Photos from Compassion Project

Photo at left, Dany's Compassion Project Director, me, Dany, and Dany's Father.

I was eagerly shown around the project, and Dany personally showed me some of his work. The staff also showed me the meticulous records they kept there for each sponsored child, including all the payments and gifts received from each sponsor for each child (dates, amounts received, etc.).

Photos shown at right... Dany's pastor at the Project, and windows inside the church. The pastor was very warm and welcoming, and kept thanking me for coming and for all my help through Compassion International. I was very touched by his insistence that my contributions make such a big difference for Dany, and that he and Dany will continue to pray for me and my family, too.

This is such a worthy project. When we drove through the village, I saw how so many of the children of the local families dressed, and how terribly poor they were. Dany definitely has some advantages over them because of Compassion, but not so much that he stands out from the other kids or appears to be more "wealthy." I mention this because it is a concern of many that these sorts of organizations may actually do more harm than good, with the effect of making the children appear "better off" than others, causing them to be ostricized or even attacked out of jealousy. But they are actually not really given much in the way of material benefits, so much as opportunities to better themselves. Through Compassion, the children in the project are given lots of encouragement with their studies, nutritious meals at the project, medical attention as needed, and their entire families are instructed in nutritional care and the importance of good hygiene for optimal health. And of course, the spiritual guidance is central to everything.

It all really does make a difference for the children. While the families maintain their pride and strong work ethics, they also can share in a joyful hope for their children's futures, knowing they will have wonderful opportunities that were never made available to them. Most people aren't aware than Compassion is committed to continue to help these kids as they grow up and outgrow the benefits of sponsorship. Compassion encourages and helps them continue on to college, to grow in ways that they can eventually find ways to give back even more to their own communities and the people and culture that nurtured them in their childhood.

I asked Dany what he wants to be when he grows up. Through the interpreter, he smiled shyly and said that he wants to be a musician and a doctor! He went on to explain that he wanted to be a musician because he loves music, but that he also sees so many people hurting and sick in the world that he wishes he could help. Such a sweet boy -- I was moved almost to tears again! He then added that, when he's grown up, he wants to go to college in the United States. I asked Byron to tell Dany that we have two universities near us (MTU about 30 miles away, and NMU about 100 miles away), and that if Dany should decide to attend either of these, he was welcomed to live with us while in school. When Byron translated, Dany and his father smiled and thanked me, and Dany's father enthusiastically took Dany's hand and raised it up in the air in sort of cheering motion, sharing some encouraging words with Dany. Byron looked at me and said, "They are very happy!"

Dany is such a good looking young boy, too. When he's a little unsure of what's going on, he looks a bit scared or worried. But when he smiles, his face lights up and he melts your heart! He was pretty shy with me at times. Then he would start to feel comfortable and laugh and even hold my hand. But then he would suddenly again feel shy and uncertain about how to relate to me. I'm sure it must be VERY awkward for him! In his previous letters to me, he'd tell me that I was like a second mother to him, that he couldn't wait to meet me, that he planned to give me a big hug when he finally saw me face-to-face, and so on. But when I finally came to his country, I think his enthusiasm was stifled by his natural childlike fears of the unknown, the language and cultural differences, and the overwhelming emotions being expressed by all involved. I'm sure, too, that he was experiencing all sorts of emotions of his own that he's still trying to understand!