The Compassion International Exhibit.
The Compassion International Exhibit.

For the youth in our care, it’s always fun to get to go somewhere off campus with your staff and your friends! Recently, several girls from our Ruston campus had the opportunity to do just that. These young ladies were excited, though maybe a little apprehensive as well. You see, this wasn’t just a “fun” trip off campus, it was an opportunity to see how people less fortunate than them had overcome numerous obstacles through the help of an organization called Compassion International.

The goal of Compassion International is to increase awareness of the plight of the poor in developing countries. They also offer the opportunity to help with solutions.  Through their “Experience Another World Without Leaving Yours” exhibit, they carefully re-create the living conditions of  people that have been helped out of desperate situations. Compassion International donors help provide resources in a tangible way. The stories of the young people who have been touched by generosity and God’s abundant love echo the stories of our youth. The similarities are striking.

Julian was able to tell her story via an iPod and headphones worn by each participant.
Julian was able to tell her story via an iPod and headphones worn by each participant.

So it was that 13 of our youth and several of our staff, donned headphones and listened to Julian tell her story of living in squalor and fear in her early years, and growing up fatherless in an alley near a brewery in Kampala, Uganda. The exhibit consisted of 6 rooms that were close replicas of what everyday life looks like for children in a developing country. Our youth walked through what Julian’s home, school, and neighborhood would look like. When they learned that Julian’s story didn’t end there and she was able to turn her life around with the help of others, they were filled with hope and encouragement. They enthusiastically wished they could find the money to support a child through Compassion International.

One of the rooms in the exhibit.
One of the rooms in the exhibit.

We are grateful to Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, for hosting the exhibit, and to the Compassion International team who accommodated our time and cared well for us.

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