I have one sweet little guy in that country; Joseph.
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Dear Kayla,
My name is Jose Carlos Prem and I have been the country director of Guatemala for eight years. I am a chemical engineer and I also graduated from the Central American Theological Seminary.
Jose Jose Prem
Compassion started working in Guatemala after a terrible earthquake in 1976 and it was officially registered in 1989. We currently have almost 200 church partners that are helping us release more than 53,000 children from poverty in Jesus' name.
Children Celebrating in Jesus' Name
I want to express how very grateful I am for your thoughtful sensitivity in ministering to Joseph. I feel certain that your contributions represent a decision you did not make quickly or lightly and I want you to know how much it means to Joseph.
I am able to see firsthand the work of Compassion in the most impoverished communities around the country. I see our children speak and show the love of Jesus to their families and those around them. I have also seen how a timely intervention can save a child's life.
Young Students Studying Their Bibles
I like to ask our children what they like best about attending a child development center. Many say that they get to play; some say that they like to hear Bible stories. But one child told me his favorite thing was a getting a plate of food and being able to ask for a second one if he was still hungry.
This child was able to see God's love through a plate of food, or in this case, two plates of food. Hunger is just one of the many problems our children and their families have to overcome daily. It is an overwhelmingly reality, but we decided to focus on five of our most urgent needs: violence, child abuse, malnutrition, parents' unemployment, and poor access to health care.
A Sweet Boy Enjoying a Meal
Official statistics show that in our country, one of our two children under five has chronic malnutrition. Guatemala is the fifth most violent country in the world, and there are more than 3,500 reports of child abuse every year. More than half our population lives in poverty and there is only one doctor for every 5,000 people. These facts are devastating and may discourage people, but for us they are a reminder that there are still many things we can do to continue the work that Jesus started here on Earth.
A Mother & Her Three Children Outside Their Home
In the development work, resources are not always enough to meet the needs. That is why we are working with strategic alliances. Some of these alliances are providing purified water to distant communities and offering vocational training, counseling, pastor training, and youth discipleship.
A Boy Learning Weaving Skills
Thanks to sponsors, all our efforts become more meaningful to these children. They know that somewhere in the world there is someone who cares about them. Letters are especially important to fostering this bond. As children grow, they understand how important a sponsor is to their lives. I met a little girl who lost both of her parents. When her sponsor found out, she decided to become a motherly figure and a role model for her little sponsored girl. In two years, the girl received dozen of letters and she told me she felt the love of a mother through her sponsor's words. It makes our children feel special and loved when they know someone took time to think of them and write to them. Please your sponsored children as often as possible.
A Class of Children Writing Letters to Their Sponsors
Please pray for our future plans as we move toward growth in the ministry. In the last four years, we have grown from 30,000 to more than 53,000 children, and in the coming years, we are expecting even bigger growth.
Young, Newly Registered Children Learning Dental Hygiene
Thank you for allowing God's direction and for expressing, through your sponsorship, your devotion to Joseph.
Thankfully,
Jose Carlos Prem
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