Comments on: Back From Bolivia http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/ Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:27:59 +0000 hourly 1 By: vicki http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-10409 vicki Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:06:11 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-10409 I have been sponsering a boy from Bolivia for a year now and am motivated to write and enjoy him even more because of your blog post. Thanks for sharing your blessings with others. In Christ, Vicki I have been sponsering a boy from Bolivia for a year now and am motivated to write and enjoy him even more because of your blog post. Thanks for sharing your blessings with others.

In Christ,
Vicki

]]> By: Barbara Holland http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-9553 Barbara Holland Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:23:33 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-9553 Dear Kees, Thank you for the information you sent. It might be possible to fly to Santo Domingo and meet at a hotel. This DR child lives 7 km. north of La Vega. My reply from Kiersta of Compassion said they do not have any trained hosts in the La Vega area that speak English (I don't speak anything else) so they'd have to send a host from Santo Domingo to La Vega. Maybe as you said, I could just fly directly to Santo Domingo and meet there. It might help if I knew how far it is from one city to another, what transportation is available, etc. It might not work out but reading the blogs and seeing how much it means to the children made me wish I could go. Having to make arrangements for a specific day and place in advance, with the Compassion people, makes it harder, as you couldn't work the visit around special prices with airlines or cruises. I may just not be able to go. From reading all the blogs last week, I had a new idea. Since I've traveled in the past, I could take some snapshots from my trips to Israel, Greece and Turkey (Ephesus, Isle of Patmos)and write a paragraph about them and send, one city at a time to my children. I might have to make a copy of the pictures on computer paper to not exceed the 1/8" thickness limit. I don't know how much that limit would allow. I'll have to find out. I did print out your blog and took to church last Sunday, and used your example as I talked about Compassion to our sponsors, new and older sponsors who might need to be 're-excited'. The last letter from one of my little girls said she'd just had surgery, and the project had taken care of it. That showed us an example of how much Compassion sponsorship helps. We had 3 visitors there who had also been present at our Compassion Sunday. They were impressed enough to go to internet and choose a child, came back to our dinner and we invited them to share their excitement with us... so they did. It was a wonderful day of sharing as others told about their children. Again, thanks for your help and quick reply. In His love and service, Barbara Dear Kees,
Thank you for the information you sent. It might be possible to fly to Santo Domingo and meet at a hotel. This DR child lives 7 km. north of La Vega.

My reply from Kiersta of Compassion said they do not have any trained hosts in the La Vega area that speak English (I don’t speak anything else)
so they’d have to send a host from Santo Domingo to La Vega. Maybe as you said, I could just fly directly to Santo Domingo and meet there. It might help if I knew how far it is from one city to another, what transportation is available, etc. It might not work out but reading the blogs and seeing how much it means to the children made me wish I could go.
Having to make arrangements for a specific day and place in advance, with the Compassion people, makes it harder, as you couldn’t work the visit around special prices with airlines or cruises. I may just not be able to go.
From reading all the blogs last week, I had a new idea. Since I’ve traveled in the past, I could take some snapshots from my trips to Israel, Greece and Turkey (Ephesus, Isle of Patmos)and write a paragraph about them and send, one city at a time to my children. I might have to make a copy of the pictures on computer paper to not exceed the 1/8″ thickness limit. I don’t know how much that limit would allow. I’ll have to find out.

I did print out your blog and took to church last Sunday, and used your example as I talked about Compassion to our sponsors, new and older sponsors who might need to be ‘re-excited’. The last letter from one of my little girls said she’d just had surgery, and the project had taken care of it. That showed us an example of how much Compassion sponsorship helps.

We had 3 visitors there who had also been present at our Compassion Sunday. They were impressed enough to go to internet and choose a child, came back to our dinner and we invited them to share their excitement with us… so they did. It was a wonderful day of sharing as others told about their children.
Again, thanks for your help and quick reply.

In His love and service,
Barbara

]]> By: Kees Boer http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-9542 Kees Boer Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:16:58 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-9542 Hi, Barbara, I could see with the Dominican Republic that it would be possible to take a cruise to there and meet your child. I think it would depend a lot on where the cruiseship lands and how far it is from the project. I don't know that much about cruiseships, but I think they book up fairly fast and you would need to make sure you probably book the cruise 6 months in advance. That could create a possible difficulty, because you can arrange the individual visit at the least 6 weeks in advance. If you had booked the cruise, there is a chance that the visit might not be approved if there isn't the staff available to help in the visit. You'd want to coordinate that with the visits department, but be sure to call them at the latest 6 weeks in advance. It might be easier to take a flight down to the Dominican Republic to Santo Domingo and stay in a good hotel there and maybe after a day or so, have it arranged that the child will meet you in the hotel and you could spend the day together. If you would have a hard time travelling with your health, I wouldn't suggest Bolivia, especially not if your child lives in the El Alto/La Paz area. The altitude is very high there. It would be like being on top of the Rocky Mountains. Maybe if the child lives in the Santa Cruz area, that might work a little better, but the roads can be rough there and the way the people drive might be tough too. I have worked with a lot of PR people of Disney, that's how I had the connections. Barbara, I'm very encouraged with your love for the children and I'm sure that they love you a lot too. Thank you so much for all you do for them and I like your last name, but I'm from Holland originally! :-) Blessings, Kees Hi, Barbara,

I could see with the Dominican Republic that it would be possible to take a cruise to there and meet your child. I think it would depend a lot on where the cruiseship lands and how far it is from the project.

I don’t know that much about cruiseships, but I think they book up fairly fast and you would need to make sure you probably book the cruise 6 months in advance. That could create a possible difficulty, because you can arrange the individual visit at the least 6 weeks in advance. If you had booked the cruise, there is a chance that the visit might not be approved if there isn’t the staff available to help in the visit. You’d want to coordinate that with the visits department, but be sure to call them at the latest 6 weeks in advance. It might be easier to take a flight down to the Dominican Republic to Santo Domingo and stay in a good hotel there and maybe after a day or so, have it arranged that the child will meet you in the hotel and you could spend the day together.

If you would have a hard time travelling with your health, I wouldn’t suggest Bolivia, especially not if your child lives in the El Alto/La Paz area. The altitude is very high there. It would be like being on top of the Rocky Mountains. Maybe if the child lives in the Santa Cruz area, that might work a little better, but the roads can be rough there and the way the people drive might be tough too.

I have worked with a lot of PR people of Disney, that’s how I had the connections.

Barbara, I’m very encouraged with your love for the children and I’m sure that they love you a lot too. Thank you so much for all you do for them and I like your last name, but I’m from Holland originally! :-)

Blessings,

Kees

]]> By: Barbara Holland http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-9133 Barbara Holland Mon, 25 May 2009 18:02:11 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-9133 Kees, It's so wonderful that you sponsor so many children!!! Thank you so much for the inspirational story you shared about your trip to Boliva. It reminded me again how important our letters are. My first Compassion child graduated from the program when she was 19, several years ago. From her letters I could see her growing spiritually.I never got to meet her but I expect to know her in heaven someday! The next two moved out of a Compassion area. Some friends who didn't feel they could take a child alone agreed to co-sponsor, so I help them with a teenager from Rwanda. I also have a child from the Dominican Republic and at this year's Compassion Sunday at church, I took a 7 year old from Bolivia. Your letter made me really wish I could visit them in person, but due to health problems, I haven't tried to visit. My fragile bones would make rough riding dangerous for me and from reading about various upcoming tours, it sounds as if that would usually be the case. I also think 7 days would be too hard. I did wonder if I could take a cruise to the Dominican Republic and just meet my child for a day visit, if that might be a possibile. When younger I did travel to Israel, Greece, Rome, Alaska and other places twice each. I really miss traveling. Since you mentioned gifts from Disney to give the children, I wondered if you took a Disney Cruise. Another woman and I got Compassion Sunday started at our church a few years ago. Now our pastor, music director, and several others at church are sponsors. Each year after we get our new sponsors, we have a sit down dinner to share our excitement with the new ones. I printed out your letter to share bits of it at this Sunday's spagetti dinner. Thanks so much for reinspiring me! Barbara Kees,
It’s so wonderful that you sponsor so many children!!!
Thank you so much for the inspirational story you shared about your trip to Boliva. It reminded me again how important our letters are.
My first Compassion child graduated from the program when she was 19, several years ago. From her letters I could see her growing spiritually.I never got to meet her but I expect to know her in heaven someday!
The next two moved out of a Compassion area.
Some friends who didn’t feel they could take a child alone agreed to co-sponsor, so I help them with a teenager from Rwanda. I also have a child from the Dominican Republic and at this year’s Compassion Sunday at church, I took a 7 year old from Bolivia.
Your letter made me really wish I could visit them in person, but due to health problems, I haven’t tried to visit. My fragile bones would make rough riding dangerous for me and from reading about various upcoming tours, it sounds as if that would usually be the case. I also think 7 days would be too hard. I did wonder if I could take a cruise to the Dominican Republic and just meet my child for a day visit, if that might be a possibile. When younger I did travel to Israel, Greece, Rome, Alaska and other places twice each. I really miss traveling.
Since you mentioned gifts from Disney to give the children, I wondered if you took a Disney Cruise.
Another woman and I got Compassion Sunday started at our church a few years ago. Now our pastor, music director, and several others at church are sponsors. Each year after we get our new sponsors, we have a sit down dinner to share our excitement with the new ones. I printed out your letter to share bits of it at this Sunday’s spagetti dinner.
Thanks so much for reinspiring me!
Barbara

]]> By: Kees Boer http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-2747 Kees Boer Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:45:21 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-2747 Hi, Philip, This is the link. :-) http://www.positive-entertainment.com/boliviatripphotos/ Kees Hi, Philip,

This is the link. :-)

http://www.positive-entertainment.com/boliviatripphotos/

Kees

]]> By: phillip http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-2742 phillip Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:18:23 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-2742 do you have a link to your photos... do you have a link to your photos…

]]> By: Kees Boer http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-2684 Kees Boer Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:27:53 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-2684 Hi, this is the second part of the three part series. http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=956&NewsID=921080&CategoryID=15120&show=localnews&om=8 Blessings, Kees Hi, this is the second part of the three part series.

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=956&NewsID=921080&CategoryID=15120&show=localnews&om=8

Blessings,

Kees

]]> By: Kees Boer http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-2479 Kees Boer Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:10:35 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-2479 Hi, in case you're interested, I'm in the process of writing a three part article for the local newspaper on my trip to Bolivia. The first part came out today. If you'd like to read it, it can be found at: http://news.mywebpal.com:80/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=956&NewsID=919798&CategoryID=15126&show=localnews&om=1 Blessings, Kees Hi, in case you’re interested, I’m in the process of writing a three part article for the local newspaper on my trip to Bolivia. The first part came out today. If you’d like to read it, it can be found at:

http://news.mywebpal.com:80/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=956&NewsID=919798&CategoryID=15126&show=localnews&om=1

Blessings,

Kees

]]> By: Kees Boer http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-2019 Kees Boer Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:20:38 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-2019 Hi, Cindy, The staff was very friendly. Everyone wanted to meet me. I heard that there are 4000 projects and about 4000 sponsors that go to see their children. Thus on the average every project gets one sponsor per year. Of course that is a very rough average. The staff was just very thankful and they would thank me many times. They would have whole programs for me where the children performed. They treated me very special. It was overwhelming at times. All the other children would also crowd around me. Kees Hi, Cindy,

The staff was very friendly. Everyone wanted to meet me. I heard that there are 4000 projects and about 4000 sponsors that go to see their children. Thus on the average every project gets one sponsor per year. Of course that is a very rough average. The staff was just very thankful and they would thank me many times. They would have whole programs for me where the children performed. They treated me very special. It was overwhelming at times. All the other children would also crowd around me.

Kees

]]> By: Cindy Maddox http://blog.compassion.com/back-from-bolivia/comment-page-1/#comment-2017 Cindy Maddox Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:35:05 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=506#comment-2017 Kees, Yes, I noticed her. She looks very sweet. Me being the animal lover that I am, just had to say how sweet it was of you to get Eliana a new dog. I know she was so excited! Also, I wanted to ask you what the staff at the projects were like. I'm sure they must be very special and caring. After reading about Nano Kojo Sekyi-Arthur from Ghana (June 13 Blog), it sounds like they all go above and beyond. Cindy Kees,

Yes, I noticed her. She looks very sweet. Me being the animal lover that I am, just had to say how sweet it was of you to get Eliana a new dog. I know she was so excited! Also, I wanted to ask you what the staff at the projects were like. I’m sure they must be very special and caring. After reading about Nano Kojo Sekyi-Arthur from Ghana (June 13 Blog), it sounds like they all go above and beyond.

Cindy

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