Comments on: Now He Smiles http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/ Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:31:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Dwight http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-11019 Dwight Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:12:14 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-11019 Thank you Edwin for the reply, and thank you for the story It is good to know that most families are not worried about sponsorship. I would hate to think that families believe sponsorship was created to steel family members. I am sorry that some groups in Benny’s town did this. I agree I pray that Benny’s will find faith in Christ! Thank you Edwin for the reply, and thank you for the story
It is good to know that most families are not worried about sponsorship. I would hate to think that families believe sponsorship was created to steel family members. I am sorry that some groups in Benny’s town did this. I agree I pray that Benny’s will find faith in Christ!

]]> By: Edwin Estioko http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-11016 Edwin Estioko Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:30:57 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-11016 Hello, Dwight. No, families don't normally mistrust student centers at first. Benny's case is unique since not many people in Rio Tuba know about Compassion (we only have one church partner there) and they have had bad experiences with other supposedly helpful groups in the past. Most families were at first apprehensive, yes, but according to the pastor, it was only Benny really who had a heavy feeling about sponsorship. Pastor Gwen believes that it's most probably because Benny still hasn't gotten over his wife leaving him, especially now that 4 of his children have done the same. There's a lot going in Benny's life and I truly pray that our church partner there could lead him to the Lord who alone can give him true joy and peace in life. Yes, as sponsors you can help a lot. It could have made a lot if difference if Eric's sponsor wrote a letter and sent photos. It could have made a lot of difference if Benny had seen their smiling pretty faces! Sponsor letters truly make a difference. Hello, Dwight.

No, families don’t normally mistrust student centers at first. Benny’s case is unique since not many people in Rio Tuba know about Compassion (we only have one church partner there) and they have had bad experiences with other supposedly helpful groups in the past. Most families were at first apprehensive, yes, but according to the pastor, it was only Benny really who had a heavy feeling about sponsorship. Pastor Gwen believes that it’s most probably because Benny still hasn’t gotten over his wife leaving him, especially now that 4 of his children have done the same. There’s a lot going in Benny’s life and I truly pray that our church partner there could lead him to the Lord who alone can give him true joy and peace in life.

Yes, as sponsors you can help a lot. It could have made a lot if difference if Eric’s sponsor wrote a letter and sent photos. It could have made a lot of difference if Benny had seen their smiling pretty faces! Sponsor letters truly make a difference.

]]> By: Becky http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-10970 Becky Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:32:39 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-10970 Thanks for the follow-up story. Although the story has quite a few elements of sadness, such as Jonalyn dropping out of the project to find work, I am glad to see that the father finally understands what Compassion is all about. Thanks for the follow-up story. Although the story has quite a few elements of sadness, such as Jonalyn dropping out of the project to find work, I am glad to see that the father finally understands what Compassion is all about.

]]> By: JD in Canada http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-10965 JD in Canada Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:40:31 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-10965 Thank you for blessing us by sharing this story. What an eye opener, what a turnaround... it's incredible the light that begins to shine where there is hope... I didn't realize that parents sometimes/often misunderstand the purpose of Compassion, and that they may feel fear. I have so much to learn... thank you for being willing to share your experiences. Thank you for blessing us by sharing this story. What an eye opener, what a turnaround… it’s incredible the light that begins to shine where there is hope…

I didn’t realize that parents sometimes/often misunderstand the purpose of Compassion, and that they may feel fear. I have so much to learn… thank you for being willing to share your experiences.

]]> By: Dwight http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-10946 Dwight Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:14:01 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-10946 Thanks for the follow up story Edwin. It sounds like a long trip to travel from Manila to his project. It is my experience sponsoring kids in the Philippines it’s usually the father that abandons the family. All 3 of the kids I have sponsored had fathers that left the family. In this type of situation it sounds like the project tries to help the family. I pray that Benny finds a personal relationship with Jesus. I am curious…do many families have mistrust of the student centers at first? It sounds like a very fearful experience. What can we do as sponsor to help them understand? Thanks for the follow up story Edwin. It sounds like a long trip to travel from Manila to his project. It is my experience sponsoring kids in the Philippines it’s usually the father that abandons the family. All 3 of the kids I have sponsored had fathers that left the family. In this type of situation it sounds like the project tries to help the family. I pray that Benny finds a personal relationship with Jesus.

I am curious…do many families have mistrust of the student centers at first? It sounds like a very fearful experience. What can we do as sponsor to help them understand?

]]> By: Vicki Small http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-10943 Vicki Small Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:41:28 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-10943 <a href='#comment-10938' rel="nofollow">@Becky</a> - Thanks for a quick answer, Becky, and for the information. I can appreciate the distinction between the two circumstances. I know some parents do volunteer at the centers, but in this case, I was secretly hoping that Benny would be paid. And may he be greatly blessed by increased connection with the center! @Becky – Thanks for a quick answer, Becky, and for the information. I can appreciate the distinction between the two circumstances. I know some parents do volunteer at the centers, but in this case, I was secretly hoping that Benny would be paid. And may he be greatly blessed by increased connection with the center!

]]> By: Kim Edge http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-10941 Kim Edge Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:14:28 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-10941 God grant that Compassion be able to teach this poor ignorant father and his sons some skills about basic home sanitation. It's not just womenfolk who can clean a home! God grant that Compassion be able to teach this poor ignorant father and his sons some skills about basic home sanitation. It’s not just womenfolk who can clean a home!

]]> By: Becky http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-10938 Becky Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:16:28 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-10938 Vicki, I am currently sitting in a meeting with Wendy, our Communications Manager from the Philippines, so I thought I'd ask her your question. Here is what she said. Sometimes the church partner requests the work to be done, and so in these cases where the work is initiated by the church partner, they would pay the parent. Many times this is an opportunity to provide the parent with income. In other situations, the parent may volunteer their services to the church partner in which case he or she would not be paid. Many times they want to volunteer their work because they are grateful for how Compassion is helping their child. Vicki,

I am currently sitting in a meeting with Wendy, our Communications Manager from the Philippines, so I thought I’d ask her your question. Here is what she said.

Sometimes the church partner requests the work to be done, and so in these cases where the work is initiated by the church partner, they would pay the parent. Many times this is an opportunity to provide the parent with income.

In other situations, the parent may volunteer their services to the church partner in which case he or she would not be paid. Many times they want to volunteer their work because they are grateful for how Compassion is helping their child.

]]> By: Vicki Small http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-10937 Vicki Small Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:40:37 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-10937 Such a moving story, and I'm so glad that Benny was willing to be still and quiet long enough to listen to what the pastor told him about the program and its benefits. He has certainly experienced enough losses. When the parent of a Compassion-assisted child does some work, like carpentry, at the student center, is he paid? Or is one of the expectations of parents that they will volunteer their services in whatever way(s) they can? Such a moving story, and I’m so glad that Benny was willing to be still and quiet long enough to listen to what the pastor told him about the program and its benefits. He has certainly experienced enough losses.

When the parent of a Compassion-assisted child does some work, like carpentry, at the student center, is he paid? Or is one of the expectations of parents that they will volunteer their services in whatever way(s) they can?

]]> By: Cheryl J http://blog.compassion.com/rio-tuba-learning-and-development-center/comment-page-1/#comment-10935 Cheryl J Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:21:44 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=6827#comment-10935 Oh, how sweet. It never dawned on me that parents might misunderstand Compassion's ministry. But it makes sense as I read so many articles about people who come to villages and promise to find "work" for their children in the city. May God pour out His blessings on Benny and his family! Oh, how sweet. It never dawned on me that parents might misunderstand Compassion’s ministry. But it makes sense as I read so many articles about people who come to villages and promise to find “work” for their children in the city. May God pour out His blessings on Benny and his family!

]]>