Our Compassion Child, Ivy

When our former Compassion sponsored child graduated from her program in Africa, Andrey and I decided to sponsor a child from the Philippines. We knew that the child they picked for us could come from anywhere in the country. What we didn't expect was that the child they'd assign to us would not only live on the same island, but would live an hour's drive from Cebu City. Perfect!

Andrey's mom is a Compassion advocate, which means she represents Compassion's sponsorship program and finds sponsors for waiting children around the world. In January, while Andrey's parents were in town we made it a point to visit our sponsor child together. Her name is Ivy.

The four of us drove an hour south of Cebu City along the coast to a small town called Sibonga. There, we met with the leaders of the local church that run the Compassion program. It's a new program that provides sponsorship to 100 children in the area. The children receive everything they need to go to school and regular medical and dental check-ups. The pastor and administrator who hosted us were very excited to meet us. We were the first sponsors to visit one of the children.

In Sibonga, we met at the church where the program is held and were introduced to Ivy and her mother. We chatted for a few minutes and then we all went to lunch together at Jollibee in a bigger town nearby. Jollibee is the Philippines version of McDonald's. Kids light up when they see the restaurant's mascot, "Jollibee," which is just as it sounds - a very jolly bee. Ivy was ecstatic when she heard where we were headed.

Like most Filipino children, Ivy was incredibly shy and nervous to be around tall, white people. She would barely make eye contact with us. In the car on the way over her mother kept telling us (in Cebuano, thankfully I could understand her) that Ivy is so shy around us because she is afraid of our long noses. Filipinos make a very big deal about the differences in our noses. They are quick to make disparaging remarks about their own short, flat noses. It usually comes either just before or right after the self-deprecating remarks regarding the "blackness" of their skin. Why can't we all just be happy the way God made us!? Anyway...

We enjoyed our time at Jollibee. After lunch we followed the leaders to Ivy's home where we gave a few gifts and were stared at by a gathering crowd from the community. We met more of Ivy's family before we drove back to the city.

Ivy enjoying her lunch at Jollibee.

Andrey, Ivy and me with Jollibee (the poor girl was terrified of us)

Walking to Ivy's house

Ivy at her door step

Ivy with her grandmother, brother and mother