COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK

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COMPASSION
M AGA ZI N E

               WWW.COMPASSION.IE
               2021 ISSUE 1
Hopeful
despite
COVID-19

Pray
with
us
COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
In this issue
                                                                                                         friends,
                                                      EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BRIAN FROM
                                                      KENYA CELEBRATES HIS RECOVERY                       Dear
                                                      THROUGH LIFE-SAVING HEART
                                                      SURGERY FUNDED BY COMPASSION.

                                                      PHOTOGRAPHER: HELEN MANSON

04   WHY THIS COURAGEOUS
     TEENAGER IS HOPEFUL                                                              It’s been more than a year since the COVID-19
     DESPITE COVID-19                                                                 pandemic first brought devastation and
                                                                                      disruption on a global scale. We’ve become
06   A SAFE HARBOUR IN TROUBLED
                                                                                      familiar with the certainty of uncertainty and
     TIMES: 5 WAYS WE PROTECT
     YOUR SPONSORED CHILDREN                                                          constant change.

                                                                                      A
                                                                                              s the easing of restrictions here in the UK and Ireland bring
08   COMPASSION AND COFFEE:
                                                                                              a sense of optimism, we are mindful that much healing is
     HOPE IN A CUP
                                                                                              still needed in our own communities and across the world.

10   COLOUR AND CELEBRATION                                                           The heart-breaking truth is that vulnerable children living in
                                                                                      poverty have experienced and continue to experience the very
                                                                                      worst impact of the pandemic.
12   A LIVING LEGACY OF HOPE
                                                                                      The World Bank estimates that a further 150 million people will
                                                                                      be pushed into poverty as a direct result of the pandemic –
14   PRAY WITH US
                                                                                      undoing decades of progress made in the fight to eradicate
                                                                                      extreme poverty.

                                                                                      At times, things can seem hopeless. But our faith stands firm.
                                                                                                                                                                     03
                                                                                      The One who reigns above all lifts our heads, even in immense
          Unlock more                                                                 times of trouble. Our ultimate hope is certain and unchanging.

          of the story                                                                During this time, I have been inspired and humbled by you –  ­­­
                                                                                      our supporters – and the work of our local church partners
Look out for the Compassion Scanner                                                   around the world. Indeed, I sincerely hope that you too will
logo to discover extra videos and behind                                              take encouragement from the stories in this magazine.
the scenes footage! Here’s how:
                                                                                      These are stories of incredible individuals who demonstrate that
                                                                                      the Church is alive and well across the world. But I want to stress
                 Download the Compassion                                              that you have a key role to play in these stories too. It’s our mission
                 UK App from the App Store or
1                Google Play. For more details
                                                                                      to release as many children as possible from the chains of poverty
                                                                                      in Jesus’ name. And your prayerful and financial partnership is key
                 visit compassionuk.org/app                                           to securing a more hopeful future for millions of children around
                                                                                      the world.

                                                                                      Thank you for all you do. As you read this magazine, I pray the
                 Look out for this symbol on pages                                    Lord will encourage your heart and renew your strength.
2                that contain video content.
                                                                                      God bless,

                 Launch the ‘Compassion Scanner’
3                which you can find in the menu
                 bar of the Compassion UK App.                                        Justin Dowds
                                                                                      CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                                                                      COMPASSION UK AND COMPASSION IRELAND

                 Fill your screen with the page and
4                watch it come to life – allowing
                 you to see more of the story.

                                                                                                                          www.compassionuk.org   www.compassion.ie
COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
PHOTOGRAPHER: JUNIETH DINARTE                                                  DIANA HAS HELPED HER SIBLINGS WITH                                                                        INTERVIEW BY JUNIETH DINARTE EDITED BY REBECCA CORBETT
                                                                                 HOME-SCHOOLING DURING THE LOCKDOWN.

                                                                                                                             LEARNI NG TO APPRECI AT E T HE                access all the examinations I need          “Nevertheless I trust that the Lord will
                                                                                                                             SI M PLE T HI NGS                             to make sure my white blood cell            be with me throughout it all. Despite
                                                                                                                                                                           level is within normal range. If my         my health challenges, I want to be able
                                                                                                                             “Despite the hardships, the past months       mother has to work, they come to the        to stand on my own two feet. I want to
                                                                                                                             have taught me to value the time I get        appointments with me. The church has        do what other people do too. I know I
                                                                                                                             with my siblings and my mother, as well       been a great blessing in our lives.         can do it, and despite not being able to

            Why this                                                                                                         as the phone calls from my grandmother
                                                                                                                             and cousins. I’ve learnt to appreciate
                                                                                                                             every interaction we have.
                                                                                                                                                                           “I love having a sponsor because it’s
                                                                                                                                                                           meant I can go to the Compassion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       run, I know my imagination can take me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       further than I could ever imagine.”

            courageous                                                                                                       “The pandemic has made my family
                                                                                                                             come to terms with how fast we were
                                                                                                                                                                           project where they taught me about
                                                                                                                                                                           the Lord. I always loved learning Bible

            teenager is
                                                                                                                                                                           verses, and I enjoyed the stories they
                                                                                                                             trying to live our lives. It’s made us take   would always tell us. My favourite story
                                                                                                                             a necessary pause just to look around         is David and Goliath.

            hopeful
                                                                                                                             and be grateful for the things we have.
                                                                                                                             It’s helped us focus on the simple things.    “Being part of the project has made
                                                                                                                             I’ve found joy in painting and drawing.       me feel like I have another family.
                                                                                                                             They help me de-stress and relax.”            Despite the hardships of this time, I’ve

            despite
                                                                                                                                                                           felt relieved because of just how much
                                                                                                                                                                           they’ve helped me and my family. There
                                                                                                                             T HE CHURCH NEVER                             hasn’t been a day in which they’ve not
                                                                                                                             AB AND O NED D I ANA                          taken care of me.”                           There’s more

            COVID-19
                                                                                                                             AND HER FAM I LY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        to the story
                                                                                                                             “The church [Compassion] project              D I ANA’S CO NSTANT HO PE
                                                                                                                             has helped me with my medicines and
                                                                                                                                                                           “The uncertainty of COVID-19 makes           Scan the page and watch this
                                                                                                                             provided me and my family with food
04                                                                                                                                                                         me feel worried. I’m worried about my        video to learn more about how                 05
                                                                                                                             baskets. They’ve not stopped helping us
                                                                                                                                                                           education and my future because I            sponsorship has been helping
                                                                                                                             or taking care of me.
                                                                                                                                                                           can’t go to college anymore since it’s       children and families in Nicaragua
                                                                                                                             “Because the situation turned                 far too dangerous for me. I’d have to        during this season.
                                                                                                                             dangerous for my health, the project          take the bus and then go to a classroom
                                                                                                                             helped me with doctor’s appointments          with at least 15 other people. We don’t
                                                                                                                             in a private hospital or specialist clinic.   know when the vaccine will come to
                                                                                                                             The project workers have helped me            Nicaragua due to the country’s situation.

     Eighteen-year-old Diana from    L I KE M A N Y O F U S , D I A N A
                                     HAS F O U N D TH E PA N D E M I C
     Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua,      C HA L L E N G I N G                                                                                                                                                              Being part of
     is a passionate young artist.                                                                                                                                                                                     the project has
     Diagnosed with an auto-         “COVID-19 has been extremely difficult
                                     for me. Isolating has been one of the                                                                                                                                             made me feel
     immune disease three years      hardest parts.                                                                                                                                                                    like I have

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       another
     ago, she’s been trapped at
     home as COVID-19 rates have     “I have lupus, and going to doctor’s
                                     appointments has become really

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       family.”
     soared in her community.        difficult. I recently had an important
                                     eye examination, but on the day of the
     Yet thanks to the support of    appointment the hospital was too full,
     her family, local church and    so I had to go back home. In fact, I can                                                 DIANA IS STANDING OUTSIDE
     Compassion sponsor, she         no longer go to the public hospital or                                                   HER HOME WITH HER MOTHER
                                     leave the house. I’d started going to art                             Sca n this
     knows she’s not alone.                                                                                page us ing
                                                                                                                       the    (RIGHT), AND MYRA, A
                                     school, but it became too dangerous                                                n     COMPASSION STAFF MEMBER.
                                                                                                           C om pass io
                                     for me, so I had to stop.”                                             U K A  pp.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           www.compassionuk.org   www.compassion.ie
COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
PHOTOGRAPHER: ISA AC OGILA                                                                                                                                             WRITTEN BY AGNES WILSON

             A safe harbour                                               Here are five ways we’re protecting children,
                                                                          including your sponsored child, during this
                                                                          challenging time.
             in troubled times:
             5 ways we protect
             your sponsored
                                                                           P R ACTICAL SUP P OR T BY                  P R OVIDING EDUCATION                      EFFE CTI V E A N D I M M E D I ATE
                                                                           OUR CHUR CH PAR TNER S                     AND TR AINING ON CHILD                     R ESP ON S E
                                                                                                                      P R OTECTION
                                                                           As COVID-19 confines children to their                                                We believe reporting is key to an

             children
                                                                           homes, Claudia Menacho, Compassion         Compassion church partners are             effective and immediate response.
                                                                           Project Director in Bolivia, is playing    working hard to train children,            Anyone can and is encouraged to
                                                                           a vital role in protecting them. As the    caregivers, and the wider community        report suspected abuse, including
                                                                           only staff member from the project with    about child protection issues. In the      children, caregivers, staff, volunteers,
                                                                           permission from the authorities to move    last five years 29,618 children and        and visitors. Once a complaint is filed,
                                                                           around the community, she now visits       caregivers have been trained in            we have robust processes to protect
                                                                           every single child’s house to check on     child protection through                   children and discern the truth.
                                                                           their wellbeing.                           Compassion interventions.
             An estimated 356 million children live in extreme                                                                                                   Importance is also given to after
                                                                           She takes them food baskets and            Compassion also equips our                 care. There are medical interventions,
             poverty around the world (UNICEF, 2020). Many of
                                                                           spends time speaking with them. She        church partners to provide anti-           counselling services, legal counsel,
             them are highly vulnerable to exploitation and harm.          also continues calling the children to     child trafficking training and             spiritual care, and alternative housing
             But when a child enters a Compassion project, they            maintain contact with them, so no one      resources. Child protection training       where it is needed.
06           are cared for and protected. It’s our mission to do           slips through the cracks.                  is also provided to regional and                                                          07
                                                                                                                      international staff.                       Every country where Compassion works
             everything we can to keep children safe – to help them        “If we hadn’t intervened, the reality                                                 has a Child Protection Specialist who
             break free from poverty in Jesus’ name.                       would be terrible…Children are unique,                                                oversees care for vulnerable children.
                                                                           they are God’s creation…We have to
                                                                           take care of them and support them,”
                                                                           says Claudia.

                                                                           As well as regular home visits during
                                                                                                                      P R OTECTING P R IVACY IN
                                                                           the pandemic, Compassion church
                                                                                                                      THIS DIGITAL AGE                           PAR TN E RI N G W I TH OTH E R
                                                                           partners around the world offer
                                                                           practical support to protect children,                                                OR GA N I SATI ON S TO
                                                                                                                      We’re more connected than ever             P R OT E CT CH I L D RE N
                                                                           including emergency care and legal
                                                                                                                      before thanks to technology. While so
                                                                           support for orphaned babies and
                                                                                                                      much good has come from new digital        Finally, Compassion partners with
                                                                           children; arranging foster and family-
                                                                                                                      resources and opportunities, we all        other organisations to protect
                                                                           based care in a nurturing environment;
                                                                                                                      know that information in the wrong         children. Whether they are the local
                                                                           and offering counselling and social
                                                                                                                      hands can be used to harm others.          police or international NGOs, like
                                                                           support for children affected by trauma.
                                                                                                                                                                 International Justice Mission, we
                                                                                                                      Compassion has therefore stopped           believe in a multifaceted approach
                                                                                                                      sharing the full names of children.        to keeping children safe. Some of
                                                                                                                      Sponsors’ full names are also not          these partnerships focus on training
                                                                                                                      provided to the sponsored child. It        to prevent abuse, and others focus on
                                                                                                                      may seem like a small change, but it’s a   responding to abuse.
                                                                                                                      necessary one to keep children safe.
                                                                                                                                                                 It is our prayer that all the children in
                                                                                                                                                                 our care will be safe from harm. We
                                                                                                                                                                 are passionate about ensuring they are
                                                                                                                                                                 known, loved, and protected. That is
                                                                                                                                                                 why we will remain vigilant against any
                                                                                                                                                                 forms of abuse.

     ORPHANED, HAVING SUFFERED ABUSE, THESE SISTERS HAVE FOUND
     PROTECTION, LOVE AND HEALING AT COMPASSION’S LOCAL CHURCH PARTNER.
                                                                                                                                                                     www.compassionuk.org   www.compassion.ie
COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
PHOTOGRAPHER: BEN ADAMS                                                                                                                                                                                                             WRITTEN BY EMILY JOHNSTONE

                                                                                                                                                                                      GROWING COFFEE REQUIRES A VERY PARTICULAR CLIMATE. THIS IS
                                                                                                                                                                                      WHY IT’S GENERALLY RESTRICTED TO AREAS OF THE WORLD THAT
                                                                                                                                                                                      ARE BOUND BY THE TROPICS OF CAPRICORN AND CANCER, IN A
                                                                                                                                                                                      BAND COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE BEAN BELT.

08
     Compassion and coffee:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     09

     hope in a cup
                                                                                                                                               MOTHERS ENJOYING A CUP OF
                                                                                                                                               COFFEE AT A CHILD SURVIVAL            work to do but the pay is low. If Cosmer    will understand a lot easier that the
                                                                                                                                                  PROGRAMME IN ETHIOPIA              joins his father they can earn around       best thing for their children is to be at
                                                                                                                                                   BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.              three or four dollars a day. This might     school and the [Compassion] project.”
                                                                                                                                                                                     not seem a lot, but it can make the
                                                                                                                                                                                     difference between food on the table        Luis and his team make regular
                                                                                                                                                                                     and going to bed hungry.                    home visits to help inform parents
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 and caregivers about the long-term
     Coffee. Over the last year                  culture and something that has been         of hope to these women through             relationships and forcing parents to         Cosmer’s family situation is not unusual    importance of education and help
                                                 central to Compassion’s Child Survival      regular home visits, food parcels and      leave in search of work. Seeing this great   and child labour in a community that        them find other ways to generate
     it’s got us through home
                                                 Programme in Ethiopia for years. For        medical care.                              need, the local church trained a group       relies on coffee harvesting is high.        income. Now Cosmer looks forward to
     schooling and Zoom                          these mums, sharing a cup of coffee                                                    of parents and caregivers to cultivate       Thankfully, the local church is tackling    attending the project on Saturday with
     meetings. Our morning                       is an opportunity to air their struggles,   While mums in Ethiopia look forward        coffee plantations to generate income.       this complex issue and bringing hope        his friends.
                                                 swap advice, and, most importantly,         to meeting again, in Thailand, coffee                                                   for a better future to many families.
     brew might be something                                                                 has been restoring hope to families        Because space is limited, many families                                                  “I like going to the project because
                                                 laugh over a restorative cup of freshly
     we take for granted, but                    brewed coffee.                              throughout the pandemic.                   are growing up to ten coffee plants in       “Our goal is that Christ will come to       they teach me many things; they teach
     around the world coffee is                                                                                                         their gardens. While the income may be       the hearts of these families,” explains     me sports, they help me write letters
     bringing hope and lasting                   “No one serves coffee with a grumpy                                                    small, it’s meant the difference between     Luis Enrique Gonzalez, Compassion           to my sponsor. When I go to church, I
                                                                                             R E STO R I N G H O P E I N
                                                 face”, chuckles Bancha Bergene,                                                        a parent having to migrate to the city       Project Director. “And once we have         sing, play and have fun and I also learn
     change to communities                       Compassion Project Director. “People
                                                                                             DI F F I C U LT TI M E S
                                                                                                                                        to find work, or a young child leaving       Christ into their hearts, these people      from the teachings.”
     living in poverty.                          take coffee from you with a happy           “Many of our children here have            school early to find a job.
                                                 face. When people drink coffee, they        a broken family,” sighs Yordruen,
                                                 share their life, they share their love,                                               Across the other side of the world,
                                                                                             Compassion Project Director in Thailand.
      S H ARIN G A CUP O F HOP E
                                                 they discuss many issues. It is a time      “Some parents are separated, and some
                                                                                                                                        in the Mexican mountains the local           The coffee you drink can change lives too!
                                                 of laughter.”                                                                          church is also fighting hard to keep
      As the charcoal fire crackles and spits,                                               have left to work in big cities, leaving                                                Bring hope to children and their families through every purchase
                                                                                                                                        children in education.
      the conversation between the women                                                     their children at home with relatives.”                                                 of sustainable and ethically sourced coffee from Indigo Valley.
                                                 Meeting to share a cup of coffee has
      gathered around it is equally lively.                                                                                                                                          For every pack purchased £1 is given to Compassion’s income
                                                 given these women hope that they            COVID and quarantine restrictions in
      These new and expectant mothers                                                                                                   HO PE FO R A B ET T ER FUT URE               generation programmes in Ethiopia. To find out more and make
                                                 are not alone in their struggles. While     Thailand have had a significant impact
      have congregated at their local church                                                                                                                                         your first purchase visit compassion.indigovalley.co.uk or scan
                                                 projects have been closed due to            on the local economy. Many families in     Cosmer’s father works on a coffee
      for the weekly coffee ceremony, an                                                                                                                                             the QR code using your smartphone.
                                                 COVID, the local church has not tired in    Yordruen’s community have lost their       plantation in the foothills of Mexico.
      incredibly important part of Ethiopian
                                                 its support, continuing to be a beacon      jobs, putting further pressure on family   During the picking season, there’s much

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     www.compassionuk.org   www.compassion.ie
COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
WRITTEN BY JANE’ ALAM SHEIKH
     EDITED BY K ATE SHARMA
     ILLUSTRATION BY MIRIAM LATIMER

     Jane’s hope                                                                          Devotion
     Compassion graduate,                      my hope in Jesus. It is the same                   Reflect
                                               hope that was breathed into my
     Jane’ Alam Sheikh, explains               life when I was four years old           In what ways has hope in Christ
     how his hope in Christ has                and sponsored by a lovely couple,             transformed your life?
     continued to sustain him                  Tom and Liz.
                                                                                        Compassion child sponsor and
     through life’s challenges.                F R EED O M F R O M P OV E R TY           illustrator, Miriam Latimer, has
                                                                                        produced a beautiful design for
                                               Because of their monthly donation,        you to colour in as you reflect

      I
        grew up in a small slum community      I became the first child in my family     on the hope we have in Jesus.
        in India, where my family lived in a   to go to school. My father was so
        shanty home. Ten thousand people       excited when I received my first
      shared just two toilets and one tap.     school uniform; he helped me                         Pray
                                               rip open the packaging like a kid
      But the lack of basic material needs     at Christmas.                              Ask our God to fill you with
      wasn’t our greatest challenge. The                                               joy and peace as you trust in Him.
      mental, spiritual, and emotional         With our hope in Jesus and His          May it transform the way we look
      impact of poverty, which whispered       promises, my family was freed from        at our world and help us bring
10    to my family and me that we didn’t       both the physical and spiritual bond           God’s light to others.                                                     11
      matter, was far worse. Because, at its   of poverty. I eventually graduated
      heart, poverty is a lack of hope.        with a first-class master’s degree in
                                               business and founded a charity that                   Act
      In many ways, the COVID-19               helps children and young people
      pandemic has revealed to everyone        living in residential care.             No act of kindness done in Jesus’
      where we all put our hope. I have put                                            name is too small to go unnoticed
                                               I pray that you and your family          by our great God. Now we know
                                               would know the same hope of               the hope we have in Christ, let’s
                                               Jesus in your lives today. As we         follow His command to love God
                                               freely receive, so we will shine His    and our neighbours, not just with
                                               light where there is darkness.               words, but by our actions.

       There’s more
       to the story

       Scan the page to watch
       Jane’s faithful testimony.

             Sca n this
                         the
             page us ing
                                                                                                    COMPASSION GRADUATE,
                          n
             C om pass io                                                                         JANE’ ALAM SHEIKH SHARES
              UK A pp.                                                                                   HIS STORY OF HOPE.
                                                                                                                              www.compassionuk.org   www.compassion.ie
COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
IMAGES SUPPLIED BY: MART YN LANGLOIS                                                                                                                                                                                                WRITTEN BY ZOE NOAKES

     A living                                                                                                                                                                  These children are constantly being
                                                                                                                                                                               helped by it.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Today, the children sprawl out on the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          floor of the bright, airy, beautifully
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          tiled room, with their lessons in front

     legacy
                                                                                                                                                                               Even before Martyn left Burkina Faso,      of them.
                                                                                                                                                                               he was thinking about the next project.
                                                                                                                                                                               He found it at another Compassion
                                                                                                                                                                               project just a few miles away.             T HE I MPACT OF A LIFE

     of hope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          REM EMBE RE D
                                                                                                                                                                               “What we saw there were classrooms
                                                                                                                                                                               that were only coverings from the          Eight years after she died, Gill’s fund
                                                                                                                                                                               sun,” he said. “That became our            still exists to build classrooms wherever
                                                                                                                                                                               second focus.”                             there is a need. In two countries, there
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          are three simple plaques. They read:
                                                                                                                                                                               Martyn and his team of fundraisers         “These classrooms were provided
                                                                                                                                                                               raised the £12,456 needed to build         by the Gill Langlois Legacy Fund, in
                                                                                                                                                                               classrooms at ERAD Panga be Wenne          memory of Gill who loved children and
                                                                                                                                                                               Child Development Project within 18        the Lord Jesus Christ”.
                                                                                                                                                                               months of his visit. By March 2017
            It was 2015. There was                                                                                                                                             the school was built, benefitting          The impact of her compassion lives
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          on. It’s there in the little girl who now
            a lump in Martyn’s                                                                                                                                                 more than 300 children.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          has the courage to raise her hand and
            throat and an empty                                                                                                                                                                                           answer a question in class. You see it in
            space by his side as                                                                                                                                               GILL’S LEGACY STRETCH                      the teenager’s face as he finally grasps
                                                                                                                                                                               TO ASIA                                    the difficult maths concept. And in these
            he walked across the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          safe, comfortable classrooms, eternities
            red, rocky earth of                                                                                                     IN BURKINA FASO, CHILDREN WERE             Back in Guernsey, Martyn assumed that
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          can change as children wonder at the
                                                                                                                                   TAKING CLASSES UNDER THE SHADE.
12          Burkina Faso, one of                                                                                                                                               his fundraising days were over. The                                                        13
                                                                                                                                          A CLASSROOM WAS NEEDED.                                                         news that Jesus loves them.
                                                                                                                                                                               children were being educated. Chapter
            the world’s poorest                                                                                                                                                closed. Still, he couldn’t help talking    Witnessing Gill’s legacy inspired Martyn
            countries. This was                                                                                                                                                about the need he saw, and the impact      to go further. By leaving a gift in his will,
            a journey he never                                                                                                                                                 of Compassion’s local church partners.     their legacy and compassion can live
                                                                                                                                                                               He talked about it at work. He spoke
            thought he’d make,                                                                                                                                                                                            on, empowering even more children.

                                            A
                                                      head was a young girl with      In the three weeks it took to bring          So, in 2015, Martyn with his daughter       about it at churches. And people kept
            and definitely not                        wide eyes and a shy smile. It   Gill home to Guernsey, Martyn and            and two friends, flew to Burkina Faso       giving to the Gill Langlois Legacy Fund.   “The reality is none of this would have
            alone. He may have                        was Amélie, the 10-year-old     his adult daughters channelled their         for the opening. As he admired the                                                     happened if Gill hadn’t died,” he said.
                                                                                                                                                                               In 2019, Gill and Martyn’s impact moved
            been in another                 he and Gill sponsored, who seemingly      pain into honouring her memory. They         new classrooms and met Amélie for                                                      “We keep saying she would be so proud
                                            stepped off the photograph on their       discovered that Amélie was learning          the first time, he was struck by how        continents when he heard that children     and amazed to see what has happened.
            continent without his                                                                                                                                              in a small village in Thailand needed
                                            fridge and into the present. Behind her   her lessons either outside in the            Gill’s legacy was so much more than                                                    How can we begrudge her dying when
            wife Gill, but he was           was a red and grey concrete building,     patchy shade, or in a tiny, thatched         a simple building.                          classrooms. They were meeting in           God called her home?
            there because of her.           a contrast to the mud homes that made     shed. Funding new classrooms at her                                                      cramped huts with broken bamboo
                                            up her rural village in Burkina Faso.     Compassion project seemed like the           “Talking about it now makes me quite        walls and unstable floors. It was an       “For her, it was fantastic. For us, it was
                                            This building – and more importantly,     perfect tribute to Gill, a retired teacher   emotional, really,” says the 73-year-old.   inadequate and potentially dangerous       rubbish. But we’re making something
                                            what would happen inside – would be       who loved children.                          “The fact is, this has become a living      learning environment.                      of it. If we can give children a better
                                            Gill’s legacy.                                                                         legacy. It’s not something that was                                                    life as a result of this grief, Gill would
                                                                                                                                   built once, but it’s a living legacy.       “We’ll go for it,” said Martyn firmly.     be staggered.”
                                                                                      TH E B U R K I N A FAS O
                                            A T R AG I C LOSS A N D TH E STA R T      SCHOOLS
                                            OF A L E G ACY
                                                                                      According to UNESCO, Burkina Faso                                                                                                   Leave a legacy
                                            Gill died unexpectedly in 2013. Martyn    has one of the lowest literacy rates
                            FROM EARTH      and Gill were on holiday in Greece. One   in the world at 41%. While about 50%                                                                                                To find out more about
                             TO HEAVEN:     minute the 63-year-old was swimming       of men can read and write, this figure                                                                                              leaving a gift in your will
                          GILL ENJOYING     by Martyn’s side through the clear        plummets to about 33% for women.                                                                                                    to Compassion and
                        GOD’S CREATION      Mediterranean Sea, the next, he says,     Providing classrooms for Amélie and                                                                                                 making a lasting impact,
                        BEFORE SHE WAS      “she went straight from the beach to      other children can help to break the
                         CALLED TO HER
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          please contact us on
                                            heaven”. A pulmonary edema left him       cycle of poverty. Friends, family, and
                            FINAL HOME.                                                                                                                                                                                   01932 836490 or email
                                            grieving his wife of 42 years. They       strangers donated in Gill’s memory,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          giftsinwill@compassionuk.org
                                            would have celebrated half a century      raising the £11,500 needed to build
                                            of marriage in August this year.          two classrooms.                                 A PLAQUE RECOGNISING GILL’S LEGACY SITS
                                                                                                                                      OUTSIDE THE NEW CLASSROOM IN THAILAND.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               www.compassionuk.org   www.compassion.ie
COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
WRITTEN BY AGNES WILSON

                                                                                        FATIMA, AGED 10, NICARAGUA
                                                                                    PHOTOGRAPHER: JUNIETH DINARTE

                                                                                                                                                                                                               COMPASSION
                                                                                                                                                                   HO PE RI SES I N T HE PHI LI PPI NES        MAGAZINE
                                                                                                                                                                                                               2021 Issue 1
                                                                                                                                                                   The Philippines went through trying
                                                                                                                                                                   times in 2020. Aside from COVID-19,
                                                                                                                                                                   a series of typhoons and earthquakes
                                                                                                                                                                   devastated the islands.

                                                                                                                                                                   With livelihoods and homes lost, the        Front cover image:
                                                                                                                                                                   heart-breaking reality is that vulnerable   Collins at sunrise in a field nearby
                                                                                                                                                                                                               his rural home in Solai, Kenya
                                                                                                                                                                   children and families living in poverty

            with us
                                                                                                                                                                   are worst affected.                         Photographer:
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Ben Adams
                                                                                                                                                                   In response to this immense need, one
                                                                                                                        ANTOINE, AGED 17, TOGO                     church partner launched a livelihood
                                                                                                                        PHOTOGRAPHER:                                                                          Articles may be reproduced
                                                                                                                                                                   programme. They distributed motorised       with the permission of the
                                                                                                                        GABRIELLA AKPENE SAMATY
                                                                                                                                                                   tricycles to 14 fathers so they could       Senior Director of Marketing &
                                                                                                                                                                   earn a living, helping to support their     Engagement, Compassion UK.
                                                                                                                                                                   families and communities.
                                                                                                                        GO D ’S PRO M I SE O F HO PE AND                                                       COMPASSION UK
                                                                                                                        A FUT URE                                  Kristian, a Compassion sponsored youth      CHRISTIAN CHILD
                                                                                                                                                                   at that project says, “My family is so      DEVELOPMENT
                                                                                                                        After Antoine was orphaned at an           grateful to be part of this livelihood
            Children, churches and                                                                                                                                                                             Compassion House,
                                                                                                                        early age, his grandparents became         programme. It is a big help to us           Barley Way, Fleet GU51 2UT
            communities around                                                                                          his caregivers. When a Compassion          financially, but what I’m most thankful
            the world are trusting                                                                                      project opened at their local church,      for is that my father has become closer     TEL: 01932 836490

14          in the Lord and                                                                                             Antoine enrolled. He was seven years       to God because of [it].”                    EMAIL: info@compassionuk.org

                                                                                                                        old. After his grandfather passed
            praising God for His                                                                                                                                   Please pray for the Philippines as they
                                                                                                                                                                                                               www.compassionuk.org
                                                                                                                        away, the project offered him and his
            goodness. They are                                                                                          grandmother specialised support.           recover from natural disasters. Please      Registered charity in England and Wales

            praying for you too!                                                                                                                                   also pray that God will protect families    (1077216) and Scotland (SC045059).
                                                                                                                                                                                                               A company limited by guarantee.
                                                                                                                        “I felt lonely, but when I remembered      from the threat of COVID-19 and
            Join us as we thank                                                                                                                                    provide care for the most vulnerable.
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Registered in England and Wales
                                                                                                                        that at least I still had my grandmother                                               company number 03719092.
            our amazing God for                                                                                         and the project staff who had been
            His provision during                                                                                        caring for me as if they were my                                                       COMPASSION IRELAND
            challenging times for                                                                                       parents, my hope was revived,”                                                         CHRISTIAN CHILD
                                                                                                                         Antoine shares.                                                                       DEVELOPMENT
            He is our hope.
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Suite 3, Eden Gate Centre,
                                                                                                                        In addition to the support every child                                                 Delgany, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
                                                                                                                        receives, the project provided books,
                                                                                                                        tutoring, clothes and food baskets for                                                 TEL: 01 5133 719

                                                                                                                        his family. Antoine is now studying for                                                EMAIL: info@compassion.ie
                                                                                                                        his A level exams to enter university.                                                 www.compassion.ie

                                                                                                                        Thank God that, with your partnership,                                                 Registered Charity Number
                                                                                                                                                                                                               20076184. A company limited by
                                                                                                                        Compassion projects around the world
                                                                                                                                                                   KRISTIAN, AGED 19, PHILIPPINES              guarantee. Registered in Dublin, Ireland
                                                                                                                        can support children like Antoine to                                                   company number 493955.
                                     T HA N K YO U, G O D, F O R YO U R       to tell you that we are praying for you                                              PHOTOGRAPHER: EDWIN ESTIOKO
                                                                                                                        achieve their dreams.
                                     SU R E H O P E                           constantly, and that when we allow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    compassionuk.org
                                                                              the Lord to enter our hearts, He takes
                                     Fatima, 10 years old, from Nicaragua     care of us and gives us strength.                                                                                                     Compassion UK
                                     sends us her prayers, love, and          Hold onto Him.”                                      Thank you for your prayers.
                                     encouragement.                                                                                                                                                                 @compassionuk
                                                                              Praise God for children like Fatima                  They make a difference!
                                     “Trust in the Lord because He’s always   who reflect God’s love and don’t                                                                                                      compassionuk
                                     with us, in good times and bad times,”                                             Sign up for our Prayer and Stories email to receive the
                                                                              give up. Lift them up to our Lord as
                                     she says.                                                                          latest prayer requests from children and Compassion church                                  Compassion UK
                                                                              they face life and its challenges.
           Sca n this                                                         May they never lose hope!
                                                                                                                        partners. Visit compassionuk.org/pray or scan the QR code
                       the
           page us ing               “He protects us and helps us. I want                                               using your smartphone.                                                                 Design and production
                        n
           C om pass io                                                                                                                                                                                        The Drummer Agency
            UK A pp.
COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
morning
                   “Let the
                   bring me word of your
                     unfailing love,
                    for I have put my trust
                  in you. Show me the way
                    I should go, for to you
                  I entrust my life.”
                         P SA LM 143 : 8

Sca n this
            the
page us ing
                                              COM101842

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C om pass io
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COMPASSION - Hopeful despite COVID-19 Pray with us - MAGA ZI N E - Compassion UK
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