Our Favorite Gifts--Kim's Compassion

There is no doubt that our sponsored children are some of God's most precious gifts in our lives. Their words make us feel valued, special, and cherished.

At Christmas, we always like to send along a little gift to remind each child of how valuable, special, and loved they are in return.

This year, we made these pretty paper ornaments. First we used Pizap to edit a photo of each child. We chose our frame from the Christmas section, ordered prints, and then trimmed down the photos in the shape of an ornament:

I bought curling ribbon and decorative gift tags with reinforced holes:

I attached the gift tag to the back of each photo, like this:

The last step was to make a bow and hanger with the curling ribbon.

I hope our children and their families enjoy these little love-filled gifts!

Rewrite the Story...

I love stories.

As a child, I spent my summers at my grandfather's law office. I would find a quiet spot under a desk or behind a file cabinet and read voraciously. Some days, I would bring back ten books from the library, only to return them the next day.

The characters became my friends, and in my mind, they took on a life of their own.

To this day, I love stories--both made up and true. However, in order for me to read a book or even watch a movie, I must have some assurance that the story will have a happy ending.

I'm a cheater--hopelessly impatient. 

I read the endings first.

So life is a little hard for me. You have to do life a page at a time. There is no fast-forward to see how things will turn out, no Netflix summary, no Wikipedia.

In Christ, we do have the assurance of an ultimately happy ending. I'm convinced of this truth.

But as I do a lot of work now with the poor and suffering, I am constantly reminded that many believers who will have a happy ending don't have a happy story.

Life is hard. It's not fair. People get sick. They go hungry. They suffer abuse. They are exploited. 

I want to share with you one of the great secrets of God's Kingdom: 

Jesus left His people here to make life a little more fair.

Consistently, Jesus modeled that when you see a need, you should meet it. His ministry wasn't all standing on a mountain preaching. It was rarely that. It was mostly one person at a time, healing, raising, restoring, and blessing.

Today I heard some stories. They are about some little ones who didn't have a very happy story.

But their story changed--because someone decided to live like Jesus and right wrongs.

For some time, I've been speaking up for the Your Kingdom Here Child Development Center in Joconales, Honduras. Compassion opened a new program there March 1, and our vision trip is set to visit the project on July 17. We have a goal of finding sponsors for all 200 children.

A fellow Compassion sponsor felt led to sponsor one of these children--I'll call him "H"--because she saw him in a dream. 

Later, she felt drawn to little "K"...

...and then to miss "A".

Today, she visited these three children, and she shared a little of the stories that she heard...

"..they are absolutely precious. They stuck out profusely among everyone else, and all three of the children had completely rotten teeth. "K's" mother told me that they used to sleep in a field until Compassion came along and now they are building a wooden house. "K" also looks somewhat malnourished. "H" is TINY. His grandmother had no work and feeds four grandchildren. None, not even the adults, had ever been to San Pedro Sula. None of the children had ever eaten in a restaurant, eaten ice cream, or owned a toy. "A" had never received new clothes. Kim, they just seem like they need physical needs met more than anything."

It all seems so wrong. I don't like sad stories.

But today the story changed.

"K" will live in a house.

"H's" grandmother will have help feeding those four grandchildren.

"A" got new clothes.

All of them, including the adults, adventured to the city, ate a meal at a restaurant, enjoyed ice cream...

And they will go home, back up into the rural mountains, feeling loved and valued--feeling like God has seen and answered their cries for help.

These families don't have to wait for their happy ending. Their stories are being rewritten because ONE person chose to respond to their needs.

ONE person wasn't willing to let their stories be sad stories of neglect, waste, and poverty.

ONE person, through the ministry of Compassion, is providing for the basic needs of these children--education, clothing, food, shelter, spiritual discipleship, medical and dental care.

Will you change the story of a child at HO416? These precious children, each with a story, are waiting for someone just like you.

Neidy

Meilyn is SPONSORED!!

Aylin is SPONSORED!!

Yeilin

Genesis

Edwin

Caleb

Jairo

Axel

Jesus

Kim's Compassion: Photo Folders

Materials:

*8.5 x 11 card stock

*4 x 6 photo pages that hold 6 photos. Don't forget to order prints to fill the slots!

*Fun stickers, a stapler, and a sharpie or markers.

Are you looking for a nice way to send photos to your sponsored child? These colorful mini photo folders are simple to make.

First, fill your photo sleeves. Then staple one end of the sleeve to the top of a sheet of card stock, far to the left side of the paper.

Then, fold the photos under.

Fold the card stock, leaving a small flap like an envelope.

Decorate the front with fun stickers and your child's name.

Don't forget to include a special message for your child in the blank space inside. Also be sure to write your sponsor ID number as well as your sponsored child's name and ID number somewhere on the folder.

When your child opens the folder, the photos will stand up for display!

These folders are a fun way to share family photos, vacation memories, or to teach your child about something new. You could create an album of animals that live in your area or a gallery of paintings by famous artists! Get creative! I'm sure that our family will make these folders again and again!

Children Available for Sponsorship: HO416

Here is a current list of Children from HO416 who are waiting to be connected with loving sponsors! 

Children marked ***PRAYER CHILD*** are being considered by potential sponsors.

This is Any Larissa Zaldivar Henriquez.  Her birthday is October 15, 2007.  She is 7 years old.  Her bio is:  Any makes her home with her grandfather and her aunt. Running errands and cleaning are her household duties.  Her grandfather is not employed and her aunt maintains the home.  There are 2 children in the family.  As part of Compassion's ministry, Any participates in church activities and Bible class. She is also in primary school where her performance is above average. Playing with dolls, jumping rope and running are her favorite activities.

This is Aylin Rashel Vasquez Paz.  Her birthday is August 4, 2007.  She is 7 years old.  Her bio is:  In her home, Rashel helps by making beds, running errands and cleaning.  She lives with her grandfather and her grandmother.  Her grandfather is sometimes employed as a farmer and her grandmother is sometimes employed as a laborer.  As part of Compassion's ministry, Rashel participates in church activities and Bible class. She is also in primary school where her performance is average. Playing house, playing with dolls and walking are her favorite activities.

This is Andrea Yaneth Escobar Rodas.  Her birthday is September  2, 2011.  She is 3 years old.  Her bio is:  Andrea lives with her father and her mother.  Her duties at home include carrying water, gathering firewood and running errands.  There are 4 children in the family.  Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home.  Andrea is not attending school because she is too young. Playing jacks, playing with dolls and running are her favorite activities. She also attends church activities and Bible class regularly.

This is Dubania Adanesi Escobar Rodas.  Her birthday is April 20, 2007.  She is 7 years old.  Her bio is:  Dubanía lives with her father and her mother.  At home, duties include carrying water, making beds and running errands.  Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home.  There are 4 children in the family.  For fun, Dubanía enjoys playing jacks, playing house and playing with dolls. She attends church activities and Bible class regularly and is in primary school where her performance is above average.

***PRAYER CHILD***

This is Jarehtsi Michel Calix Melgar.  Her birthday is November 13, 2005.  She is 9 years old.  Her bio is:  In her home, Michel helps by making beds, running errands and cleaning.  She lives with her stepfather and her mother.  Her stepfather is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home.  There are 2 children in the family.  For fun, Michel enjoys playing with dolls, bicycling and playing group games. She attends church activities regularly and is in primary school where her performance is above average.

***Edminsson has been sponsored!!***

This is Edminsson Andres Menjivar Sevilla.  His birthday is August 13, 2009.  He is 5 years old.  His bio is:  Edminssón lives with his father and his mother.  He is responsible for carrying water, gathering firewood and running errands.  His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother maintains the home.  There are 3 children in the family.  For fun, Edminssón enjoys playing with cars, playing with marbles and running. He attends church activities and Bible class regularly and is in kindergarten where his performance is average.

This is Iker Daniel Aguilar Carvajal.  His birthday is October 21, 2011.  He is 3 years old.  His bio is:  Iker lives with his grandfather and his mother.  He is responsible for carrying water, gathering firewood and running errands.  His grandfather is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother maintains the home.  Iker is not attending school because he is too young. Rolling a hoop, playing ball games and playing group games are his favorite activities. He also attends church activities and Bible class regularly.

This is Perla Stacy Mejia Tabora.  Her birthday is August 12, 2010.  She is 4 years old.  Her bio is:  Stacy lives with her stepfather and her mother.  At home, duties include running errands and cleaning.  Her stepfather is sometimes employed as a laborer and her mother maintains the home.  Stacy is not attending school because she is too young. Playing with dolls, bicycling and playing group games are her favorite activities. She also attends church activities and Bible class regularly.

***PRAYER CHILD***

This is Jenifer Marbella Lopez Roque.  Her birthday is April 15, 2007.  She is 7 years old.  Her bio is:  Marbella lives with her mother.  At home, duties include helping in the kitchen, running errands and cleaning.  Her mother is sometimes employed as a laborer.  There are 2 children in the family. For fun, Marbella enjoys playing with dolls, jumping rope and running. She attends church activities and Bible class regularly and is in primary school where her performance is average.

This is Jeilin Briseth Serrano Valle.  Her birthday is August 1, 2008.  She is 6 years old.  Her bio is:  Jeilin makes her home with her father and her mother. Carrying water, running errands and cleaning are her household duties.  Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home.  There are 2 children in the family. Playing house, playing with dolls and running are Jeilin's favorite activities. In primary school her performance is average and she also regularly attends church activities and Bible class.

Mommy's heart...

I love my little son. 

I love every freckle on his upturned nose.

I love the empty space where his front teeth were and where his sucking thumb fits just right.

I love how sometimes, I will walk in and find him building a toilet from pipes he bought with his birthday money...

Or constructing a roller coaster with a million parts...

I love his thoughtful fascination of all things that zoom and glow...

I love every cow lick in his crazy hair.

I love how when every star aligns, he will allow you to snap his photo--and I love the faces he makes when he doesn't.

I love his plans for the future. He just wants to fix things.

I love his stubborn insistence to sit with me in church...how he is content to sit and be cuddled and petted.

I even love how when he wants you to listen, he will take your face in his hands and point it in the right direction.

I love my little son--everything that makes him so very unique and special. There are a million things I could share...so many things that make my Benjamin who he is. He is a treasure.

And this love for my little one spills over. 

When I saw this face, I thought of Benjamin. 

I wondered if his mother tries to count the freckles on his upturned nose. 

I wondered if she looks up sometimes and her son is quite suddenly an airplane or a roller coaster instead of a little boy.

I wonder if he picks her flowers sometimes.

We live a world away in drastically different circumstances, but my mother's heart connects somewhere deep inside with his mother's heart.

Somehow, I understand how horrible it would feel if I couldn't give this little boy his dinner, or if I had to keep putting too small shoes on his growing feet. I understand the fear of living in a house without locks or not having money for a doctor. I have never experienced any of these things, and I wish with all my heart no mother or little boy ever had to.

I'm glad to know that this little boy, whose name is Edminsson, and this little boy's mommy, will avoid some of those experiences. They have help through Compassion International, which has just started working in a church in their community. His life (and her life) will be changed because some mommy or daddy or grandparent with more than enough will reach out and allow this child to have what he needs.

Is there room in your mommy or daddy heart??

God wants us to have a heart like His. Like a mommy or daddy knows and cherishes their child, so God adores us. He knows every little thing about us--because He designed us. We are valuable to Him and He delights in us. And He invites us to have the same kind of sacrificial compassion that He had when He saw us in desperate need . He did not consider the highest price too much to pay. 

For $38 per month, you can help provide for Edminsson and his family--or for a family like his. You are invited to get involved in his life...to get to know all about him. You're invited to step in and provide mothers and fathers with choices that poverty took away.

You can help him be free to grow and dream and light up this world for Jesus!

***This child is Edminsson Andres Menjivar Sevilla.  His birthday is August 13, 2009.  He is 5 years old.  His bio is:  Edminssón lives with his father and his mother.  He is responsible for carrying water, gathering firewood and running errands.  His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother maintains the home.  There are 3 children in the family.  For fun, Edminssón enjoys playing with cars, playing with marbles and running. He attends church activities and Bible class regularly and is in kindergarten where his performance is average.

God's Kingdom Here

You're invited to be a part of something special.

In July, our team will leave for Honduras in partnership with Compassion International--and we are inviting you to come along.

This is a vision trip, a trip in which we will explore all that can be. We will look at communities through God's lens. We will look at His precious children and see all that they can be in Him.

Our first stop will be in Villa Verde, Honduras. High on this rural mountain, we will visit the Blessings of God child development center. We will see how God has used three years of advocacy to change lives--both of the children and their sponsors. Close to 20 sponsors will meet around 40 children sponsored at this center!

Our last stop will be HO374, where we will explore another area of focused advocacy. We will see how one of our most powerful weapons against poverty and violence is simply our voice--both in sharing the needs of children and in pouring encouragement into the lives of children through letters.

But what's happening in between??

Something new...

HO416, Your Kingdom Here Child Development Center, has just opened its doors near Santa Barbara, a mountainous community halfway between Villa Verde and San Pedro Sula. Our team has the overwhelming privilege of speaking for its 200 newly registered children.

You won't see their profiles on Compassion's website yet. You won't see them at a concert.

Our team has the unique task of speaking for these 200 children. Through August, we will be their voice.

Our goal is to build a community of sponsors to support and uplift this new project as they seek to bring God's Kingdom down here for the children it serves.

Our goal is to pray together towards July 17--the day when we will hold these long-loved, long-uplifted children in our arms--our children and your children.

You can follow this journey through our blogs and photos. You can pray for our journey. You can join the HO416 family!

You can join us in doing a new thing. You can be the first to speak life and hope into the life of your child at HO416. You can assure your child that God sees them, knows them, and treasures them. 

The ball is rolling. Little Johana was the first child sponsored at HO416. Her name means God is gracious.

And oh--He is, isn't He? He is always giving gifts that we don't deserve. He is always lifting up the needy, the broken and the helpless--building His Kingdom right here on earth. And He is calling you to be a part of His Kingdom Here--extending grace and kindness to all the ends of the earth.

Will you join us? I am honored to share with you the first six children available for sponsorship at HO416, Your Kingdom Here.

What a tiny, sweet princess--a pearl of great price!

This is Perla Stacy Mejia Tabora.  Her birthday is August 12, 2010.  She is 4 years old. Stacy lives with her stepfather and her mother.  At home, duties include running errands and cleaning.  Her stepfather is sometimes employed as a laborer and her mother maintains the home.  Stacy is not attending school because she is too young. Playing with dolls, bicycling and playing group games are her favorite activities. She also attends church activities and Bible class regularly.

Selvin has been sponsored!!!

Don't you just love his smile and how his thumbs are hooked in his pockets?!

His name is Selvin Antonio Dubon Alvarado.  His birthday is September 4, 2008.  He is 8 years old.  Selvin lives with his mother.  He is responsible for carrying water, gathering firewood and running errands.  His mother is sometimes employed as a laborer.  There are 2 children in the family.  For fun, Selvin enjoys soccer, playing with cars and bicycling. He attends church activities and Bible class regularly and is in primary school where his performance is average.

She is just so very sweet!

This is Jeilin Briseth Serrano Valle.  Her birthday is August 1, 2008.  She is 6 years old. Jeilin makes her home with her father and her mother. Carrying water, running errands and cleaning are her household duties.  Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home.  There are 2 children in the family. Playing house, playing with dolls and running are Jeilin's favorite activities. In primary school her performance is average and she also regularly attends church activities and Bible class.

Elmer has been sponsored!!!

This is one handsome young man!

His name Elmer Junior Quinonez Vasquez.  His birthday is November 22, 2005.  He is 9 years old.  In his home, Elmer helps by carrying water, gathering firewood and running errands.  He lives with his mother.  His mother is sometimes employed as a laborer.  There are 4 children in the family.  Soccer, bicycling and running are Elmer's favorite activities. In kindergarten his performance is average and he also regularly attends church activities and Bible class.

Some little girl will love to write to Queen Elsa!

This is Elsa Lorena Pacheco Dubon.  Her birthday is September 2, 2006.  She is 8 years old.  Elsa lives with her father and her mother.  She is responsible for helping in the kitchen, running errands and cleaning.  Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home.  There are 3 children in the family.  For fun, Elsa enjoys playing with dolls, hide-and-seek and running. She attends church activities and Bible class regularly and is in primary school where her performance is average.

Elmer has been sponsored!!!

Such a beauty!

This is Isis Nahomy Melgan Cerrano.  Her birthday is June 9, 2006.  She is 8 years old.  Her bio is:  Nahomy lives with her father and her mother.  She is responsible for helping in the kitchen, running errands and cleaning.  Her father is sometimes employed as a laborer and her mother maintains the home.  There are 3 children in the family. As part of Compassion's ministry, Nahomy participates in Bible class. She is also in primary school where her performance is average. Playing house, playing with dolls and walking are her favorite activities.

Stay posted for more profiles of children from HO416!