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Kathy, an exhibit volunteer, had an opportunity to experience the Compassion Journey herself before helping to guide visitors through Friday afternoon. Kathy signed up to sponsor a young woman from Haiti. Staff photo by Tammy Vinson -
Blocks represent the major issues faced by Kevin, a 10-year-old boy from Kenya featured in the Compassion Journey that FBC Sulphur Springs hosted over the weekend. This station of the exhibit asked visitors to choose a block representing one of Kevin’s major problems, then place the block in a backpack filled with similar blocks and put on the backpack, which symbolized the heavy load Kevin was carrying. Staff photo by Tammy Vinson
This past weekend, First Baptist Church Sulphur Springs hosted the “Compassion Journey,” a traveling exhibit that gives attendees a chance to experience poverty through the eyes of a child.
Through the six guided stations of the exhibit, visitors met 10-year-old Kevin, who lives in Kenya with his mother, younger brother and baby sister. Through a video played on iPods, attendees begin their Compassion Journey by seeing the amount of food Kevin and his family typically had to eat “on a good day” — approximately 1/2 of a cup of cornmeal per person, which generally provides meals for two or three days. Malnutrition is a major health problem in Kenya and a leading cause of death, according to the exhibit. Kevin says he eats a few times a week — if he’s lucky — and drinks a watery tea to make his stomach feel full.
Houses are not secure. In fact, they don’t generally even lock. Kevin states in the video that his house, or hut, is made from mud and grass and leaks. There’s no electricity or running water or security, but it’s all the family has.
In Kenya, 14% of the population lives in rural areas with no medical, educational or economic opportunities, the exhibit explains. Twenty-six percent of children ages 5-14 are involved in child labor. That translates to 168 million children worldwide who are victims to child labor. Eighty-five million children worldwide work in hazardous conditions.
In Kevin’s situation, his mother became too ill to work, so he became the sole provider for his family. He had promised his mother he’d finish school, but having a job put his promise in jeopardy.
Eventually, Kevin’s mother died of breast cancer, and the children were on their own. Kevin found a job working for a farmer, who soon refused to pay Kevin what he had earned. Through his local church, Kevin found help from Compassion International and an American sponsor who provided encouragement and personal attention through letters. Compassion International stepped in to provide food and medicine for Kevin and his siblings. Representatives even helped Kevin get his back wages from the farmer who refused to pay him. Compassion Interna
Compassion International also helped Kevin keep the promise he made to his mother — that he would finish school. He went on to college and now works as an IT professional, something that would have been supposedly impossible without the support of his sponsor, who Kevin eventually got to meet in person.
According to event facilitator Judy Mansavage, Compassion International has been around more than 65 years. The organization began in South Korea in 1952 and has now spread into 25 countries. They do not use missionaries, instead working with churches in the selected countries which form project centers. Local Christians head up the efforts on the ground, but there is no religious requirement. Children are simply offered an age-appropriate Bible.
“I am convinced that helping a child in every way is the way to end poverty,” Mansavage said. “It creates a ripple effect that benefits about two dozen people.”
She and husband Jere, who traveled to Texas from Central Wisconsin to volunteer to facilitate the event, are contributors to Compassion International and have sponsored several children. They even traveled to the home country of one of “their kids” to attend her wedding. Mansavage said that young woman recently gave birth to her first child, who the Mansavages consider a grandchild.
“It just takes one,” Mansavage said. “Kids just need one sponsor. That’s all.”