Compassion International Child Sponsors And Spokespeople Travel To Peru

Compassion International
Thursday, 3 May 2001

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. May 3, 2001-Compassion International recently hosted an informatory trip to Lima, Peru, for several of the recording artists, speakers, and event coordinators who serve as spokespeople for the child development organization.

Included on the trip were four-time Grammy nominee and Billboard video award winner Geoff Moore and his teenaged son Josh; Tony Terusa and Darren Mettler, of the O.C. Supertones; Erin O'Donnell; Gary and Lynette Baker, of the annual Ichthus festival; Shane Williams and Laura Storey, of Siler's Bald; Pamela Ham, wife of ForeFront Records President Greg Ham; and speaker Bronwyn Schweigerdt.

The group, led on the trip by Compassion artist and events manager Keith Bordeaux, spent five days visiting Compassion projects in and around the capital city of Lima. Lima is located in a desert region on the coast of Peru. Many of the projects are located on the outskirts of the city where, according to Bordeaux, people from rural areas have moved hoping to find work in the city, but to no avail.

Compassion has set up projects in those communities in order to help the children living there. Bordeaux took this group to visit several of these projects and see the impact that Compassion's work is having on the families in these "squatter" villages.

"The reason we take these trips with artists is so that they can see firsthand the work that Compassion is doing and come back to tell others about it," said Bordeaux. "Geoff is a longtime friend of Compassion's and has been with us to various countries over the years. This trip was particularly special because Geoff was able to bring his son Josh along. It was moving to watch them interact with the children at the projects together as they had the opportunity to visit the humble homes of some of the Compassion children."

According to Bordeaux, most of the homes are made of plywood and cinder block, consisting of no more than two small rooms; one room where the entire family sleeps and one room for the kitchen and living area.

"We were also privileged to take Tony Terusa and Darren Mettler of the O.C. Supertones," said Bordeaux. "Tony and Darren are the members of the band that share about Compassion's work during the Supertones' concerts. We wanted to make sure that they were able to see the work firsthand before their "Dance Party USA Tour" kicked off. Tony sponsors a young boy at one of the projects we visited. They were able to spend the afternoon together and get to know each other better. It was amazing to learn how many interests they shared in common."

"Before I left for this trip," said Terusa, bass player for the O.C. Supertones, "I had decided to sponsor a child. After I arrived, I got acquainted with Devy. He is an amazing 10-year-old who relies on and loves God. It was so incredible to see him, and through an interpreter, to hear about his love for soccer and his friends. It really made an impact on me when he said his favorite book was the Bible. When I was 10 years old, I didn't even know who God was. Now I know it isn't just $28 I'm sending in for him each month, but it is a relationship of love."

Terusa went on to say that he's heard a great deal about poverty around the world. As overwhelming as it can be, this trip helped him see the incredible impact helping just one child can have on the child, his or her family, and their community. Terusa stated that we are blessed as a nation and he thinks we are to use our blessings to help others in need. Each night of their tour the O.C. Supertones share these and many more experiences relevant to the work of Compassion and how their audiences can become involved and sponsor a child.

Founded in 1952, Compassion is a Christian not-for-profit organization dedicated to the long-term holistic development of children living in poverty. Working with more than 200 different denominations in more than 2,100 church-based projects, Compassion is reaching out to nearly 400,000 children in 22 countries, including the United States.

For more information, or to contact Compassion International, see their website at: www.compassion.com