This letter is from Lucas's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Bolivia Tropics Region page.
Dear Eric and Hannah,
It is a pleasure to write to you in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My name is Maria EF, pastor of the CVPM Church of the Salvation Army. It is located in SC. Our church works with the CDC attended by Lucas.
I'd like to express my gratitude to you for your support in sponsoring him. Thanks to your support, we are able to stretch our arm to help Lucas.
This area is considered a dangerous one since in our community, due to poverty, people have started drinking alcohol, many south and teens have found refuge in gangs, and women become mothers at a very early age. Our families and especially the children are exposed to dangers and youth crime. Because they come from large families and because of the need they have, children are prone to becoming members of criminal groups. The church is facing this situation and through the leading of the Holy Spirit, we want to save families through their children. It is our goal that through the sponsored children, their families come to know God's plan and purpose for their lives on earth. It is difficult, but we're not alone; please help us with your prayers.
We seek strategies to help our children and their parents and families as a whole. For this we work a lot with several ministries addressed to father, mothers, youth, and children separately. In the future we hope to become a center of big changes and blessings to the families who come to this place thanks to their children.
We are gaining the trust of families, and we can see this because they leave their children with us with confidence while they go to work, in the knowledge that the children will be safe, that we will take good care of them and give them support with their school work. Parents also like the Bible teaching their children receive. Having seen the outcomes and the discipline in the center, many parents bring their children to get them registered in the program. Unfortunately some are already above the age of admittance.
Thank you for writing to your child. Your letters and questions in it help the family feel supported. They feel important when you tell them that you are praying for your child and his or her family, which does not happen with those children who do not get any letters. Here, during devotional time, the children also pray for you. At home, they also teach their parents to pray for you and they are thankful that you are also praying for them.
I am also thankful for your prayers and your support. Thank you for helping us to help our community. I'd like to ask you to please pray for our center and for our church, as we have plans to extend the building in order to give better comfort to our children and to welcome even more of them into the program.
Once again, thank you very much for your support. God bless you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Maria EF
If you would like to sponsor a child from Bolivia, please consider 16-year-old Estrella! Her birthday is August 11.
Estrella lives with her mother. At home, duties include washing clothes, making beds and running errands. Her mother is sometimes employed as a seller in the market.
As part of Compassion's ministry, Estrella participates in church activities. She is also in high school where her performance is average. Playing ball games, reading and playing group games are her favorite activities. To sponsor Estrella, click here.
