A couple of months ago I received a rather unique invitation. Compassion International was considering sending a team of bloggers to Dominican Republic and wondered if I might be interested in tagging along. The purpose of the trip is for these bloggers to see what Compassion is doing in that place and to learn what the organization is all about. I thought about it for some time and have decided to go along. I have long wondered about Compassion, having a perhaps-unhealthy skepticism about such ministries. The more I learn about it, though, the more I am convinced it is a good and valuable organization and I hope that this trip will help allay any remaining fears.
Here is what Compassion says about the trip: “November 2-7, 2008 Compassion International will take a group of bloggers to see their ministry to over 40,000 children in the Dominican Republic. Known for its resort-speckled beaches, there’s another side to this Caribbean nation unknown to most vacationers. Our bloggers will visit a city dump where families scavenge for food and clothing. They’ll tour a neighborhood where drugs are trafficked and children live beside open sewers. And bloggers will also see firsthand how Compassion International and child sponsors are bringing hope to children living in these places by releasing them from poverty in Jesus’ name.”
And so, in early November, I will be heading to Dominican Republic. My one fear about the trip is being away from home for the better part of a week all by my lonesome—no friends and no family to go along. I spoke to my wife and children and spoke to Compassion and it now seems likely that my son Nicholas, who is eight, will be coming with me. If it works out (and again, I think it will), he will be starting his own blog for the trip and will be blogging from the perspective of an eight year-old. I’m hoping that his blog will be of interest to some of the children out there. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to spend the time and enjoy the experience with my boy.
So keep an eye on this blog from November 2-7 and you can read updates from Dominican. You may also like to tune in to read some other blogs as these people will also be going: Melanie from TheBigMamaBlog.com, Mary from OwlHaven.net, Marlboro Man (and his two daughters) from ThePioneerWoman.com, Jennifer from 5MinutesForMom.com. Shaun Groves and Brian Seay will co-lead the trip.
Comments (23) »
1. Chris Roberts
September 13, 2008
2:15 PM
We have two Compassion kids and the relationship with them has been great. The boy writes occasionally and the girl writes fairly frequently. It’s given us another ministry opportunity, allowing us to help people we otherwise never would have been able to. It also helps us teach our children about ministry and people in different parts of the world.
Some of those sorts of ministry have been questionable in the past but Compassion International has always been a solid, remarkable ministry. I encourage anyone to sign up and sponsor children through them.
2. Charity
September 13, 2008
2:18 PM
I’m so glad that you are going and and ESPECIALLY glad that your son might be going. It will make a big impression on him. No matter what you feel about ministries like compassion, seeing those children willbreak your heart make it worship all at the same time. I always felt like that when I was in Mexico.
3. Tim Challies
September 13, 2008
2:59 PM
I’m so glad that you are going and and ESPECIALLY glad that your son might be going. It will make a big impression on him. No matter what you feel about ministries like compassion, seeing those children willbreak your heart make it worship all at the same time. I always felt like that when I was in Mexico.
It was kind of a tough decision bringing Nick along. There is part of us that wants to protect him from seeing kids eating out of a garbage dumb. But ultimately we think it will be good for him to see just how privileged he is living where he is living. He is a deep-thinking kid and I think such a trip will serve him well in the long-term.
4. Shaun Groves
September 13, 2008
3:19 PM
TIm, so glad you said “yes.” Looking forward to hanging in person…and meeting Nick too.
If you’re a blogger reading this, you can help us tremendously by praying for us (against our fears and for health and safe travel, for our families while we’re away) and by simply linking to the bloggers who will coming along. Thanks for the help.
-Shaun
CompassionBloggers.com
5. Elizabeth
September 13, 2008
4:22 PM
What an awesome opportunity for you, and hopefully for your son as well! I look forward to reading about it, and would be happy to pray for your family while you’re gone.
6. Randy
September 13, 2008
4:47 PM
Tim,
I am so glad to hear that you are going, and even that you have a healthy skepticism of Compassion. I can say that I used to have a healthy skepticism too, but not now. See, I just got back from a week in Ecuador working at a Compassion site in Guayaquil. Compassion also set up a day for me to spend with my sponsored child, who lives in the same city.
While we were there, the Compassion staff brought us into the people’s homes (or what was considered a home) and showed us the effects of their ministry. It is amazing the difference that exists between a “hand-out” ministry and Compassion, who focuses on eliminating not only economic poverty, but spiritual poverty. I was so blessed to hear my sponsored child tell me her favorite Bible verse, sing her favorite song they sing at church, and tell me that she is praying for my family!
I hope you are blessed by your trip. Please let us know every detail!
7. johnMark
September 13, 2008
6:53 PM
Tim,
That’s awesome! I will be praying for you folks.
We sponsor a child through Compassion and it’s a great thing. I’m so glad we can help with what we do and it’s very humbling too.
Grace to you,
Mark
8. Rodney Olsen
September 13, 2008
7:23 PM
I visited Hait and Dominican Republic earlier this year. There was a small group of us representing a number of Australia’s Christian radio stations.
We were in Haiti when the food riots began. It was pretty scary stuff at times but the Compassion staff kept us safe and got us out of the country.
Dominican Republic is beautiful but the poverty just below the surface is heartbreaking.
Please say hello to Compassion’s staff in Dominican Republic from this radio announcer half a world away in Perth, Western Australia.
9. Kristina
September 13, 2008
10:18 PM
I think it would be incredibly interesting to read about the trip from your son’s perspective.
10. Brendt Waters
September 13, 2008
11:11 PM
Award-winning baseball player and soon-to-be well-read blogger. ;-)
11. Pedro Jimenez
September 13, 2008
11:57 PM
Hi Tim.
I am a reader of your blog who lives in the Dominican Republic.
If you find a free time being here, can you contact me? it will be an honor for me to meet you in person. Maybe we can have a lunch or dinner together.
Send me an e-mail if you believe we can do this.
Kind regards.
12. Keith
September 14, 2008
3:17 AM
I can’t wait to see what you write about after you return. I truly think this is a great opportunity for you!
13. J.P.H.
September 14, 2008
6:18 AM
Randy,
Your post illustrates one of my main concerns with ministries like this. Note: my wife and I sponsor a girl in Kenya. My biggest fear, perhaps unjustified, is that the kids or their parents will think the assistance they receive is contingent on their becoming believers. Or at least putting forth the appearance of belief. So when you go to Ecuador to see this little girl and she’s quoting Bible verses, is she doing so because she really loves the Word, or because she’s afraid of the repercussions should she fails to appear “Christian enough” when the sponsors come to visit?
14. Susanna Rose
September 14, 2008
6:16 PM
Tim, how exciting! I can’t wait to read about the experiences you’ll have and also, will be anxious to learn more about Compassion International as well! I have been interested in this organization for a long time but have not done enough research into it. That is so neat too that Nick will be able to go along and I look forward to seeing what he has to say on his blog! Like father, like son!!!:)
15. Trillia
September 14, 2008
9:30 PM
I’ll be praying for you Tim! What a great opportunity to serve and learn about a different ministry.
Blessings,
Trill.
16. IndyChristian
September 15, 2008
7:57 AM
Awesome. Thanks for writing about this — we’re featuring your post today. And we’ll look forward to following the story in November.
17. Randy
September 15, 2008
2:27 PM
J.P.H.,
I thought about this while I was down there and asked my translator some questions about who participated at the center I was visiting. The answer was surprising.
It doesn’t appear that any child’s support was contingent upon their “appearance of belief”, but rather on attendance to the Compassion project. In fact, a large number of children who attended the after school programs were not sponsored, so I don’t see how there could have necessarily been some fear of rejection from them.
I suppose that it is possible that my visit with my child could have been coerced in some way, even though she only knew I was coming 3 days before I got there.
Perhaps to justify your fear or the opposite of it, you (especially you, and your wife if she fears the same) should consider visiting your child. My guess is that you will find your answer in the first 5 minutes of meeting him or her.
I suppose I can only bank on my own personal experience, but if I had to venture a guess, I would consider my child’s spirituality genuine. My sponsorship provides means for her to combat poverty, but it wasn’t the instigator of her introduction to Christ. The Compassion project did that with the entire community many years prior.
I hope you will investigate your concern further with Compassion and with your child, personally or through letters, rather than just a blog post and my response, if it made sense.
Randy
18. Dan
September 15, 2008
3:09 PM
It may be a life transforming trip to see what Christ certainly cares very deeply about.
Will it haunt the mind? Perhaps - but to see what a huge proportion of the world lives like and then to even have a voice in changing that reality - how powerful is that?
19. Jennifer, Snapshot
September 16, 2008
7:39 AM
It would be cool to read from the perspective of your son.
I think it’s going to be an amazing experience.
Jennifer also from 5minutesformom
20. Grace
September 16, 2008
8:10 AM
I can’t wait to read Nick’s perspective! What an opportunity for you both.
21. Laura
September 16, 2008
1:37 PM
Tim, I hope this trip is a great experience for you and your son! I work for an organization doing similar work to Compassion and have been in communities where they work. I appreciate their work and the transformation they help to bring to the communities where they are. Be prepared for deep learning and hard questions. Healthy skepticism is good - but keep an open heart and mind.
22. Rita Martinez
September 18, 2008
10:38 PM
Mr. Challies! I’m glad to hear you and your son will be visiting my country! I will be praying for all the bloggers that are coming.
“Known for its resort-speckled beaches, there’s another side to this Caribbean nation unknown to most vacationers” This is very true, most people think of nice beaches and excellent hotels when they think of the DR but we are so much more (and so much less at the same time, being that we are a third world country) than that and there is so much need all over the country.
23. Rod Phillips
September 19, 2008
10:47 PM
We also support three compassion kids and are very impressed how they are taken care of. I also have a friend on the field who oversees a number of churches and a Compassion Ministry center. He was impressed with how careful they are to have their guidelines met before they would work in a certain area. I hope that your trip will give confidence to all of us who are Compassion parents.
I’ll be looking forward to your blogging on that trip