Country Director's Letter: Peru

Today's letter is from Peru, where we correspond with Juan, Anthony and Abel. The original letter and photo can be found here.

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Dear Friend,

My name is Cristina Zavala, and I have been the country director of Compassion Peru since 2005. Compassion began ministering in Peru in 1984. We serve around 75,000 children through more than 250 partner churches. We want to open more opportunities this year, growing to serve more than 80,000 children.

My country has a rich history, beautiful places, and warm people, but also extreme poverty, broken families, and vulnerable children. Due to their living conditions and lack of economic resources, children face hard situations of abuse and neglect that erode their self-esteem and sense of belonging. The difference in a sponsored child is mainly the impact of being loved and cared for by people who value and give him or her dignity in a safe environment.

The economic situation works against families and parents, pulling them away from their children when the situation is pressing. They leave their children alone with little protection and supervision. Access to education, medicine, and potable water is still limited in the most impoverished regions of Peru. Some villages don´t have medical centers, or the facilities lack staff. Other areas get water directly from rivers or contaminated water channels. Young people have no opportunity to learn marketable skills, and no dreams of progress and development.

We want to change the situation. We are working to help children improve their reading, writing, and math learning and to learn and develop healthy habits. Little ones who first arrive at the child development center often suffer from malnutrition. We are working with complementary funds to offer filtered and safe water. Together with the church partners, we talk to government institutions to improve medical care centers, and we keep on teaching Christian values and principles. We are also coordinating scholarships with private technical schools and helping young people to study a technical career such as computing, accounting, etc., or to study a major in college.

We also teach leadership courses to outstanding students. One young man who will complete the program this year faced many troubles as a sponsored child. His father is an alcoholic, and his mother did not want to hear a word about God. But this young man found affection, care and shelter at the center. He had the chance to learn work skills; now he is going to school to study bakery and pastry, and he is also a leader in his church. From being immersed in poverty, he has discovered his great potential, and he now has big dreams. Another young man received a social volunteer entrepreneur honor from the United Nations for organizing teachers to give school tutoring in impoverished parts of Lima.

Children who enjoy a relationship with their sponsors feel the love and care of people who value them and give them dignity and the desire for a different future. Having a sponsor makes children very happy. They think sponsors are relatives who live very far away but send letters that bring them closer. Sponsors’ letters have a high emotional value for children; when they get a letter, they feel they have some physical token from their sponsors. Please write your child as often as you can.

Our partner churches are also ministering to their own communities by creating work opportunities and education and development programs that radically change families’ inappropriate ways of living. Join us in prayer for every church partner that is working hard and doing such an amazing job.

I want to express my gratitude to you for your continued love and support for your sponsored child. Together we can offer the valuable gift of hope to change the lives of the voiceless and suffering ones.

In Jesus Christ,
Cristina Zavala

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Peru, please consider sponsoring

Prayer Requests, Good Posts, and a Few Kids...

Between the rain in South America and the drought in East Africa, I'd like to remind you to please be praying for our sponsored kids in those regions! And if you comment with your child's name, I'll pray for your child in that region too.

As I mentioned before, I get my updated crisis information from Compassion Australia's page. This is what their page shares about Peru from March 30:

On 27 March the north part of Peru suffered another river overflow, this time affecting mainly Piura where we have several child development centres.

The Pedregal Grande district suffered flooding that reached the top of the houses. This area has significant damage and more children are impacted near PE-01585. During the time of the flooding Compassion staff received calls from 2 tutors with 14 children each that were stranded on roofs. They had to wait the whole night to be rescued because the river flow was very high and difficult to access the community. On 28 March the river flow decreased and the children, tutors and the families were successfully evacuated from the area and taken to a safe and dry location. Those families lost at least 80% of their belongings. The community is still flooded and uninhabitable.

Additionally, two more areas in Pozo De Los Ramos and Monte Sullon were flooded. Two annexes of PE-0331 and PE-0584 facilities have been flooded. The children and their families were all evacuated and all the children are alive and healthy. The primary location of PE-0331 was not flooded so they’ve been receiving children from affected areas.

No additional child development centres or children have been reported as affected yet.

Compassion Peru is continuing to provide emergency assistance to the affected families through disaster funding.

We thank God that all children are alive and healthy. Please continue to pray for the safety of our children in all affected areas.

Compassion Peru will keep us updated as more information becomes available.

And last night Compassion shared this blog post: Flooding in Peru...take a minute to learn more!

And about Colombia from April 4:

On 1 April, three rivers near Mocoa in southwest Colombia overflowed, causing flooding and a landslide. Many people are missing and 254 have died. The Colombian government is providing aid. Compassion does not have any partner churches in the affected area.

Please pray for those living in the affected area and for those responding to this emergency.

We also received an email from Compassion USA about the drought. I would appreciate if you would be praying for the kids in East Africa as well:

As you may have heard in the news, East Africa is in the grip of a crippling drought that has left 23 million people in need of aid. Lack of rainfall has sharply curbed harvests and driven up the price of grains and other staple foods to increasingly high levels, leaving the region’s poorest in danger of malnutrition.

Compassion is committed to the long-term care of each child registered in our program. In the coming months, our field staff will guide us as we provide food, water, drought-resistant seeds and support to the families we serve in East Africa.

We ask for your continued prayers in this season. Will you join us today in praying for:
a rainy season that would bring relief to crops and water sources
families who must make the difficult decision to uproot and move to find water
the health of the children we serve, particularly those who are malnourished

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I also recently read two wonderful blog posts and wanted to share them here! The first one is about Ecuador's recovery from the earthquakes last year. It is so encouraging to see the impact Compassion has on a community after a natural disaster, especially as we are watching other countries suffer this year.

Putting life back together after Ecuador's devastating earthquake

And the post Perspectives on India: One Compassion Graduate's Words was encouraging and heartbreaking all in the same moment. I at least encourage you to take 4 minutes to watch this video.


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Finally, Compassion has been adding a lot more children with disabilities, and these two kids caught my eye. I am praying for them to be sponsored soon, and just in case you might be on the search for a new child, please consider one of these two!

Zamary from Mexico just turned 6 on January 25. She lives with her mother and one sibling, and has a chronic illness listed as "other."

Zamary enjoys art/drawing, playing with dolls and learning about God! To sponsor Zamary, click here.

And Elias from Guatemala will be 14 on May 25. He lives with parents and two siblings, and struggles with epilepsy.

Elias enjoys group games, soccer and learning about God! To sponsor Elias, click here.

**All photos are courtesy of Compassion**

Leslie in Peru

My parents began sponsoring Leslie in Peru in 1999, until her graduation from Compassion in 2010!

They received 56 letters from Leslie. Her birthday is September 6. Leslie lived with her parents, Victor and Karina, and two siblings, Abigail and Geraldine.

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Project Info and Activities:

Leslie attended PE-153 near Comas, Lima
* Home to approximately 496,100 residents
* The primary ethnic group is Spanish
* Most commonly spoken language is Spanish
* Most common work is work is day laboring although majority are unemployed
* Average earning is $120 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, beans, fish, bread, plantains, rice, potatoes & chicken
* Common Health Problems: diarrhea, respiratory infections, parasites, cavities, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, HIV/AIDS
* Typical Houses: cement, tin roofs

Center activities: Bible teaching, nutritious meals, health and hygiene education, recreational activities, tutoring, counseling and cultural activities.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: volleyball, playing house, art, singing, telling stories, hide-and-seek, walking, listening to music, math, spaghetti, story of Ruth and Naomi, story of Esther, Matthew 15:6, athletics

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Letter Highlights...

"Let me tell you that Leslie took part in a Festival carried out at our Church and she took part in a parade with her orange t-shirt."

"My sister Abigail was just born, I'm very happy."

"I tell you that my little sister Abigail is already walking. She is one year old. I love her very much."

"My mother had a baby, her name is Geraldine, she is healthy."

"I participated in an Athletics tournament and I won gold medal."

"In the project I am learning Cosmetology and it is very interesting."

"At the project, we made handcrafts; they are also teaching us to play the guitar, to play the keyboard, and singing."

"I'm doing well in the project, recently, I studied the book "building my future," I got new goals. Please pray for me and I will always be praying for you. I say goodbye with a big hug."

My dog is a San Bernardo, his name is Beethoven."

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Artwork

Leslie drew one picture, way back in 1999!

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Extra Photos

Leslie also sent one extra photo when my parents first sponsored her! This was before her sisters, Abigail and Geraldine, arrived.

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Final Letter

"Dear sponsors Bill and Karen,

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I write this letter to thank you for all you have to me: letters, stickers, Christmas gift and overall for the love you gave to me. Well I want to tell you that I keep in a very special place all the letters, stickers and photos you sent me since I was a little girl. You are in a very special place of my heart and I will always remember you in my prayers. I am very sad to say good bye but I will never forget you. I would like that you will have a new sponosred child so that you can help her as you did with me. I thank the Lord for bringing you to my way and for knowing you through photos. I didn't know that time would pass so fast and this moment will arrive, but I hope you never forget me and my family because we love you so much and we will never forget you. Now is time to say good bye with sadness but at the same time with joy because I am sure that you will never forget me and you will pray for me and my family. May God bless you!

Leslie"

And we have some fun news! In 2016, Leslie found me on Facebook! So we've been in touch since then, and it is so encouraging to hear how well she is doing. She has three precious little ones, Frenhely, Hassan and Kamila!

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Bilingual Preschool: Peru

I am over at the Compassion Family blog today, sharing about our adventure learning about Peru!

To read the rest of the post, click here!

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Previous posts for the 2016-2017 preschool year:

Year plan

China

Spain

Tanzania

France

Colombia

Thanksgiving

Ghana

Italy

Thailand

Anthony in Peru

We began corresponding with Anthony in January 2016. I will continue to update this post as we hear from Anthony.

We have received 7 letters while corresponding with Anthony, in addition to one project director's letter, one pastor's letter, and one country director's letter. His birthday is December 5. Anthony lives with his father and mother, and his father works as a fisherman.

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Project Info and Activities:

Anthony attends PE-375 in CP Parachique, Piura

* Home to approximately 8,900 residents
* Most commonly spoken language is Spanish
* Most common work is day laboring or factory work
* Average earning is $133 a month
* Regional Diet: beans, bananas, chicken, fish, bread, cassava, beef, rice & potatoes
* Common Health Problems: bronchitis, acute respiratory diseases, diarrhea, arthritis
* Typical Houses: dirt floors, cement walls, corrugated iron roofs

Center Activities: Bible teaching, medical checkups, nutritious meals, hygiene and nutrition eduction, community service opportunities, special celebrations, homework help and academic reinforcement.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: group games, soccer/football, art/drawing, other ball games

* Dreams: to visit the jungle

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Letter Highlights...

"I get along with my friend, but I think it's difficult to forgive those who harm to others. I always ask for forgiveness."

"I like the story of the shepherd and his 100 sheep. It's a nice story and it has many teachings like the love of God."

"[M]y favorite subject is math because I can play with the numbers and I have a lot of fun."

"I have two best friends, Mario and Christian, they are fun and I love my friends. They help me...I'm on summer break in every Sunday I go to the beach with my family because it's very hot."

"[W]hen God talks about the future and hope means that He will give us a better life and in Him we can wait with confidence, it's a beautiful hope to know that in heaven there will be no suffer."

"My favorite thing is what I'm taught in Math and Art classes. At school, I'm taught English. I'm doing very well with my studies in school, my favorite thing about school is playing soccer...I want to tell you that I'm in a soccer academy and we train from Monday to Friday, sometimes from Tuesdays to Fridays. We are going out to play to other places because we are participating in a soccer championship. I'm doing well in the training."

"The church has evangelistic campaigns, and I participate in the classes. Where I live, there are sea lions."

"I play as left midfield player...I tell you that there was a summer activity with the teenagers and we went to the beach, we had a great time."

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Abel in Peru

We began corresponding with Abel in July 2014. I will continue to update this post as we hear from Abel.

We have received 17 letters, one project director's letter, one one pastor's letter, and one country director's letter while corresponding with Abel. His birthday is October 14. Phalan lives with his father and mother, Victor and Maria. His father is a farmer and Abel has one brother, Jairo.

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Project Info and Activities:

Abel attends PE-552 in Pachachupan Town, Huánuco
* Home to approximately 26,300 residents
* Most commonly spoken language is Spanish
* Most common work is work is subsistence farming
* Average earning is $56 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, beans, chicken, beef & potatoes
* Common Health Problems: tuberculosis, malnutrition, anemia, pneumonia, parasites
* Typical Houses: dirt floors, mud walls, tin roofs

Center activities: Bible teaching, medical checkups, games, hygiene and health education, birthday celebrations, tutoring, homework help and academic reinforcement.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: cars, art/drawing, drawing & painting class, communication, art, spring season, making beds, science, praying and field trips (at the project), playing with marbles, learning about the life of Jesus, washing plates, going to the countryside with his family, nature science

* Dreams: become a police officer

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Letter Highlights...

"He is happy because Christmas is getting close during which he gets to eat fruitcake."

"He really likes all the stories you sent and he's very happy to meet Juanito and Rosie."

"I have a folder with all your pretty letters. I thank you for your gifts."

"I thank you for the cards that you sent, I like them and thanks for writing to me. Sponsor, I want to tell you that I like coming to the Student Center to learn the Word of God and to play with my friends."

"I want to tell you that my favorite subject is nature science and for that reason I like to study nature. Do you like the nature?"

"Let me tell you that I attend the project and my favorite subject is Math. How many kids do you have? What is your mother's name?"

"I play with my parents, my hula hoop, teddy and my marbles... I play soccer with my friends at the Acomayo Beach and play with marbles."

"Sponsor, I want to apologize because I don't remember the commandments, but I obey my parents... My tutor talked to me about Adam and Eve and that they disobey God. Every bad thing is bad to God."

"Thank God I am fine, one day I stopped to stare at the sky and it was beautiful! At school I am doing well, my favorite subject is Math."

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Artwork

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Gifts & Visits

We were able to send Abel a gift in 2015 of washcloth and soap, toothbrush, matchbox cars, gloves, socks, crayons, card game, and bouncy ball!

And in 2016, he received a gift from his financial sponsor and was able to buy clothes and toys.

In 2017, his sponsor sent gift money and Abel was able to buy a pair of pants and a shirt:

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Extra Photos

Peru has a sponsor week every year and sent us a cute card in 2016 with a photo of Abel!

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Nelci in Peru

My parents began sponsoring Nelci in 2009 and continued to sponsor her until January 2017.

Due to the fact that my parents' receive the letters, I am not sure how many letters we have received from Nelci, but I do have a copy of the pastor's letter! Her birthday is October 11. Nelci lives with her parents and three siblings, a sister, Kardina, and two brothers, Hugo and Mariano.

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Project Info and Activities:

Nelci attends PE-511 in Chongoyape, Chiclayo

* Home to approximately 18,400 residents
* Most commonly spoken language is Spanish
* Most common work is work is plantation work
* Average earning is $173 a month
* Regional Diet: beans, fish, rice & potatoes
* Common Health Problems: respiratory infections, intestinal parasites, anemia, malnutrition, bronchitis, dengue, arthritis, diarrhea
* Typical Houses: dirt floors, mud walls, tin roofs

Center Activities: Bible teaching, health and hygiene education, medical checkups, sports, birthday celebrations, tutoring and academic reinforcement.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: dolls, group games, hide-and-seek, tangerines (without seeds), computing

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Letter Highlights...

"I like fruits, especially tangerines without seeds and very orange."

"I knew it [kangaroo] had a pouch in front of it and it is very beautiful when it carries its baby. I would like to know about the life of the polar bear."

"My family and I are attending church and we are learning many nice things about Jesus."

"For me, being patient means to be quiet when you face difficult times but it is hard for me to wait without complaining."

"The lesson you share with me is beautiful...thank you so much for the things you share with me and send me. They are beautiful. I love you so much."

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Artwork

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Gifts

In 2015, we were able to send Nelci a small pencil case filed with gifts! Nelci responded by saying, "Thanks for the presents I got and for the other things."

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Project Director's Letter: Peru (PE-375)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Anthony's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Peru Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsor,

We greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; wishing many blessings over your life. My name is Miguel L. C., Director at the A Hope To Live Student Center at the Church of the Nazarene located in the community of Parachique, province of Sechura, departament of Piura, Peru.

We express you our sincere thankfulness for showing your love through sponsoring your child. Sponsors allow us to reach the lives of many children by helping them release them from physical and spiritual poverty. The partnership we have is a blessing because it has allowed us to bring hope to each one of our children through Jesus.

Our village of Parachique, has about 13 thousand people. Our center serves 298 children, who have been divided into two groups so that we could give them a better care. Our children not only attend our Student Center, but also on Sundays, they attend Sunday school at our church.

For us, it is a joy to work with our children. We've been doing this for eight years and we have had a team of proactive volunteers, who work hard each day to help our children to develop in a holistic way. Our goal is to be able to see our children grow and develop in the four areas of development: Spiritual, through the knowledge of the Word of God so that they could accept our Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior and have communion with Him and are heirs of God’s promises. Cognitive, teaching them through readers plans to enrich their minds, helping them to do their homework and others. Socio-emotional, we help the children through activities and interactive games to develop healthy behaviors within their social environment lessons. Physical, to offer them healthy food, medical checkups and encourage them to participate in sport activities.

One boy came to our program with great spiritual and physical need, but during his four years in the program, he has grown up, leaving his limitations and now he is a self-confident child. He enjoys reading the Bible, prayer and the most beautiful thing is to see how he, at his young age, could influence his family with good habits acquired in the program. They are now Christians.

We also want to mention that ninety older teenagers have developed skills such as silk-screening. They are already printing on their own t-shirts, calendars and other items. They also attend youth services every Saturday at our church. One of our older girls entered and won a scholarship contest. The Peruvian state is going to cover all the expenses of her studies in Architecture. It is wonderful to see how our children are being mightily blessed by our Lord Jesus.

Our program has been blessed with the visit of four sponsor tours during the year. Our children were thrilled with these visits. For them, it is a dream come true to be in contact with their sponsors through groups visiting us; and even through the letters they receive. This allows them to have a lively and fluid communication that makes our children to value and estimate their beloved sponsors.

We are very thankful to our Heavenly Father for your life. Please, pray that the time we spend in this ministry won't be in vain and that together with you and God's help, we can release our children from poverty so that they could become mature and responsible Christian adults.

We will be praying for you that the Lord will give you peace and shower with His blessings your life, your family, and everything you do. May God in His endless grace continue using us in the same spirit to spread His kingdom in this area! Thank you for sponsoring your child.

Sincerely,
Miguel L. C.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Peru, please consider handsome 17-year-old Sergio. His birthday is February 12 and he attends PE-321, the same project as our Juan!!

Sergio lives with his father and his mother. At home, duties include making beds, running errands and cleaning. His father is sometimes employed as a laborer and his mother maintains the home. There are 4 children in the family.

As part of Compassion's ministry, Sergio participates in Bible class. He is also in high school where his performance is average. Basketball, art and bicycling are his favorite activities. To sponsor Sergio, click here.

Juan in Peru

My parents began sponsoring Juan in October 2014. We have the privilege of corresponding with him! I will continue to update this post as we hear from him. Juan is an incredible correspondent!

Due to the fact that my parents' receive the letters, I am not sure how many letters we have received from Juan, but I do have a copy of one pastor's letter and one country director's letter! His birthday is June 4. Juan lives with his mother, Aurora, and his stepfather, Antonio, who is a fisherman. He has two stepbrothers, Antonio and Matias, and one stepsister, Leslie!

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Project Info and Activities:

Juan attends PE-321 in Miraflores Alto, Chimbote

* Home to approximately 430,900 residents
* Most commonly spoken language is Spanish
* Most common work is work is fishing, although the majority is unemployed
* Average earning is $130 a month
* Regional Diet: fish, plantains, beans, chicken, bread, beef, rice & potatoes
* Common Health Problems: colds, fever, infections
* Typical Houses: cement

Center activities: Bible teaching, medical checkups, hemoglobin screenings, sports, field trips, special celebrations, skills workshops and academic support.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: soccer/football, running, aji de gallina (dish), Barcelona, center midfield, track & field, Spiderman

* Studying computer science and informatics, plans to study systems engineering

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Letter Highlights...

"My plans for the future are to finish my career and then become a professional to help my family financially."

"You told me Hannah is your daughter. She writes me many beautiful letters. Thank you for all her letters and for how much you love me. I say goodbye thanking you for your letters and for sharing with me the things you like and do."

"When I was little, I wanted to be a superhero to defend justice. I was Ironman."

"I am moved by the prayer you did for me asking God to give me success in my studies. Thank you very much, my friend Hannah. I feel your appreciation, love and consideration for me. It is my desire that God may continue blessing you in everything you do and that He may fulfill the desires of your heart. Pray for me and my family as I will pray for you. I say goodbye with a big hug. I want to share with you a Bible verse in Isaiah 41:10. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

"It's a beautiful hope to know that God brought us into his Kingdom where there is no death, troubles, tears or pain."

"I think it's great that you're going to have a baby boy; Jose D. is a beautiful name."

"By the way, I like to follow the rules and commandments, especially when they come from God or my parents. When you follow them, you are obedient and responsible, in fact, in every classroom, we have our own rules and also my parents taught my brother and me to be good children since we were kids. Thanks for sharing with me the 10 commandments, it is beautiful to follow them and be in God's grace."

"[M]y family is Christians and we always share our knowledge with people who don't know about God to let them know God is great and love us very much."

"I love to know animals; I'd like to know more about sea-horse...Did you know he is an hermaphroditic animal and the male gives birth instead of female? I like and I love the power of God to create nice and beautiful creatures like animals."

"I was named after my grandpa "Juan Carlos" and the prophet John in the bible. My second name is Daniel because of my dad "Dany" and the prophet Daniel. Thank you for sharing the means of your children's names and for telling me that Juan means "Jehovah is merciful" and that Daniel means "God is my judge.""

"As you know God is so merciful that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for us."

"I'm doing well in school. I'm the best student in the program of heavy machinery. In May I will study graphic design; with God's help I will get good grades."

"I hope that everything goes well for Juanito and his class. Congratulations to him for his 5th birthday; to Rosie for her 3rd birthday, and Jose for his 1st birthday. Happy birthday to you all! May God bless you in every moment. May you obey your parents and be good children. You are very dear to me."

"It makes me happy to know that you accepted Christ since you were little and that God could change and transform Eric's life, hosanna to the King of kings. God is good forever and because of his mercy, he could change my life again. I'm a newborn in Christ. I was drifting away, but God is good and lovely, if you call him, he will answer us, glory to God."

"Happy birthday Juanito, Rosie and Jose, may God bless you in each moment, I'm praying for you so that God will give you strength and intelligence for your studies. God is a great, marvelous, lovely, kind, good and generous God, he is my holy Father. I thank for everything you did for me and I'll always be grateful and I'll worship him until I die."

"I don't have a garden, but I would like to have one. I only have a pair of plants, pine and rose...Thank you for that great gesture of putting my picture next to your Bible; I feel blessed."

"I want to tell you that I will meet my grandpa for the first time today; he is my dad's father. I know that God is going to bless me with that encounter. I also want to tell you that I am going to work as sheets mechanic in A. I know that God is blessing me and I am very grateful for this. I say goodbye and I pray for God to pour many blessings on you."

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Artwork

Juan doesn't typically send drawings, but he did include this great drawing in his first letter!

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Recipes

"A dish that is very popular among Peruvians is ceviche. The ingredients include: fish, onions, lemons, cilantro, hot peppers, "cancha", husked wheat, sweet potatoes, corn, pepper, salt, garlic and spices. First cut the fish into small pieces and then season it with salt, lemon and pepper. then you cut up onions and mix it with the fish. You add a little salt and hot pepper. After that you fry "cancha" and then add boiled sweet potatoes, husked wheat, and boiled corn. That's it. I hope you get to make it and that you like it.

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Gifts

We were able to send Juan gifts in 2015 and then we received this great thank-you photo along with a sweet letter where Juan shared, "I got a black sweatshirt of Barcelona. I like it a lot. It is my favorite club and I am wearing it every day. I feel very blessed."

And then he thanked my parents for the balloons (my mum sent two big punching balloons): "Thanks for the balloons. I got one blue and the other red, and they are very funny. You can see them in my room." He also enjoyed the multitool my parents sent! In closing he shared, "I feel very blessed and thankful for these things."

In 2016 my parents sent him a birthday gift and Juan bought two t-shirts with the birthday money. Here is his photo with the gifts!

My parents sent Juan a gift in 2017 due to his family being affected by the flooding in Peru. Juan shared, "It's good the rains have stopped. There were natural disasters in several cities and regions of Peru. Many lost everything and were left homeless because of the rains and landslides. Houses like mine, with an Eternit roof, fell down. The tv, mattresses and machines are broken. I ask you to pray for those who lost everything; so that God supplies for them. 3 million lost their homes, families, jobs, etc...I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the gift of 61 soles and the family gift of 116 soles. I bought a nice hoodie as my birthday gift. I bought supplies for my home and a mattress. The one I had was damaged by the rains. I'm attaching a picture of the gift. God bless you."

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Project Director's Letter: Peru (PE-552)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Abel's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Peru Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsor,

I greet you in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

I am Austo A. B., Project Director of the CDC [PE-552] at CMA church. We are located in Pachachupan town, in Huanuco region, Peru, where your sponsored child attends. Thank you for sponsoring your child.

We are thankful for the support given to our children through sponsorship since it is a blessing for the children and their families.

I want to tell you briefly about one case of many which makes us happy. It is the girl who is 7 years old. She was very naughty in the beginning and her attendance to the program was irregular. She showed little interest in the teachings of the tutor but over time her behavior has changed. Now she is a girl who wants to learn and she is totally integrated to the program. She likes to participate in the activities especially with the Bible verses. We can see that she has grown spiritually and she trust God. She is doing better in the physical and socio-emotional areas. Her tutor of course is very thankful to God for everything that is happening in the life of this little girl and in other boys and girls.

We are thankful for the Complementary Intervention (CIV) funds for Bibles and dental care. It has been a big blessing to our children because there is lack of dental care in our area and their parents were very happy. They can't afford dental care for their children.

Every letter is keenly awaited and children get letters with joy. They don't wait but read the letter very soon and they find stickers, cards or photos which impact them because they can feel the sponsors love and affection for them. They feel very special. We also have sad children because they don't get a letter. We have some activities to explain them that although they don't get letters they are loved and we are very thankful for sponsor commitment.

I am director less than a year but I am thankful to God and sponsors for inspiring me to keep working for the good of the program. I am filled with happiness and satisfaction to see the joy in the faces of the boys and girls of every level when they play, study and learn.

With much respect I should report that the program is working in this area considered with extreme poverty in the map of my country so please sponsor keep praying to our Almighty God for this program, for the community and the church. May God bless them and their family! May God bless their work and spiritual life!

Thank you again for sponsoring your child.

Sincerely,
Austo A. B.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Peru, please consider sponsoring little Shirley, who attends this project, PE-552! Shirley will turn 5 on June 21.

Shirley makes her home with her mother. Running errands is her household duty. Her mother is sometimes employed as a farmer.

Shirley is not presently attending school. Playing ball games and playing group games are her favorite activities. She also attends church activities regularly. To sponsor Shirley, click here.

Pastor's Letter: Peru (PE-552)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Abel's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Peru Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsors,

It is a real joy to be able to greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, whom we serve. I am Abdon C. R. I am the pastor of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church where the Child Development Center called "Consolidation of the Child" ministers to Aquiles your sponsored child. The centeris located in the region of Huanuco in Peru. As the pastor of the program, I am deeply thankful for your unconditional support towards your child.

The community where the children live is affected by poverty. It lacks basic services, such as running water and drainage, which creates health issues like stomach and skin diseases. The educational level is lower than in the urban areas. Dysfunctional homes are common, and therefore, we see the lack of love, which creates self-esteem issues. Family violence also abounds and deeply affects the children. Many of the children and teenagers work, and the teenagers go to other towns to get job opportunities. Children need education in order to get out of poverty. They need to cultivate values and develop their spiritual life. They need to learn how to interact with their peers, their parents, and the society properly.

In the sixteen months that the center has been in operation, the presence of the children has changed the church. The most important thing is that the community sees the work of the church with good eyes. At the beginning, there was uncertainty and disbelief. Our team has learned the value of working for the benefit of the children, and they have learned how important these children are in God's eyes. The children learn about values, personal relationships, and healthy habits. When we see them in the neighborhood, they greet us with a smile and a hug. When they first came to the program, many of the children were shy and distrustful. Now they run with joy around the church.

During the first half hour they are at the center, they enjoy playing games while the other children arrive. After a devotion time, each group stays with its tutor. Some of them get reinforcement classes with a teacher, and others do their school homework. Then they wash their hands and enjoy their meal. After brushing their teeth, they learn their lessons from the Learning for Life curriculum according to their level, and each class has an evaluation. These activities change according to the day and the age because they also play games. The children get more excited when they play and eat because they get to socialize with other children. Many of them had medical and dental checkups for the first time. They were fearful at first, but the incentives, like toiletries and toys, cheered them right up. The field trips, the games, sports, camp, and receiving Christmas gifts brought them great joy.

The children want to know their sponsors. They have identified their sponsors' nationality and they have found where they are located in a map. They have also identified their flags. The children pray for their sponsors. Our children are excited to know that they have sponsors who pray for them, care for them, and write them. They often wonder if their sponsor has sent them a letter. We are confident that knowing their sponsors care for them encourages the children, so please keep in touch. We will make sure you receive a letter back from your child.

Please pray for this ministry, the children, their parents, and the volunteer staff. Pray that the children will know the saving love of God. We thank the Lord and you for your sponsorship and contribution for your child.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Abdon C. R.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Peru, please consider handsome Bryan who will turn 20 on October 3.

Bryan lives with his mother. At home, duties include cleaning. His mother is sometimes employed. There are 5 children in the family.

Bryan is not presently attending school. Soccer is his favorite activity. He also attends youth group regularly. To sponsor Bryan, click here.

Pastor's Letter: Peru (PE-375)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Anthony's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Peru Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsors,

I am Pastor Gino P. S. from the Nazarene Church [PE-375] and also the associated Child Development Center where we minister to your sponsored child.

I want to thank you for your volunteer sponsorship to your child. You are an incredible blessing.

Currently, our community faces many, many problems associated with extreme poverty. There are no facilities, no sewage systems, no running water, no healthcare, no jobs, and no education, and little food and water. This greatly impacts the children. They have the most needs. Despite all their needs, the program is changing our community, staff, and children, and has allowed sponsored children to feel valuable and loved. With God’s help and your support, we give them the best. They are being transformed.

As a church and the Center, we have a clear vision to plant God’s Word to children at a very early age. Through classes and home visits, we reach their parents and share with them what their children are learning and also talking to them about God’s love. We have had positive results and we are improving in our work to favor children and their families. They feel safe and supported by the care we show to them in the home visits. If we continue this way, I know many families of our community will be changed and won for Christ, and that is our main purpose.

Communication is very important for the program and for the development of the children. The children are so excited to receive the letters. They see their sponsors as great friends and family and they show their gratitude. The letters make them feel loved and cared for. They are encouraged and want to share their lives and progress with their sponsors. It is very important for you to communicate with your child in this way and send letters. It is also every child's dream to meet their sponsor in person someday.

Before finishing this letter, I would like to ask for your prayers for our town and children. Thank you for all that you do.

Be blessed,
Pastor Gino P. S.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Peru, please consider 6-year-old Jeferson who has been waiting over 315 days for a sponsor.

Jeferson's birthday is January 29. Jeferson lives with his parents and one sibling. He enjoys playing with cars and hide-and-seek. To sponsor Jeferson, click here.