Most people can say they have had a pen pal sometime in their life. For Kelsey Hendler, a high school senior who attends Calvary, it isn’t any different. She has been in correspondence with a pen pal and this summer plans on meeting her- traveling over 2,000 miles to get there! Kelsey is part of a giant network of “pen pals” called Compassion International. Through it, people can sponsor a Compassion Child (C.C). Kelsey describes a C.C. as “a less fortunate child from other parts of the world you sponsor to build a relationship with, to show them God’s love, and to help give them a better future.” Kelsey makes monthly payments to support her C.C. as well as writes letters to her. These both go through Compassion International and the letter is translated. The child, in turn, receives the benefits of Kelsey’s payments and sends a letter back.

Kelsey became involved with Compassion three or four years ago. “One specific girl sort of stuck out to me,” she explains, describing picking out a child to sponsor. “The description on the card said she liked to sing, like me, lived in Ecuador, which my sister traveled to before, and overall the little girl reminded me of myself.” Kelsey sponsored Geosamely Somalia Ballesteros Subia, a little girl now seven years old.

This summer, Kelsey has the wonderful opportunity of going on a Word FM mission trip to Ecuador with her mother from July 23-30. There, the team will be working in Pujili on building projects, spending time with children, and working at an activity center. On the group’s sight-seeing day, Kelsey will drive to the village of Otavalo, Geosamely’s home, to visit her C.C. She is extremely excited and is looking forward to the day when she and Geosamely will meet for the very first time.

Looking back on the last few years, Kelsey realizes what an impact being involved with Compassion has had on her. “It’s given me an appreciation for what I have,” she says. “I’m always amazed at what excites Geosamely. One time, I sent her a roll of stickers and she was so excited! It’s made me realize I take a lot of my stuff for granted.” Kelsey, being the only one sponsoring Geosamely, says that the Compassion project has also taught her responsibility. “It takes discipline to save that money, and I just have to trust that God will provide.”

Kelsey encourages anyone considering sponsoring a C.C. to go for it. “It’s changed my life, and it’s also changed hers,” she says, thinking of Geosamely. “I can see in her letters how much she has grown and how much God has worked through me to touch her life. Sponsoring a child is a cool way to grow with God and to serve Him.” Sponsoring a C.C. is a long-term commitment, and it takes responsibility, but Compassion International offers an amazing way to see God at work in the life of the child and their sponsor.

For more information on how you can impact the life of a child, go to www.compassion.com.