Compassion International

June 12, 2009 I had the pleasure of meeting Bismarck Eliezer, the young boy I sponsor through Compassion International. I have sponsored through Compassion for many years now, and have always dreamed of one day meeting the child that I sponsored. Not too long before I left the states to come to Nicaragua I had received a notice that the child I previously sponsored (in Kenya) was no longer living in a Compassion Project area, and that I would not longer be sponsoring him. Immediately I got online to look for a new child to sponser, and wanted to look in Nicaragua. I saw a picture of this adorable boy, who reminded me of so many of the kids I had seen before on my trips. I read that he was behind in school and struggling with his studies. I knew this was the child I wanted to sponsor. I prayed that somehow my donation each month would provide him with the things he needed to encourage him to do better in his studies. After moving to Nicaragua in November, I knew that I would contact Compassion and see about meeting my sponsored child. I got in touch with Compassion and the meeting was arranged. That Friday morning, a young woman named Scarlett (who works with Compassion) met with Jesus and I to take us to where Eliezer was waiting. We arrived at his Compassioin Project, and he greeted us at the door. I of course gave him a big hug, but could instantly tell that he was nervous about meeting me and shy. I could tell he was excited to meet me, just very nervous. He then took us to his room and showed me where he sat. He sat right smack in the front of the room. I explained to him that when I was in school, I hated the front...I tried to sit at the back if I could. He told me that he sits there because he can see the board better. I told him I understood that too. He then asked if I would like to come to his house and meet his Grandma and some of his cousins. I said yes, and we headed back to the taxi that was waiting for us. As we walked Jesus and I talked with him a little bit, but he was still very shy. I asked him if he was nervous and he got this huge smile on his face and said yes! It was great to see him smile though! We got in the taxi and as we were riding I told him that if he had any questions for me to ask away! He said he had questions but he was too nervous to ask me any of them. When we arrived at his house though, he asked if he could hold my hand and he led me into his house. I thought it was adorable, and it filled my heart with joy. We entered his house, and seats were given for everyone (at this point his Grandma was not there, she was at another location taking care of her 104 year old mother). There was Jesus and I, Scarlett, the man that is the director of the Compassion Project that Eliezer attends, his teacher from Compassion, and another lady, along with Eliezer and some of his cousins. We learned that Eliezer lives there with his Grandma and Aunt. He has 3 older sisters as well, but they live with his Mom in another town. I'm not sure why he lives with his Grandma, but I'm guessing his Mom found him to hard to handle and passed him on to someone else. Although I was curious, I did not ask....knowing it could be something he may not want to talk about. Eventually his Grandma came in, and from the moment she walked in the door, till the moment we left...she did not stop talking. She was very nice though, and told us many things about Eliezer. I too asked her if she had any questions for me, and she said she was too nervous to ask any as well. We talked about Eliezer and how he was doing in school, I was very pleased and proud of him. His grades have improved greatly since he has been with Compassion. He attends public school each morning, then two times a week after his regular school he attends the Compassion Project. The director explained to me that once the kids are over the age of 11 they attend life skills classes with Compassion. Right now Eliezer is taking a baking class. After that class in complete he will be taking a computer class. I was happy to see that Compassion offers them classes that will help them with life skills that they need and are helpful for jobs in the future. His Grandma also got out some photo albums and showed me the few pictures she had of Eliezer when he was a baby and toddler. He was adorable! We talked about his grades some more and I told him how proud I was of him, that his grades and improved a lot since the first time I saw his grades. Only problem in school right now is he likes to fight. Right now he is at that age where he feels like fighting is the answer to all his problems. So, Grandma said that the school calls all the time because he has gotten into another fight. We talked about this for a little while too, and I explained that this was not the right solution for our problems. He promised me he would try to do better in this area. We took some pictures, I gave them some groceries, and then our time was over. It went by so fast, but it's a memory that I will treasure forever. I now know the child that I sponsor, and he has been able to meet me as well and put a face with my name. He never really did open up too much, but he had this beautiful smile on his face the whole time. He had a light in his eyes, that I see in so many of the Nica faces here. It's a happiness that comes from the heart, and shines in their eyes. He walked us out, gave me a hug and waved goodbye as the taxi pulled away from his house. I hope that one day I will be able to visit with him again, and maybe he won't be as nervous this time! The day is a memory engraved in my heart forever.