The Compassion Experience

Today we attended The Compassion Experience. It was a free interactive tour of life in the developing world.

The event was in a mobile station and they had two children's experiences set up. The one we went through was by a girl named Kiwi. She lives in Bacolod City, Philippines and we were able to go room by room and experience her life. Both stories are true and we were given headphones with an ipod to listen to her tell her story in her own voice and words.

The room she was born in.

The first room was a replica of the room she was born in. A shabby hospital room she was the 4th child, only girl and only living child. Her brother died from jaundice, something here we take for granted is so easily avoided. Her father was an alcoholic and was very saddened by the death of his three sons.

Part of the house she lives in.

Showing her house items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next room was a replica of her house or I should say hut.

Room 3 was a replica of the market in their area.

Room three was a replica of the market and what they had to sell there. It was in this room we heard of her fathers transformation. He came home one day sober and her mother was angry and wanted to know what could have caused this. He said he went to a place where someone was teaching of Jesus Christ and how God send His Son to die. He had already lost three sons so felt he knew His pain.

More of the goods they had to sell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The school room.

The next room was a make up of the school she attended. She talked about Jeremiah 29:11 and how God had plans for her family. She talked about how they had a real dentist come to the schoolroom and they got their teeth cleaned and some kids got fillings. Again, things we take for granted.

Some more of the school room.

Her house in Manila, Philippines.

Her parents moved her to Manila. Here she talked about constant floods and how the floods would bring black water full of sewage and drowned rats.

Another part of her house in Manila.

Updated house in Bacolod City.

She moved back to her house in Bacolod City. Through sponsorship she was able to graduate high school and go to college. She became a physical therapist and got married. Because of The Compassion Experience sponsorship her family was also able to come to her wedding. Her and her husband now sponsor two kids from her area.

Another view of her updated house in Bacolod City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiwi and her family at her wedding.

All in all it was a good experience. Here is a link to their website if any one feels led to sponsor a child. http://changetour.compassion.com/tulsa/