My family and I have been sponsoring children through Compassion International since 1979. We currently sponsor kids in Ecuador, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Rwanda, and India (officially sponsored by my daughter Amalia). I highly recommend Compassion to you as charity that ensures that your money goes to the need and not expensive overhead costs. 80-84% of every dollar you give goes to the actual need. For more information about Compassion, visit http://www.compassion.com/
We traveled to Ecuador with Compassion in 2003, Brenda and Amalia were along, too. This is a photo of me with Marcelo, a Compassion child sponsored by a member of church, hamming it up showing off our sunglasses.
This time around Dylan and I will start our visit in Quito, Ecuador's capital city on Sunday with a trip to a local church partner with a Compassion project. We will help serve lunch to the kids and learn about the project. There will also be time to do crafts and just play with the children!
Early on Monday we head north from Quito to the city of Banos, a 4 hour bus ride. In the afternoon we go mountain biking 12 miles into the jungle of this mountainous area that includes a volcano (Tungurahua). My biking has been very limited in the past decade[s?]. Hopefully, I will survive the experience. Dylan who biked all over campus at IUPUI this fall, might have to pull his dad along with him! ;)
Tuesday we will enjoy white water rafting on Pastaza River, a tributary of the Amazon, in the middle of the Amason rainforest! We have been white water rafting once previously in Colorado. So we're prepared to get wet! We'll have a box lunch by the river. In the afternoon will we go hiking in a place referred to as "The Golden Door to the Amazon Rainforest" and see some amazing views and the Pailon del Diablo waterfall - the world's 10th highest water drop! There's even a hanging bridge over the river, below the falls. Should be great fun!
Wednesday morning is horseback riding in the Sangay National Park for a different view of the jungle. In the afternoon we make the bus ride back to Quito and some rest after a few days packed with activities.
Thursday we visit another Compassion Project which includes a Child Survival Program. CSPs focus on children under the age of 4. We will meet some of the mothers and their children and visit some homes to get a sense of the reality of their lives. In the evening, we return to our hotel and meet with some Leadership Development Students. This is the Compassion program that allows the brightest of Compassion "graduates" to enroll in college in their country.
Friday is the biggest of the big days! We will meet the two children our family sponsors in Ecuador - Dylan (yes, the same name as my son) and Melanie. We will travel with our sponsored children to an amusement park called "Volcano Park." Time for roller coasters and other rides!
Dylan and I will post pictures from our adventure while we are in Ecuador and blog about our experiences (daily provided our internet access is reliable). So watch for updates.
Having visited children we sponsored in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Ecuador, I can tell you that it is a life changing experience when you meet your sponsored children!
Thanks for reading!
Jay
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