This Compassion sponsor tour will visit one of the most beautiful regions of Guatemala, the Pacific coast. Very few Compassion travelers have visited this area so you will be among the first to greet the beautiful children of this region. You will encourage the men and women who minister to them in Jesus' name and serve alongside many others from across the United States. In fact, this particular experience is designed to provide you with a safe yet rich cultural experience while allowing you the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.

Have you wondered who greets the child you sponsor when he or she arrives at the Compassion child development center? What is his community like? Does my sponsorship really make a difference in her life? Well, wonder no more! Join us on this sponsor tour to Guatemala where these questions and many more will be answered. When you return from this adventure, you will certainly never look at this country the same way.

Our adventure will also take you to several different Compassion child development centers like the one your child attends. We'll venture even deeper into the heart of the community and into the home, where you will learn what poverty looks like in the developing world. You will see firsthand how your partnership with Compassion International not only benefits a child, but that child's whole family and her greater community as well.  As great as these experiences will be, nothing can compare with the opportunity to meet the child you sponsor and spend one whole day making memories.

This tour will fill up quickly and space is limited so don't delay, register today!

Sunday, March 8: Our journey begins with a brief orientation to get to know each other and prepare for what God has in store for us. We arrive in Guatemala City mid-morning, collect our luggage, and head for the community of Escuintla. After lunch we will plan our service project and our children's ministry classes that will take place during our Compassion student center visits. Then we will explore some of the local tourist attractions before returning to the hotel to rest and relax.

Monday, March 9 – Tuesday, March 10: With our hearts stirred to put our faith into action, we will visit and minister to the adorable children who attend several Compassion child development centers in this rural area. You will be able to see how poverty affects these children and their families and how well the incredible staff implements the Compassion program. As a team we will minister to these children through drama, worship, games and arts and crafts. In between ministry activities with the children you can expect to learn more about how your partnership and the lasting impact it makes in the life of every Compassion child. For a more vivid portrait of poverty, we will experience "a day in the life of a Compassion child" as we spend an extended time working alongside the families of the children attending these centers just as they do day after day after day.

Wednesday, March 11: You'll spend a very special day filled with laughter, hugs, stories and fun with the incredible child or children you sponsor. The Compassion staff has planned a day that you and your sponsored child will never forget. This is what you've waited for, so treasure every moment! Tonight, with the memories of the day still fresh in your heart, you'll meet several remarkable young people who represent the thousands of children whose lives have been forever affected by the ministry of Compassion. Your passion to "release children from poverty in Jesus' name" will be set ablaze.

Thursday, March 12: Today we will journey back to Guatemala City and experience Compassion's work in an urban community. We will serve together on a work project that will bless the children and the staff who works with them. We will also have time to visit homes of a few of the children who attend the center we have visited.

Friday, March 13: With our adventure nearing its completion, today is a day to catch our breath as we visit the Compassion office where you will have the opportunity to look under the hood and kick the tires of this amazing ministry. If our previous experiences haven't fully answered the questions you came with, this experience will provide an outstanding opportunity to find out more. After lunch will be an opportunity to finish up shopping for friends and family back home.

Saturday, March 14: After a week of immersing ourselves in the beauty and grandeur of this beautiful country, tasting a bit of the culture through our visits to the Compassion student centers, and investing in the lives of children, our adventure has come to a close. Today will be a great opportunity to reflect and consider what impact this experience will have on us when we return home. We will return with hearts prepared to answer the call to "speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves" as we share the experiences we have had this week with whomever God lays on our hearts.

RESERVATIONS should be made well in advance and require a nonrefundable deposit of $150 per person. Final payment of $2,400 is due no later than Nov. 25, 2008. Additional fuel surcharges are assessed at time of ticketing and due no later than 60 days prior to departure.

AIR TRANSPORTATION AND FUEL SURCHARGES:  Air transportation as included in the tour is based on economy-class transportation and is subject to all rules and regulations governing these fares. Fuel surcharges are added on a per-ticket basis at time of confirmation. In the event these surcharges are increasingly higher than budget estimates, we may require additional funds to cover these surcharges.  We will communicate any pricing changes immediately.

In the event that you need to cancel your trip, please refer to our cancellation policy below:

All deposits are nonrefundable.

50% of the tour cost will be required for cancellations 59-31 days prior to the sponsor tour.

100% of the tour cost will be required for cancellations 30-0 days prior to the sponsor tour.

Only written cancellations accepted.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to adjust or alter any travel program when necessary or desirable for the protection, safety or improvement of said travel program, or when local conditions do not permit operation as published. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to accept or deny participants application at its sole discretion.
RESPONSIBILITY: COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL makes arrangements with airlines, hotels and other independent parties to provide you with the travel services you purchase. These parties are independent suppliers over whom we have no direct control. In the absence of negligence on our part, we are not responsible for any claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses arising out of injury, accident or death; damage, loss or delay of baggage or other property; or delay, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental, resulting from (1) the act or omission of any party other than COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL or its employees; (2) mechanical breakdown, government actions, weather or other factors beyond our control; (3) failure to obtain documents, passports, visas and health certificates valid through the date of reentry, when required, in which case a cancellation charge will be assessed; (4) failure to follow instructions including but not limited to check-in and checkout times and baggage handling; (5) cancellation or change for any reason in the travel services offered; and (6) medical or health problems or physical disabilities. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to cancel or alter the travel services at its discretion, except as otherwise noted herein. In the event of change, COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL will try to substitute comparable services; in the event of complete cancellation by COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL, we shall refund all monies paid to us. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL will not be responsible for any other cost incurred by participants.