“I was hoping for a hug and to find someone who made me feel that I wasn’t alone, who would give me words of encouragement. But I encountered so much more than that.” — Rosa, Guatemala
The bus was crowded. But in the noise and press of bodies, Rosa felt desperately alone.
As the bus reached the station near her home, she stepped down and walked toward the fast-moving traffic — her gaze lost and her heart empty. Only one thought crossed her mind: Maybe it all ends if I get hit by a car.
Suddenly, she heard her son, 6-year-old Alexander, shout, “Mom, we have arrived at the light! We must stop!” It was then that she came back to her senses. What am I doing? My children have no one but me; I need to keep going on.
Rosa and Her Family Faced Daily Abuse
Deciding to keep going was one thing; finding a way to do it was another. Rosa felt hopeless. She was raising her children by herself and had no home of her own, only her parents’ house. There, Rosa and her children were relentlessly abused by her sister.
The woman treated the children harshly, sometimes denying them food or hot water for bathing. When Rosa would confront her sister, she would hit Rosa, severely injuring her. And the abuse persisted for months.
Trapped by Poverty
Rosa and her children cried together many nights as they considered how to flee from the house. But the hope of escape was choked out by the reality they faced living in poverty.
Rosa struggled to provide for her children. Although she tried relentlessly, she couldn’t find a steady job. Instead, she would offer to clean houses and buy used clothes to resell when she could.
When she could work, the children needed to stay at her parents’ house. And while they helped care for the children, Rosa feared leaving them alone with her sister.
Taking Action
One day, Rosa mustered the courage to file a lawsuit against her sister. Although she was granted a restraining order, the lawsuit worsened her situation.
When Rosa’s other siblings found out about the case, they took her sister’s side, dismissing the abuse allegations. Her parents did the same.
“If there’s a restraining order, you’re going to be the one leaving. And if something happens to our parents, it’s all on you.” — Rosa’s siblings
Rosa couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to her parents. She dropped the lawsuit and decided to leave home — even though she had nowhere to go.
Rosa and Her Family Find a Haven at the Compassion Center
Rosa needed immediate support. And the only place she could think of was the Compassion center at a nearby church, where both Yeimi and Alexander were registered with the child sponsorship program.
When Rosa and her children arrived at the church, she was met by Johana, the Compassion center director.
“She came to us crying, desperate about her situation. She told me everything.” — Johana, Compassion center director
For Johana, this was the first time someone had come to the center with no home to live in and no family to turn to. She wasn’t entirely sure how to help. After calling Compassion Guatemala’s program facilitator for advice, Johana was directed to the Highly Vulnerable Children (HVC) Fund.
Rescue Comes From the Highly Vulnerable Children Fund
Through Compassion, funds were immediately released to the center to help Rosa and her family move into another home.
Because they left her parents’ house with only the clothes she and her children were wearing, they also needed supplies. The center provided a bed, additional clothing, a stove, gas for cooking and cooking supplies.
The HVC Fund provided Rosa with rental costs and food baskets for six months, more than enough time for her to save the income needed to invest in a secondhand clothing business of her own.
Yeimi and Alexander had suffered trauma that no child should ever face. The center provided three months of therapy sessions for the whole family — at no charge — helping them heal. The center stood by the family’s side, offering consistent encouragement and prayer.
“Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about asking for financial support. I was hoping for a hug and to find someone who made me feel that I wasn’t alone, who would give me words of encouragement. But I encountered much more than that!” — Rosa
Want to help a local church protect and care for a highly vulnerable child? Donate to the HVC Fund.
All Rosa Wanted Was a Hug — She Received Freedom
Through the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual care the family received, they’re now living lives transformed. They no longer fear abuse. Instead, they’re free to reach for brighter futures.
“Rosa is different now; she even looks different. She is happier. They live safely. She has found a husband and is about to have a third baby. Both Rosa and her husband are providing for the family.” — Johana, Compassion center director
Both Yeimi and Alexander love attending the center activities. Rosa is also involved, participating in family activities and attending training courses for parents offered at the center.
Rosa dreams that Yeimi and Alexander will attend college, something she couldn’t do. Yeimi wants to become a medic so she can save lives and help those in need. Alexander is focused on having fun for now — he loves having a place of his own where he can run and play in safety.
One Yes to Child Sponsorship Can Change Families
Somewhere, a child sponsor said yes to sponsoring Yeimi. Another said yes to sponsoring Alexander. The family’s story is proof that one yes to one child can change entire families.
“For Rosa, it was finding more than she was looking for, and for us, it was discovering the impact the Compassion center can make in a family.” — Johana, Compassion center director
Rosa knows that God is faithful. And his faithfulness is displayed through his work to rescue, heal and provide for his children through his Church. One person willing to follow Jesus into some of the darkest circumstances can impact many lives.
“Everything Rosa received was possible because someone provided for it. That’s why I constantly remind the children and their parents to pray for our sponsors, for God to bless them and keep them safe.” — Johana, Compassion center director
Rosa’s journey from fear to freedom is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, one act of compassion can open a door to life-changing rescue and restoration. One act of support can ripple outward, transforming not just a life but an entire family’s future.
