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Babies, Moms and Compassion

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:31:00 -0600

Compassion is all about kids and what you might not know is we are all about moms and babies too!

I am so excited that today we are launching our Child Survival Program Website Where you can go and be a part of sponsoring one of these projects! Check out this awesome site full of information but first take a look at the new moms, mom to be and super cute babies we visted today. . .

And be sure to check out Compassion Bloggers so you can learn more about this AH-mazing program!

Read the rest of this post at Queen Anne's Lace…

Mothers Becoming Moms

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:29:00 -0600

Author: Molly Piper

As you know, I’ve been really excited about witnessing the Child Survival Program here in El Salvador. It’s a very new program, but is already having fantastic effects for the ones involved.

The project we visited today is one of five that are currently operating in this country.

I witnessed about 15 mothers caring for their babies. The women ranged in age from 15-35 years old. Most were first-time mothers, a couple were mothers multiple times over. But the need was the same for all of them: they needed education. They needed to be equipped with skills. They needed to learn how and why to embrace these children.

Read the rest of this post at The Pipers…

Parenting Advice Gone Wrong

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:28:00 -0600

Author: Heather Whittaker

Carlos' mom tells a story of a time when they were visiting family in Mexico when he got sick. The family member who house they were at came in and rubbed a egg on his head and put it under his bed. He had to sleep with it under there and it would cure him. She is full of stories of myths and parenting advice that are just absolutely absurd. I've often thought that these were stories of the past. No one could possibly believe something like that in this day in age, however today I learned otherwise.

Read the rest of this post at Whittaker Woman…

Child Survival Program

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:26:00 -0600

Author: Kelly Stamps

This morning we visited another project. We were met by a whole new group of very loving kids!

Seriously - I don't need to be hugged when I get home for a good year - I've gotten so many hugs and kisses! (Just kidding - I'm totally becoming a HUGE hugger after this trip!)

Today I want to share with you about a different part of Compassion. This is called CSP - Child Survival Program and I'm very glad to have seen this in action today.

Read the rest of this post at Kelly's Korner…

The Picture On The Fridge Becomes Human

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:05:00 -0600

Author: Heather Whittaker

They are as real as you and I.
And my kids now know. (Click "Read More" to see this video post.)

Read the rest of this post at Whittaker Woman…

A Hero’s Welcome Given by Heroes

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:04:00 -0600

Author: Molly Piper

As I approached my first Compassion International project visit yesterday, I had no idea how it would go. I’ve heard from our trip leader that each one is so different, depending on the country staff who run the project, that there’s really no way to give us a definite idea how each project will be.

Well… yesterday’s welcome set the bar pretty high.

Read the rest of this post at The Pipers…

XVIII

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:05:00 -0600

Author: Heather Whittaker

As you all can imagine, I have a million stories to share. It's just a matter of processing, and actually getting it down on paper. But today, there was one moment, it was actually one sentence I said, that I want to share with you.

In El Salvador the Gangs are rampid and the people not only have to face issues that poverty brings, but they also must worry about the violence of the gangs. We went into a slum to visit some homes of children in the project we were at. They advised us to take nothing and stay together, we were entering gang territory. I felt prepared. I've watched a documentary on Gangs in Central America, I grew up in Fresno and lived in LA, where the evening news always had something about some gangs. But what I was not prepared for, is having these "gangs" become personal to me.

Read the rest of this post at Whittaker Woman…

I Am A Blubberer

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0600

Author: Patricia Jones

Hello, my name is Patricia and I am a blubberer.

I don’t know why I even bothered to put on any eye make-up today, because I certainly cried it all away. The mascara smearing down my cheeks is far less attractive then just going without makeup at all. Oh well, I will live and learn.

I think this trip is my 10th trip with Compassion, and I still blubber like a baby. The first thing I do when I start to cry at a Compassion project is look around to see if any other Americans are joining me in my emotional state. It was a relief to see that Kelly was joining me. It’s a pride thing I guess, but God made me soft. In other words, I cry at sad movies, I cry when I see someone else crying and I cry at Compassion projects.

Read the rest of this post at Jones Bones 5…

El Salvador Day 2

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:59:00 -0600

Author: Kelly Stamps

So - frankly - I came this week and my mindset was that I felt a little guilty asking any of you to sponsor a child. I know we are in a recession. I know a lot of you have lost your jobs and possibly even your homes. I know a lot of you are struggling financially and asking you to sacrifice to sponsor a child - maybe it was too much. I try to be sensitive to the fact that a lot of you might not be in a great place right now.

And I'm still very sensitive to that - but I don't feel guilty to show you that even in a recession - we have SO much! We have NO idea. I want to share a little with you and I hope that your hearts will be open to help.

Read the rest of this post at Kelly's Korner…

More than just beautiful faces…but beautiful faces nonetheless.

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:58:00 -0600

Author: Molly Piper

Joslynn Tamara. This is her in her home. She’s been attending the project for a couple years now. Through her attending the project, her entire immediate and extended family are now walking with God, free from addiction and living in the light of his Presence. Her mother is now walking with Jesus and tutoring at the project. Her mother wept as we prayed for them before they left, that they would continue to walk with Jesus and remain faithful to his work in their lives.

Read the rest of this post at The Pipers…

The Proper Execution Of A Child Takedown

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:06:00 -0600

Author: Shaun Groves

If you ever visit a Compassion International project.

And you’re nervous about it because, well, it’s 200 or so kids versus just little ol’ you and you don’t know the language and you can’t make balloon animals or juggle and you’re wondering to yourself: Self, what on earth are you going to do with 200 kids?

Have no fear. There’s always...

Read the rest of this post at ShaunGroves.com…

El Salvador Day 1

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:22:00 -0600

Author: Kelly Stamps

WOW!

We got up at 4 this morning to get ready and head to the airport and we landed in San Salvador around 12:30 today. We had a great trip. We were met by two sweet ladies who work for the Compassion office here. They took us about 45 minutes away and we ate lunch. It was SO good. Then we headed to the Compassion office.

We spent the afternoon there and met with all the different teams who told us about Compassion in detail and how it works. I was told so many statistics and so many amazing things and I wrote them all down and wanted to share those with you. At one point I got overwhelmed because there is just so much to share.

Read the rest of this post at Kelly's Korner…

We Are Here

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:18:00 -0600

Author: Heather Whittaker

WOW, what a day! It started early. Sohaila woke up while I was getting ready. I saw her sweet little eyes looking at me and silent tears flowing down her face. It broke my heart to leave. But I made it out of the house holding it together! It has been one long day, I can not believe I was in Atlanta this morning!

The flights were great. You know it makes a big difference when you don't have to travel two days just to get to your destination (Uganda).

Read the rest of this post at Whittaker Woman…

This Child Deserves To Know Jesus

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:17:00 -0600

Author: Molly Piper

We all made it safely to El Salvador today (with all of our luggage)! Thanks to all of you who prayed for us and thought about us throughout the day.

First thing’s first: flooding. I mentioned that Hurricane Ida had passed through and substantial flooding had killed around 100 people. Many people have lost their homes, and some of the Compassion projects have incurred damage. Some of the Compassion-sponsored children have lost homes or been evacuated from their homes because they’re in areas at high risk for further landslides.

Read the rest of this post at The Pipers…

Remembering The View From Here

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:16:00 -0600

Author: Shaun Groves

I have a blog because my brain stopped cooperating with me sometime in college: a possible side-effect of one too many late night Route 44 cherry vanilla Dr.Peppers from Sonic study enhancers. For instance, I remember a younger (less gray) skeptical me taking a trip to see the ministry of Compassion International for myself and coming home a different person. But, thanks to my blog and its handy dandy search function, I know that trip was in August of 2005.

I need my blog’s help to remember the date and a few minor details from that trip. But there’s plenty about El Salvador I’ve never shaken from my memory. I remember the houses made of corrugated metal. I remember a woman asking if I wanted her to kill her only chicken to make me lunch. I remember staring out a bus window for miles wondering angrily Why didn’t I know all this existed before now?

Read the rest of this post at ShaunGroves.com…

Power In A Toothbrush

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:00:00 -0600

Author: Keely Scott (photos)

Hello from El Salvador!

Today was a great first day getting to see the city ( San Salvador) . We stopped by our country office for a quick lesson in all things Compassion and we were so thankful to get to hear from The Compassion El Salvador Director, Guillermo. Having traveled to various countries with Compassion I must say that it is not only a blessing to meet these country directors but it is so amazing to hear from them! Their stories and how they came to be director are amazing. They come from different backgrounds some have been in politics or business and felt the call to move to ministry in their country and some like Guillermo grew up in poverty.

Read the rest of this post at Queen Anne's Lace…

El Salvador

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:41:00 -0600

Author: Kelly Stamps

We leave for El Salvador in the morning and I would love to have your prayers. I'm not really nervous or scared of the trip because I KNOW it's going to be awesome. I'm just nervous about getting there. It feels like Satan is doing everything he can to keep me from getting there.

Read the rest of this post at Kelly's Korner…

What Do You Not Know About Child Sponsorship?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:39:00 -0600

Author: Molly Piper

One thing the folks from Compassion told us as we talked about this trip is that we can ask anything we want to. Nothing’s off limits.

I know there’s a lot I’ll want to find out, but I’m not entirely sure yet what I’m going to be curious about.

So I thought I’d ask you: What do you want to know about Compassion or child sponsorship in general that I can try to find out for you?

Read the rest of this post at The Pipers…

Hurricane In El Salvador

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:37:00 -0600

Author: Molly Piper

Just got a link from our trip leader, Shaun Groves, sharing the news that there was a hurricane in El Salvador last night, and that 91 people are believed to be dead.

Read the story here.

Of course we have no idea at this point how this will affect our trip. Almost certainly, children and families sponsored by Compassion have lost the little they had in the last 24 hours.

Read the rest of this post at The Pipers…

Before El Salvador

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:44:00 -0600

Author: Shaun Groves

I could use your help making our trip next week as beneficial to kids in El Salvador and Americans with internet access as possible. Could you please…

Read the rest of this post at ShaunGroves.com…