I love the child sponsorship organization Compassion International. For ten years, I’ve sponsored a girl in Rwanda. When we were in Rwanda in October, I actually got to meet her! (You can read more about that adventure in “How to Meet Your Sponsored Child…the Unofficial Way.”)
This month, we are working with Pastor Gregorio and his wife, Francisca, in Honduras. Francisca works at a Compassion project nearby two days a week. This particular site has been in operation for 8 years. In addition to Compassion sponsorships, they also get funding from Grace Point Church in San Diego, California. This afternoon, we got a taste of what the program is like.
We arrived at the project before most of the kids got there, which gave us some time to look around. They had playground equipment, bathrooms, classrooms, a kitchen, and an office area, where we met the director, teachers, and staff.
The kids arrived at 2:00. After a bit of play time, they split into three age groups: 3-5, 6-8, and 9-11. The oldest group was large enough that they didn’t all fit into one room, so they had two classes.
I observed one of the 9-11 classes, which happened to be Francisca’s. They opened with a prayer, which Francisca prayed and the kids repeated, line by line. Then they sang some fun songs. One of my teammates and I led two songs, “Tres Palabritas” and “Yo Tengo Gozo.”
After that, everyone sat down and we passed out a Bible for each child. Francisca directed them to Genesis 44, where they continued the story of Joseph. She called on a different kid to read each verse, and explained the story as they went along. As they read, they talked about the characteristics Joseph displayed in the story. After they finished the reading, Francisca passed out blank paper and had the kids write their names on the sides from top to bottom. They were then supposed to write a characteristic about themselves that began with each letter of their names.
Next, Francisca passed out their Compassion workbooks, where they worked on a page about the Joseph story. The kids at our regular ministry site at the church in Zolano use these same workbooks, although those kids are sponsored through a different ministry called His Hands for Honduras.
As the kids were finishing their workbooks, it was time for us to leave. Francisca said that the kids would be playing games next, and then they would be fed before going home for the day.
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There are other great sponsorship programs out there, too.
The His Hands for Honduras ministry site where we have been spending the majority of our time this month has a similar schedule to the Compassion program. The kids come, they sing, they learn about the Bible, they play, and they are fed. The pictures that you’ve seen me post on Facebook this month are pictures of these kids. Seventy-five kids are enrolled in the program at two different ministry sites, and only 25 have sponsors. Sponsoring a child through His Hands for Honduras cost $32 per month and covers uniforms and supplies for school, as well as the feeding and educational program that I’ve been a part of this month.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to sponsor one of the kids I’ve been working with, you can visit http://www.hishandssupportministries.org/honduras/sponsorship.
You can see pictures of all of the kids who need sponsors at http://www.hishandssupportministries.org/honduras/children.
The photos with a yellow background are the kids I’ve been working with, and the pink backgrounds go to the same program at a different location. If you want to know more about any of these kids, let me know! I’m praying that at least 5 people who read this blog will choose to sponsor one of these precious kids…and then pass this on to others, and to others, and to others, until every kid has a sponsor.
Me with Martha, who is one of the smiliest kids I’ve ever met.
Me with Omar, who has been like a brother to us this month.
The beautiful Diana
To the right: Josias, who I like to call “Little Bird.”
To the left: Joshua, who has a sponsor. 🙂
To the left: Sweet Deirin, who loves to sing and dance.
Tony, Owen, and Osman, three of the spirited boys who have captured my heart this month and made me excited to teach fourth grade this school year!
