The distance between West Monroe, Louisiana and Guatemala may be measured in miles, but for Abby Wood and her teenage son Gavin, that gap closed into something far more meaningful during their recent mission trip. What began fifteen years ago with a simple $43 monthly commitment to sponsor a child has blossomed into relationships that transcend borders, languages, and cultural differences.

When the Woods first connected with Compassion International, they simply wanted to sponsor a child sharing their newborn son's birthday. That initial connection with a Ugandan boy named Xavier has lasted nearly two decades. More recently, they added Guatemalan Ellie to their sponsorship family after their church helped establish a Compassion center in her community.

The true magic happened when Abby and Gavin stepped off the bus in Guatemala to an unexpected welcome—community members with phones and even a drone capturing their arrival, children holding welcome banners, and celebratory fireworks lighting their path. The abstract concept of sponsorship suddenly had faces, personalities, and embraces attached to it.

Walking into Ellie's home where eight family members live together revealed details no letter could convey. Her father leaves at 4 AM six days a week for a 12-hour factory workday. Her mother rises at 3 AM to prepare his meals. Despite modest surroundings, they proudly displayed their collection of letters from the Woods, kept securely in a locked drawer like precious jewels.

Most touching was discovering Ellie's true personality—not the shy girl from photographs, but a playful, competitive spirit who couldn't wait to play games with her American friends. These moments of connection transcended language barriers (requiring both Spanish and Mayan Kekchi translators) and revealed the human bonds at the heart of global ministry.

The impact wasn't one-sided. At another home visit, a skeptical father finally approached after observing from a distance. "I just really didn't know this was real," he admitted. "Today I know there's really someone out there who cares about us." His words captured why showing up matters as much as financial support.

Ready to make a difference that ripples through generations? Visit compassion.com to discover how a modest monthly commitment can transform lives across the globe—including your own.

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Joanna Herman shares her journey through divorce after seven years of marriage and how she discovered that her circumstances don't define who she is in God's eyes.

• Facing fears of financial insecurity, loneliness, and judgment as a worship leader going through divorce
• Battling shame and the feeling that divorce "wasn't supposed to happen" to her despite doing things "the right way"
• Finding hope by realizing this difficult period was just a chapter, not her entire story
• Clinging to Isaiah 43:2 as a reminder of God's presence during deep waters
• Drawing strength from her mother's example as a single parent and supportive community
• Discovering deeper worship connection through her pain and healing journey
• Learning to combat negative thoughts with truth about her identity in Christ
• Recognizing how God strategically placed supportive people in her life before her crisis

"Find yourself a godly community to surround yourself with who's going to be there to celebrate those mountaintops and pray you through the valleys... just because life may not always be going good, we still serve a good God."

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Laura Womack shares her powerful journey through postpartum depression following the birth of her second child. After struggling silently for two years while putting on a brave face for others, she found healing through an unexpected spiritual breakthrough that transformed her relationship with God and restored her joy.

Some highlights of our discussion:
• Experienced postpartum depression after her second child when circumstances were dramatically different from her first birth
• Forced to return to work just six weeks after giving birth when her husband lost his job
• Struggled with feelings of intense loneliness despite having a supportive husband and family
• Continued attending church and Bible studies but was "just going through the motions"
• Found healing through surrendering to God during a small group Bible study after nearly two years
• Learned valuable lessons about God's patience, love, and healing power through her experience
• Believes Christians should acknowledge mental health struggles and seek both spiritual and professional help

If you're struggling with postpartum depression or any mental health issue, don't wait to seek help. Reach out to God first, then find godly counselors and friends who can support your healing journey.

First West Counseling

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