12,000 ft to Sea Level. . .

24 hours in the Amazon. . .

So So thankful for THESE FRIENDS and their hearts!

Join us in Sponsoring a Child!

Join me in sponsoring one of these littles. . .

The highlands of Ecuador ( in the Andes Mountains) are one of my favorite places and I think you will see why. . .

We have started something new this trip that I think is so amazing. . .

You can actually sponsor a child from the Center we were at today by clicking HERE! There were so many beautiful kiddos at EC-478!

Be sure to follow the other bloggers their stories are so good I read them twice!

We are off to a Center in Quito today. . .

Will You JOIN us!

We are at the Miami airport getting ready to board for Ecuador!

I am so excited to travel with these ladies. . .like SO SO SO excited!
Follow along. . . I know I can’t wait to share!

(  bátà: n. Filipino child )

Follow the Compassion Bloggers HERE

And join us in Sponsoring a Bátà !

( Eskenita: n. A Filipino alley )

Follow the Bloggers HERE

Sponsor a Child!

Be sure to head over to these two blogs today…

See more about sweet Emily, her home, her community and her story.

Some filled with writing, some with diagrams. . . but every wall was Art.

We walked into a room that had a handful of beautifully painted canvases displayed on the shelves. . .I was in awe and quickly knew someone at the project had talent and sees talent.

Admiring the art I asked one of the project staff members who the art teacher was. . .I had to meet them!

With a big smile they said “Our director Susan, she is an artist”.

I saw Susan in the next room and I had to know more. . .

Susan was a vice president at a large bank in Manila and 7 years ago she left knowing she was called to join her church and become the Compassion Development Center Director.

Soon after arriving she saw that some of the children were suffering, some abused. She began to focus on using simple art to help “get them out of their shells”.

During our conversation she explained how she sought out artists in the community to help her build a program and stock her materials.

She began experimenting with the kids and their moods using music, texture, space and color. Quickly she found that children have so many ”unfinished stories” that need to be expressed and one way she could help was thru art.

Art has been so effective in her center that they just started a Creative Arts Ministry.

A Creative Arts Ministry!

OH . HOW . I . LOVE . THAT!

AND they just had their first student graduate from the Compassion Program and move into the Leadership Development Program. She is now studying Fine Arts at a University in the Philippines.

“Art isolates a Child from the world for a moment. And they are able to express that moment in a way they couldn’t before. . .And like a landscape God is painting THIS center’s stories together”.

There is even a wall full of paintings and open spaces. . .supplies are available where kids can fill “the expression wall” . It is a space where they can go to “express” themselves. . . their emotions . . . their art.

I loved everything Susan said today.

I was

hanging

on

each

word.

And as she ended the story of art at their center she said, “Everybody has stories – community workers, family, children, even bankers and together it is a melody to God”.

Be a part of a Child’s Story thru Sponsorship. . .

We started out with a visit to our Country office!

Our Country offices NEVER cease to amaze me.

The whole process, the staff, the organization. . . amazing!

Before leaving the sweet staff prayed over us and over this week.

See what I mean?

Now let me just say this afternoon was a blast!

My absolute favorite part of going on trips is getting to introduce a sponsor child to their sponsor!

We spent the day hanging out and playing with the kids at the zoo

aka

The Fun Ranch

So meet our bloggers and their sweet sponsor kids!

Be sure to check out their stories from today!

Meet Kat and MariCor

Stephanie and John Mark

Tsh and Denise

Lindsey and Angel

and Emily and Stacey

As Patricia said, ” You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced a zoo in a developing country”

And I must agree.

Whatch’all lookin at Shauners??? ( and owl)

Ohh Why yes, that is an orangutan takin a photo with me

and her name is Jenny

and she was dressed and wearing crocs.

Tomorrow I get on a plane and fly:

Nashville

Dallas

LAX

Tokyo

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

** yes I realize my map is not “travel accurate”**

So excited about this trip for multiple reasons!

1. I have never been to the Philippines and I am SO looking forward to meeting our staff there AND seeing our kiddos there!!

2. Sharing photos with you!

3. I am SO READY to meet these ladies!!!
Be sure to follow our blogs and twitters!!

See you Sunday from the Philippines!!