I’m sad to say that the backpack has not seen much action lately, but OH that is about to change.

Last June our family of 5 headed down to Ecuador to celebrate the graduation of our Compassion International LDP student, Jairo. We also got to visit our sponsored child, Ana, in her hometown and meet her family and Jairo’s family. While we have traveled internationally with our kids multiple times, I had not taken them on a Compassion trip to visit our sponsored children before. It was a beautiful and memorable trip that taught me some good lessons about myself. Those might not be so helpful for anyone else, but there were a few other things I think might.

I learned a lot about focus and timing as well. You may think these are no-brainers (because I do, in hind sight), but if you’ve considered taking your kids on Compassion tours, mission trips, or similar – here’s my two cents. Everyone from our Compassion guide, to the project tutors, to our van driver thoroughly enjoyed the boys – especially Jay. But having my kids with me pulled focus from the people I went to visit and wanted to give my undivided attention. I wanted my kids (including the 3 year old) with me for the Ecuador adventure part, and even for the meeting our sponsored children part. But then I wanted/needed to have time with just my sponsored kids – to just soak them in. I pray that our quantity of Kleins spoke love that my quality of attention could not because I was serving as mom and madrina (sponsor) all at one time.

My hope was that the timing was right for our older two boys, at 9 and 11 years old, to see what our Compassion children’s lives are like in person. You just don’t pray for someone the same way once you’ve hugged them, met their family, and stepped into their home. They are now real to you in a way they weren’t before, and so is poverty. My first trip changed me – but I was 36! Granted emotional maturity varies a bit from person to person, but the timing for the boys was just too soon.

I know that one day it will be the right timing, and I will take them again. But for now, I have a wide open door to go on a trip I’ve been praying about for two years! I’ve tried to go, asked others about their interest, and eventually let go of the planning, sensing that it was just not supposed to happen. This is me being patient, letting go, asking for God’s timing and not mine. I know, I’m not very good at it – but Thank You, Thank You for putting up with me, Lord! This June, after almost a year on the ground, I’ll be airborne again for a trip to visit our church supported Compassion Child Survival Program & our two sponsored boys in the Dominican Republic. Until then….

Visiting Ana in Latacunga, Ecuador