The Power of Showing Up: Kim's Trip to Ecuador

In 2019, our local church partnered with Compassion International to sponsor (or fund) a church plant deep in the jungle, in a town located east of the Andes Mountains, just south of the Colombian border. At this church (or center), more than 300 children are sponsored through Compassion International.

Sponsoring a child costs $43 per month, and that money provides a safe space for the child, school clothing, meals throughout the week, medical exams, and educational support. There are kids on the waitlist to be sponsored, and the center we helped establish is now at max capacity. Another program offered through Compassion International and the church is the Survival Moms Intervention Program. This program supports pregnant mothers through their babies’ first year. It teaches moms about nutrition, health, and wellness and assists with any needs their babies might have. The program also provides home visits and $15 worth of food each month, which can feed a family for several days with multiple meals. Due to capacity and staffing limits, they can only serve 15 moms at a time.

This week, I learned that the center wants to purchase the adjacent property to expand and build, but they don’t have the financial means to make it happen. The cost would be $25,000. If they can acquire the land and build another facility, they could serve up to 700 children per week—immediately doubling their impact. The children are already there; they just need the space. In 2025, our church and Compassion International planned a trip for 12 of us to visit the center and meet our sponsored kids.

Less than 1% of sponsored children ever meet their sponsor, so when a sponsor shows up, it’s a dream come true. It helps the child realize that their sponsors are real people, not just names on letters written by someone 2,500 miles away. What I’ve learned is that by sponsoring just one child, you impact an entire family. Over time, as we impact families, we can impact communities and help break the cycle of poverty. We’ve sponsored Helen for seven years, and this past week, on March 19, 2025, we had the incredible opportunity to meet her in person.

Helen’s mom joined her, along with her tutor. Compassion arranged for their transportation (a 10-hour bus ride!) and lodging. While Will and Helen went off to ride horses, I had the chance to connect with Helen’s mom, Jessica. I learned that Helen had yellow fever and bronchitis at the same time during her first month of life. At that time, they didn’t know if Helen would survive. Fast forward four years, and the church asked Jessica if she’d like Helen to be sponsored because a family in the U.S. (that would be us) had chosen to sponsor her. Jessica was overjoyed that Helen would receive a sponsor and provisions. Through those provisions, the whole family has benefited. Helen now has access to any medications she needs, clothing to attend school, and food to eat at the center.

The mission of Compassion is to break the cycle of poverty—in Jesus’ name—one child at a time.

The question is not if you’re called, but to whom and to where you’re called.

Join us for Sending Sunday on November 9 as we unveil our lineup of 2026 trips. After both services, stay for an interest meeting in Annex 2 to learn more about each trip and how you can get involved.