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compassion

compassion-bloggers-ecuador-2016-spotlightHave you been following the Compassion Bloggers in Ecuador? I have admired the women on this trip for a long, long time but their words and photos have totally captivated me this week.

Compassion+Bloggers+Ecuador+2016-DayTwo-51Shannan’s Blog

I met Shannan at Hope Spoken a few years ago. I remember inhaling delicious In-N-Out burgers (I was pregnant and starving!) as I listened to Shannan share her story our first first night in Dallas. Her heart for the Lord and for people oozed out of her every word. If you read her blog, you know what I mean. She truly loves her neighbors well.

2.1.16CSP-02(pp_w744_h496)Ashley’s Blog

When I think of Ashley the word intentional comes to mind. Ashley is so intentional in everything she does…raising her kids, using her voice on her blog, advocating for adoption and foster care and so much more. She has the biggest heart and is just as sweet and intentional in real life as she is on her blog. I love what Ashley wrote today…

Sometimes in an effort to protect kids from pain, opportunities to see them soar are also taken away. I want my children to learn from an early age that the world is far bigger than the 5 mile radius we spend most of our days. I want to be the one to expose them to world – its joys, pains, cultures, people – in age appropriate ways.

Yes!

A+Step+Towards+Hope+{Compassion+Blogger+Trip+Ecuador+2016,+Day+2}Ruth’s Blog

I haven’t had the privilege of meeting Ruth in real life, but I have been following her blog and Instagram for awhile now. I mean, she is a mama to six boys…I feel like I have a LOT to learn from her! More than being a boy mom, Ruth’s dependency on God’s Word as she raises her boys has been such an encouragement and challenge to me as I raise my own boys. She is a wise woman.

I have known about Compassion for a long time. One of my dearest friends recently moved to Colorado so that her husband could take a job with Compassion. Joel and I have even casually talked about sponsoring a child several times, but just never have. I don’t know why we have waited!

We are quickly approaching Cora’s Heaven Day and Birthday. Each year we try to think of a way we can celebrate Cora’s life by investing in others. This week as I’ve read the beautiful yet heartbreaking stories of the people of Ecuador and seen the impact that Compassion has had on the lives of these precious sponsored children, my heart was stirred to sponsor a child this year for Cora’s birthday. Like Ashley said, I long for my boys to know that our world is far bigger than our farm in Kansas. Sponsoring a child through Compassion seems like the perfect way to celebrate my daughter’s life and begin to give my boys eyes that see outside our little white farmhouse. I am praying that God would use this small, small gift in big ways to impact two sweet boys across the globe. But more than that I am asking that He would change our hearts and give us a bigger vision of who He is and what He is doing around the world.

I can’t wait to get our packets and dive into this new adventure!

Go check out what Shannan, Ashley and Ruth are doing in Ecuador and consider sponsoring one of these precious children!

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  • Mary K - Wow! Compassion is such a wonderful organization – awesome people! So glad that you’ve become a sponsor – you’ll have a major impact on the lives of two boys in Ecuador! I sponsor a little girl in the Dominican Republic. I hope that everyone who follows your amazing blog becomes a sponsor!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Mary – So fun to hear about all these people who are involved in the Compassion sponsorship program. We are excited to be a small part of this now!

    • Jess - Mary – So fun to hear about all these people who are involved in the Compassion sponsorship program. We are excited to be a small part of this now!ReplyCancel

  • Amanda - I just wanted to share with you that because of THIS post, my husband and I sat down together and sponsored a little girl this morning. I have heard about Compassion before, and have even read similar blogs in the past … but recently, I just felt led. Your words and links definitely helped, so I wanted to thank you. Genesis in Ecuador now has a sponsor because you listened to Jesus and shared this post. God Bless, Jess! Thinking of you and your family as you near Cora’s anniversary.ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Amanda- Thanks so much for sharing this with me. I am so excited for you and this new journey with Genesis. We can’t wait to invest more in the two little boys we sponsored as well. Thank you for praying for us!

    • Jess - Amanda- Thanks so much for sharing this with me. I am so excited for you and this new journey with Genesis. We can’t wait to invest more in the two little boys we sponsored as well. Thank you for praying for us!ReplyCancel

  • Becky Fouts - Jess, It was the earthly loss of our beautiful, wonderful, smart and funny little 3 1/2 year old niece, many years ago, that prompted my husband and I to begin sponsoring our first Compassion child. It felt good to help a child still living on earth, in honor of our Megan. She loved Jesus, and would have loved that we did this. Years later, we sponsor 8 kids, and are so thankful to God for this opportunity!! You will be blessed, and you will continue to honor Cora, and glorify God!! I love reading about your sweet boys, please keep blogging!!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Hi Becky! Thanks so much for sharing this. What a sweet thing to do in honor of your niece. That is so awesome that you sponsor eight kids now! Wow! What a blessing to each one of them to have you in their life. I am excited to start our journey with Compassion. And I will do my best with the blogging! 🙂

    • Jess - Hi Becky! Thanks so much for sharing this. What a sweet thing to do in honor of your niece. That is so awesome that you sponsor eight kids now! Wow! What a blessing to each one of them to have you in their life. I am excited to start our journey with Compassion. And I will do my best with the blogging! 🙂ReplyCancel