far from the project because my uncle had died, but now I’m back.<br /><br />Thank God, now we are okay. After some bad people killed my uncle we had to move and we a bad time and I had to leave my school and I lost my school year but now everything is back to normal.<br /><br />I am worried about my Dad’s life because he is alcoholic.<br /><br />Life is not very happy here because there is a lot of crime, child abuse and in Guatemala life is very hard, because we work in the field and as the sun is very strong, then we get sick. After that we see the hard work fruit and of the time we spent at work.<br /><br />I contribute to the family budget because my father drinks; so I ask you to pray for him so that he changes some day and we may be a happy family.<br /><br />C shared to me about the worries in her life when I asked her, and she said that she is worried about the situation of her father, because her father encountered a big trials. She is sad also because her grandmother passed away through her illness. But C said God has a purpose for everything why it was happened.<br /><br />Her family is so poor. Her Dad is a day labourer and can’t eat good food most of the time.<br /><br />Her father become sick often, for that her family is in bad condition. <br /><br />Her father is poor. Her father works as a day-labour and her mother cooks in house. They have no own house. They stay on a hill. They suffer much to collect water.<br /><br />Pray for my friends so that they don’t become gang members. There are adolescents who get pregnant at early age because they don’t have anyone to give them a piece of advice or a mother whom they can trust. Please pray for my friends so that they don’t make the mistake to get pregnant without getting married or having a profession.<br /><br />Her father is a daily labour<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. How much he earn that is not enough to provide the family needs. <b>But now by your sponsorship they could access all the things as a normal human being.</b></span><br /><br />I live in Indonesia. It is hard to get food here because it is very expensive. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Electricity just entered the village and was lighted on July 17<sup>th</sup>. We do not have water flow to village yet</span>. We take water from the spring. <br /><br />No, I do not have any special doll (toy). <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Actually I want to play doll, but I do not have even only one</span>.<br /><br />My parents never gave me advice to go to school because my parents do not go to school, so they never gave me advice. I also always thought to go to school, but my parents do not have school fund, so I cannot be at school. <b>But now, because of the spirit of God that has moved your heart so I can attend school at the project</b>.<br /><br />Life in El Salvador is more difficult every day and it is difficult to find a job and there is much violence. <br /><br />I want you to know that my granny passed away and that made me a little sad, but I am surpassing it.<br /><br />My family and I are going through a difficult time, because my Dad and mom will break up. We are moving to another house.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />I am better than the other days because my parents did to fight and now I think we are a very happy family thanks to God and to all your prayers.<br /><br />My cousin bothers my little sister. She is only 5 years old. He is violent. One day he fought me with a stick, but I forgave him because he is like my brother</span>.<br /><br />Everything is fine in my house although sometimes my aunt and uncle fight a lot, but I beg God to protect all those that I love very much from all evil.<br /><br />Life in Bolivia is dangerous, there is not security and there are many crimes.<br /><br />Some time ago the mum of my friend died and she was very sad. Now she is getting better, I help her so she does not think of it. She is my best friend and I am sorry she does not have her mum any more. She feels alone. I just pray to God to keep close to her.<br /><br />I want to tell you that I fell off my bike with my friend. She fell on me and I fractured my arm. I was taken to the doctor and he put me in a cast. I know the Lord will heal me so we must pray. <br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />He says he is not living with his father</span> so he beg you to pray so that he can see his mother in good life. <br /><br />I’m afraid that I will fail. I don’t want to go anywhere, I just want to stay with my parents. <br /><br />Living in the Philippines is quite easy for others. For us, not so quite because of our lifestyle, financially hard up. We don’t have any home, we board only to others, at least complete with running water, electricity and toilet.<br /><br />He told me that if he grow older, what will happen to us parents? Aren't we getting older too? I explained him gradually the true situation being people in this world. I think with this things in his life he’s worried. JD says he never leave away his parents, especially I his mother. He loves me very much, he doesn’t want to go away from their parents.<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />My mom left the family, and I would like you to pray she comes back</span>.<br /><br />I want to tell you that I am afraid of scorpions even though they never bit me. They come into the shoes and holes in the walls.<br /><br />Please pray for the lives of my parents because they have many problems as a couple and it makes me feel sad.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Hello with all my love!! You met Pastor Miguelito. He passed away last February. We are very sad because he loved children very much, and we loved him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />I am feeling jealous when I lost my class position and I will have to struggle my best to recover it but it is not good because of the God’s Commandment.<br /><br />B is serious in his work as well as school’s work. He doesn’t play with his homework. Because of his age and his class, people start to laugh or make fun of him but he is working hard in school. As it is said, he did not start school early and for that he is older than the rest of the class.</span></div><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Here in the Philippines last February 6, 2012, we had an earthquakes that caused so many damages and also many people died because of landslide and some houses were destroyed, but in spite of that I thank God because we are all still survive behind the tragedy.<br /><br />After you left my grandmother passed away and I am very sad. I had to travel to the place where she lived in Maranhao. My mother and I travelled to there but when we arrived there she had already been buried and we could not see her. It was very sad.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-19548795730631744902016-02-22T15:05:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:21.742+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #6: Special and Chosen<i>After going through the letters from my sponsored kids, several common themes seemed to emerge. Two of those themes are "<b>special</b>" and "<b>chosen</b>."<br /><br />* As sponsors, we are <u><b>special</b></u> to our sponsored kids. They also need to know that they are special, valuable and worthy, uniquely created by God, in order to combat the lies of poverty that they hear every day. <br /><br />* There is a definite awareness among sponsored kids that they have been <u><b>chosen</b></u>, and for various reasons they often struggle to comprehend why. This is no small thing, particularly if they or others close to them have been waiting a long time for a sponsor. In the letters I have often been asked questions along the lines of "What made you choose me?"</i><br /><br /><u><b>Chosen</b></u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />On behalf of J we <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thank you</span> for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">choosing </b>her as your sponsored child. God will reward you for your gesture.<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thank you</span> for being my sponsor. I <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">love</span> you very much and. I want to thank you for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">choosing</b> me.<br /><br />I thank you for having <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chosen</b> me for sponsorship because you made me so happy when I found that I have new friends.<br /><br />I really thank you and your family to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">choose</b>me and to share your blessing to me and your other sponsored children like me. <br /><br />I’m so glad to know you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chose</b> me as sponsored daughter. I really wanted to have a sponsor just like my friends.<br /><br />K is grateful to you for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">choosing</b> to be a friend to him. He takes this opportunity to say thank you, and is so happy he has a new friend.<br /><br />It has been great to get to know you and have you as my sponsor. Thank you very much because among many people you have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chosen</b>me.<br /><br />I’m very happy you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chose</b> me, I hope we become good friends.<br /><br />I’m very <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">glad</span> you are my sponsor. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thank you</span> for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">choosing</b> me among so many children. I say good-bye with much <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">love</span><b> </b>and a big hug.<br /><br />I thank you for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">choosing</b> me among so many children, and I thank you for your support.<br /><br />Thanks for sponsoring me and for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">choosing</b>me among so many children. When will I be able to meet you?<br /><br /><u><b>Special</b></u><br />You are very <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special</b> to me.<br /><br />David you are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special</b> to me.<br /><br />Thanks for being so <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special</b> toward me.<br /><br />You are very <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special </b>to me. How many sponsored children do you help? I know God will reward your generosity.<br /><br />The child is very happy to know that someone very <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special</b> is sponsoring him. The child says that even though he doesn’t know you, he loves you so much. He says goodbye with much love and a kiss.<br /><br />You are very <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special</b> to me, I am very proud of you. I love you and I love you, I love to think about your family. <br /><br />C was thankful to you because you consider her as your child, not only a child but you make her <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special.</b><br /><br />You are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special</b>, and we pray for you to be fine and happy. MA is very happy to have you as her sponsor and said that she loves you.<br /><br />I also want to tell you that you are beautiful and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special </b>to me and my family.<br /><br />We are teaching J that you are a very <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special </b>person for her.<br /><br />You are so <b>special</b> to me, you are a valuable person and your letters make me happy. I thank God for having a great sponsor, you are a nice friend and I pray for you. I thank you so much for all your help and your love.<br /><br />I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH and I am very grateful to God for giving me such a good sponsor who cares about me. You are very <b>special</b> for me and you keep a special place in my heart.<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You know, we have been talking to God about you. We say that you are very <b>special</b> and you deserve to be blessed by Him</span>.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-10121591405928048812016-02-22T15:04:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:21.422+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #7: The Impact of the Compassion Projects<i>Compassion Projects are my favourite places in the world. Full of life, hope, laughter, fun and safety. It is the safe space for children in poverty-stricken communities which are often dangerous and violent. After walking the streets of many developing countries I was always struck by the absolute contrast between the atmosphere and environment in the communities compared to behind the walls of the Projects (local churches). The kids have a genuine opportunity to dream of a positive future.<br /><br />As well as seeing the Projects in action, the letters I have received from my sponsored kids have given a pretty clear indication of the positive benefits they have received. </i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br />I loved the Christmas party in Compassion. I received 3 shorts, 1 t-shirt and turban. I am so happy that I received my favourite t-shirt (Dec 24, 2012). We had a party from Compassion. I received soft drink, bread and chicken.<br /><br />J is thankful to you for allowing her to attend the Project, where she colours and draws using nice coloured pencils.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <br /><br />At the student center she enjoys happiness</span>. <br /><br />I like to follow the activities in the Project, singing, listening stories for the staffs and to have many friends. <br /><br />Also she thanks you for the Christmas gift she got at the Project. With the money you sent, she got an outfit of pair of pants, blouse, underwear, and she is happy.<br /><br />I want you to know that I am very happy with the money gift you sent me, and I thank you very much for this. With that money bought me an outfit of slacks and blouse and underwear.<br /><br />She is very grateful with you for the present you sent her. With that money they bought her a beautiful outfit and underwear.<br /><br />I can tell you that my project teacher teaches me how to pray for you, so you will receive many blessings from God.<br /><br />He attends the Project and they learn a lot of things like personal hygiene and memory verse.<br /><br />Up to now this Project is very helpful to me because it has been providing me with learning facilities like books.<br /><br />Here in our center I learned more about God that God created me with a wonderful nose who helps me to breathe and smell. God loves me and God loves you too!<br /><br />I celebrated happily with my friends and received new clothes and cake through the Project. <br /><br />Our project providing hygienic food for us. Our project conducted special classes in spoken English and maths to the higher classes. Our project conducted special program “AWANA” based on Bible stories and games. <br /><br />I come to Compassion project for spiritual growth.<br /><br />Our project implemented curricular activities daily. Spiritual, physical, cognitive and social activities are most useful to us. Our project introduced “child banking”. <b>I opened an account and saving money</b>. This is very good for my future. Our project providing nice food, treating me good. I enjoying at project.<br /><br />I regularly attend the project activity; I’ve got the love and warmth from all project teachers.<br /><br />Thank you for the support you have been providing through the project. <b>I am supplied with bars of soap, hair oil in bottle, pencils and exercise books</b>.<br /><br />Compassion supports him through many aspects of life; <b>he is issued with almost all his school materials, clothing and he is fed on food whenever he comes to the Center on Saturdays</b>.<br /><br />K is thankful to God because He is good and because of his mercy in the blessing of being in this Project.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-15912591528805836842016-02-22T15:03:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:21.663+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #8: From A Parent's Perspective<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>When you sponsor a child with Compassion, the benefits impact the entire family. There is a flow-on effect to the parents and extended family members as well. Sometimes, if the child is young and cannot write themselves, the letters are written by the parents. I have found this to be a really helpful window into the true impact of sponsorship. </i><br /><br />I send you a hug and a kiss. Receive greetings from my parents and little siblings. I thank you for all the things you do for me. May God multiply blessings upon you!<br /><br />Receive warm greetings from my parents, they are very grateful with you for all your support given to me.<br /><br />I love you very much. Receive lots of greetings from my mother. She thanks God I have a sponsor.<br /><br />M and her parents were very much glad to hear about that you have accepted her as your sponsor child. So they are extremely happy for this and also wishes you many many thanks for your kind support. <br /><br />Thanks a lot for choosing me. My mother is so glad of my sponsorship.<br /><br />I thank the Lord each day for having you in my life. My mom says hi.<br /><br />I want to tell you that I am very happy to be able to greet you. I am the father of J. I’m very thankful that you are the sponsor of my child. She also says she is very happy.<br /><br />She tells you that <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">her parents accept Jesus as their Saviour and get baptized.</span><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />T’s father doesn’t live with her</span>, but her mother wants to thank you for you sponsor her, and with faith in God He will bless you more and more.<br /><br />Your gifts and helps are great strength for V’s mother. His family thanked you for this. V’s mother says that the prayers and favours you give him is a great strength for his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the prayers you offer to God is a blessing.<br /><br />The love you show V is marvellous. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">His parents are wondering why you are so close to him</span>.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The prayers you offer for him is a great courage for him.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><br />Thank you for being there for my son JD. As a payback, I would encourage him to study hard, and assure you for all efforts you give to my son would not be nothing. I shouldn’t give up everything now that I know you’re there to inspire him. I will do my best to make all of you proud to my son</span>.<br /><br />Thanks a lot for everything you did for me and my son. God is always there to help us in so many ways and I am very thankful for that. I am proud of your great kindness.<br /><br />Good day my wonderful sponsor of JD. You’re so great. Imagine 45 children you’ve sponsored including my son JD. I am very much happy looking at the photos from different nationalities, you have selected children from 25 countries including JD here in the Philippines. <br /><br />Hello! Once again, good day to you, great sponsor of my child JD. Oh! It is a great thing to hear from you that you have sponsored almost 50 children from 27 countries. You spend much money to the child you’ve sponsored than to yourselves. Oh! It’s a wonderful thing I believe.<br /><br />At the project, when we received your letter and saw we were very much surprised to know that you are sponsoring 36 children from 26 countries. As soon as we received your letter and photos I asked M to call her father and mother to the project very next day. Her parents had been with her to the project and shown your letter and photos and read them and translated to them. They were listening carefully and were very glad. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Having heard and learned that you are sponsoring 36 children, <b>M jumped with joy</b></span>. We as the staff of the project, M and her parents all joined together and thank God and praise Him.<br /><br />Thank you for sponsoring my nice daughter. Thanks to God for your life and your family. My daughter is happy to know that somewhere in the world there is a person concerned about her.<br /><br />My parents were so happy to read your letter. They said “Please support our daughter to be protected in the Lord’s hand.”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-20839431532802801402016-02-22T15:02:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:21.795+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #9: Faith-Filled Friends<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Compassion International is an unashamedly Christian organization. There is no compromise on this. They work through local churches in 26 countries and if they took the word "Jesus" out of their tagline they would be eligible for millions of dollars of government funding. But that is unthinkable, because Jesus is what Compassion is all about.<br /><br />The children and families who are supported by Compassion are not forced to convert or believe in Christianity to receive the support. However, many churches have reported growth as a result of their involvement with Compassion because when the love of God is expressed freely through providing children with food, medical care, education support and the help of a loving sponsor, people are bound to ask questions<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">.</span> "Why are you doing this for me and my child?"<br /><br />Not all of my sponsored kids have been Christian. That is ultimately their choice, and I have made that clear to them. However, the incredible faith often expressed through their letters has continually been a source of wonder for me, and has challenged me. After all, I have seen where many of them live and what their life is like. <br /><br />Here are some highlights from my "Faith-Filled Friends":</i><br /><br />I thank God for the power and knowledge. I think nothing will separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ.<br /><br />When we go to our project they preach us the word of God and I put it into my mind. The word of God built me from young up to twelve years. I thank God for that.<br /><br />Christmas is very near and we thank God that even if we didn’t have money to celebrate, God gave us good health. I am also thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to join MCDC because it is our only hope for me to finish my education and in God’s grace there’s a big improvement in my grades this second grading period.<br /><br />There is nothing in my life that I am worried about because I always believe that God will provide everything for me and will shower His blessings to my family.<br /><br />I know the Lord will heal my dad very soon and that is why I ask you to pray for him a lot.<br /><br />My dad has been sick but I know God will help us.<br /><br />I want you to know that God will always be with you and He will never leave you alone, He is the one who gives us strength to you and to all your family!<br /><br />I always pray for God to heal your knee completely. God is a supernatural God. Do you believe it? God is the one who strengths us. Do you believe God can heal you? If you do, I will send that word in the Jesus of Nazareth’s name.<br /><br />In my free time I read a book or the Bible because sometimes I get scared. It’s like living as you read it. I like to read inspirational thoughts and I like visiting home. I wrote something: “Dreams come true asking God for wisdom because to Him, nothing is impossible; we have to open our heart and ask with faith.” This pushes me to go on when I am in trouble my family or in my life.<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There is nothing that worries me. I am always trusting God every time</span><br /><br />God is everything to us. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I have a hero, and it is our God because He takes care of us and loves us. He is our best friend</span>.<br /><br />They also tell us Bible stories, that’s why I have learned about Christian characters like Jonah, Moses and Joseph. All of them have taught me that we must be obedient and humble, and we have to dream and trust that Jesus will fulfil her dreams. My tutor says that I have to share with my family and school classmates about the things I learn from Jesus, because that pleases God.<br /><br />I want to tell you that right now there is nothing for me to worry about<br /><br />My tutor says that God is my heavenly Father and He is almighty, great in love and no one can compare to Him. The time I’ve been part of the project, I learned that Jesus is faithful and loving, and He is a friend who answers and is always with us. <br /><br />The hero I look up to in life is God because He helps me in difficult times and is with me in happy times.<br /><br />Your prayer? We feel it. Because I can’t imagine lots of problems I’d already encountered, but thanks God we easily find a way to solve it, in spite of poverty. That’s why I can say prayer is so powerful. He is there whenever we call him, to answer and protect us, thanks be to God. <br /><br />I want you to know about my Christian learning. I have learned things that have helped me to have a better lifestyle and to have a little bit more of experience and that also teaches me to valuate other people’s life and my family because I’ve taken what Pastor’s and Bible say. The God’s word is sacred and is an incomparable book filled with real Bible stories. <br /><br />God is everything to us. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I have a hero, and it is our God because He takes care of us and loves us. He is our best friend</span><br /><br />According to the Bible in Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”, so for me as a mother of John Dave just always trust in the Lord, because everything comes from him, our knowledge and wisdom.<br /><br />I always go to church and I never forget to trust in the Lord because I love Him so much. I always go to church and have my sins forgiven and learn Bible verses and listen to the Word of God. I learn a lot about Him. I love God all my life. </span><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For your prayer support to me in living my life, for spare your time and energy to help and teach the children here even though we are apart. It’s not because of your own strength, but it’s because of the Lord’s might. Everything we do, it’s all for the Lord God, as the Bible told me so. He creates everything in this world so we can raise up praise and glory to His name. You spend your time with God, it’s more than to this world.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Formerly L thought that she couldn’t study at school, but now God has given the way so that she now can attend the school. Formerly L has never taken a bath and wiping her nasal mucus, but now she is studying at school so that her health has changed to good. It’s all because of the Lord. L gives thanks to the Lord.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Right now I am in good health. That’s all because of the Lord who always guides me so I am still alive and be able to go to school with my friends. I go to school every day with my friends and also with Lord Jesus who leads us. I am thankful to the Lord who has power. Because of the Lord so I can be close with sponsor and handsome brothers and beautiful sisters in Compassion.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />There is always opportunity for us to talk through letter. This is great and only from Lord Jesus. He makes L and you able to take communication.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>She’s very happy when she knows that you receive her in your family. Hopefully Lord Jesus continues to give His abundant blessing in your live. L wants to say thanks a lot because you continue to give her attention although you have 45 sponsored children. <br /><br />My mother, father and I are well at home and wherever we are, because God always be with us all so we are so grateful to our Almighty God.</span></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-36009581060871610122016-02-22T15:01:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:22.194+10:00Compassion Letter Writing #10: Little Prayer Warriors <i>Over the last ten years, there have been times where I have felt like I was in what I describe as a 'bubble of blessing.' I've just had this incredible peace and contentment, despite life being seemingly ordinary. I have been free of sickness and illness, God has provided for me in amazing ways and I have been able to impact many lives on His behalf through sponsorship and advocacy. I have no doubt this is because I have been lifted up by the prayers of my sponsored kids, their families and Project workers. It is real and it works!<br /><br />After reading through nearly 10 years/67 kids worth of letters and picking out the highlights, there is one fact that staggers me: these kids, <b>who are needy and living in abject poverty</b>, pray for me <b>far</b> more than they request prayer from me.<br /><br />I want to thank my selfless and generous little prayer warriors.</i><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I will always pray for you that God will give you more wisdom, good health, long life. <br /><br />My prayer for you is that you may be happy and your pupils will always behave in the class always.<br /><br />May the Lord God bless you and give you more strength in your work and more love from our God.<br /><br />May the Lord give you life and lots of love to give us. I want that our Lord keeps you safe always.<br /><br />We are praying for you and all your beautiful family a lot. <br /><br />I am also praying a lot for you so that God always takes care of you and gives you strength to continue ahead and you also have a great and humble heart.<br /><br />We hope God keeps providing you so that you can help many children.<br /><br />May God prosper and bless you and help you succeed in every single thing that you do!<br /><br />Friend, I wish that God blesses you and uses you as a blessing for others, as you are for J.<br /><br />May God pour out much prosperity on you and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you wherever you go. <br /><br />I pray that God is always with you.<br /><br />May the Lord Jesus make all your dreams come true, in the name of Jesus.<br /><br />I greet you with affection. I wish you countless blessings over your life and daily work.<br /><br />May God bless your life always and may you be happy.<br /><br />I pray to God for him to help you at work and in your ministry. May God bless you.<br /><br />I pray for you and ask God to guard you wherever you go.<br /><br />I pray that you enjoy God’s blessing every day, and that you be an angel of God. <br /><br />God bless you and your family always.<br /><br />God bless you and give you more years of life. <br /><br />My mother and my father always pray for your job and for the most important to your family.<br /><br />I want to tell you that I always pray for you and your family so that the Lord continues to bless you.<br /><br />I always pray for you and your family and I ask the Lord to light your path and take control of every one of your activities and may the Lord bless you all the time.<br /><br />I don’t forget to pray for you so that our Lord blesses and protects you from all evil in every moment.<br /><br />I pray for you and your family, also for Ms Dani, have a good health guide from God’s angel, and more blessings to come.<br /><br />I always pray for you so God can keep blessing you.<br /><br />I pray for you so nothing bad happens and we do not separate from God, also you continue enjoying of the blessings that God gives us.<br /><br />I always pray God so you can be happy and healthy and also that you can achieve your purposes so that people can follow you as a model man.<br /><br />I pray for your family and for you every night to be well, dear sponsor.<br /><br />They are asking and wishing you the blessings of God and the protection for his daily life.<br /><br />Every day I ask God that he blesses you and prospers you in everything.<br /><br />My family and I pray for you that God protects you from any evil.<br /><br />I greet you in the precious name of our Lord Jesus, asking God from heaven that he may protect you and bless you and your family.<br /><br />I’ll be praying for you and for all your family since I love you very much and I wish that you do well in everything you do.<br /><br />She will pray so that God bless you and prosper you always.<br /><br />I always pray that our Father Jesus gives you strength.<br /><br />I’m still praying for you and your family. This time I can do it because I have learned a lot during my classes at the project.<br /><br />May the Lord pour his blessings on all your family (on every one of you) and may you have a new year better than this.<br /><br />I pray for you that God has you in well health near all people surround you. I also pray for your nephew and nieces and your country.<br /><br />The girl and her family have been praying for you, and family. She wants to let you know that.<br /><br />Also she sends blessings from God, may God multiply all what he gives you.<br /><br />She wants God to bless you always and that you know she prays every day for you and your family.<br /><br />I am still praying for your life. God take care of you and bless you that is my sincere wish.<br /><br />I pray that God will give you long life so that you can keep on sponsoring other kids like me.<br /><br />I always pray for your good health so that you can support the needs of the children you’ve sponsored, I know that God provide you strength, knowledge, blessing and everything you received come from Him.<br /><br />I hope that God provide you more strength, knowledge and everything. We pray for your good health and to your family. God bless you.<br /><br />I hope and pray that God blessed you abundantly because of many children you have supported.<br /><br />I hope and pray that you are always doing fine wherever you go and whatever your plans, God is always there to guide and help you. <br /><br />He pray that anything you touch should be a blessing to you and your family.<br /><br />I am remembering you and your family in my daily prayers.<br /><br />I always pray for you, that God may continue blessing you for supporting me and showing me great love.<br /><br />He says that God will bless you so much because of sponsoring so many children. <br /><br />He always pray for you daily and that will add you more.<br /><br />I have prayed for you so that God may strengthen you for remembering me through a letter.<br /><br />I will be praying for you to Almighty God heals you completely.<br /><br />I thank you for your support and I pray so that God multiplies your capacities.<br /><br />He always pray for the blessings upon your lives.<br /><br />I wish you all the best. Hope more blessings to come. May God bless you with all your needs, guided and protected with God’s angels.<br /><br />God bless you and your family, wishing you lots of success in everything you do.<br /><br />She asks God to keep your life and bless you.<br /><br />She loves and blesses you in the glorious name of Jesus.<br /><br />She is happy to know you have God in your life. She makes a commitment with God to pray for your nephews.<br /><br />She wishes you lots of success and that God watches over you and your family.<br /><br />My teacher teaches me to pray for you and your family.<br /><br />I am praying for God to keep on blessing you.<br /><br />I want to let you know that I love you and I remember you all the time in my prayers.<br /><br />I will be praying for you and Patricia (<i>one of my former sponsored kids who became pregnant</i>) and her family. May the Lord light His face upon her and give her strength for the way to move forward.<br /><br />I pray for you and your kids.<br /><br />I will keep praying for all of you. Stay strong and trust in the Lord always.<br /><br />I know God is with you in every step you give, I know He will help you in the new job you have.<br /><br />I was so glad to read your letter. I pray for the love of the Lord to overflow your life Mr David.<br /><br />Never forget that I love you very much and that you are present in my prayers. Receive many hugs and kisses.<br /><br />I also thank God for the life that he gives you. I love you very much and I ask God to always bless you and bless all your family. <br /><br />He says sorry for the death of Uncle Keith and prays that God saves him till we meet with him in heaven. He thanks you for your generosity and promises to continue praying for you every day. He longs to hear from you soon and requests you to say hi to Zoe, Archie, Flynn and Kristy.<br /><br />I know you are sponsoring many children and I will always pray for you God to strengthen you and bless you abundantly.<br /><br />The child says “May God shower a lot of blessings on your life!”<br /><br />He feels so sad to hear about your Compassion children who have moved to a different (area). He prays that Compassion establish a project in their area so that they can be re-instated. He also prays that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of those children in your class so that they will hear and listen to whatever teaching and training you giving to them.</span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Her family admires and thanks you for your great heart. They wish God multiplies your economy like God says in the Bible, He multiplies the granaries. She leaves you wishing God guards and cares your life.<br /><br />In our family they are all happy about you and they are all praying for you.<br /><br />Receive greetings from your sponsor child S. He is very happy you being his sponsor and always praying for you.<br /><br />He would like you to know that you are always in his prayers. Be blessed.<br /><br />C says <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thank you</span> so much for your support. She even said that God will bless you including your family.<br /><br />C is hoping that God will use you more to <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">help</span>the other children.<br /><br />L always prays for others. She believes that God is working in her life so she keeps praying for other people and walks in God’s plan. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-63743734130067406992016-02-02T13:47:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:22.863+10:00Compassion Sponsorship Journey - Saying Goodbye to JosefaFour years ago, I made the decision to sponsor Josefa from Guatemala with Compassion. She is just about to turn 18 and two weeks ago I received a letter saying she had graduated from the program. Normally this would be cause for rejoicing and eagerly anticipating the next stage on the journey away from poverty, but instead I am grieving.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I want to share the journey we have been on over the last four years as sponsor and sponsored child.<br /><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow5OCVTcHjXRIcQqbXHOLrNoqTLs9WH2syP-bYrAMDMiaJ74Txm7EaxRJ69dpOmjgd2nI0AQLDHD67eRLzLi8rSJoWkW-TKHqpEB59I21L-yTNiMt06DfRCXwb9nndayoqILFDS_ecII/s400/1474631_10151996828843643_773834064_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUukj_kk0cT7c2sTBgg7Bh_gsWEaeDkQrpuPfpWrFB0JtPMxbjV-okQd28qUhT_ByDDyc-GuZF0elb9dFhEDHFW790cfl-1xyTUDTjGJUOW8V2Jhx1MHqckLIc46pFrXjWsXr_y8cJNe4/s1600/Josefa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUukj_kk0cT7c2sTBgg7Bh_gsWEaeDkQrpuPfpWrFB0JtPMxbjV-okQd28qUhT_ByDDyc-GuZF0elb9dFhEDHFW790cfl-1xyTUDTjGJUOW8V2Jhx1MHqckLIc46pFrXjWsXr_y8cJNe4/s400/Josefa.jpg" width="192" /></a><br /><br />Josefa was 13 when I first sponsored her and one of the first things that struck me about her was her letters were always so detailed, raw and honest. Many people take years to form any sort of connection or relationship with their sponsored kids because it seems like they get the same scant template letters a couple of times a year with minimal detail, but this girl did not hold back.<br /><br />One of the first things I found out was that her father was an alcoholic and, as the oldest child, Josefa was forced to work just to put food on the table for her mother and four siblings. Thankfully, she said her employers treated her well and she loved them. However, this seriously derailed her dream of being a doctor, since she was unable to go to school.<br /><br />Josefa’s letters painted a clear picture of the hardships she and her family faced, but I was continually staggered by her spiritual maturity and rock-solid faith in Jesus. Here is a sample of the words I was treated to every time I opened a letter from Josefa:<br /><br /><b>Life is not very happy here because there is a lot of crime, child abuse and in Guatemala life is very hard, because we work in the field and as the sun is very strong, then we get sick. After that we see the hard work fruit and of the time we spent at work</b><br /><br /><i>I was very happy because my dreams would come true, I am so eager, that will be an unforgettable day for me and my family, it’s the first time the sponsor will come to visit. I know it was your decision, our dream would come true. Thank you for the time you give me. Every time I write to you I get courage to go on, I feel so proud to have you</i><br /><br /><b>I pray for you every day because now I know that dreams can come true asking God with all the heart. Thank you for all the time you gave me and for giving me your love and attention.</b><br /><br /><i>Thank you for the letters you have sent to me and for the time you dedicate to write to me. When I read the letters you send me I am so happy to know more about you and I know every day you enjoy lots of things with your family, students and friends and other sponsors. </i><br /><br /><b>I have the honor of having a sponsor like you; you are one of my best examples to follow because it is wonderful to read the letters you sent to me. It is as if I were close to you; I am happy, like with your presence in my humble home. It was so great when you were with me. I will never forget that day. If I lived with you it would be a great life, sad-happy, full of blessings and joy. When I write letters to you I get inspired because I imagine you with me. I don’t know how, but it is like magic writing these words because I do not say them, my heart says them, and with lots of love. I pray that you enjoy God’s blessing every day, and that you be an angel of God. I ask God for the day that you would come to my humble home.</b><br /><br /><i>In my free time I read a book or the Bible because sometimes I get scared. It’s like living as you read it. I like to read inspirational thoughts and I like visiting home. I wrote something: “Dreams come true asking God for wisdom because to Him, nothing is impossible; we have to open our heart and ask with faith.” This pushes me to go on when I am in trouble my family or in my life.</i><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thank you for the letter that you sent me, I missed communicating with you and I am happy and proud that you continue sponsoring me. I prayed God so you would communicate with me again because you have my love and my trust. I feel proud to have you as my sponsor again<br /><br /></b><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I always pray God so you can be happy and healthy and also that you can achieve your purposes so that people can follow you as a model man. I expect your visit with joy, I’m so excited and I felt the most blessed person by God, since He gave me a sponsor like you</span></i><br /><br />In 2014 I was living in the Philippines, so Josefa was sponsored by a friend of a friend I did not know personally. Late in the year when I knew I was coming back to Australia I checked in with my friend how Josefa’s sponsorship was going, and it turned out the sponsor had let her go after only a few months. I was devastated, and immediately contacted Compassion to see if I could resume sponsoring Josefa. Even though I was still a volunteer in the Philippines at that point, God provided for me financially so I was able to resume straight away. <br /><br />Her profile picture broke my heart. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsdsnfFTbbP1rxkFw236eb04ShtdmiblcKgamsAN0p5_Qf0YIIwSEnCXys5WEzBXRvUqSLiiKF17HlF-XqQ01zIrklTBZ1MaLBSraJhQ4jhj8QympwDhnetmoX8JxykQ0HJSE8AeaZlA/s1600/Josefa+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsdsnfFTbbP1rxkFw236eb04ShtdmiblcKgamsAN0p5_Qf0YIIwSEnCXys5WEzBXRvUqSLiiKF17HlF-XqQ01zIrklTBZ1MaLBSraJhQ4jhj8QympwDhnetmoX8JxykQ0HJSE8AeaZlA/s200/Josefa+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br />This was a face bereft of any hope or joy and I immediately sent a letter off, desperate to speak words of life and joy back into her soul. <br /><br />God gave me the incredible opportunity to visit Josefa’s family twice, first in <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/visiting-josefa-in-guatemala.html">January 2013</a> and most recently in <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/re-visiting-josefa-in-guatemala.html">July 2015</a>. They live in a remote Mayan (indigenous) community in the mountains about three hours from Guatemala City. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7kYezuKulP8GvwyPZ2ForI9IIIy6SxXjheTjPKeSGsOPfd-4Zay9kRwpXEuL8SOpZ1xavpup1EpjclrlRtRQN5G8DD4e2NMDj7qfBIEcYCqYzN3ToEMKxS4wfZqdn4_7j8mx03-9-gA/s1600/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252816%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7kYezuKulP8GvwyPZ2ForI9IIIy6SxXjheTjPKeSGsOPfd-4Zay9kRwpXEuL8SOpZ1xavpup1EpjclrlRtRQN5G8DD4e2NMDj7qfBIEcYCqYzN3ToEMKxS4wfZqdn4_7j8mx03-9-gA/s400/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252816%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />They were both incredibly impacting days I will never forget. While I thought I had some grasp of what the family’s life is like from Josefa’s letters, the harsh reality of their daily life was only fully evident when I made the decision to actually step into their lives for a day and be with them. I left both times feeling like I’d been kicked in the guts, but also thankful that God was allowing me to make a tangible difference to this family’s life through sponsorship.<br /><br />Many sponsors are happy for their sponsored child to be nothing more than a monthly cheque and a face on the fridge. I can understand that to a point: maybe they’re afraid of what they’ll find out about their child’s reality if they go deeper. I made the decision early on that if I wanted to love these kids and families like God loves them, I had to make the choice to invest in them fully, first by writing regularly and then by visiting. God has used the visits to the homes and communities to wreck my heart, but also solidify my life’s mission, purpose and vision to use what I’ve been given to help others.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUu-ypGrpT5arqd3yvHGSNyTVv7MdyOK3dQ_uk0pAQQiKD0DShkBzxAc7-xZ-mJG7dMvv3W7HOEwilJ4_0lWruMc2CCqJNvDbqMyfMaEmx-zJn_i9iygeDv9WLuSsfDrbzkxI98sP2ck/s1600/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252867%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUu-ypGrpT5arqd3yvHGSNyTVv7MdyOK3dQ_uk0pAQQiKD0DShkBzxAc7-xZ-mJG7dMvv3W7HOEwilJ4_0lWruMc2CCqJNvDbqMyfMaEmx-zJn_i9iygeDv9WLuSsfDrbzkxI98sP2ck/s400/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252867%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIPd9A5qlVYv5AZw_i6dvVvzX5X1tkZSR-43asCUVQ8fhk9c_b4xGik639r2nZn1-KgKIGTv2wTzSOZqRHe7Sh_vqaCSA7A-NZfV1bEkDDI05JwTn_BZPBwbB0WZFPoRJn2j_pReTDW4/s1600/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252870%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIPd9A5qlVYv5AZw_i6dvVvzX5X1tkZSR-43asCUVQ8fhk9c_b4xGik639r2nZn1-KgKIGTv2wTzSOZqRHe7Sh_vqaCSA7A-NZfV1bEkDDI05JwTn_BZPBwbB0WZFPoRJn2j_pReTDW4/s400/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252870%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />On the visits to Josefa I was able to meet the whole family and I was blessed by their hospitality and generosity. Out of the little they had, they gave much. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYMIwKdcIgXGcwRUb9EWO50mGtKWa7WRxaAr_oHvj00HR350CUFUDbK-5PGeusEBfvvb9svWxp34dAXv9pKdsgo3B1cnfkBLx_MRnHhKjOvCJlZxcIOmX4DVQG30yVs__3aoImySS1i0/s1600/Josefa+Visit+July+2015+%252853%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYMIwKdcIgXGcwRUb9EWO50mGtKWa7WRxaAr_oHvj00HR350CUFUDbK-5PGeusEBfvvb9svWxp34dAXv9pKdsgo3B1cnfkBLx_MRnHhKjOvCJlZxcIOmX4DVQG30yVs__3aoImySS1i0/s400/Josefa+Visit+July+2015+%252853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlp29GfbEJvAtv1NqGUsqryxBLG2YpaM7N75dRiZ61nsR30bNT2c9Og90xqD3wpHFR9pEg6Pip_DS_9tbUDSgWAQevnlk60iMsZyvxusvGC_gpAbO8dWIbqPtKGc8EQsVGUKZeRb3O84/s1600/11742737_10153568717353643_5794116428379276068_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlp29GfbEJvAtv1NqGUsqryxBLG2YpaM7N75dRiZ61nsR30bNT2c9Og90xqD3wpHFR9pEg6Pip_DS_9tbUDSgWAQevnlk60iMsZyvxusvGC_gpAbO8dWIbqPtKGc8EQsVGUKZeRb3O84/s400/11742737_10153568717353643_5794116428379276068_n.jpg" width="225" /></a><br /><br />We got out the letters I had written to Josefa and looked at the pictures. I was given proof that when you write letters to your sponsored child it’s the whole family that’s impacted, as her mother enthusiastically rattled off things she knew about me from the letters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6-5l_6pJofB74yet93IX-TiqWYrtkG2RpypnO0WxZMswgtAZW3COLKzG9qzSLZ4q3DPO0O40oN_uRJX14cUe9yva_hCbITF5OdyfNgjo__h4QV4W9YGtPgnJgAPWFNIMYolUbY7dEvY/s1600/Josefa+Visit+July+2015+%25287%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6-5l_6pJofB74yet93IX-TiqWYrtkG2RpypnO0WxZMswgtAZW3COLKzG9qzSLZ4q3DPO0O40oN_uRJX14cUe9yva_hCbITF5OdyfNgjo__h4QV4W9YGtPgnJgAPWFNIMYolUbY7dEvY/s400/Josefa+Visit+July+2015+%25287%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8C3LKN0PWqIMe9WJrcOaCwW0UvR1-1bHIj-3MMFpvojKj0cGRGVxgZlZWR-RefOmNKYIe6b_50AJ76iRykuksbCVUFPNDMdJHd0zAUlir1bB_q3pnY6q_JKSh9LTEc0eGcmD1wr9ncfc/s1600/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252841%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8C3LKN0PWqIMe9WJrcOaCwW0UvR1-1bHIj-3MMFpvojKj0cGRGVxgZlZWR-RefOmNKYIe6b_50AJ76iRykuksbCVUFPNDMdJHd0zAUlir1bB_q3pnY6q_JKSh9LTEc0eGcmD1wr9ncfc/s400/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252841%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BAd1NqiESISvW2qT-xihtjy8Gl24INOPn0JxPmQ6jLSOlNfBLCEgoVZTN-nYg0PKXbH8EvjXBuZ_HHvnhVqh0yvqJnxXBR6Y6GKsR2ZNiHPAm4vDW9Qrg23yomxcG6ofmBmECN7dgIU/s1600/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252856%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BAd1NqiESISvW2qT-xihtjy8Gl24INOPn0JxPmQ6jLSOlNfBLCEgoVZTN-nYg0PKXbH8EvjXBuZ_HHvnhVqh0yvqJnxXBR6Y6GKsR2ZNiHPAm4vDW9Qrg23yomxcG6ofmBmECN7dgIU/s400/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252856%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf9777EI1L10ODA2z8z1qNvoMbzWIvFxUw3y6SmkLOA2ob1j_KtM_DoY3th50EgdOuP4jHot77SR-swAq-h40azN8qO25kgDrd4507_OMj-acgtrH6nQNDrnLTdZsZhUta_Ug44CoAwo/s1600/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252860%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf9777EI1L10ODA2z8z1qNvoMbzWIvFxUw3y6SmkLOA2ob1j_KtM_DoY3th50EgdOuP4jHot77SR-swAq-h40azN8qO25kgDrd4507_OMj-acgtrH6nQNDrnLTdZsZhUta_Ug44CoAwo/s400/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252860%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I was able to see the Project (church) and meet many of the kids in their intricate colourful Mayan clothing. The church is Josefa’s safe space, an atmosphere filled with the love and peace of God, where she can learn, grow and thrive into the beautiful woman God has created her to be. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwxq6VxrBKeDI76jGwRIk11t5T562BIj9JskKyqE881YuGOBIi_TS1fuMgECAXBRoix36fq03tX1s4UOc41tbbSPeNXS-rbn5MmDoB2DnIfOnGlo5jS7R-_Vkiney6i_shT28zlmyYIc/s1600/Josefa+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwxq6VxrBKeDI76jGwRIk11t5T562BIj9JskKyqE881YuGOBIi_TS1fuMgECAXBRoix36fq03tX1s4UOc41tbbSPeNXS-rbn5MmDoB2DnIfOnGlo5jS7R-_Vkiney6i_shT28zlmyYIc/s400/Josefa+%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQsMqqgiECmHJB-M7X1dJ7lypEpalEEGFmot3F4FJmts8mdzrwra9HNwxosDo0OLgvKnF0tMtmzTvZVk5vNG7fHr9RYqdmHCQTt0tincE3EP-3QIhEfCmvbVzt0KiW8W7qfQn4YAXq-U/s1600/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252880%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQsMqqgiECmHJB-M7X1dJ7lypEpalEEGFmot3F4FJmts8mdzrwra9HNwxosDo0OLgvKnF0tMtmzTvZVk5vNG7fHr9RYqdmHCQTt0tincE3EP-3QIhEfCmvbVzt0KiW8W7qfQn4YAXq-U/s400/JosefaGuatVisit16012013+%252880%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I was able to take the family shopping for groceries and out to a meal at Pollo Campero (think KFC). As simple as it seems, this was always one of the profound parts of the visits I’ve done, since most if not all the families cannot afford to eat out together and I was able to provide them with this memorable family time.<br /><br />I met <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/what-i-wish-i-had-said-looking-back-at.html">Josefa’s father</a> in 2013 but when I visited in 2015 the family had not seen him for three days. It was so obvious that Josefa was starved of any sort of affection and she clung to me all day. <b>As a sponsor, it has never been my intention to be any sort of “replacement father.” I believe that part of a sponsor’s role is to work WITH the parents to support their children and give them a hope and a future free from poverty</b>. However it is clear from this video that Josefa sees my four years of investment in her life as being like a father to her.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/twKPzvXJpHc" width="420"></iframe> <br /><br />Her father turned up as we were leaving the Project, clearly drunk and soaking wet. I wondered what would happen, but thankfully he was full of nothing but gratitude to God and to me for caring for his daughter when he was unable to.<br /><br />The reason I am not full joy and excitement at the news that Josefa is graduating is because when I left that family six months ago, I did not get the sense that they were anywhere close to being “released from poverty,” at least in the material sense. Josefa and her brother were both working just to put food on the table and Josefa was not at school.<br /><br />Unless things have changed drastically in the last six months and her father has turned his life around and is providing for his family, I don’t see how stopping the sponsorship at this point is beneficial to the family. <br /><br />Please understand: I'm not questioning the decision to graduate her. I fully trust Compassion to make the right decision for the family and not just stop the support and leave them to fend for themselves just because Josefa has turned 18. However, based on what I saw after being in the family’s lives for a day, I do feel a sense of “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Surely it can’t end like this</i>?” and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What’s next for this family</i>?” I am feeling a sense of loss and grief after investing in their lives for four years.<br /><br />I do take solace in the fact that the family are committed Christians, and they have the church community to help and support them. I know that as much as I love this family, God loves them even more and He will take care of them. That’s all I can hold on to.<br /><br />This was my final letter to Josefa:<br /><br /><i>Dear Josefa,<br /><br />I received a letter from Compassion saying that you have graduated the program and I won’t be your sponsor anymore, so I guess this will be my last letter to you. <br /><br />I hope you know that you and your family are very special to me. I will always remember the two days we had together when I came to visit you. Thank you for having me in your home and in your life. Seeing up close how hard your life is made me sad and I thought about you often. I am thankful to God that He enabled me to help and provide for your family, and as you get older I hope you hold onto God’s love for you.<br /><br />I will be praying for your father, that he will make good decisions and come back and support you and your family. I pray that he will give his addiction to Jesus, because Jesus is the only one who can help him. I will also be praying for your brother, that God will help him in his work, and that he is able to resist going down the same path that your father has.<br /><br />When I was with you I noticed you were very affectionate. I could tell that you are desperate for someone to love you because you haven’t always had that love when you were growing up. I know that God will provide you with a wonderful man in the future and I pray that you make wise choices regarding your friends and the things you do with them.<br /><br />I need you to know how proud I am of you and your family. You are very brave and you inspire me. Despite the difficulties of your life, you continue to help each other and trust in God for your needs. That is amazing to me and I love you so much. Please know that even though I am not your sponsor anymore, I will always remember you and pray for you. God has given me His love for you, and you will never be forgotten.<br /><br />I need to tell you again how much God loves you. The Bible teaches us that we are separated from God because of sin but when Jesus came down to earth from heaven, died on the cross and rose again, we can now be friends with God again and live with Him forever in Heaven. It is amazing that God would come down to earth to be with us. That is how much He loves us!<br /><br />I want to share with you from the book of Psalms chapter 36, verses 5-12: <br />Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.<br />Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice is like the ocean depths.<br />You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love O God.<br />All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your rivers of delight.<br />For you are the fountain of life, the light by which they see.<br />Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts. <br /><br />I pray these words are true for you and that God helps these words of Life and encouragement sink deep in your heart. I am so proud of who you are now and who you will become. Keep working hard and dreaming big because with God, all things are possible. I love you with the love of God.<br /><br />Your friend, David.</i></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-66951175754928089372016-01-16T10:30:00.000+11:002021-09-18T13:08:17.473+10:00Compassion Trip #8 (Philippines 2016) - Visiting Aljane (PH268)<div class="MsoNormal">Today I completed my 32<sup>nd</sup> Compassion sponsor child visit when I visited 8-year-old Aljane and her family in the Philippines. It was a little bit different to all the other visits I’ve done, because I lived in her community for ten months in 2014 when I served at Ruel Foundation orphanage, and attended the church which runs her Compassion Project, PH268. Because of this church connection, I formed friendships with the incredible people who work at the Project. When I returned to Australia I sponsored Aljane so I would have an on-going link to the church, and have an excuse to come back and visit!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgIa9bttu1kSQAb4w7so_amrJHmzHYhKchkbo4jR6cx90tpGOqsPk8bXLM47GvFEHVrrpNEeUlVI2PYOYC0sa4to53LazOa04DtZQsGAON-aFGcsWfEZuLxTXwTPM97ys84DlW9ZFmG8/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgIa9bttu1kSQAb4w7so_amrJHmzHYhKchkbo4jR6cx90tpGOqsPk8bXLM47GvFEHVrrpNEeUlVI2PYOYC0sa4to53LazOa04DtZQsGAON-aFGcsWfEZuLxTXwTPM97ys84DlW9ZFmG8/s400/IMG_0707.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />In August 2015 I made the decision to return to Ruel Foundation for a three week stint in late December/January, so of course I had to organise to meet Aljane. She is 8 years old, in second grade and dreams of being a teacher. Because of Compassion, she has the opportunity to achieve that dream. In 2015 Aljane wrote me the most letters out of all my 22 sponsored kids (6). I made sure to tell her that today, and hope it made her feel good and encouraged her to keep writing. As important as it is to write to our sponsored kids, sponsors like receiving letters as well.<br /><br />I caught a motorized tricycle from Ruel and arrived at the church at 9.30am. Project activities were in full swing. I met my host AM and we quickly went around to all the classes. It was fun because many of the kids remembered me from when I briefly helped out at the Project in 2014. The oldest kids at PH268 are now 14 years old, and they were suitably awkward and shy. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH52uKzpjH8BAjTtpkMv94yF8mPpbS5-3GP4XgE0EkbnqZQGnjEyF2YBRwcUWlcUz_pz1i2-8lPeWiDgEPVDJaLk9zABP0mMUkfd9tTWLyJ-nqmJqzL4fzZbA-QSVIG8lcw8YsuGnSapM/s1600/IMG_0690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH52uKzpjH8BAjTtpkMv94yF8mPpbS5-3GP4XgE0EkbnqZQGnjEyF2YBRwcUWlcUz_pz1i2-8lPeWiDgEPVDJaLk9zABP0mMUkfd9tTWLyJ-nqmJqzL4fzZbA-QSVIG8lcw8YsuGnSapM/s400/IMG_0690.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDEOyCtaBVx-NvHmA9ea1pfXWo-KrarWKCAABo2tBVHxjZYVQt1dUSjD9T4M2wth9E9m-woNR1jj95WBfpAjYE45b2lOmhYMud2xJji0IIvqg0rLbe-sFImIWHoZO4xuyHyeVfPDs_ls/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDEOyCtaBVx-NvHmA9ea1pfXWo-KrarWKCAABo2tBVHxjZYVQt1dUSjD9T4M2wth9E9m-woNR1jj95WBfpAjYE45b2lOmhYMud2xJji0IIvqg0rLbe-sFImIWHoZO4xuyHyeVfPDs_ls/s400/IMG_0692.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-FoP8MvEPgZ-giYLxf1o7PPrWaFmqT2XAcKMUpeGD85734UbNtKra2Mh31aE1hA02-9Fk_FsoVBZFoeHxKmZe3b_Z0_RG9Yjp0C2p6k6D4b22hd3UuIg5ia3FPoj93ENomEpiajG9tY/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-FoP8MvEPgZ-giYLxf1o7PPrWaFmqT2XAcKMUpeGD85734UbNtKra2Mh31aE1hA02-9Fk_FsoVBZFoeHxKmZe3b_Z0_RG9Yjp0C2p6k6D4b22hd3UuIg5ia3FPoj93ENomEpiajG9tY/s400/IMG_0693.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0lRyBEzJ4Kx08Vzm4jx4kpYNflxiNdjN-tnrK3hiuJhwV8ub2o8D0eYyQVIbRMk-epUKU-Xgx8h0ShOB7xzTjBdlWImwT4OBPAcA2gQRbTgBcVlOM_o-WU-9PzLWvZDrBUz5uplW1oU/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0lRyBEzJ4Kx08Vzm4jx4kpYNflxiNdjN-tnrK3hiuJhwV8ub2o8D0eYyQVIbRMk-epUKU-Xgx8h0ShOB7xzTjBdlWImwT4OBPAcA2gQRbTgBcVlOM_o-WU-9PzLWvZDrBUz5uplW1oU/s400/IMG_0697.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Fy85yeU_qzxrAhPenLlQU9eN0ruDY_b3b8okl9Frmesy8_U0OdNBx2yXC-yapSvdAIZby6kCjxl3r2swJzB-_ZnLlw8ozKIsoY1RpcJzM_dMs4_OZWZhOQs6jbavFC9Wm1X3vWaGzxA/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Fy85yeU_qzxrAhPenLlQU9eN0ruDY_b3b8okl9Frmesy8_U0OdNBx2yXC-yapSvdAIZby6kCjxl3r2swJzB-_ZnLlw8ozKIsoY1RpcJzM_dMs4_OZWZhOQs6jbavFC9Wm1X3vWaGzxA/s400/IMG_0699.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sfh5rYb9h2HiOxj4D9Lb82YHFwAgJAnizs7KCTgUdyD6KKpG0JAEpp85atSQsV5pvgUUv9ereIe2aLpdpIp4cAcjeK9arahztjaUnMZpVxz0NTwLvTmyfho6ZDu4JaPLQjCnF0Qy-N4/s1600/IMG_0703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sfh5rYb9h2HiOxj4D9Lb82YHFwAgJAnizs7KCTgUdyD6KKpG0JAEpp85atSQsV5pvgUUv9ereIe2aLpdpIp4cAcjeK9arahztjaUnMZpVxz0NTwLvTmyfho6ZDu4JaPLQjCnF0Qy-N4/s400/IMG_0703.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_8uJg1xPTJrlpHL0GGA28qurQTNA5qCMCG1hFUMJ4etZs7JdpVgvxHF4R72pk9YZRxAdlI3OM-YwxgB7c99xqNitibU65ealy8DWHihH6q7Iruia603OtElat3_ZALiuAyG56QvvWhU/s1600/IMG_0705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_8uJg1xPTJrlpHL0GGA28qurQTNA5qCMCG1hFUMJ4etZs7JdpVgvxHF4R72pk9YZRxAdlI3OM-YwxgB7c99xqNitibU65ealy8DWHihH6q7Iruia603OtElat3_ZALiuAyG56QvvWhU/s400/IMG_0705.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Aljane’s class was the last we visited, then I met the rest of the family and we headed to their house nearby. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYfAxfSUlNe6NtV1hmu0lUjCKHNnw82x1-R3rmKGNe62f89iZ-kY3fbxwk266h65I3FEDhqbOGCp3sYDF7mONpNYA6srPxL_VVA8vXhXDvN98EBtOXuMBM1MtAbz1veeqVyRntuQjddQ/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYfAxfSUlNe6NtV1hmu0lUjCKHNnw82x1-R3rmKGNe62f89iZ-kY3fbxwk266h65I3FEDhqbOGCp3sYDF7mONpNYA6srPxL_VVA8vXhXDvN98EBtOXuMBM1MtAbz1veeqVyRntuQjddQ/s400/IMG_0714.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0NspalxjOrAFaNRdjvuHG1bs7YQPqnQbXoG4usTN36ovFUcunD4NW7hPv046aHpQRL5nY71YIWbg7V_B3HoZFw9dXxSHvl1YUpkHgu5etZhldFRm9TV3MiwVaS5SHThZ2uQ4aOy_Y_M/s1600/IMG_0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0NspalxjOrAFaNRdjvuHG1bs7YQPqnQbXoG4usTN36ovFUcunD4NW7hPv046aHpQRL5nY71YIWbg7V_B3HoZFw9dXxSHvl1YUpkHgu5etZhldFRm9TV3MiwVaS5SHThZ2uQ4aOy_Y_M/s400/IMG_0717.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1unvEVvLhER4py9451eOXUhkVC06KbW5kTZ7lU82gpjlcN6rAhBb4AaAIeAjkYykbIhmUbVTqnzfkvoNaQSpUhw-I4YxHvxfQiI4Qp8Di4l1s1Dlyu6BBUj1CSt72nY3-3t1vxdfa6Q/s1600/IMG_20160116_111736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1unvEVvLhER4py9451eOXUhkVC06KbW5kTZ7lU82gpjlcN6rAhBb4AaAIeAjkYykbIhmUbVTqnzfkvoNaQSpUhw-I4YxHvxfQiI4Qp8Di4l1s1Dlyu6BBUj1CSt72nY3-3t1vxdfa6Q/s400/IMG_20160116_111736.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Aljane is the fourth of five children; she has one sister (14) and three brothers (13, 11 and 8 months). The names of her and her three brothers all start with “Alj-“, an amalgamation of her father and mother’s names. I was very happy to meet the whole family today, because in the past it hasn’t always happened. As much as my ego would like to imagine it, the lives of people in the developing world do not stop just because their child’s sponsor visits. I am thankful for each visit I am able to meet the whole family.<br /><br />Aljane’s father works two jobs to provide for his family. He is a hairdresser for both men and women and is also the Barangay (neighbourhood) security guard, and roams around making sure everything is okay. As part of this job he is able to drive a motorized tricycle, which helps the family get around. Her mother was smiley and friendly, and also spoke some English which helped our interaction.<br /><br />I asked the four children who could talk (obviously the eight-month-old was excluded from this conversation) what their dreams were and got four very different responses: <b>chef</b> (Miss 14), <b>doctor</b> (Mr 11), <b>policeman</b> (Mr 13) and <b>teacher</b> (Aljane). Later on I asked Mama about the nature of her children’s relationship and she said they fight sometimes and love each other sometimes, much like any sibling group I guess. They each have allocated jobs around the house, whether it is cooking, washing the dishes, feeding the pets or sweeping the floor.<br /><br />I learned that the family had been living in their current neighbourhood for three years. They had previously been squatters but were then given the materials for a house by the government, which they had to build from scratch with the help of friends. The five children all sleep in one room. There is also a living room, a CR (toilet/bathroom), small kitchen and the parents bedroom. Although the neighbourhood is not well-developed from a building point of view, the family said they feel safe and it is better than their last neighbourhood, where they were living close to the river and would often get flooded.<br /><br />The conversation was largely driven by me, so pretty soon it petered out. I whipped out a photo book I had made, containing 18 A4-sized collages of family and childhood pictures. I went through them and then revealed a set of Uno cards I had brought as a gift. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVFoYKiUxyJHzlngYgwpcl5LU1E1lRI2k3igyMIg0acw6IoG_eodqrBpDun-Tyi0opwuy8krOdjiakj1WT1dCWcIaIV6zje6MqT3FPkZ6wdon5tYwVkyCdvuOoXnMOd7dPL7nOBaIo0I/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVFoYKiUxyJHzlngYgwpcl5LU1E1lRI2k3igyMIg0acw6IoG_eodqrBpDun-Tyi0opwuy8krOdjiakj1WT1dCWcIaIV6zje6MqT3FPkZ6wdon5tYwVkyCdvuOoXnMOd7dPL7nOBaIo0I/s400/IMG_0708.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKt_R87fulFrTz2YOSwi5ezQajbbBTT2auXTk33z50gKpOypgwyitXAxKh7SpVz6jTJdEbgE4OUHU2Dy1_Kfjgj9XYxLK3wMr3P6FfdIAz570fP6rpacs2NTRu7sssqOFkCLsn6XDmNLc/s1600/IMG_0710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKt_R87fulFrTz2YOSwi5ezQajbbBTT2auXTk33z50gKpOypgwyitXAxKh7SpVz6jTJdEbgE4OUHU2Dy1_Kfjgj9XYxLK3wMr3P6FfdIAz570fP6rpacs2NTRu7sssqOFkCLsn6XDmNLc/s400/IMG_0710.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />None of them had played Uno before, so I explained the game with the help of my translator AM and we played a few rounds. Everyone including Mama got involved, while my friend Kuya Ace sat outside talking to Aljane’s father. One thing I love about Compassion staff is that they truly invest in and get to know the families. This enables them to serve the families effectively and make sure the sponsors money is put to good use by providing for their needs.<br /><br />After a few rounds of Uno it was time to go to lunch. When asked where we should go, Aljane had no hesitation in saying “Jollibee!” so we piled into the van driven by a local church member and headed for Robinson’s Mall. Once again I opted to take the whole family rather than just Aljane and one parent which is standard Compassion policy. I have come to believe that providing an opportunity for families to eat out together, regardless of how many members, is worth any expense and over my many visits we have had some pretty large and excited groups.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipReT1Du3xs3I5dzWwI6gHeqIF1t_ZEDqzRpCNP82od7me5C6X9r0F3VVowe4QhGJ7INzBXTPys-dgmoQL8pP8L4C5gT4hCvOzjXCkAn2BpgnHIqjq7N_18RZLVzqNvVkqwQcrpyC2q4g/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipReT1Du3xs3I5dzWwI6gHeqIF1t_ZEDqzRpCNP82od7me5C6X9r0F3VVowe4QhGJ7INzBXTPys-dgmoQL8pP8L4C5gT4hCvOzjXCkAn2BpgnHIqjq7N_18RZLVzqNvVkqwQcrpyC2q4g/s400/IMG_0719.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />We forgot to pack the Uno cards, so the time spent waiting for the food was quite silent and awkward. Pretty soon it arrived and we all tucked in. We were treated to a visit from the Jollibee mascot (funnily enough, a giant bee) and there was much excitement in the air. Aljane’s eyes were dancing and her mouth was wide open. We managed to get a couple of pics with the ‘Bee, which I’d say will definitely be a life highlight in the Calooy household.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R-niLRmzttKns0zbc22e411UBZIpMvOqeG2hsoTf2rvEJCkL7bZTIXNiUpSvaHUVWWDkn3kh_HmfTWRUH2rCTzdvFE3sNhKiZmuUzyAB7V748oYhmZolBYfSp0uavJwPWXhedfRV2O4/s1600/IMG_0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R-niLRmzttKns0zbc22e411UBZIpMvOqeG2hsoTf2rvEJCkL7bZTIXNiUpSvaHUVWWDkn3kh_HmfTWRUH2rCTzdvFE3sNhKiZmuUzyAB7V748oYhmZolBYfSp0uavJwPWXhedfRV2O4/s400/IMG_0723.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />After lunch we headed to the mall for a stroll. We found a children’s playhouse out the back of the mall and I paid for Aljane and the two older brothers to have a play. It had a small trampoline, ball pit, slide, swing, tunnel etc. It was actually meant for children aged 2-6 but this did nothing to dampen the incredible excitement all three children displayed and they ran themselves ragged while I talked to Mama, AM and Kuya Ace.<br /><br />Everyone who is a parent or who cares for children in other roles would agree that, in general, we do anything to give our children moments of joy. This is what I experienced on this afternoon. It was so good to hear the squeals of excitement, the running, jumping and exuberance of these kids. Giving them the opportunity to be kids and just have fun. Worth every dollar.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvKA-4yXY49C6hERHgSC8Bg6WNs7mTzd-rYtZYo3ss421VOyIeQQGRm1z-bzdF7dGsBJYBUnDcRihqcdLQs5YCfcECo4KDO1AvFbD6qOrIIrvJwxWx8vdI1sfGVOzJuGg21zcCaxuOXM/s1600/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvKA-4yXY49C6hERHgSC8Bg6WNs7mTzd-rYtZYo3ss421VOyIeQQGRm1z-bzdF7dGsBJYBUnDcRihqcdLQs5YCfcECo4KDO1AvFbD6qOrIIrvJwxWx8vdI1sfGVOzJuGg21zcCaxuOXM/s400/IMG_0725.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Aljane is the only one of her siblings to be registered and sponsored with Compassion, as the others are too old. I am her first and only sponsor. Mama was honest when I asked if this had created any jealousy with her siblings, and she said yes. There may be an opportunity for her baby brother to be sponsored when he is a bit older. I asked Mama how Compassion had helped her family and she said mainly with school fees, school supplies and medical check-ups. It’s great to know that my money is being genuinely used to help with the material needs of this family and specifically Aljane so she can achieve her full potential.<br /><br />I was able to have a great conversation with Project workers AM and Ace, and I explained my motivation for sponsoring and visiting so many kids. I also talked about my perspective on the importance of letter writing (received the kick up the bum on my first visit in 2009 after only writing one or two letters a year and now write once a month) and talked about my experience with encouraging and praying for the Project workers any opportunity I got, since they often feel forgotten and discouraged while engaging in the messy work of investing in and loving families in the grip of poverty. It is incredibly difficult work and they need to know that the work they do is valued, appreciated and important.<br /><br />I got a big laugh when I asked Miss 14 about what she liked to cook. When we were at the family's house I noticed a large stack of about 15 cans of sardines. They had stocked up just before the recent typhoon and while the typhoon has gone, the sardines remain. So after asking what she liked to cook, I immediately added "Sardines?" which produced much laughter and a definite answer of "No!"<br /><br />After having a play, we left the mall and headed back to the Project. I had a kick of my Australian football with a few of the kids, prayed with the family in the middle of the church’s basketball court which I helped to fund back in 2014 and said goodbye.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyWjGmTvmPqTxO4f44vJ-_t34U25xR_hyVrM4IIE7dpLF3J3RPYgNW5a2vDc4yRxj2Vr7qg7t0xFnmY8FR8VeYQ2jSkwjCnJVHKK_W0P03OTmWX9nu993DW7WdWgf0MtUBdVyScGDrgc/s1600/IMG_0728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyWjGmTvmPqTxO4f44vJ-_t34U25xR_hyVrM4IIE7dpLF3J3RPYgNW5a2vDc4yRxj2Vr7qg7t0xFnmY8FR8VeYQ2jSkwjCnJVHKK_W0P03OTmWX9nu993DW7WdWgf0MtUBdVyScGDrgc/s400/IMG_0728.JPG" width="300" /></a><br /><br />Overall it was a positive and special day and I was thankful to Aljane’s family for inviting me into their home and treating me with friendliness and generosity. I feel blessed to be able to use what God has given me to contribute something positive to this family and I look forward to seeing what happens in their future.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qvBPFeNP52k" width="420"></iframe> <br /><o:p></o:p></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-82472010808575862062015-12-23T16:41:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:23.447+10:00What I Wish I Had Said {Looking back at Guatemala}<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As a male sponsor, I have often wondered what it would be like to be a father in the developing world. I know gender roles are changing, but in most countries a father is still seen as the provider and protector of his family. But what if you were unable to fulfill these roles due to lack of education, resources or opportunities? What if you had to rely on help from some stranger on the other side of the world just to put food on your family’s table?<br /><br />I am not yet a father myself, in the biological sense, so I can never really put myself in their shoes, but at a guess I think that resentment, jealousy, anger and helplessness might play a part.<br /><br />Over the last nine years I have <a href="http://gointoalltheworldbook.blogspot.com.au/">sponsored over 60 kids</a> with Compassion, many of whom didn’t have a father in their life, or he was absent or often working in another city. The idea that I would be considered some sort of ‘replacement father’ was never my intention and, to be honest, makes me feel uncomfortable. I believe that part of the role of a sponsor is to partner WITH the child’s parents and provide them with access to education and skills to be able to get themselves out of material poverty. However I am aware that God has placed me in their lives for a reason and if they need a father-figure or male role model in their lives, then I am happy to bear that honour/privilege/responsibility.<br /><br />In July I visited <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/re-visiting-yeymi-in-guatemala.html">Guatemala</a> and <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/re-visiting-antonio-in-nicaragua-lesson.html">Nicaragua</a> on another of my Compassion trips. One of my sponsored kids is Josefa, who lives in a Mayan (indigenous) community in the mountains. She’s 17 and the oldest of five children. Instead of going to school and working toward her dream of being a doctor, Josefa and her brother are forced to work for a pittance because her father has chosen to deal with his family’s poverty by drinking alcohol, often leaving them without anything to eat. I met him when I <a href="http://supernintendo81.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/visiting-josefa-in-guatemala.html">visited in 2013</a> and he was a nice enough man, he was just making a lifestyle choice that negatively affected his family.<br /><br />To partly explain (but not excuse) her father’s choice, this is an excerpt from a book called “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Living-Church-Extreme-Poverty/dp/1936899000">Fast Living</a>” by <a href="http://www.mmpublicrelations.com/uplFiles/project_downloads/dwn_432.pdf">Dr. Scott C. Todd</a> which goes into detail about the realities of living in extreme poverty and what the solution is:<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i><br />"Hopelessness is the deepest trench of poverty. It cuts through the heart and mind and is very difficult to climb out of. It whispers “It won’t get any better. Just give up. This is the disempowered state – a fatalistic outlook and condition. When you are disempowered you shrug in defeat. You don’t soldier on. You just sit down and wait for a rescue you don’t expect to come. It’s a condition in which you no longer hope for a better future and you don’t see yourself capable of making positive changes. Instead, you see yourself as a victim of unchangeable circumstances. The voices of fatalism burrow deeper into your mind: “You can’t. You’re worthless.” To get out of the pit of hopelessness you must climb, yet the very strength to climb requires the hope you’ve lost. You must believe a better future is possible in order to strive for it. Everyone knows that a better future requires getting and keeping a job. For this, you to strive and take risks, you need determination and hope. But when you’re disempowered, your hope is beaten down, so you have no energy with which to strive. You have no faith, so you don’t take risks. <br /><br />The “rescue” strategy requires Truth to combat the lie. Poverty whispers “You can’t.” But God says “With me, you can. You matter. You are loved. You’re made in my image. I hear you and I will walk with you on the difficult road. I have a plan, so don’t give up. It can get better.” The good news of Jesus Christ is a matchless, unrivalled rescue strategy in multiple dimensions. If there is anything that exposes the lies of poverty, it is the gospel. But the proclaimed gospel is not enough. Disempowered people need Jesus’ spoken truth and they need His disciples to live it. They need to see the muscles of the gospel flex, expressing love in gritty, persevering, intelligent, effective action. <br /><br /><b>The good news of Jesus, proclaimed and demonstrated, is the most powerful anti-poverty strategy. Jesus offers the restoration of hope, a new supportive and caring community in the church and a strong foundation from which to try, to risk and to succeed or fail, knowing you’ll be loved either way. The gospel leads us to love others and forgive, to see the image of God in our enemies as well as ourselves, and to discover a genuine basis for dignity and integrity. The gospel can raise a generation of men and women of integrity – servant leaders – to displace corruption and restore social trust upon which a nation can rise. The gospel creates people who work for the Lord in the humble service of causes much bigger than themselves. Sharing the gospel is anti-poverty work. It is more profound than any other effort because it penetrates layers of the human condition that cannot be reached with a vaccinating needle. The gospel brings healing and hope. It ignites new initiatives by bringing hurting people from all economic levels into relationship with God. His Holy Spirit fills us with vision and we can see that anything, absolutely anything, is possible! Even the end of extreme poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">"</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></i><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><br />On the day I visited Josefa and her family, they hadn’t seen their father for three days. From the way she interacted with me, it was so obvious she missed his love and attention, and had never really had it. We visited the Project at the church and as we were leaving to go to the family’s house, her father showed up. He was soaking wet and clearly affected by alcohol.<br /><br />I was well aware of the family’s situation, as Josefa mentioned her father in nearly every letter she wrote. I had rehearsed what I would say to him should I meet him, but when he turned up I was completely taken by surprise and you know what they say about the best laid plans…<br /><br />I waited breathlessly to see what would happen and as he approached I breathed a prayer that there wouldn’t be some sort of confrontation. He reached out his hand and, thankfully, he was full of nothing but gratitude to me and to God for taking care of his daughter through sponsorship when he knew he couldn’t.<br /><br />We were in front of all the Project workers as well as Josefa, her mother and her four siblings, sitting in the car waiting to go. I felt so sad they had to witness their father in this state. He was rambling and swaying from side to side, tearful with gratitude but wrestling with his wretched state and the knowledge of the impact his choices were having on his family. My translator had a brief conversation with him, saying the only solution to his predicament is to give his life to Jesus. He seemed to understand this and nodded along, but it was clear that the alcoholism had him in its grasp.<br /><br />We then drove to the family’s house nearby, leaving Josefa’s father behind. When we arrived we had a lovely conversation with lots of laughs, threw my Australian football around a bit and exchanged gifts. At one point there was a knock at the door. It was Josefa’s father. Begging to be let into his own house. The youngest sibling went toward the door but his mother stopped him. She was a strong and feisty woman and was adamant that her husband was not going to spoil this occasion.<br /><br />Aware that the man was alcohol-affected and being locked out of his own house, I waited to see what would happen. I felt uncomfortable at the awkwardness of the situation. Fortunately he only tried knocking one more time, then sat down outside and started to sing. My translator said he was singing a Christian song he had learned at church. <br /><br />In a sad twist, the father’s lifestyle choice ostracized the family even further because as an openly Christian family they are a minority in the community. The other families, many of whom are going through the same thing with their husbands and fathers, look at Josefa’s family and say “Well, what’s different about them? What difference is God making in their lives?” and they are criticized and judged.<br /><br />This day has impacted me, even six months on, and I often think about what I would say to Josefa’s father if I met him again. I have settled on something like this:<br /><br />"<i>I know your life is hard and you are dealing with it the best way you know how. But God has given you six precious gifts - a wife and five children - and He wants you to provide and care for them. Jesus wants to help you and to heal you. No matter who you are or what bad things you've done, He wants to forgive you and have a relationship with you. You just need to give your addiction to Him and trust Him to provide your needs. And He's already doing that. He has provided a sponsor for two of your kids, as well as a family of people at the church. They are there to support and care for you</i>."<br /><br /><b>Whatever you think of Jesus, <a href="http://www.compassion.com/about/what-makes-us-distinct.htm">He is the only reason</a> that I, or any of the people involved in Compassion (office staff, Pastors, volunteers, tutors) do what we do. His love is real, transforming and relentless and we want to share it. Ultimately, what people do with it is up to them, and I'm praying that Josefa's father comes to know that Love and it transforms the lives of him and his family</b>. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/twKPzvXJpHc" width="420"></iframe>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785300561353991103.post-74608320984954321582015-12-03T14:37:00.000+11:002020-07-21T21:49:23.263+10:00You Are Never Too Young To Make a Difference...I spent 2015 working in a local Christian school. I was part-time and did a lot of gap filling, so during the year I was able to take many of the Year 5 to 8 students for morning devotions. More often than not I would share one of many stories from my travels with Compassion with this overriding message:<br /><br /><b>"Never think that you are too young to make a difference to the world of another person."</b> That is just not true.<br /><br />Just last week, something happened that proved my point. Earlier in the year I shared about Compassion at a Grade 5/6 Assembly. The idea was to give these 10-12 year olds a glimpse of what life is like for many children around the world, and to remind them that God wants us to use what we've been given to help others.<br /><br />Overall, I will never find out what happened as a result of that talk. I was hopefully sowing seeds of generosity and maybe down the track they will be inspired to make a difference.<br /><br />Last week, I accompanied the Grade 5 students on their annual camp. One of them, Charli, told me that she had made the decision to sponsor a child, a 5-year-old girl from Togo. To do this, she uses ALL her pocket money, money she could be using on things for herself, to help this little girl.<br /><br />I was amazed and inspired by Charli's generous heart and her sacrifice. I made sure to encourage her that even though she will probably never meet her sponsored child, I had seen the difference sponsorship makes, and she has already literally changed the little girl's life because she knows there is someone on the other side of the world who loves her and cares about her enough to be a friend and provide her material needs. This little girl has a future now because of Charli's generosity.<br /><br />However, the story doesn't end there.<br /><br />Charli's teacher, Mrs Hernandez, had been considering sponsorship for a while with her husband and when she saw Charli's example, giving so much from the little she received, she knew they could not put it off any longer and made the decision to sponsor a child.<br /><br />Even though Charli is only 11 years old, her decision to think of others ahead of herself has now positively impacted the lives of many people, and the story is just beginning...<br /><br />It's stories like this that make me continue to tell young people: <b>"You are never too young to make a difference..."</b>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01297597302937856941noreply@blogger.com1