David ~ LDP student in Peru

The one and only LDP correspondent I've had the privilege of writing to was David in Peru. David is an incredible young man who loves the Lord with his whole heart. I definitely feel like I got the better end of this deal in this arrangement...read on and you'll see why I say that.

DAVID

We received our first letter from David in October of 2009 (when he was 21 years old) and our final letter in August of 2012. During the 3 years that we corresponded, we received a total of 32 letters. He was a seriously good letter writer! I also had the opportunity to meet David in August of 2010.

David was studying electronic engineering at Callo National University in Lima, Peru. He and his family were very active in their church, Assemblies of God of Peru. His father, Samuel, was a teacher, his mother, Emerita, was a deacon of treasury, his older sister, Noemi, worked with the youth, and David played keyboard and drums.

"It is a great joy for me because all my family is serving God." 

"These past years God has given me the opportunity to serve Him through music. I do not know if I am talented, but when I praise Him and worship Him through music, it is such a beautiful time for me that I forget about everything else and the only thing I do is to express my gratitude to Him through each rhythm, note and melody. I have the privilege to be learning how to play the drums and keyboard since I left high school (about 5 years ago) and I continue learning. And, I serve God with these instruments in my local church."

Miscellaneous info:

• Received a study Bible from Compassion
• May of 2010 - visited by Wess Stafford - "All the staff of Compassion Peru was truly blessed but I believe that this visit had a major impact on the LDP students as we could see what a humble and wonderful leader this man is. I had the opportunity to minister during the worship time by playing keyboards. I had to rehearse with the LDP students for this day. The day of Wess' visit I was nervous but then I felt good and enjoyed this visit."
• had a brother who passed away when he was only one month old - their house was made of mat and the cold weather caused his death
• June 2011 - mom finished high school! She finished a ministry formation program (pastoral theology) and started Bible seminary.
• Sister, Noemi, studied agroindustrial engineering - she was also sponsored through Compassion
• July 2011 - mom formed a group of musicians who went on a mission trip to the province of Cajamarca
• Learning English was his biggest personal challenge
• January 2012 - participated in LDP bus evangelism outreach - they presented themselves as university students, telling others that it is through God they are reading their dreams. This was well-received and caught a lot of attention as evangelism among university students is rare in Peru. (it is usually done by the less educated)
• Summer 2012 (January - March ) - summer music workshop at church. David had 5 students in his drum class. 
• March 2012 - helped do home visits for prospective LDP students in Compassion. This reminded David to never forget where he and his family came from. 
• June 2012 - began working for Partner of IBM and Cisco
• Used the final birthday gift we sent him to buy gifts for his family - shoes, pajamas and shampoo for his mother, pants and deodorant for his father, shoes and pajamas for his aunt and a backpack and USB for himself for work.
• signed many letters with "I send you a strong hug."

Some letter highlights following our meeting....

"My mother is so thankful to God that she could meet you. My mother and I will never forget August 25th. It has been a very special day in our lives filled with blessings and joy." 

"I had the privilege to meet Jill. I will never forget these two days I spent with her. They have changed my life. I met a true servant who reflects much love. I have seen God's great love in her life. Dear Jill, thank you for your words and for taking your time to come to Peru to meet Jazmin and me. You are a very kind and cheerful woman and you are one of those few people who cause a great impact on others. Perhaps I did not tell you this because I was too excited. I know God let us meet so we can learn new things from each other. Now I feel I love you and your family more and I appreciate your support. I thank God for this beautiful experience, for this unforgettable day in my life. God has spoken to me through Jill and not only through her words but also through the things I could see and feel."

We received the following info:

• LDP country profile
• LDP university profile
• LDP annual update
• LDP new student profile
• LDP new student testimony (questions and answers below)

How did you come to accept Christ as your personal Savior?
I learned about God's Word in Sunday school when I was very little. When I was about 8 years old, I went to a children's festival called, Festninos, where we were taught about God's Word. Our teacher, Isabel, encouraged us to ask Christ into our hearts. We were invited to go to the altar to receive Christ and I did. That day was very beautiful because that was when I really started to understand God's love. I remember my teacher with love because she was a very special person to me because she was nice to us all.

What impact did Compassion have on your personal and spiritual development?
Compassion influenced me a lot. They helped me financially by giving me food every day that I attended the child development center. I learned more about God and what He is like. I also took Bible lessons. I learned how to behave properly and many other things that are useful to me now because what I learned still remains in my heart. I remember one day my center took us to the movies to see a film about abortion. When I saw this film, I was shocked about how abortion is done and understood why God prohibited it. Another special moment I had at the child development center was my graduation from Compassion. An LDP student told us about his experience as part of this program and how it had blessed him by preparing him to be a leader. I was overwhelmed with what I heard and since that moment, I have wanted to be part of this program. There was a special person for me at the center, sister Abelia, who is the current director. She encouraged me to study to make a difference among other people in the future. 

Who has had the most influence on your life and why?
My parents influenced me because every day, they have guided me and advised me not to do things that I might regret later. They gave me their love and a good education despite their limited financial resources. They avoided spending money on other things so they could pay for my education. They have always advised me to make good decisions and to progress in life. 


I've written many other posts I've about David...

• David's Family and Compassion
• David's LDP Graduation
• David's Shoebox from Operation Christmas Child
• Christmas Letter highlights
• Sponsor Fun Day in Peru 
• David's Mother

We never received and official last letter, but I certainly don't feel slighted when it comes to receiving communication from David. Since his graduation and departure, we have communicated through email and google chats, although our correspondence has diminished greatly. Corresponding with and meeting David is definitely a highlight of my Compassion experience.

Cilia ~ Our LDP student in Honduras

After a disappointing first attempt at sponsoring an LDP student, we began sponsoring Cilia in early 2011. We received a profile for Cilia from Compassion and felt led to sponsor her for two reasons.

1. My husband had just gone to Honduras with a medical mission team
2. She was studying Chemisty and Pharmacy - my husband's field.

We received 10 letters over the 2 1/2 years we sponsored Cilia, as well as an overview of LDP in Honduras with many photos. Cilia was 18 years old when we first sponsored her, but her Compassion story goes back to when she was 6 and first enrolled in the CDSP. She had two sponsors, the second of which wrote to her often and even traveled to meet her.

Almost every letter had a new photo - often printed right onto the letter as seen below.

We received the following info:

• LDP country profile
• LDP university profile
• LDP annual update
• LDP new student profile
• LDP new student testimony (questions and answers below)

How did you come to accept Christ as your personal Savior?

One day at the child development center, my tutor was praying and she made a call to get saved. At the time (I was 15), God came into my life and I started to feel the anointing. Then I started to cry and feel God's presence.

How has God specifically used Compassion to share who you are today?

God has used Compassion in a great way. It has the greatest blessing for me because they are teaching us to become spiritual leaders in character and example for others. I am also learning to stay away from bad things and get closer to God. 

Who has had the most influence on your life and why?

God and my parents have been helping me walk on the right path. The child development center is teaching me what is right. Lastly my tutor has been leading me to make the best decision for my life and accept God as my Lord and Savior.

Miscellaneous info from the letters and profiles:

• Mother is Elvia and Father is Joaquin - Cilia is the youngest of 8 children (4 boys and 4 girls)
• Father suffered several stroks and a heart attack - was very sick and bedridden
• lived in a neighborhood with crime and risk of landslides
• served in children's ministry (ages 6-8)
• participated in dance ministry
• used birthday $ to pay for Rock or Sand camp and buy new coat
• attended LDP community service events
• switched from chemistry/pharmacy to psychology

Sadly, Cilia was victim of abuse by a gang member at one point. With Compassion's help, she was relocated to a LDP home with three other ladies for 6 months. It was in a different part of the city and it was very difficult for her to be away from her family. Her father was very sick at times (bedridden) and Cilia helped her mother with his care. 

After regular communication from Cilia for 1 1/2 years, a whole year went by without us receiving any letters. In January 2014 we received notice of Cilia's early departure from Compassion. Cilia had dropped out of school and was no longer fulfilling her requirements to remain in the LDP program.

from the departure letter....

It's hard for me to bring sad news; we in Compassion thank you for your faithfulness in making possible that Cilia had this development opportunity. Due to your support Cilia was provided with many different benefits in her spiritual, health, academic, social and leadership areas, such as Bible, counseling, mission outreaches, medical treatment for her and her parent, meals, tuition, books, tutoring, uniforms, school supplies, access for internet, monthly extra funds to support her family needs, funds from the highly vulnerable children strategy in order to supply family immediate needs, relocation for several months as a support during a lot of insecurity period in her neighborhood, participation in seminars, conferences and trainings, community service projects, opportunities for leadership experience, etc. 

more pics of LDP students in Honduras

Leadership Development Program

Compassion's LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

educating, training and discipling future leaders

Compassion's LDP program identifies students from the CDSP who have exceptional academic and Christian leadership potential. The students receive higher education as well as training and discipleship to become the Christian leaders of the future. These remarkable young men and women will likely transform and influence their families, churches, communities and nation. 

I have had the opportunity to meet several LDP students and graduates and they truly are remarkable young men and women. Having been released from poverty, they are to make a difference in the world. 

with David in Peru

To learn more about Compassion's Leadership Development Program go HERE.

For $300 a month you can sponsor your own LDP student. To view profiles of young men and women waiting for a sponsor VISIT HERE. When you sponsor an LDP student, you are individually linked to that student and invited to develop a relationship through letters.

Mail Call Monday - LDP Graduation photos from Peru!

A little more than a week ago I was overjoyed to receive an email from David, our LDP student in Peru. Because he has completed the program and graduated, we were able to release our personal contact information to him, and he emailed us.

He wrote to us on Friday, October 26 - the day of his Compassion LDP graduation. I could tell from his letter that he was very excited and looking forward to the event.

I wrote back a couple days later, not sure how long it would take him to respond.

I didn't have to wait long.

He wrote again today, this time including many photos from the graduation ceremony and another of him playing drums at the most recent LDP camp.

This is the same David I referred to in my shoebox post. He's all grown up and ready to face the world!

Would you join me in saying a prayer for this extraordinary young man and for the future that lies ahead of him?

I'm linking up with Michelle at Blogging From the Boonies.

Key Accomplishments of Formerly Sponsored Children

Did you know?

• In 2009, former Compassion-sponsored child Yoseline Gomez was sworn in as a supreme court justice in the Dominican Republic

• In May 2011,  former Compassion-sponsored child and Leadership Development student Margaret Makokha was sworn in to Uganda's parliament.

You can read more about Margaret HERE and HERE

• In June 2011,  former Compassion-sponsored child Beguens Theus was sworn in to the National Assembly of Haiti.

Mail Call Monday

I've had quite a letter drought these past couple weeks, but was blessed to receive two letters from David in Peru last week.

I've shared so much about this remarkable young man already, and his new letters contained some inspiration, encouragement and insight that I wanted to pass on to you.

from the first letter....
I feel very happy that part of my story in Compassion can help to encourage other sponsors. Just let them know that sponsoring a child is giving them and their whole family a light of hope in the middle of poverty, focused on our Lord Jesus who blesses us with His love to bless others.


and the second letter...
During these months God has been good to me. I was able to strengthen my spiritual life. I had a time with God, and I could hear His Word in every place I have been in; in my church, in my house, in the LDP workshop, through TV, internet and my devotionals. I was able to share nice moments with my LDP friends in every activity we had like the workshops, camp, fast. We could share our experiences, laugh, pray for each other and above all, we could strengthen our friendship.


I thank God because I could finish my university studies. It is the first step of this long path in my professional formation. I know I will achieve more goals to praise the name of the Lord. Now I am going to get my title degree, and I will do my best to get it and praise the name of the Lord through my career. I am still studying about networks, and I want to specialize in this area. In the future I would like to become an assessor in Cisco professional practices, and I am learning a lot about my career doing the practical work. I continue with my English classes and my goal is to speak English fluently when I finish the program. So, I will study by myself during my spare time. God is good with the people who manage well what He gives us. We just have to work and do our best to keep being blessed, doing everything with our heart and with integrity.


I thank God very much for my whole family, my mother, my sister and my aunt because He has always been with us. He has supported us financially and spiritually. He has given us the necessary to live, and we have never lacked of anything even though we were poor. God has been merciful with us, and there is nothing to pay Him with. We just have to serve Hie and spread His kingdom wherever He takes us. God is good; very good.


To finish this, I want to tell you something quickly. My mom, whom I love and admire for her faith, gave all her savings to the work of God. She bought a piece of land my church needed. I told her, "What if the church did not pay you back, what would you do? They are your savings for the future,"  and she answered me...."I do not care about it because it is for the work of God. I do not care if I am not paid back, but I will be happy because my heart was ready to give to the Lord." I know every person shows his love and faith for the Lord differently. Some people can do things that others can not...like giving everything for spreading the gospel. It is the case of my mom and you as sponsors because you give hope to many people showing the unconditional love of God and spreading the gospel to the ones who need Jesus.

Mail Call - LDP Edition

Saturday was a very exciting day as we received two letters - both from our LDP students! We hear from David regularly, but we have only received a couple letters from Cilia and both appeared to have been written before she received our letters. We were excited to see proof of this new relationship being established. We began sponsoring Cilia after Kevin returned from Honduras last May. We had requested an LDP student in the field of medicine before his trip, but none were available. When he got home, we got a profile for a couple LDP students and one of them was Cilia - studying pharmacology (Kevin's field).

First of all, check out the paper....don't you love it? The letter was printed over her beautiful photo - both sides of the letter looked like this.

Dear sponsors Kevin and Jill, I was very excited to hear from you.


I want to thank you for writing me and sharing about your life with me, you have such cute babies. It is very exciting to know that you like to go out for walks and to know that Jill is a music teacher. I love to play the guitar, although I'm not too good at it but I try. Kevin, in you I see a great role model.  It is a great blessing that you came to visit my country. I encourage you to come back and I will be waiting for you with my arms wide open.


God willing, through the Leadership Development Program and through my church working in me, I will become a servant leader in the Lord. This month I had the great opportunity to go to Quimistan, Santa Barbara which is about 8 hours away from Tegucigalpa. We went to make arrangements for community service. Seven LDP students traveled and we were in charge of that great event that will mark the lives of many people there and I know that we will rescue youth from that place and they will be marked for Christ in the name of Jesus. I know they will be. We will carry out this activity in January with all 79 LDP students. 


I say good by with many kisses and hugs and you are always in my prayers and in my church's prayers. We trust that God is working in your lives and pouring thousands of blessings on you every day. I ask you to pray that I can be better every day for the glory and honor of God...I love you very much.  Cilia






And from David in Peru (we have been corresponding with David for 1 1/2 years and I was able to meet him in August 2010)

Dear Jill, it is a joy for me to receive this precious letter again.


I give thanks to God for your lives, for considering me your friend and especially for your prayers for my life.


I got good grades in my last semester and I praise the Lord for this. Without Him and a bit of hard work, the results would have been different. 


Concerning my three goals, I am going into a good direction with God's help. I have started my pre-professional practice in a prestigious company where I am learning a lot. This month of November I finish my CCNA course. Then I will take another reviewing course to take my certification exam in December. By God's grace I have also started another certification course which will help me a lot in my career.


The LDP workshops were a great blessing. God worked with my life. I learned many important lessons especially in the devotions. Particularly, in the last day we learned about a young person and hi commitment to being pure for God. All of us LDP students made a pact of holiness. It was a time of ministering and prayer. We also had a time of sharing, games, challenges, team competitions and a wonderful bonfire in the last evening. It was a time to thank God for being so good to us and for restoring this first love in us to do everything with excellence in our courses of study, families and churches. 


Thank you once again for each of your letters. You teach me so much with your personal and family stories. It is a joy to know you. Thank you also for the precious pictures and especially for your prayers. I say goodbye to each of you with a strong hug, wishing you all the blessings in your lives. Your friend, David.


I love how these letters illustrate the work and ministry of Compassion's Leadership Development Program.
It is so neat and encouraging to see how God is shaping these young men and women into true servant leaders through Compassion's ministry.

Guest Post – Alex Mutagubya

I am so excited about today's guest post. I’ll let Alex introduce himself in his post below….. I hope you are as encouraged by his story as I have been.

Alex, Aaleyah and Faith Mutagubya

My Experience in Compassion’s LDP

My name is Alex Mutagubya. I am from Uganda where I grew up on a small fishing village in the suburbs of Kampala city, along the shores of Lake Victoria. I entered Compassion’s Child Development Program at the age of 8. At the time, my mother was struggling to feed the four of us and later on take us through school. In fact, as the youngest child at home, there are times I had to go to the market, not to buy food but to go through the garbage the vendors had thrown away to try to find something our family could eat or use at home.

With the sponsorship, things began to turn around. Not only were my school fees paid; I was assured of at least a meal a day. When I got sick, I had medical care. I got a school uniform and a pair of shoes. At the age of 14, I finally surrendered my life to Christ, even though I had grown up in a Christian family. Because I was in the sponsorship program, every Saturday, we were taught the Bible, and on Sunday we were all required to attend church. When I surrendered my life to Christ, I already had so much of the Word of God in me. I began sharing the gospel with every body I knew and ¾ of my classmates gave their life to Christ. With a few friends of mine, we began a Christian fellowship in that school that grew from 15 students to 700 students.

With the child development program, I was able to have elementary education and to go through high school. Two years before I finished high school, compassion introduced the Leadership Development Program in Uganda. This program was to equip outstanding students from high school who had demonstrated strong Christian character, academic excellence, leadership potential and vision. At the time I finished high school, they were only taking 20 high school graduates through out the country, and by God’s grace I was chosen to be one of those few. On top of university education, we attended leadership-training workshops every semester holiday, in which we were exposed to great leaders in our country in business, education, politics, church, social work, law and many other fields. Each of us was also attached to a mentor for an opportunity to lead under the mentor’s supervision. In fact, my mentor later ended up being my boss.

My years in the child Development program set me on a great foundation in my life. However, the three years in LDP did and still continue to shape my life with vision and purpose as a Christian Leader in my community, church and family. It was during those years that it became very clear to me that God had called into ministry as a preacher of his word to help disciple others and empower them for transformation; most especially, spiritual transformation.

The way this happened is that God allowed me on two particular occasions to stare, up-close, in the face of corruption in our country. At the university, I was doing a Bachelor of Adult and Community Education to prepare me for community development. I got to do an internship with this Organization that was helping slums in Kampala get water, sanitation and health training. But what this community development organization actually did, was write a very good proposal and sent it to five potential donors. Three donors agreed to fully fund the proposal. They used the money from one of the donors to do what they had said in the proposal, and the money from the two other donors made the bosses rich. They were exploiting the poor for their own gain.

The second instance was more personal because it involved an auntie of mine who is infected by HIV/AIDS. In 2003, she almost died because the doctors required her to pay a large sum of money for her to be put on the list to receive the government’s free antiviral drugs. Our country is poor and our people are dying not because there is no help coming in, but because sound leadership is lacking. The people with power and access are full of corruption, and the systems set in place enhance this corruption. All this is because the fear of the Lord is lacking.

What LDP did for me was to help me realize, I can be the difference our communities so desperately need; even more so because the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords reigns in my life. For greater is He that is living in me than he that is in the world. But what if we can multiply this? How about if Uganda has leaders in business, law, church, politics, education and family that know that they are serving the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords; Leaders that will do what is right just because that is what is right. Leaders that have been transformed by the Spirit of God and know that they are accountable to the most high God.

That is why am excited to return to Uganda. For the last few years, I have been studying in Portland Oregon, finishing my masters of divinity. I am returning to Uganda to establish a ministry that will empower our people for transformation in the name of Jesus Christ. I want to train and equip a generation in our country that will actively and creatively engage our communities for the purpose of transformation.

That is what Compassion’s leadership program is doing for us. It is making us think beyond our given circumstances. That is what Compassion is asking you to participate in. God is already working and here is an opportunity for you, or your church to join in what He is already doing.

The question is, will you join in?

LDP

What is LDP anyway?

LDP stands for Leadership Development Program and is the university level of holistic development that follows Compassion’s CDSP (child development sponsorship program).

The LDP mission statement reads:

In partnership with the Church worldwide, Compassion’s Leadership Development Program launches outstanding graduates from our Child Sponsorship Program into their full, God-given potential. They are equipped with a university degree, mentored in their Christian life and instilled with a passion to serve that transforms their communities and nations.

Have you ever met an LDP or former LDP student? Have you had the opportunity to hear them speak and tell their story?

I have been blessed to meet several, and let me tell you, they are some of the most impressive people I have ever met. Compassion is thorough when it comes to training these young men and women and developing their leadership skills.

myself with Daniel and David, LDP students in Kenya

with Roxanna, LDP student in Peru

I used to question the value of sponsoring an LDP student. At $300 a month, it’s a huge commitment and I couldn’t help but think of the 7 younger children I could sponsor through CDSP for the same amount of money.

Then I met Alex Mutagubya from Uganda. Currently living in Portland, OR, Alex and his wife came to the US to pursue degrees from Multnomah University and Seminary. Alex shared with me how LDP launched him into ministry and continues to shape his life today. (you’ll hear more from Alex tomorrow, so be sure to come back!)

the Mutagubya family

Shortly after meeting Alex, I began corresponding with David ~ an LDP student in Peru. I’ve shared some of his story before, and it’s obvious LDP is having a big impact on his life. In August of 2010 I had the opportunity to travel to Peru and meet David. Again, I was impressed by his spiritual maturity, through letters, he continues to challenge, inspire and encourage me in my faith.

with David in Peru

When you sponsor an LDP student, you are truly investing in a future leader. Take Margaret Makhoha for example. A former LDP student in Uganda, Margaret was recently elected to the Ugandan Parliament. Another example is my friend Alex. He will soon be returning to Uganda to pastor a church near Kampala where he will minister and lead the people of his community.

Although the qualification and selection process is rigorous, there is no shortage of good, qualified candidates for LDP. There is, however, a shortage of sponsors.

If you decide to invest in a future leader, you will receive a student file folder that includes a student profile, personal testimony, university profile and country profile. You will also receive an extremely informative booklet Compassion has put together to further explain the LDP program. And finally, you will receive a beautiful frame to display your student’s photo.

Do yourself a favor, learn more about the Leadership Development Program. Visit Compassion’s website and search on line for stories and interviews. You won’t be disappointed. This is the final step of Compassion’s holistic development, and it’s quite possibly the most important one.

Do you have experience with the LDP program? If so, please share in the comments.

David’s Family and Compassion

A couple months ago, I wrote to my LDP correspondence student, David, and asked him how the ministry of Compassion has impacted his family. This weekend I received a letter from him and was touched to read his story. It’s a little long, but I don’t want to leave any of it out. (I have added emphasis to some sentences that really stood out to me.) If you don’t have time to read it all, please read his last sentences.

In answer to your question, it was God’s grace that my family is blessed by Compassion. Years ago when my parents got married, they got a piece of land in a neighborhood that did not have anything but stones and sand. At that time our house was made of mats and sticks.They had to work really hard to make improvements in the house. My mom worked in her grocery shop and it was really hard and my father did not find a job at that time. Then, my first brother was born. However, since my mom had to work very hard and because of my house conditions and the sudden change in weather, my brother died of pneumonia. They felt deeply sad. My mom kept working and when my sister and I were born, my house was more comfortable. It had cement walls but the roof was made of mats. My parents were going to a church (the same church we go to today) and since it was in a poor area, Compassion opened a CDSP program and my parents registered us in the program. There we learned about God, had skill workshops and ate very good food which we could not find at home because sometimes money was not enough. My mom went everywhere to find food for us and she did not care if she did not eat as long as my sister and I were fine. I will never forget that. When I was 8 years old, the project in my church closed because of infrastructure problems and we were transferred to another project.

shanty towns of Lima, Peru – similar to where David grew up

While I was in the project, my father got a job and my mom would spend more time in her business. My sister and I kind of spent our childhood in her shop for many years and we helped her to sell products. My house improved more and more. Now we had a cement roof and years later we built a second floor. My mom used to tell us that if some day we went to university or to another school and invited our classmates over, she did not want us to feel embarrassed about having a house made of mats and sticks. That is why they worked hard to build a second floor. When we were in high school, our mom always encouraged us to study hard and told us, “I may not have given you good clothes or a nice house or good toys when you were kids, but with the little money I earn, I want you to get an education because nobody can take it from you.” And during this time, it was also by God’s grace that Compassion helped us. They encouraged us to do something in life, to have great dreams because God was giving us the chance to get rid of poverty through out education and hard work. This is what our directors and tutors told us and I believed in their words.

David and his parents – 2008 – high school graduation party

In my last high school year I had classes in the mornings and afternoons. I could not go to the project often and I was about to be taken out of the program, but by God’s grace the main office did not cancel my sponsorship as my reasons of absence were school reasons. So, in order to consider my involvement in the project, I had to help in the church services. Now I understand why God let me stay in the project. It opened doors for me to enter LDP and get a university degree, learn about leadership and help my family overcome poverty and help others. My parents would not have been able to pay the university education of their two children. My sister had already started going to a private university and money was only enough for her. Before I joined the program, I thought about working and taking classes at the same time, but I know that it was God and my mom’s prayer that I stayed in Compassion. It has been a great help for my family because we receive financial and spiritual support as my parents also participate in different workshops. I see how God has been working in my family. I see my family committed to the church work in their ministries. My mom always takes food to people in need or visits sick people. And my father does his share with the pastors. They visit homes and encourage people and help them spiritually and financially. My sister also practices what we learned when we were in Compassion. I look up to her because she is now working in a small church as a Sunday School teacher. This is a church that has a couple of years and located in a very poor place. Their pastor is a true servant and started this work from scratch. I had the chance to help there and was moved by the poverty in the place and the infrastructure of the church which is made of mats with chairs supported by bricks. She also does different things there. She saw the needs in this church and she is now a blessing. I feel very happy about it and I thank God for this.

I know Compassion made this possible. Compassion helps children become servants and it blesses not only the child but the whole family, raising a new family of servants.

David (far left) and other Peru LDP students - 2010

This, my friends, is one of many testimonies of how Compassion impacts a whole family. We may technically be sponsoring a child, but families are being changed – hopefully including our own.