Dear Friend,
My name is William José Gutiérrez Rojas. Since 2003, I have been the country director of Compassion Nicaragua. It has been almost 15 years since the ministry was launched in this country. Despite challenges, we have reached more than 51,000 children so far through about 175 church partners, releasing them from poverty in Jesus´ name.
Thank you so much for your support and for walking through life with your sponsored child!
Nicaragua is the second-poorest country in the Americas, after Haiti. Around 50 percent of children and adolescents are living in poverty, 19 percent in extreme poverty. The most under-resourced children are those living in rural areas whose income is less than US$2 a day. That is why many Nicaraguan children are out of school, compelled to work to earn some money, trying to relieve their basic needs a bit. Children in our country struggle with common threats such as malnutrition, poor drinking water, domestic violence, lack of access to education, poor self-esteem, and hopelessness.
But thanks to sponsors, children in our child development centers have the opportunity to grow in a holistic way – spiritually, physically, cognitively, and socio-emotionally. They are exposed to the gospel through spiritual retreats and other activities that teach them about God´s love. They receive regular medical checkups, meals, and preventive health care. They have access to education, school supplies and tutoring, and different kinds of vocational training. They learn to interact with other people in a healthy and compassionate manner.
Besides all these, children´s lives are changed in a positive way by their sponsors’ friendship. Children delight in sponsors’ letters because of their encouraging words to succeed in life, making children aware they are worthy and loved. This is especially true for our many children who come from dysfunctional homes with frosty relationships, where there is little interest in their well-being. Please write to your child as often as you can.
Compassion’s programs make an impact on the parents as well as the children. Parents are taught how to raise, treat and educate their children from pregnancy onward. Parents are shown how to take greater parental responsibility, and they learn about topics such as child protection, nutrition, etc.
I would like to ask for your prayers, please. There is still a long path to walk through, and our effort is to reach more and more children in need and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.
Thank you for your effort to break the chain of poverty for your sponsored child. Thank you for arising and crying out in the night for the lives of children who faint from hunger at every street corner (Lamentations 2:19). Your love and support are greatly valued and appreciated, not only by your child, but also by our Lord and Savior.
In Him and for Him,
William Gutiérrez Rojas
If you would like to sponsor a child from Nicaragua, please consider sponsoring
