From the Field Friday: Nicaragua

The first Friday of October brings us a letter from the country director from Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central/South America.

My kids from this country are Bryan, Ayling, Gary, and Brisa.

 

 

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Dear Kayla, 

My name is William Jose Gutierrez Rojas. Since 2003, I have been the country director of Compassion Nicaragua. It has been almost 15 years since the ministry was launched in this country. Despite challenges, we have reached more than 51,000 so far through about 175 church partners, releasing them from poverty in Jesus' name. 

William Jose Gutierrez Rojas

Thank you so much for your support of Bryan, Ayling, Gary, and Brisa and for walking with them through sponsorship. 

Nicaragua is the second-poorest country in the Americas, after Haiti. Around 50 percent of children and adolescents are living in poverty, 19 percent in extreme poverty. The most under-resourced children are those living in rural areas who income is less than $2 a day. That is why many Nicaraguan children are out of school, compelled to work to earn some money, trying to relieve their basic needs a bit. Children in our country struggle with common threats such as malnutrition, poor drinking water, domestic violence, lack of access to education, poor self-esteem, and hopelessness. 

A Family Outside Their Home in Rural Nicaragua

But thanks to sponsors, children in our child development centers have the opportunity to grow in a holistic way - spiritually, physically, cognitively, and socio-emotionally. They are exposed to the gospel through spiritual retreats and other activities that teach them about God's love. They receive regular medical checkups, meals, and preventative health care. They have access to education, school supplies, tutoring, and different types of vocational training. They learn to interact with other people in a healthy and compassionate manner. 

Children Eating a Meal at Their Project 

Besides all these, children's lives are changed in a positive way by their sponsors' friendships. Children delight in sponsors' letters because of their encouraging words to succeed in life, making children aware they are worthy and loved. This is especially true for our many children who come from dysfunctional homes with frosty relationships, where there is little interest in their well-being. Please write to your children as often as you can. 

A Boy Writing a Letter to his Sponsor

Compassion's programs make an impact on the parents as well as the children. Parents are taught how to raise, treat, and educate their children from pregnancy onward. Parents are shown how to take great parental responsibility, and they learn about topics such as child protection and nutrition. 

I would like to ask for your prayers, please. There is still a long path to work through, and our effort to reach more and more children in need and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. 

Children Learning in Their Compassion Classroom

Thank you for your effort to break the chain of poverty for Bryan, Ayling, Gary, and Brisa. Thank you for arising and crying out in the night for the lives of children who faint from hunger at every street corner (Lamentations 2:19). Your love and support is greatly valued and appreciated, not only by your children, but also by our Lord and Savior.

In Him and For Him, 

William Gutierrez Rojas

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