A few hours have passed since sunset. Ten-year-old Matías rests in his hut while the wind rattles the metal sheets of the roof. It will be a cold night.
As he gets ready for bed, he asks his mother, “Is it possible for someone who lives far away to pray for you? My sponsor says in their letters that they always pray for me".»
“Of course! There are people who give a lot of love to others!” replies his mother, Tatiana.
Cuando Tatiana inscribió a Matías en el centro Compassion hace seis años, no sabía lo significativa que sería la relación con su patrocinador.
“From the very beginning, he wondered if he would receive letters like the ones his friends were getting. I still remember when he got his first letter. He was so excited!” she recalls.
Matias’ father left when Tatiana became pregnant. “Those years were very hard. I’m very grateful to the center: they helped both Matias and me, and they still do,” she says.
The Compassion center is a great source of help, encouragement, and hope for Matías and his mother. «“What I like most about going to the center is learning about God, receiving letters from my sponsor, and reading that they pray for me,”» he says.
Tatiana always attends the parent meetings held at the center: «“I always feel encouraged when the pastor shares from the Bible. He talks about family and how we should persevere and trust in God.”
In addition to spiritual encouragement, Tatiana and Matias receive support through countless food parcels, home visits, and school supplies. Tatiana also attends a sewing workshop where she is learning to make traditional clothing.
“I’m grateful for everything, especially because Matias is learning about God and has a special person in his life. I want my son to grow up to be a good man and to love God. I’m thankful that, thanks to his sponsor, he can attend the Compassion center»</em,” says Tatiana.
Matias enjoys drawing pictures for his sponsor, as his favorite subject at school is art. “I love making drawings and writing to them. I tell them what life is like here and what I do, but I get even more excited when they write back,” explains Matias.
“As a mother, I am grateful that someone so far away keeps my son in their prayers. It blesses his life, makes him happy, and that also makes me happy,” says Tatiana.
Life isn’t easy for this family, but the burden feels lighter when we can offer support. The Compassion center and the people who help Matías continue to make a difference in his life, and Tatiana trusts in a better future for him. They know they are not alone.
“Sometimes I feel sad for my son when he asks about his father. But even though he doesn’t know his real father, God has placed wonderful people in his life, including his sponsor,” adds his mother.
Matias is a smart, mature, and cheerful boy. He knows that he and his family will never lack anything because God is by their side.
“The Bible passage I like most, which I learned at the Compassion center, is Psalm 23. I know that God takes care of us today and will do so in the future,” he says, smiling.
Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name!
