Jonathan Almonte’s story shows how sponsoring a child through Compassion International (or other similar programs) can change the course of a child’s life. 

However, it is the compassion of the people in his story who loved him when he fought back and wrote him letters calling out his identity and inherent worth as a child of God that may have made the biggest difference.

That letter changed my life. I was believing that I was a mistake. I was believing that God was not good for me. This letter helped me to understand that God provided a woman called Jamie thousands of kilometers away in a place called Michigan celebrating Thanksgiving. This woman wrote a letter to say, I am thankful for you. You are special, you’re not a mistake.

As a child of a single mom in the Dominican Republic, Jonathan’s prospects were greatly limited. From a young age, he worked to earn enough money for each day’s food. The cost of getting into a school, a uniform as supplies, was nowhere near his grasp. 

His mother applied for him to join the Compassion program and (after a wait) he was accepted. For the first time in his life, all of his educational, nutritional, medical, and physical needs were taken care of, and Jonathan felt believed in like he never had before. 

I was selling juice on the streets. I was diving in a garbage area without hope. So this ministry for me meant my life. My life is before and after the ministry of Compassion in partnership with the local church in my community.

If after listening you feel led to sponsor a child through Compassion International, I’d love to make it super easy for you. Simply text the word: “Heather” to 83393 and a child’s picture will be sent to your phone. Please let me know if you do!

What we chat about:

  • Jonathan’s childhood in the Dominican Republic and the extreme poverty he experienced
  • How his life changed when he was accepted into the Compassion International’s program
  • The people who loved Jonathan and shared Christ with him
  • The sponsors Jonathan had in Compassion and the importance of their letters
  • His hard relationship with his father and the powerful moment when he forgave him
  • Immigration of people from poverty-stricken nations vs empowerment of those people to stay and fight for their communities

Connect with Compassion International: 

Links Mentioned:  

Learn more about sponsoring a child with Compassion: www.compassion.com/dontmomalone

Featured Sponsor: Phonics Museum

When your child enters the Phonics Museum, a learning adventure full of games, stories, and art awaits! With a clever mix of lessons, activities, games, and sing-along songs, young learners won’t get bored at Phonics Museum. Taking a “tools of learning” approach, the app helps establish a strong foundation of reading for children through a complete commitment to a phonics approach. Join Wendy, William, Percival and Miss Biddle, the museum curator on a reading adventure as they explore the Phonics Museum, sing songs, and play games with the living artwork in the museum. It’s an experience you’ll never forget!

You can try the Phonics Museum today for free by signing up for the 2 Week Free Trial. Just download the app in the iOS App store (currently not available in Android)

Featured Sponsor: Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids

Written by VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer, this family Bible is more than a children’s Bible storybook . . . it’s a deep, engaging, laugh-out-loud gospel experience.

The Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids will guide readers from Genesis to Revelation, retelling beloved Bible stories AND tackling tricky questions like “What is sin?” and “What is the Trinity?”

Each story is vividly illustrated, takes just five minutes to read, and includes a family connection to encourage family Bible study and help readers learn, talk, and pray together! PLUS, bonus content connects the dots of each Bible story, making the Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids a family devotional Bible that provides a big picture, applicational view of the Biblical narrative.