DR day 1

I wasn't sure what to expect when we headed out to visit the first Compassion project.  It was quickly apparent that in the eyes of these children, we were one step below rock stars or celebrities.  Around each corner and in every window you could see little faces peeking out, big smiles on faces, just waiting to greet us with a wave or an "hola!" 

We were able to visit the children in their classrooms to observe what happens on a typical day in the project.  The kids had prepared some songs for us and sang with their entire hearts!  We were able to ask questions and take pictures. 

The outside of the church associated with the Compassion project

 Two beautiful faces ~ they loved having their picture taken and then seeing it on the camera! 

The children answering our questions in one of the classrooms

After spending some time in the classrooms and serving the kids their lunch we all moved into the church for a  worship service and then watched as the children performed their songs and dances that they prepared for us.  This is also when we were able to give the kids stickers, candy, pencils, etc.  They loved the small gifts, but most of all just wanted to sit close to us, have us put our arms around them, hug them tight or to sit on our laps. 

 This precious little girl is in the Child Survival Program, which is a program Compassion sponsors to teach mothers how to properly care for their young children. 

 Some of the Compassion sponsors challenging some of the older project students to a game of basketball.

 My dad with one of his new friends! 

 After our time in the church was up we had the honor of visiting one of the homes of a project student.  This home is typical of the housing that all of the Compassion project students live in.  It was incredibly hard to witness the living conditions of these people, but it quickly became very apparent that although they have extremely little materialistically, they have all they need in hope and faith.  All of us that visited that home that day left humbled and broken and in awe of what these people were teaching us.  There are 7 people that live in this home.  Three of the five children are part of the Compassion program.  The father works occasionally as a construction worker/handyman, but work is very sporadic.  The family never knows when their next meal will come, but are thankful that their 3 children in the sponsor program get fed every day.  The oldest child not in the program) has a medical condition that has left him nearly blind and could probably be reversed or corrected with medical intervention, but the family cannot afford those services. 

 The emotions of the day hit us all very hard.  We were privileged to pray for the family with them before we left and they were incredibly thankful.