On Wednesday, the third stop on my Compassion adventure was Peru, where I sponsor 10 year old Cristina. She was one of two remaining sponsored kids I have not visited (I still have not been to see Paola in Honduras).
Initially Lima turned on quite a grey, cold and wet day (it warmed up later). We headed down to the very south of Lima. The drive to the Project was interesting. The environment was rather drab, dusty and colourless, with severely underdeveloped roads and buildings, and cacti growing in the median strips. I imagine it would be a challenge for many people to maintain any sort of hopes or dreams as they eked out an existence in that environment.
On the way I got the sense that God was going to teach me something on this day, and I was right. It wasn’t one of those overly joyous “made-in-heaven” type of days that we all hope for when we meet our sponsored kids, but I guess not all of them can be, and I’ve had my fair share anyway.
Cristina turned 10 on Monday (Sept 23), found out the next day I was coming, and I was there on the Wednesday. What a birthday present! We met at the Project and she was quiet and cautious. I had a bit of a tour, took some pics and saw Cristina’s classroom. There were no Project activities at this time, because the kids were at school, so we came back later in the day.
A highlight from the Project was the “Sponsor Wall” in each classroom, where they list the names of each child and their sponsor, and once a week they have a special time where they pray for all the sponsors. I know I certainly feel it at times - the sense of God’s blessing even when life seems normal or boring. It is because I have kids, parents and Project workers praying for me.
After a while we went and visited Cristina’s home, where we met Mama and her older brother Enrique. Her younger sister was at school and her father was working. The house has been given to them by one of Cristina’s grandparents, and they’ve been living there for 14 years. It is small and cramped but they have a bathroom with a toilet and electricity.
There was also a fridge and a washing machine. This is not because they are well-off, and they are still paying them off, but because they participate in a special arrangement with 3 or 4 other families which I understand is quite common in Peru. Every month, one of the families receive an agreed upon amount of money from the rest of the families, which enables them to purchase necessary supplies or appliances. The next month it’s a different family’s turn to receive the money.
Both Cristina’s parents work. Mama makes a special fruit-based dessert, and sells it at a local market. Her dad is, as I understand it, a freelance soccer coach/trainer who coaches teams or individuals according to demand. It is not stable or secure work, but on this day he was working. He is 46 years old, but apparently he was the equivalent of a state-level soccer player in Peru back in the day.
I gave Cristina some gifts, with a couple of extra soft toys thrown in because it was her birthday (and also to lighten the suitcase). She received them with quiet gratitude.
After this we went to a local mall for lunch. I observed Cristina as we walked past all sorts of shops, and she soaked in the noise and the atmosphere and the busyness, and I got the sense it was like a different universe to her. We had chicken and chips for lunch, and for some reason I agreed to order a salad bowl. It was here I discovered Cristina’s absolute dislike for anything that even looks like salad. Mama and I proceeded to light-heartedly try and get her to have some salad, and Mama took the uneaten home in a bag. I said jokingly “So is that your dinner for the next week?” I don’t think she saw the funny side.
Mama was pleasant, friendly and good to talk to. She and the kids are committed Christians and involved in their church, the brother only more recently. He could be a key player in getting their father along. Cristina’s father is staunch Catholic, and that’s the excuse he has always used for avoiding church, but I have the feeling that eventually, when he sees the changes in his kids and the love of the Compassion staff for his family, who knows what will happen down the track. Continuing to pray…
It was during this time and on the drive back to the Project that I discovered sometimes not even a sponsor visiting from the other side of the world can interrupt a strong mother-daughter bond. With her mother, Cristina was a different child. She laughed, smiled, babbled away and was so much more relaxed. It was good to see that side of her, even if I wasn’t the cause of it.
At the Project in the afternoon I was able to meet Cristina’s friends and classmates. The weather had warmed up as we played and sang and had a great time. There is no language barrier when it comes to having fun with kids,
I left Cristina with some words, encouraging her to always work hard and try her best, because that’s all God expects us to do. I prayed God would show her what she is good at and what she loves to do, and she would be able to spend her life doing that, bringing glory to Him.
The main lesson I learned from today is that true and genuine love gives generously, extravagantly and lavishly without expecting anything in return. The ultimate example of this, of course, is Jesus coming from heaven as a man in order to make us right with God. His death and resurrection paid the price for us, and we can be seen as righteous in God’s sight. There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve this. It is a gift of mercy and grace from God.
In my own small way, I hoped today I was following Jesus’ example of genuine, extravagant love, and I know Cristina appreciated it, even if she didn’t show it physically. Thank you God, for the opportunity.
In January I visited seven countries in South and Central America, and saw 14 of my Compassion sponsored kids. What I saw and experienced, particularly in Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua absolutely wrecked my heart and spirit. I believe God was trying to give me a glimpse of what he sees every day, but then He also showed me the hope in the form of Compassion, and the impact they are having on children and families.
My third-last visit on this trip was to Ecuador, where I met 6 year-old Jacqueline. Looking back on that day I see God’s mercy. I think he thought I’d seen enough hard stuff, and gave me a day of complete and pure joy. We went to an amusement park, and she just had the time of her life.
On this day she conked out after lunch and fell asleep in my arms on the ride home. It was an incredibly profound moment for me. I am not a parent yet, but that day I felt the love of a parent for their child. I reflected later that God was teaching me about trust, and the way a child trusts when they fall asleep in your arms is the way He wants people to trust Him.
So, when I was planning the trip for September 2013, Brazil was definitely in, and Colombia and Peru were definitely in because I hadn’t visited the two kids in those countries. Then I thought “How can I go back to South America and not go to Ecuador again?” So, nine months after the first visit, I was back.
Jacqui lives with her parents, and is one of five children. Her oldest sister is twenty, and has a son and a daughter, so Jacqui is a “Tia” at six. She also has a twin brother, and two other older sisters. I didn’t get to meet her father last time, as he was working as a security guard at a mall. Mama makes and sells leggings and pants. She has a little workshop set up in their home. It is one of the nicer homes I have seen in my visits to my sponsored kids.
When I arrived at the Compassion Ecuador office, the first thing I did was catch up on things since our last visit. They had been facing eviction from their rented house, but thankfully they had been able to negotiate a deal with the landlord, and so were still there. I asked about their pet rabbit, unfortunately it died after falling down the steep steps in their house. However, now they had a little black puppy. I asked about the father’s job. He chose to leave his security job, since he had to work too much and didn’t get to see the family much. He was now washing cars at the mall with his brother.
Jacqueline is only in first grade, but she is already facing enormous challenges in her schoolwork. She struggles in most areas, and this is only compounded by the fact her twin brother is very bright and finds it all easy. She is actually facing exams later this week to see if she will pass to second grade.
We went to Volcano Park, the same amusement park as the previous visit. I am very blessed not to suffer from altitude sickness, as we were a LONG way up. As it was Tuesday, a normal school/work day (Jacqui had been given the day off school), the place was empty, and we actually arrived 45 minutes before it opened, so we had some time to kill.
Jacqui is one of the most outgoing, animated and affectionate little people I know. She “took me to school” in the art of two-way conversation. She would talk for five minutes straight, then handball it over to me with a “Now it’s your turn. What would you like to say?” She even threw in that question that she will learn is pretty useless to ask a man: “What are you thinking about right now?”
We talked about anything and everything, and I sang some songs with her (which I naughtily forgot to do last time). I got the Australian football out and we had a bit of throw and catch, as well as races in the vacant car park.
Before we knew it, the park was open, and it was rides, slides, trampolines and sideshows galore. I went on with her when I was allowed to, and once again was caught up in the pure innocence and joy of being a child. I had brought her a large Dora the Explorer soft toy (a gift from one of my students) and it was literally half her size. We played on of those whack-a-mole games and I won her another little soft toy. She was happy to have a friend for Dora.
Lunch was KFC at a local mall, which just happened to be the mall where her father works, washing cars with his brother. He travels over an hour each way, six days a week. It was great to be able to meet him. We had a short, friendly conversation based on what I knew about him already, and I encouraged him for working hard to provide for his family, which now consists of 5 kids and 2 grandkids.
God has blessed them in that both parents are able to work, and then throw in Compassion for that bit of extra help. Three of the five children are sponsored.
We then went to visit their house again, where all the siblings (and the little black puppy) were waiting for us. Jacqui’s twin brother is a little circus. He was non-stop, and his little niece and nephew were toddling around following him everywhere. In between that and the puppy running around licking faces, I was able to have a good conversation with Mama and the older sisters.
Mama is struggling to juggle everything involved with trying to work and raise 5 kids and 2 grandkids (I’m sure many of you can relate to that), but her faith in God is strong and sure, and she is so grateful for the extra help Compassion provides, particularly in regard to school supplies. I learned that Tuesday and Saturday are the days she sells the pants and leggings she makes, but she had taken this day off in order to be with me and allow Jacqui to have her special day.
There’s something humbling about the sacrifice of the poor. God is doing great things in this family, and He has given me a front row seat.
And so my latest Compassion adventure began with 33 hours of travel and four flights. Definitely the scenic route. Destination: Bogota, Colombia. I arrived in Bogota at 5.00am , and my translator Leonardo was good enough to meet me at the airport straight away. It just meant we had a few hours to kill. We chatted, and he told me a bit of his story. Colombia is known as a predominately Catholic country. His sister was the first in their family to become a Christian at age 16, and as a result was kicked out of home. He has been working with Compassion for a while, and at one stage was translating letters.
At first he translated the sponsor letters from English to Spanish. He noted the common theme of the letters: God loves you and has a plan for you, despite the poverty, despite your circumstances. Jeremiah 29:11 came up a lot. He admitted at first he had a certain amount of scepticism, along the lines of “Yeah they’re rich and they have “stuff”, of course they’re going to say God is good.”
But things changed when he started translating the kids letters. They would share with their sponsors the hard things that were happening in their lives, but then would add “but it doesn’t matter because I have Jesus in my life and He will take care of me and my family.” This impacted Leonardo immeasurably, and like the majority of Compassion translators I’ve been privileged to meet, he is a passionate advocate for Compassion and the fight against poverty. He helped make my day a joyful experience.
I have been sponsoring Laura for over two years. She is about to turn 14, and of course is the same height as me. Laura writes fantastic detailed letters, and had expressed in a few of them the desire to meet me. It really is a dream that all sponsored kids have. Never doubt that, and if you get the opportunity to go on a trip, GO!
Laura’s family consists of Mama, older brother Camilo (15) and younger sister Daniela (5). They have no father or husband living at home, and I heard mention of at least two different fathers. I was happy to learn that one of them still helps the family with money, since Mama does not work because she has to care for Daniela. This has left Camilo as the man of the house. I have wondered how this would weigh on the heart of a 15 year old boy, whether the expectations were explicit or left unsaid. During our day together he appeared to be a bright, enthusiastic animated young fella, and it was a pleasure to meet him.
To meet Laura and her family, we ventured down to the South of Bogota, which has it’s share of challenges. Even Taxi drivers are hesitant to go there. I have no pictures of the neighbourhood because it’s not safe. Robberies and teenage gangs are a major problem.
The school system in Colombia operates in two sessions: 6am – 12pm, then 1pm – 6pm. A major reason there are so many problems with the young people is that when they get out of school, they have nowhere to go and nothing to do. Many families are fractured, and the parent is working all day, so the kids stay out on the street. Travelling in a taxi on the way to lunch we stopped at a red light and very nearly witnessed a “schoolyard street rumble.” Boys in school uniforms were baiting each other with words, their weapons of choice planks of wood that would do a bit of damage. Some of them started throwing wood onto the nature strip in the middle of the road, very close to our taxi. Something was said that tipped them over the edge and boys scattered in all directions, some chasing, some fleeing. Then the light turned green.
The Project Laura and Camilo attend has been operating for nine years. There were no activities on this day, so I took a tour and met the staff. Heroes of mine.
They started with 150 kids and have grown to 350. Here’s the thing: the church that the Project is attached to only has about 70 members. A church of 70 looking after and caring for 350 kids in a dangerous gang-ridden community? It’s stories like that that make me so convinced that Compassion is a God-thing. And funnily enough, the Compassion Project workers get left alone by the gangs.
I learned that the Project were beneficiaries of Compassion’s Complementary Interventions program (CIV), where if a Project has a specific pressing need, like more toilets or a better quality kitchen, they can apply for funding from Compassion. This Project was able to build themselves a new kitchen thanks to the CIV.
One of the things I love seeing at every Project I visit is the cupboards full of child folders that detail and document every area of a child’s development – school progress, medical reports, social development and sponsor correspondence. Everything that is sent and received – gifts, money, letters, is recorded. The integrity and accountability is outstanding.
We visited Laura’s home, where we met the rest of the family. They have been living there for ten years. Their house belonged to Mama’s father, who had been killed just two months before, in a robbery gone wrong. He was the only breadwinner, so his death put a massive strain on the family. Thankfully (and unsurprisingly) Compassion stepped up to help, and they get help from Mama’s sister and one of the kid’s fathers.
It’s times like that when I fully grasp the significance of a sponsor, and the impact we have. God is using me to literally be a father to the fatherless, to give Laura words of love and encouragement, which she doesn’t necessarily get from anywhere else.
While at the house, I gave out some gifts. For each child on this trip, I am giving: an activity book, coloured pencils, a sharpener, bubbles, a soft toy kangaroo or koala and a Where’s Wally book. The family is receiving a 2014 calendar with images of Australia.
During last term, I shared with my first grade students about my trip, and I suggested that of they have any toys that they don’t want or don’t use any more, then I could give them to my Compassion kids. Well, their generous response meant that I left with two big fat bulging suitcases. I felt a bit like Santa Claus J I love being able to sow the seeds of Godly generosity into little guys.
Laura and Camilo both attend a unique school which is half an hour out of town. I learned that it is a normal public school, but because it is rural, they are able to do things like plant crops and grow gardens. This gives the kids invaluable income-generating skills for their futures. On the flip-side, because of the distance, and the fact school starts at 6am, they are up at 4 and out the door at 5. Tough for a couple of young teens.
I was told that the bus route had been changed because on one occasion Laura and Camilo, and the kids they were with, were robbed on their way to the bus stop. The thieves took everything including their shoes, and they had to walk home shoeless and crying.
One reason I’m so passionate about sponsors visiting their kids if they ever get the slightest opportunity, apart from the fact that it’s their biggest dream, is that you find out so much that you otherwise wouldn’t know in the letters. Now, this can be a good or bad thing, depending on the family’s circumstances. When I went to Central America in January, there were plenty of things about the kid’s home situations that I would rather have not known. But I know that if I am to love them like God loves them, I have to put my heart out there and risk getting hurt. I can’t pretend that injustice and horrible circumstances don’t exist. I can’t hide from it.
For lunch we headed out to a mall. Laura was indecisive about choosing a venue in the food court. I didn’t take my chance to choose when offered either, so bizarrely we settled on this Chinese rice/noodle place. I was still dealing with stomach issues, so I wasn’t very hungry and then found a mountain of food placed in front of me. Let’s just say the family took home a rather large doggy bag. You’re welcome J
A classic moment came when it was time to go on the escalator to go to the next level at the mall. Mama just would not go on, no matter how much we cajoled or encouraged her – it was a legitimate phobia. She even nearly sent me tumbling down on one occasion when I had her by the hand and was about to go on and she pulled back at the last second. She was quite happy to take the stairs.
After lunch we went to an amusement arcade located in the mall. The kids had a blast (oh, what the heck, so did I) JThey tried all sorts of games and attractions, but the clear favourite was the Bumper Cars. Not surprisingly I was the main target, but I gave as good as I got. We had about four goes, and I escaped generally unscathed, although I’m pretty sure I heard something crack at one point.
Air hockey was also popular. I played against both Laura and Camilo, and as much as I wanted to, I just couldn’t let them beat me.
After hearing many of the details of the lives of this family and the challenges they face, it was a gift from God to be able to give them a couple of hours of fun, just being kids.
After a fantastic day it was time for me to go. I thought and prayed long and hard about what I was going to say to them at the end what words I could leave with them. I settled on this:
After our day together, I’m sure you have an idea of how much I love you. But as much as I love you, I need you to know that God loves you so much more. He has given me just a little taste of His love for you. I pray that you continue to trust in Him, and look to Him for all your needs.
Compassion trip day one: big tick.
