10 Questions With Jeimy Reyes

1. How long have you been in your current position with Compassion Honduras, and what is your job?

Seventeen months. I am an auditor.

2. What are the main responsibilities of being an auditor?

Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the partner church as well as the challenges it faces.

We look for strengths so that these can be used as a support for other churches. We look for weaknesses and challenges so we can suggest solutions and give the appropriate follow-up in order to correct and solve problems in the churches.

In other words, we hope to provide necessary and timely support to the church.

3. What does an average day look like for you?

Well, first of all I put each day in God’s hands. If there is a day with a scheduled visit to any child development center, I would have previously informed the center through the partnership facilitator.

Once I arrive at the center I gather the staff together and share in devotions before collecting information about different areas of child development.

I have a time in which I clarify any doubts about the information-gathering process. Prior to this, I have a special meeting with the administrative staff in order to evaluate them and the center documentation.

I also interview some children in order to understand their concerns and measure the results of the program objectives.

At the end of the auditing process I have a time to share the results of the visit. I make some suggestions and take into consideration the pastor’s opinion as well as those of the members of the support committee and administrative staff. This is known as the “exit meeting,” and we go through everything in the center activities log.

When there is no scheduled visit, I usually work on auditing reports at the office, revising center follow-ups and attending to any doubts or problems the church partners might have about the process.

4. What is the best part of your job?

Talking with the children and finding in each of them the fruit that each of us as Compassion staff have passed on to them.

5. What is the most challenging part of your job?

Not having enough time.

Sometimes a single day is not enough to evaluate objectively each center in all its areas, especially when I have to answer any questions and concerns of the staff.

Sometimes there is not enough time for the home visits, and besides that we are still working with the auditing concept because there are churches that have a wrong idea of the auditing objectives. In some cases we have a hostile environment as a result.

But God is in control of everything, and He just sets up every piece in its right place.

6. Why did you choose this particular area of work?

I think that God called me to this ministry. I feel privileged that the Lord has considered me useful, and I have tried to give my best to honor Him.

Professionally, I have had experience in the auditing field, and I’m prepared academically for the job.

Everything that I have been through with Compassion has been a unique experience with a remarkable objective – giving better support to churches.

Before working for Compassion, I used to work in a bank.

My work at the bank absorbed all my time and kept me from serving God. I felt burdened because of this. I prayed to the Lord for a new job that would not infringe upon my service at church.

During that week, I was told about a job opportunity in Compassion. I sent my resume, and I was called the following week for an interview. That same week I was hired.

Four months later I was promoted to project auditor. I know this was a response from God.

7. What motivates you about your job?

Knowing that this is not just another job. This is the place that God has given me here. Here I have the honor to serve the Owner of the kingdom.

8. What have you learned as a result of your job (about yourself, the plight of children or the way that God works)?

I have learned to value each thing that God has given to me. I have seen God moving in a powerful way. God has used different people from this ministry to help me to grow in His word and also as a person.

I have learned to see hope, love and humility in the eyes of the children. I feel pleased about what I’m doing in this place.

9. Will you share a situation or incident you have experienced through your job that has touched your heart?

I remember one day I was visiting a church at around 1:30 in the afternoon. As the many children began to come into the center, I noticed three children between between the ages of 4 and 7 years old who looked like brothers. They looked sad, and the youngest one was crying.

I talked to them, and they told me that they were very hungry because they had not had anything to eat since noon of the last day. Their mother was looking for a job in order to feed her children. The children were waiting anxiously for the lunch at the center.

On another occasion, I visit a center located in Santa Bárbara, and had the opportunity to talk to a young man.

He told about some surgeries that he had gone through in order to correct some problems that he had in his internal organs.

He said to me, “I’m alive because of the grace of God and thanks to the support of Compassion and my sponsor.” He told me his family would not have been able to cover all of his medical expenses.

10. Do you have a message for sponsors who support the children?

I think it is important that every sponsor know that their support changes the lives of many children. The sponsors are very important in the lives of these little ones. Not just because of the financial support, but also because of the communication and relationships they build. The letters let the children know that there is somebody out there in other place that loves them even without knowing them.