A Unique Opportunity!!

Have you ever seen the movie titled "End of the Spear"?

It is a movie centered around missionaries and people native to the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle. The communities featured here are located deep in the jungle, and in the movie they had little or no contact with the outside world.
Even though the movie was set several decades ago, the people in that area are still very........indigenous.
They have been relatively untouched by the outside world, and you can reach them only by way of this:

 and a little of this:

 and they have houses that look like this:

and travel like this:

And drink this (there is a local drink made from chewing a part of a plant and spitting it out to let it ferment. That's what you drink. And if it is offered to you and you don't take it, it is offensive):

and still hunt like this:

and are beautiful like this:

Call me crazy, but I didn't think there were too many people left on this Earth that were very isolated. I guess I am just in my little developed nation bubble.

Well, surprise among surprises, Compassion works with some of these communities in/near the Ecuadorian jungle! Partnering with Compassion's program, missionaries and churches are able to reach the most unreached people, providing them with their basic needs: physical, social, emotional, and cognitive, and they are able to share the love of God with them.
Stealing some quotes from another blog written by a team that has worked with and visited the area (http://benedicks4jesus.blogspot.com/2010/10/jungle-trip-to-copataza.html), you can read that

 "The flights into most of the jungle communities are less than 60 minutes, but it is like entering a completely different world. Living in the jungle can be a treacherous proposition. As such, all indigenous folks team up with their families and close friends, find an area that has fertile soil, a water supply, and a plentiful supply of animals for hunting, and form a community. These places are mostly isolated from the outside world except for maybe a radio and an airstrip. Depending on the community, little planes may come in and out a few times a week, bringing in essentials such as toilet paper and Coca-cola, and carrying out stalks of bananas or other cargo........Because of Compassion International’s influence in Copataza, most of them already had a pretty firm grasp of the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.....The effectiveness of child sponsorship was very evident in Copataza. The people there are constantly being reminded of how much Jesus loves them." 

By sponsoring one of these children, you provide support, love, letters and prayers to one of these precious children. For me, the thought of my letters going where not many people have gone before is totally mind-boggling! How awesome that I can touch a child that seems so remote with my words (that have to be translated not only to Spanish, but the native tongue, btw). It really is an honor and a special opportunity!
I sponsor 3 children from these jungle communities. So far, I have learned things such as they walk 20-30 minutes every day (except Saturday) to get to the Compassion project. One of the common health problems in their community is snake bites. 2 of my little girls have had their mamas pass away. My little Gina (8) says that when she grows up she wants to be a doctor to help the people of her town because they need it a lot. Also, "I love soda and bread. We don't have these things in my community. We can eat this when my dad goes to the city. I also like lollipops." ;)

Won't you consider sending your love and the love of God to one of these children today?
Let me introduce you to a few children who are needing wonderful sponsors!
(Please don't mind the boxes around their faces in the photos. That will be fixed soon ;)

Meet Warmas:

Warmas is 12 years old (03/26/2000) and attends EC-261. She lives with her father, mother and 2 siblings. Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home. She helps in the kitchen, runs errands and cleans. She participates in church activities, Bible class and VBS and is in primary school where her performance is average. She likes basketball, telling stories, and playing ball games.

Meet Freddy:

Handsome Freddy is 15 years old (08/06/1997) and attends EC-261. He lives with his father, mother and 4 siblings. His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother maintains the home. He carries water, runs errands and gardens. He participates in church activities and camp and is in high school where his performance is average. He likes telling stories, swimming and soccer.

Meet Ronald:

 

Ronald is 10 years old (01/24/2002) and attends EC-261. He lives with his mother. His mother is sometimes employed as a farmer. He carries water, gathers firewood and teaches others. He participates in church activities and is in primary school where his performance is average. He likes telling stories, soccer, and playing ball games.

Meet Yanira:

Yanira is 9 years old (09/18/2003) and attends EC-261. She lives with her father, mother and 3 siblings. Her father is sometimes employed as a laborer and her mother maintains the home. She carries water and runs errands. She participates in church activities and VBS and is in primary school where her performance is average. She likes jumping rope, telling stories, and playing ball games.

Meet Jhon:

Adorable little Jhon is 5 years old (08/29/2007) and attends EC-261. He lives with his father, mother and 1 sibling. His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother maintains the home. He helps by running errands. He participates in church activities and is in kindergarten where his performance is average. He likes hide-and-seek and running.

Meet Shirley:

Shirley is 7 years old (04/26/2005) and attends EC-261. She lives with her father, mother and sibling. Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home. She helps by running errands. She participates in church activities and is in kindergarten where her performance is average. She likes hide-and-seek and running.

The above children live in the community described above and attend a project deep(er) in the jungle. The following children also live in the same jungle, but appear to live a little closer to the outside world. Many of their needs are the same.

Meet Benjamin:

Benjamin is 11 years old (05/23/2001) and attends EC-265. He lives with his father, mother and 2 siblings. His father is sometimes employed as a laborer and his mother is sometimes employed as a laborer. He makes beds and runs errands. He participates in church activities, Bible class and camp and is in primary school where his performance is average. He likes swimming, walking, and playing ball games.

Meet Angelo:

Angelo is 10 years old (04/15/2002) and attends EC-265. He lives with his father, mother and 3 siblings. His father is sometimes employed and his mother is sometimes employed. He carries water, runs errands and cares for animals. He participates in church activities, Bible class and VBS and is in primary school where his performance is average. He likes soccer, playing with cars, and playing group games. Angelo is a priority child as he has been waiting 240+ days for a sponsor. 


Meet Skarleth:

Skarleth is 8 years old (02/23/2004) and attends EC-266. She lives with her father and mother. Her father is sometimes employed as a laborer and her mother is employed as a laborer. She helps by washing clothes, running errands, and cleaning. She participates in Bible class and is in primary school where her performance is average. She likes basketball, playing with dolls and playing group games.

Meet Madelaine:

Madelaine is 3 years old (05/31/2009) and attends EC-266. She lives with her father, mother and sibling. Her father is employed and her mother maintains the home. She helps by running errands. She participates in church activities. She is not presently attending school. She likes playing house, art, and playing with dolls.

Please let me know if you are interested in sponsoring one of these beautiful children. You can be a light in an unreached place!

**all of the photos above (other than the children's photos!) are courtesy of google images and are not my work.

ES-816, Jardin de Jesus

The thing that really got me changing up my blog is to start being a better advocate for Compassion. It is huge in my heart and over the next months you will find out why more and more. But first, I want to start out by highlighting various Compassion centers that I have visited in order to give you insight into how the children we sponsor live every day. I hope that I can open your eyes even a little, and have you moved with compassion, even a little, so that you can do more - think more, pray more, sponsor more, give more, advocate more.

As most of you know, I visit El Salvador often, and consider it my second citizenship! My girls there are a part of my family and I love them so much! One of my favorite student centers is ES-816, Jardin de Jesus student center.

ES-816 is located near the city of Chalchuapa in El Salvador. It has natural beauty and is located close to a beautiful lake and some ruins!

It is in a rural area where the majority of homes are made of dirt floors and mud walls, and the average income for a family is $50/month. When children are sponsored and they attend this center, they receive benefits such as learning about Jesus, medical and dental exams, nutritious meals, hygiene education, special celebrations, spiritual retreats, literacy campaigns, computer classes, sewing and bakery classes and tutoring. They even have access to an impressive library. I have seen all of these things with my own eyes.

One of my favorite things about this center is the STAFF! The staff are wonderful. They are dedicated, loving, smart, and fun! They love Jesus, love children, and love to laugh. Every time I visit, they take SO MUCH time preparing a program just for ME! They are thoughtful and so fun-loving. 

(she was pretending for me because she knew I was in the military)

They are creative, and this influences the children to be creative. The staff here are volunteers who spend each and every day loving on and investing in these children. They are the hands and feet of your sponsorship, and I couldn't think of better people to do it. 

The center is beautiful. God is there. The children are happy. Your $38/month goes so very far to help the children reach their God-given potential.

They look like average, happy children, without much hardship.

But I want to remind you of where these children come from, and how much your support actually means to them. The following photos are of real houses of sponsored children who attend ES-816. The landscape is beautiful, but behind the natural beauty, there is real poverty.

The houses ARE made of mud and tin. $50/month doesn't get you a cozy house in the suburbs. Another thing to remember is that the parents who earn this money work so very hard. Harder than I do, just to earn $50/month. They are often working all day and all evening and the staff say that they often have to leave the children alone to care for themselves and their siblings. All. Day.

This is real stuff. Your prayers, your sponsorship is so important to these kids. You can see, just by looking at the photos, what a difference having the Compassion project (and their sponsors!) makes in the lives of these children. I was blown away by the poverty after seeing how beautiful and well cared-for these children are. The staff are so grateful when you care for the children there. They really love the sponsors. God can use you to allow them to hope and dream in the midst of their living situation. And these kids are pretty remarkable.

The correspondence from this project is good. My child writes very nice letters and I sometimes get extra photos, too! The staff read the letters with the children, and really know about you. I know for a fact that not only do the children pray for you, but the staff does too.

I have photos and information of children from ES-816 who are waiting for sponsors. They are children who come from this same background. They are waiting for a loving sponsor who will pray for them, write to them, have a relationship with them, and support them. If you choose to sponsor any of these children, I will take a small gift for you next time I visit!!

This is Alejandra. She is 7 years old. She lives with her mother who is sometimes employed. She is responsible for making beds and cleaning, and enjoys playing house, playing with dolls, and playing ball games. She is in kindergarten where her performance is average.

This is Vanessa. She is 12 years old. She lives with her father, mother, and sibling. Her father is employed as a laborer. She is responsible for washing clothes, running errands, and cleaning, and she likes singing and playing with dolls. She is in primary school where her performance is average. (I think I have an additional photo of Vanessa from 2009 if you are interested in seeing it!)

This is Maria. She is 12 years old. She lives with her mother and 2 siblings. Her mother is employed as a seller in the market. She is responsible for caring for children, running errands, and cleaning, and she enjoys playing house and bicycling. She is in primary school where her performance is average.

This is Christian. He is 10 years old. He lives with his father, mother, and 2 siblings. His father is employed as a seller in the market. He is responsible for running errands and cleaning, and he enjoys art, bicycling, and reading. He is in primary school where his performance is above average.

This is Diego. He is 8 years old. He lives with his mother who is sometimes employed as a laborer. He is responsible for running errands, and he enjoys soccer, playing with cars, and running. He is in primary school where is performance is above average.

This is Lisbeth. She is 10 years old. She lives with her mother and 2 siblings. Her mother is sometimes employed. She is responsible for gathering firewood, running errands, and cleaning, and she enjoys playing with dolls. She is in primary school where her performance is average.

Please consider sponsoring one of these beautiful children. You will really be a light in a dark place. God will use you mightily in their lives. Contact me if you want information on any of these children!