Ecuador!

If you popped over here from the Proverbs 31 devotions, I'm so glad you did! Welcome!

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I promised to write about my trip to Ecuador with Compassion but since I'm a fashion writer I never did that. With my devotional running today, I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you about my trip.

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The trip was amazing. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive to go because I had never done anything like that before so I didn't know what to expect. There were about 20 of us who attended. Suzie Eller, one of our P31 speakers, my assistant Patti Curlee and myself represented Proverbs 31. It was a joy to get to know Suzie better. She's got lots of good stuff to say on her blog so I'd recommed visiting her site soon. Patti is always fun to be with so that goes without saying!

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I could tell you all kinds of things about the trip but there are a few that stick out more than others so that's what I'm going to share.

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First of all, poverty REALLY has a whole new meaning for me. Here's a link on my facebook site to all the pics I took. It is a public way to post pics so I hope you'll take a look at them by clicking here. You will see poverty in all kinds of ways but you'll most likely always see smiling children, too. Amazing.

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My VERY favorite memory, though, is the day I got to spend with Christian. My daughter, Carly sponsors him thru Compassion and how blessed I was that I got to meet him. There were a few sponsored children that were coming to spend the day with us and we were supposed to meet them in the lobby at 9am. Patti and I got downstairs a little early and as we were walking to breakfast we passed this little boy, a man and a woman. The boy was about 9 years old, though he was so little he could have passed for 5 or 6. But when we walked by him, I noticed he was walking very hesitantly, yet, fast...if that makes sense. It's like he was putting one foot in front of the other, but doing it quickly, but almost in a skipping kind of way. I thought to myself, "Oh, I hope he's mine!" And then went to breakfast.

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When we got back after breakfast and went to meet the children, lo and behold, that little boy was mine! It was Christian, Carly's sponsored child. When you look at the pictures you are going to see that very rarely is he NOT smiling.

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Christian brought something new to my life. He was so special, so sweet and so grateful. I brougt him a stuffed animal and you will see from the pics that he held on tight to it most of the day. His mother came along as well as the director at the site where he goes to school. I have NEVER seen anyone eat chicken to the bare bone before. But he did. I have NEVER seen anyone so grateful for a stuffed animal before. But he was. He held my hand for most everything we did and it was so sweet getting to be with him and his mom.

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You know, one of the things that sticks out to me is that she is like you and me. She wants the best for her child. And she was sooooo grateful for Compassion because her child is able to be cared for thru them.

When the day was over, they both hugged me like I was part of the family. And we cried. Alot. It was sad, but in a happy way.

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In my devotion I told you about Eric and his mom. Wow. Eric has Down Syndrome and the whole village loved him so much! I truly have never seen a house so run down in my life, as I described in my devotion. But again, his mother was so very grateful for Compassion because her son and his brothers were able to receive the kind of care they needed.

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Another neat thing is you'll see pictures of me and Patti painting the nails of the little girls...they LOVED that personal touch and attention. What a treat for all of us!

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Want to hear something funny? I asked Christian what his favorite food is and he said "guinea pig". Ooohhhh.....my son just texted me a picture of one at the pet store yesterday cause he wanted one as a pet! Gracious.

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I truly loved that trip. I know many people think that "what's the big dea to sponsor someone cause who knows where the money goes". Let me tell you...it goes to real live children and families. It was the most eye opening experience of my life. I pray you will consider sponsoring a child thru Compassion. One of the coolest things was the day we got to visit the Compassion office and saw all the letters that come in each day from sponsors. The system they had set up to get those letters to each of those children was so exciting. The children actually SAVE every letter you write to them...and will carry your picture around. I'm not kidding. I saw it with my very own eye.

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I hope you enjoyed this little post today because I enjoyed remembering my time there. I hope I get to go back again. I'm excited to be traveling to Guatamala this summer with Susie Magazine and Compassion. It is a 2 week mission trip for teenagers and about 400-500 teens will be going. I'm one of the speakers on the trip so if you're looking for a wonderful way for your teen to spend a few weeks I can't think of anything better. I'm taking my teenage son Luke with me, too. We will all fly into Miami for 3 days and the kids will learn street drama for evangelization purposes. I can't wait!

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Meet me back here tomorrow for my regular Wednesday post about What to Wear!

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The Winter E-Newsletter started going out yesterday so if you signed up to receive it, be on the look out for it! If not, go get yourself signed up...it's got some good info in there, including The Plan! What's that? Read it and see! Make sure you visit my home page to see my updated website...it's so exciting!

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Love you all!!!!!

Shari