On the second page was our mission statement, “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name,” and a picture of Roselyn.

I remember the first time I read about Roselyn. It was my first month on the job. Edwin Estioko in the Philippines had written a story about her in September 2007:

Inside the unfinished concrete house I wait for Roselyn. Her mother, Rufina, pulls out a plastic chair for me. She narrates how they were evicted from their old shanty and how now they have to occupy this roofless, doorless bunker.

Then 10-year-old Roselyn comes running in, smiling as if she already knows me. Neighbors follow her in.

“Hello, Roselyn,” I introduce myself and tell her I am visiting to know more about her special condition. Her smile and endearing eyes help us get acquainted easily. She’s dark and sweaty from playing under the sun.

I ask, “What do you hope to be when you grow up?”

“I want to be a doctor.”

All her neighbors and relatives laugh. Even her big sister, Rosel, giggles.

They laugh not only for the impossibility to afford medical school, but also for the irony. Roselyn is in need of a doctor. She is dying.

In 2002, Roselyn was registered at Kapatirang Kristiyano sa Coloong. Her wit and spunky attitude made her stand out.

Alma, her caseworker in the center, remembers, “Roselyn was always one of the quickest to recite and answer questions in class. She had no problem speaking her mind.”

In 2004, Roselyn’s profile reported, “She runs fast, very energetic. She is lively and fun.” But that year, all the children at the child development center had their medical checkup.

It was then that Roselyn found out she was sick. “They said there’s something wrong with my heart, that I cannot play anymore as I used to. I guess that’s why I get tired easily from playing and studying.”

Roselyn has rheumatic heart disease, made more complicated by a leaking mitral valve.

The student center acted quickly, consulting with doctors and specialists at the Philippine Heart Center, and immediately Roselyn entered a medical regimen that required her to visit the hospital every 21 days for her shots and to take two medicines every day.

“I am very thankful to Compassion and Roselyn’s sponsor,” Rufina says. “Without their help I don’t know how I could afford all her medicines,” she continues. “It is even difficult for me to buy food every day.” She earns $2 per day selling ice cream. The father left the family, which is why they live in this roofless bunker.

Rufina says, “I don’t know what will happen to us. We just keep on living every day and hoping for the best in God.”

Roselyn has a positive outlook. Although she feels the pangs of poverty — not eating enough some days and not living in a safe and comfortable home — poverty could not steal away her hope in life. She is happy.

Roselyn looks forward to going to school every day, to study and to finish her assignments. She says, “I hope that I could also live longer so I could finish my studies and help my mother someday.”

The day after I re-read Roselyn’s story, I got an e-mail from Edwin.

Roselyn passed away.

This beautiful, spunky, playful and hopeful girl left this world and went back to her Father.

Roselyn’s heart disease was most likely caused by an untreated infection in childhood — a common consequence of poverty.

At first I was worried. Her picture has been used in various publications, and now prominently in this book. But as I thought about it more, it seems to be a proper memorial for Roselyn.

Our mission is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name, to enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. Roselyn won’t ever be an adult on this Earth. But she can help us remember all the other Roselyns. The little girls and boys with piercing eyes and a lot of spunk.

I know a lot of you speak up for these children, just like for Roselyn. Keep doing it.

When you get tired or frustrated, remember Roselyn. Remember that poverty is real. Remember our mission. Remember all the children like her who have dreams and need hope and opportunities for their future.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

10 answers? Yes … kind of. They’re just not all in this post.

Here we go. 10 Questions With Dennis Tumusiime, a tours and visits specialist with Compassion Uganda.

1. Do the families that Compassion works with have a pretty good understanding about what the program entails, and are they open to their children being evangelized? Is there a balance between being so desperate that they feel they must enroll their children and thus expose them to the gospel in order for them to be educated and fed? (Kalaya G)

I’d say that 80 percent of the communities where child development centers are located have an understanding [at least partially] of our program components. There have been instances where children are denied the benefits of the programs by their parents because the parents have different beliefs and norms, but like you said, they are compelled to enroll the children because of lack of supplies to the children’s needs.

2. What are the qualifications for the project workers to work at the child development centers? (Kayla)

Each position, be it health, finance, or sponsor donor ministry has a professional element that an aspiring candidate should have. But Compassion also has a holistic approach to the work we do, and the same idea applies to the workers in the child development centers; they should be holistically qualified –- not just academically qualified. The applicant’s spiritual status matters, and it is paramount.

3. Can you tell about the time when you first decided to work for Compassion? (Catherine)

It was two years back. Let me say Compassion picked me from my home church [based and located in a local university] where I was doing mission coordination and planning for university outreach. It was a prayer answered, and I spontaneously accepted when the opportunity came. I just said this is “go for it.”

My first position with Compassion was as short term mission trip coordinator, and I was recently promoted to tours and visits specialist. I love it.

4. What goals do you hope to accomplish in your area? (Jason)

There is a whole cluster of goals that I want to accomplish, but I will mention this specific one –- the primary one. We have over 230 child development centers in Uganda implementing the three core programs; my goal is to expose all these distributed centers to the guests visiting, so that the guests may see the labor of their hands in these different communities.

5. What is the most memorable moment you can think of during a sponsor tour? (Kalaya G)

This is from a recent tour. Guests were visiting the country, and they all had sponsored children in Uganda. We arranged for the children and guests to meet and interact on what we call a Compassion Fun Day. All happened as planned. While the guests were having one-to-one time with their children, all scattered throughout the play area, I took a look around and saw smiles on everyone’s faces. That was remarkable! The joy of the child first meeting his or her friend, mentor, mother/father and sponsor — meeting face-to-face, not on paper — was so awesome. Parting the two was rather hard at the end of the day.

6. After seeing the conditions in Uganda as reported by the Compassion bloggers, I want to send my Ugandan children the full $300 each year permitted as a family gift. My question is, is it better to give $300 in one gift, or is it better to give smaller amounts periodically, such as $100 every 4 months? On the one hand, I’ve thought the larger sum is better because if there was a more expensive project or job-starter that needed done, it could be, but on the other hand, I wouldn’t want to overwhelm them with such a large gift all at once and then absolutely nothing more for a year. Advice on this would be greatly appreciated. (Prairie Rose)

My take would be the latter, better to give in smaller amounts periodically. Smaller amounts are easier to manage for families, and if whatever project the family undertakes doesn’t proceed as fast as they would like or hits a snag, then they could kick off another project that would be of benefit.

7. What kinds of things can I say in my letters to best encourage my child? (Kalaya G)

There are several things that you could include in the letters you write to your child. Let your child know that you are praying for them and that you love them and God as well. You could share with your child some scriptures of encouragement.

(ed. Read What Should I Write About? and Are My Letters Really That Important? for more ideas.)

8. I sponsor both an older and younger child. I find it very easy to send small items along with the letters for the youngest (stickers, bookmarks, etc.) But I find it harder to figure out what small gifts to send for the older children. What do they like that will fit in the right sized envelope? Any suggestions? (Amanda)

You could send photographs of you, your family, your church and Sunday school children at your local church. Photos are always cherished. There are also cards that have scriptures written on them. This would help the older children with their scripture memorizing lessons.

9. Do the children whose sponsors do not visit feel left out? (Kalaya G)

• (ed. Human nature being what it is, the answer is yes. Kees addressed this from the perspective of the child who doesn’t receive letters, and Edwin answered a few questions on jealousy and discouragement in his 10 questions post.)

10. Is the benefit to the child and sponsor worth the cost of the visit? I would love to visit my three sponsored girls, but I hesitate to spend a considerable amount of money for “my dream” when the money could be used to sponsor additional children or ministries. I think I would feel guilty. What are your thoughts? (Shelly Quigg)

• Read the post with the answer(s) – Should I visit my sponsored child?

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

1. Can you tell about the time when you first decided to work for Compassion? (Catherine)

Before Compassion I was production manager for OMF Literature (the biggest Christian publisher in the Philippines) and a writer of children’s books. I grew up at church serving and teaching little children; playing with them and just enjoying their company. When I saw the ad for a Communications Specialist for Compassion International in the Philippines, I was literally drawn in. Feeling a strong sense of peace and confidence that the Lord was calling me to this beautiful ministry for children, I applied for the post and on the same week filed for resignation from OMF despite not knowing for sure whether Compassion would hire me or not. Thank God they did.

2. What goals do you hope to accomplish in your area? (Jason)

I hope that through the photographs I take and stories I write about Filipino children I could reach as many readers as I can around the world so that more and more people would stand up for children and advocate for them, so that more and more could see that thousands of children and families here in the Philippines truly lack opportunities for a better life (or simply for a livable minimum) despite the fact that they are hard working and full of faith.

What drives me is Proverbs 31:8, “to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

3. What have been the toughest times of your life, and what have you learned from these trials? (Juli Jarvis)

Being in love with children, I questioned our heavenly Father for so many years why He continued to refuse my wife and me a child of our own. We are childless for 13 years now. Before our 10th anniversary we knelt before His presence, enjoyed His Peace and said, “OK, Lord, now that we know we have a different calling in life — that we won’t be biological parents — bless and strengthen us so we can be parents to others.” Today my wife works with me in Compassion, we send some of her nephews to school, support non-sponsored children, and now are sponsoring a Compassion child of our own. This doesn’t mean we’ve got it made financially; it only means we now have a clearer focus of our purpose in life.

A few Filipino Christians are now sponsoring Filipino children through Compassion USA. (In fact some are formerly sponsored children.) My wife and I recently met our sponsored child. Meeting her we were the happiest couple alive.

4. What kinds of things can I say in my letters to best encourage my child? (Kalaya G)

These children live in the most uncomfortable circumstances where adults around them are drunk, angry or distressed. A simple “I love you” or “You are special” means a lot to them. Don’t get tired of saying nice words as “God loves you,” “You are loved,” or “You are special,” because you may be the only person who tells that to your sponsored child.

I met one child who, growing up, regularly got, “You are ugly,” “You look like your father” (who was a drug addict) from her relatives. And then from her sponsor she would always get “You are special,” “We love you.” Today, she confesses that it was those words from her sponsor that greatly encouraged her to pursue studies in mass communications. She was recently given the chance to tell her story to several churches around the USA, including Willow Creek, and right now she is in the UK for more rounds of talk for Compassion. Her name is Michelle Tolentino.

5. What is the general opinion of Compassion’s work among people in the Philippines? Is it an organization that is well respected? (Kalaya G)

Around the communities where we have church partners, we encourage the churches to promote their name and not Compassion’s so that people will understand that the children go to church and not to an organization, which is why not many non-Compassion-related individuals know the organization. But to the church personnel, the families, the relatives and children, a mere mention of Compassion could send some to tears (literally, I have seen it) because they know how much this organization helps the children, providing them hope.

6. How about child registration into the programs? Are there income guidelines? Or do you look at other areas of need in their lives? Also, what percentage of the children in the Philippines that go through Compassion’s programs are truly released from poverty? (Kalaya G)

As a country office we make sure we reach the poorest families from the poorest provinces in the country. We regularly update our country map index, which monitors poverty incidence, home development index, and child welfare index. From these we determine the poorest and most needy provinces and so focus our expansion in those areas. So far the only poorest provinces we have not reached are those threatened by insurgents and rebels. Recently we are exhausting efforts to reach indigenous tribes, many of which have not heard the Gospel until today.

The second question is a tough one because we address four kinds of poverty: spiritual, economic, social and physical. While there may be a way to measure the percentage of impact we have done economically and physically through extensive research, measuring spiritual success is much more difficult. So instead of responding in percentage, allow me to quote an interview I have had with an LDP graduate. I asked Jacky Metran whether she truly believes she has been released from poverty and she answered, “I was released from sin and wrong outlook and perspective in life. Even if I’m still surrounded by poverty today, because of what I learned through Compassion, I can go against the flow of society. I do my responsibility to make a difference to this world by the life I live. I am in the same situation and standing in life, but now I have a different perspective.”

After graduating from Compassion’s program, Jacky took and finished a master’s degree from the Asian Theological Seminary and is now working/doing ministry in Indonesia.

7. There is a misconception among some who believe that Compassion force-feeds children a Christian doctrine. While I know that this is false, I do know that not all children accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. My question is, how is the child who has not come into the faith typically treated? (Compassion Dave)

The ministry in the Philippines enjoys an advantage that the Bible is freely opened and taught in this country. Teaching salvation and the Gospel is very much in our projects’ curriculum so that what you believe that Compassion does not force-feed a Christian doctrine is true. The Bible is a part of the kids’ regular activities in the projects.

A child who has not come into faith is not treated any differently since kids are enjoined into many other fun activities as singing, playing, camps, trips and so on.

Let me tell you briefly about a young man I met in one of our projects. He was registered into the program when he was only 6 years old. His mother died when he was very young. At the project, he grew up enjoying the activities, friends, and, as he puts it, “of course the food. I would keep some in my pocket to take home as snack for later.”

But although he was in all the project activities through the years, although he enjoyed equal treatment with the other children, he never surrendered to receive Christ in his heart. Today he confesses that he stayed in the program simply for the material benefits of sponsorship. He hid a secret anger towards God when his mother died, and it was not until he became a teenager that he truly met the Lord and established a relationship with Him. So, because he was not treated any differently, he felt comfortable staying in the program as God quietly worked in his heart through the years. He is now a missionary, by the way. His name is Bjorn Rodriguez.

8. Can you share what the prices of some common items are? I send family gifts in small amounts, and if I knew what some items cost I could send more. I realize prices vary, but I would like to have a general idea. (Mary)

What is the average price for:

• A sack of rice, (50 kilos): PhP 2000-2500 (roughly US$ 44.95-56.15); (a kilo): PhP 40-50 (roughly US$ 0.89-1.12)
• Sandals: PhP 200-300 (roughly US$ 4.50-6.74)
• Dress for a 12-year-old girl: P700-1000 (roughly US$ 15.70-22.45)
• Milk (2-kilo can): PhP 800 (roughly US$ 17.95)
• Spaghetti, one snack serving: P50 (roughly US$ 1.12)
• Fruit, such as mangoes: P55/kilo (roughly US$ 1.23/kilo)
• Banana: PhP25/kilo (roughly US$ 0.56)

(Exchange rate is now PhP 44.51 to a dollar)

9. How does Compassion deal with the jealousy of children who receive no extra money/letters/visits toward the more fortunate ones that frequently receive gifts from their sponsors? (Kayla)

This has always been a concern. I know you are asking about “no extra money/letter/visits,” but there are even children who don’t get regular letters. I met one child who asked the project staff, “Is there anything wrong with me? Why don’t I get letters?” In such cases, project staff step in and explain the possible realities that sponsors go through. They explain that not all sponsors may be as wealthy or as flexible. Filipino children may have an impression that all westerners are rich and do nothing all day but enjoy the comforts of a fully-furnished home in front of the fireplace while immaculately white snow is falling outside. (Yes, many think it is always snowing in the USA, and in all of the states.) It is the project staff’s task to explain that sponsors are real people who have real problems that may be hindering them from writing a letter or sending gifts.

At the other end, I believe Compassion’s Global Ministry Center in Colorado has taken steps to encourage sponsors to write and that when unable to, a sponsor shall assign or allow someone to write for him or her.

10. Being that you frequently interact with sponsored children, I would like to know if the children are truly discouraged when their sponsor discontinues supporting them? What would you suggest to a sponsor who is struggling financially and is wondering if he should cancel the sponsorship or continue the sponsorship despite financial difficulties? (Norman)

Yes, children are discouraged when their sponsor discontinues supporting them, and it is not an issue of economics. Filipinos are resilient people, and even the little ones can forget about poverty, hunger and lack of opportunity as long as there is love in the home. What could really bring them down is the thought that they are not loved or that their sponsor has stopped loving them. Again that question from a child comes to mind, “Is there something wrong with me?”

I would suggest to a sponsor who is struggling financially to try to hold on just a little more. Or if he has truly decided to cancel, do write the child and explain the real situation rather than just being quiet about it. If the child doesn’t get an answer, he or she may entertain many unpleasant conclusions including the thought that he or she is undesirable or unloved.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Ask your burning questions of our staff from around the world about their country, their work — whatever you want to know. I’ll choose 10 of your questions for them to answer. (Being the protective mother bear that I am, I’ll make sure to choose culturally appropriate questions. What’s polite dinner conversation in the U.S. may not be appropriate in their country, so keep this in mind as you ask.)

I’d like to introduce to you Dennis Tumusiime and Edwin Estioko.

Dennis is a native of Uganda and works as a tours and visits specialist for Compassion International Uganda. (Did you know that Compassion doesn’t send a bunch of Americans over to other countries to minister to the children, but works through natives of that country so they can culturally contextualize the ministry? That’s pretty cool.) Anyway, Dennis has been working for two years with Compassion to coordinate and plan visits from sponsors and donors to Uganda. (So, if you visit Uganda, you’ll probably get to see that smiling face!) Coordinating all these trips means he’s quite an adventurous man.

Edwin Estioko began working for Compassion six years ago and is originally from Quezon City, Philippines. He is Compassion’s Field Communication Specialist in the Philippines and writes stories about and takes pictures of the ministry that is happening through Compassion International Philippines. He is married with no kids, so he and his wife can easily consider all the Compassion children as their own.

Dennis and Edwin are excited to answer your questions, so ask away!

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Tell me if you can relate to this: When I first started sponsoring my Compassion child, I clung so tightly to that one picture I had of him — my one lifeline into his world.

OK, so I knew from his bio that he helps his mom wash dishes and loves art, but I would hold that little picture in my hands and examine every detail, trying to glean whatever information I could.

What type of shoes is he wearing? Is that a scrape on his knee? What’s that expression on his face — fear? Indifference?! The thought even crosses my mind…is he even happy I’m sponsoring him?

I know there are other sponsors who feel the same way. We cling to those pictures, so excited to be a part of a child’s life, so when we see that these little ones look scared or stiff or even aloof, we can’t help but think “what’s going on here?!”

Photo day is a big day for children being registered at Compassion-assisted child development centers. In the morning, they put on their bestest outfit, hold their mom’s hand as they walk the dusty road to the child development center, and get ready to face the camera.

This is probably the first picture that’s ever been taken of them. Many are shy and scared of the stranger taking their picture. Many aren’t used to so much individual attention being given to them. Many don’t quite know what this sponsorship thing is all about yet.

I recently saw this photo by Edwin Estioko, Communication Specialist in the Philippines. How refreshing!

After the fear of that first picture, the child begins to loosen up. He interacts a bit with the smiling, accepting faces at the project; he makes a couple of new friends from his neighborhood. Look how relaxed and child-like this cutie is when he lets his guard down a bit!

Phew…So it’s not just me. It’s a new situation for these children, and their little cheeks will soon relax into chubby smiles.

Imagine my delight when, after cherishing the first picture of my sponsored child who looked so tentative and unsure, I received this photo of a smiling, confident young man. And maybe, just maybe, he was thinking of me.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Edwin Estioko, our Communication Specialist living in the Philippines, took this picture of the Camilo family. A family of eight who share this little home together. What you’re seeing is their whole home. There’s not a sitting room hiding just at the edge of this photo. That’s it. Those little children sleep lined up by each other like sardines each night.

When I was a little kid I had a nickname: Heater Legs. At night, my legs would reach roughly 375 degrees and, allegedly, flail wildly all night. My sisters would fight over who had to sleep next to Heater Legs on vacation, ‘cause it wasn’t gonna be a fun night.

I wonder if one of these cute little kids is a Heater Legs. Or a Snorer. Or a Bed Hog … umm, I guess that would be a Ground Hog in this case. And yet despite this sleeping situation, here they lie smiling. Some days this family only eats bananas. Some days they don’t eat at all. And yet when Edwin asked them to show him how they sleep, they rushed to their places, laughing and pushing each other playfully. They don’t mind it because they keep each other warm.

It reminds me of something Paul Henri, our communications specialist in Burkina Faso, said to me. Paul Henri just recently started working for Compassion; he goes out to the projects to get those great stories about how children are affected by Compassion’s ministry. And this is what he had to say about the kids he gets to meet: “Something great that I have learned from children I interview is their happiness despite poverty. They seem not to be affected by poverty. When I talk to them, I usually see a large smile on their faces. This makes me remember Jesus, who was sleeping in the stern of the boat while a storm was raging.”

These children in the Philippines and Paul Henri in Burkina Faso sure give me perspective. It’s hard to keep up my attitude of grumbling when I remember those little faces lined up on the floor. Faces that reflect joy despite the storm they’re in.

It’s not that we don’t have real problems here, too. We might be facing unemployment or divorce or infertility or cancer. Our problems are real and hard. But what I’m learning from the field is that I can’t wait for life to be perfect to live in Christ’s joy. I sometimes think that if only this one thing happened, I’d be happy. But I can’t wait to have joy and peace until my storms have passed.

Oh, for the day I can become like a child — to live each day with a kid’s playful smile on my face. To have Jesus’ peace and joy today, despite my worries, just like those cute little kids in the Philippines.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates