How We Spent Our Summer Vacation

Cesar Augusto Zavala and Elba Tatiana Maid Onoda, ages 14 and 16, came into our lives in 1997 through Compassion International. For the past seven years, we have sponsored them in their respective “projects” churches in Comayaguela and Villa de San Francisco, Honduras. In May we had the joy of once again meeting Cesar and Elba. How they have grown and matured! When we first met on a tour in 1999, then 7 and 9 respectively, they were slight in stature—Cesar was shy except when aggressively playing futbol. Elba was a bit of a flirt with a new haircut for the occasion. Her mother was at her side, having traveled by bus from their small village outside Tegucigalpa. We met at the Compassion office in Tegucigalpa. At that time, everyone in Honduras was recovering from the fury of Hurricane Mitch the previous November. We enjoyed playing soccer in the yard of the office and then went to the Burger King where the kids played on the playground and we all ate hamburgers.

For the past 20 plus years, sponsoring children in Central America has been a part of our lives. These sponsorships have been through an agency called Compassion International. The Compassion Mission statement is: “In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.” The office in Tegucigalpa oversees the approximately 77 church projects, over 10,000 children, in Honduras.

Our first sponsorship 20 plus years ago was a little girl, Gerda, in Haiti. Her family moved after a short while and the sponsorship was ended. We have forever wondered and prayed for little Gerda who now, Lord willing, is probably a very grown up woman maybe with a family of her own. Sponsorship entails a monthly commitment of $28 for each child, and corresponding with and praying for each child—in other words, a relationship. The children receive uniforms and clothing, as needed; at least one meal a day, medical attention and schooling at a church run “project." We probably receive at least four letters a year from our sponsored children and we try to write often and send cards and gifts for birthdays and Christmas. To have the opportunity to meet with them, and for them to meet their sponsors, is a grand experience on both sides.

Since we began sponsoring children, we have been fortunate to take three tours; the first to Guatemala to meet little Ana Noehemy, age 6 at the time, and her family. We have sponsored five children in Guatemala. Then the trip in ‘99 which also included three days in El Salvador. On these tours, we visited “projects” run by local evangelical churches. All follow a criteria set by Compassion according to their mission statement. As well, there are visits to homes which have been opened to us and we experienced — as our youth did in Mexico when they have worked and taught during the Easter break— the great abyss between life in the U.S. and Latin American countries.

Arriving at these generally very remote towns, visiting the project churches, and being welcomed by the children, who come running up to their visitors with beaming faces, is just about the warmest embrace available. If you would like to know more about our summer vacation experience, let us know.

Roger and Juanita Stephenson