Compassion Canada – do you know this organization?
They help kids in poor neighbourhoods all around the world. Sponsorship help provide children Bible studies, evangelism and discipleship, medical and dental treatment, social activities, school supplies and academic support. The parents or guardians of the child will also have evangelism, workshops and seminars provided for them.
When I met my husband he was already sponsoring a child through Compassion Canada. We were writing to him regularly. Then we got a call telling us that this little guy would not be available anymore, would we be willing to get another child elsewhere in the world?
We said yes. And Maruja from Bolivia became our sponsor child.
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Playing ball games, listening to music and running are Maruja’s favourite recreational activities. She also attend church activities, Bible class, and vacation Bible school regularly.
Maruja lives with her father and her mother. Both parents are sometimes employed as farmers. Maruja works at home washing clothes, making beds and helping in the kitchen. There are 3 children in the family.
She lives in the mountainous area southwest of La Paz. There are about 2,100 residents in the area. Typical houses are constructed of dirt floors, adobe walls and corrugated iron roofs. The primary ethnic group and language is Aymara.
The regional diet consists of bread, beef, rice, potatoes, quinoa, barley, beans and dehydrated potatoes. Common health problems in the area would be anemia, malnutrition, respiratory infections, fevers, stomach illnesses, coughs, colds and dental cavities. Most adults work on plantations and earn the equivalent of 28$ per month. The community needs potable water, electricity and libraries.
Bolivia comprises four geographic regions: the central plateau- or altiplano – in the Andes Mountains, the Lake Titicaca region, the centra region’s semitropical rain forests, and the hot, humid lowlands of the east.
Bolivia is the least developed country in South America. Compassion works mainly among the Indian highlanders, who makes beautiful handwoven textiles from the wool of alpacas and llamas, animals that also provide milk, meat, and transport. Corn and potatoes are staples of the Indian diet.
Originally part of the Inca empire, Bolivia came under Spanish rule in 1535 after being conquered by Hernando Pizarro. Struggle against Spain began in 1809, and Bolivia won independence in 1825. Until the end of the nineteenth century, there were many coups and short-lived constitutions, with few stable periods in between. The period from 1952 to 1964 was marked by significant economic and social reforms, and a new constitution was adopted in 1967; however, civil unrest contiues to dominate Bolivia’s politics.
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Alberto is presently in level 3 of primary school in DR which is equivalent to 3rd grade in Canada. His performance is average.
Playing cars, bicycling and playing group games are Alberto’s favourite recreational activities. He also attends church activities and Bible class regularly.
Alberto lives with his father and his mother. His duties at home include caring for animals, making beds and running errands. There are 2 children in the family. His father is sometimes employed as a laborer and his mother maintains the home.
We had the opportunity to meet Alberto back in 2005. He was a bright boy with a hug smile. We also visited his home and met his parents.
It was hard to say goodbye and we got changed with this trip in DR.
Then after we had Jérémy back in 2005, we decided to sponsor a child for each child that God will give us. So we called and requested another child in the same project as Alberto. And we got a little girl named Indira.
Indira is presently in level 2 of primary school in DR which is the equivalent of 2nd grade in Canada. Her performance is average.
Playing house, jumping rope and bicycling are Indira`s favourite recreational activities. She also attend Bible class and vacation Bible school regularly.
Indira lives with her father and her mother. Her duties at home include running errands and cleaning. There are 2 children int he family. her father is employed as a laborer and her mother maintains the home.
Both Alberto and Indira lives in a coastal community near 
The regional diet consists of chicken, bread, beef and rice. Common health problems in this area include parasites, fever and flu. Most adults work in factories and earn the equivalent of 120$ per month. This community needs literacy training and drug abuse prevention programs.
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. It has a tropical climate, but moist, year-round trade winds keep temperatures between 72 and 83 F.
Almost 90% Dominicans live in rural areas where unemployment is high and malnutrition widespread. A family’s diet consists mainly of rice, beans, and fish. Spanish is the official language, and Catholicism is the state religion.
in 1492, Columbus discovered Hispaniola, and the island became the center of Spanish rule in the West Indies. Soon, the indigenous people were wiped out, and slaves were brought from Africa to populate the island. The descendants of those slaves form most of the population today. For three centuries, Hispaniola was governed by Spain, then by France. In 1804, the island won independence as the republic of Haiti. Forty years later, the eastern two –thirds of the island revolted and formed Dominican Republic. Except for a brief period of annexation to Spain, the Dominican Republic has been independent ever since.
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Fast forward to 2007 – we had our fourth child. True to our decision, we contacted Compassion Canada again to request a new child to sponsor. This time, however, I wanted to have a child in Thailand – near where our friends – Al & Joane Brown – were missionaries which was Chiang Mai (they recently moved closer to their ministry in Mae Sot (for more information on what they do in Thailand please see Compasio website).
Orana is in level 5 of primary school in Thailand. This is equivalent to 5th grade in Canada. Her school work is average.
Ping Pong, art and walking are Orana’s favourite recreational activities. She also attends church activities regularly.
Orana makes her home with her father and her mother. Carrying water, making beds and running errands are her household duties. Her father and mother are sometimes employed as farmers. There are 2 children in the family.
Orana lives on the plains which is home of 700 residents. 
The regional diet consists of maize, beans, chicken, rice, pork, fish and beef. Common health problems in this area include colds and malaria. Most adults work as day laborers or subsistence farmers and earn the equivalent of 30$ per month. This community needs employment opportunities and affordable education.
Thailand’s central region is a rich agricultural area called Asia’s rice bowl. the northeast is poor and suffers seasonal droughts or floods. The north has forested mountains and fertile valleys. Rain forest claims the south. Thailand’s tropical climate is dominated by monsoons, high temperatures and humidity.
compassion works mainly among the Karen, Lisu, and Lahu tribes. the Karen of western Thailand live by wet rice farming, although some are mahouts, keepers and drivers of elephants, who work hauling logs in the teak forests. Many Karen are Christians. The Lisu live in remote villages at high altitudes, largely concentrated in northern Thailand. The Lahu, mountain people of northern Thailand, farm rice and maize and hunt with poisoned arrows.
Founded in the 13th century, Thailand is the only country in South and Southeast Asia never colonized by a European power. Since 1975, Thailand has provided asylum for refugees from Communist Indochina. For its aid, Thailand has received acclaim from international organizations supporting refugee relief.
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A few months ago, I learned through another crew member at the TOS Homeschool Crew, TIM, that it could be possible to be a correspondence sponsor. A correspondence sponsor is a sponsor who doesn’t send money to the organization but is willing to write to a child sponsored who doesn’t receive letters from his sponsor. This happens often when big organizations sponsor kids and don’t have the time or money to have someone writing to them.
So I called with the intent to get Alexandre, age 9 now, to become a correspondence sponsor. He already started to write to Alberto but this specific child would be his own. The responsibility to write to the boy about his age would be is.
I got told that it was possible but they would have to look into it. No problem I said.
Well today we got a call. They have a boy of 8 years old living in El Salvador who is sponsored but do not receive letters. Alexandre should get his package in the mail soon. I didn’t tell him yet. I want it to be a surprise.
I’m excited….
Do you want to sponsor kids via Compassion Canada? It is simple. Go to their website - http://www.compassion.ca/ and click on the Sponsor a Child today! It is very rewarding. Please do consider doing so. It will make a major difference in the life of a child. Thank you.
As for my friends who might be reading this – I encourage you to sponsor as many kids as you have in your home. It is a great way to introduce the kids in helping those who have less than us. As well, as a homeschooler you can discover geography, practice penmanship and more.
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