It is 6 a.m. in Honduras and Rosa’s mother has already left to work at a local restaurant. Rosa wakes up and starts her chores around the house.

Rosa’s daily workday begins with making the first round of tortillas to sell, followed by tending to her personal hygiene, the house cleaning, preparing the meals, doing her school work, and finally, getting ready for university.

Adding to her workload is caring for her 2-year-old nephew, Yerson, who is a very active boy. Rosa is in charge of him while her older brother, Yerson’s father, goes to work during the morning. She has to feed Yerson, bath him and dress him, among other responsibilities.

It is a tight daily schedule, Monday through Friday.

As the time passes, Rosa starts to prepare lunch and gets ready to go to the university. Right before leaving for the education center, she goes over her school work and organizes her assignments.

Multiple activities have not impeded Rosa’s determination to do well in her classes. She is committed to honor the generous support of her sponsor, as well as being a voice for other young people in her center who dream of being part of the Leadership Development Program (LDP).

Finally, Yerson’s father returns home for lunch, and Rosa is free to go. Rosa attends the university five hours daily, Monday through Friday. Her university is the largest education center in the country with approximately 50,000 students.

This bright young girl lives with her mother, who works from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to support her small family. This provides the necessary income to cover their monthly expenses.

The absence of Rosa’s father has been difficult for her and still brings tears. Like any child, she dreamed of having a normal and happy family but, unfortunately, the separation of her parents has left much sadness in Rosa’s heart. Her father has never been around and was never interested in being part of his daughter’s life.

For more than a decade, Rosa has been registered in a child development center in the neighborhood of Flor del Campo in the capital city. It’s a big neighborhood that has been affected by the presence of gangs in some areas.

Walking very late at night it is not safe for residents; however, local authorities have taken control of the zone and the situation has improved.

Ever since Rosa was a child, the child development center represented a strong figure in her life. There she made her first steps as a newborn Christian girl. Rosa opened her heart to Jesus, and received peace and comfort which helped her feel secure and loved. (more…)

You’ve met Rafonzel once before. In the photo at the end of Eric’s post about the Leadership Development Program. But photos are so last year.

Watch this short video (just under 10 minutes) and you’ll hear Rafonzel talk about the meaning of Compassion’s programs in her life – like Michelle did – and you’ll see Rafonzel meet her sponsor for the very first time – like Esther described for us yesterday.

We are the Brasile family from Hamden, Connecticut:  Thomas and Esther. We have two daughters, Larissa and Leah. We believe in the ministry of Compassion International. This story is written by Esther.

Music and art are very important parts of our lives and household. Phil Keaggy is a musician we try to see in concert when we can. Phil has been a strong advocate for Compassion for many years

In 1993, Larissa was 9 years old and Leah was 5 years old. The four of us were at a Phil Keaggy concert when we decided to take another Compassion Child Packet. We chose the photo of a lovely little girl, from the Philippines, named Michelle.

As we began to correspond with Michelle, we learned she had a mom, dad and two brothers. She could write and express herself very well in English.

Immediately, we also saw how privileged we were to have a relationship with a godly young lady who was older than Larissa and Leah. Michelle was someone they could look to as an example even though she was far away.

Michelle’s photo was proudly displayed among our family photos, reminding us to pray for her. The most significant truth that was expressed in all of Michelle’s letters was her passionate desire to please and glorify God in all she did.

On a more human level, we had an immediate connection with Michelle through our love for the arts. Michelle told us she was learning sacred dance and was using that skill to glorify God during worship services. She was also learning how to play the tambourine.

I always thought of this when I brought Larissa and Leah to their dance lessons. I reminded them that Michelle was also a dancer. This artistic connection carried over through our lives as Tom played guitar in church, as Larissa, Leah and I sang in the choir, and as Larissa and Leah refined their writing and drawing skills.

I am a professional calligrapher and printmaker, so this common interest was fun. We also told Michelle about Tom being Larissa’s and Leah’s soccer coach, about Larissa’s and Leah’s mission trip, and mentioned my Dad’s promotion to heaven.

Michelle wrote to us about her culture and heritage and we shared some of ours. I remember feeling encouraged, humbled and convicted to learn simply through letters that Michelle was obviously taking advantage of every opportunity that God gave her. She was not going to give up. This gave us a serious sense of responsibility toward her.

Tom describes his part in sponsoring Michelle as “shoveling coal,” as though helping to propel a great steamer toward its destination. We knew that we were helping to provide the support Michelle needed to go as far as she could go in Christ in this world – and go far she did!.

Our family is the proud sponsor of Michelle Sheba Tolentino. (more…)

As the kitchen door opens, a young man neatly dressed in a chef outfit emerges carrying a bowl of warm spaghetti and wearing a wide smile of self-confidence. Although he began cooking only six months before, he carries himself like an experienced cook.

“After finishing high school, I was not sure what career to choose, so I decided to write down all the things I like best and found out that the best option for me is tourism and hotel administration,” says Waldo, a 21-year old Leadership Development Program (LDP) student who is breaking the cycle of poverty by studying at a university in Lima City.

(more…)

At the age of 3, John had his first contact with music. It was at a Compassion child development center.

Everything in John’s life could be dissonant if a particular day in his past hadn’t happened. Now, like in a beautiful symphony, John is conducting his life in a new tone – the tone of leadership.

John was 12 when everything happened. It seemed to be the last straw when the director of his former child center called his name and said, “I want to see you in my office now.”

Frightened, John walked to the place so familiar to him because of his aggressiveness and disobedience. But this was a day he didn’t do anything wrong. Sso he thought, “It’s done. There is no way out.”

He was right. For sure there was not. (more…)

It’s happening again! In 2009, three more Leadership Development Program grads will be able to begin studying at Moody Bible Institute, with full-ride scholarships.

I anticipate having the list of finalists in March, and hope to have our new students in Colorado Springs in August.

Please pray for everyone involved in this program as we move through the process – visas, language tests, itineraries, etc. Applying for the scholarship, and to Moody, can be very stressful, and our desire is that getting this full-ride scholarship will be a completely positive, life-changing experience.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know the GREAT news and ask you to pray. Thanks.

The Leadership Academy in Guatemala was implemented in 2005 for the first time to prepare students to enter the Leadership Development Program (LDP) and find good candidates for the program.

Maria, the former LDP Specialist in Guatemala who is now the LDP Specialist for the Central America and Caribbean region, says,

“We believe God wants students to be successful, and it is our goal, through the Leadership Academy, to help students rest on this promise and help them to be more prepared and confident as they start walking on the path God has for them at the university. (more…)