SUMMER 2012
VO L . 3 . NO. 2
Tit le
e l t i T r T eatrm e n t e m t a Te S EC O N DA RY T Y P E S EC O N DA RY
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S p e c ia l p u ll o u t
compassion.com
Stamp C o py SS TApMePcC Oi aPYl pullout
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Illustration by Josh Lewis
Do you know what sport this elephant is playing? Cricket! It’s the most popular sport in India.
Departments Compassionate Kids Crafts, Recipes and Projects What Does God Say About … ? Just for Grins and Giggles
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About the Cover
Blue jean “monsters” help kids in Kenya. PAGE
Welcome to My World! What kinds of games do kids in India and Thailand play? Check them out here. PAGE
4 Throw a Mexican-Style Party! PAGE
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Compassion Explorer Magazine is published three times per year by Compassion International. © Compassion International 2012. All rights reserved.
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EDITOR Leanna Summers PROOFREADING AND EDITING Suellen Wenz, Dan Benson, Debby Weaver
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WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS Lorie Barnes, Leanna Summers, Jeremy V. Jones, Rebeca Harcharik PHOTOGRAPHERS Chuck Bigger, Sharon Tincher, Tuangporn Wiroonchatapunth, Jayaseelan Enos, Kimberlee West PRINT PRODUCTION Michelle Dana
Special Games Pullout!
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Illustration by Josh Lewis
A Burkinabé boy enjoys playing on the swings at a Compassion center in Burkina Faso.
Denim Dudes
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ART DIRECTOR Josh Lewis DESIGNER Callie Wilburn QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Email us at compassionkids@us.ci.org or write to Compassion International, Attn: Compassion Explorer Magazine Editor, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80921.
When it comes to celebrating birthdays, these kids know that it’s better to give than to receive! Far and Away the Best Birthday Ever! Ellie, Age 8 Florida Ellie traveled to Nicaragua and got a very special party! Ellie and her sponsored child, Guadalupe, share the same birth date. In Nicaragua, the kids threw them a birthday party! There were decorations, piñatas, and food and drinks for everyone. While Ellie had fun at her birthday party, she also learned some difficult things about children in poverty. She saw five kids share a single bed, so when she got back home, she helped raise money to buy a bunk bed for the kids.
Having a Ball! Noah, Age 13 Wisconsin For Noah’s birthday, he asked friends to donate money to buy soccer balls for Compassion-sponsored kids. “It wasn’t hard at all to decide to have a party that wasn’t all about me,” says Noah. “I wanted to help others who don’t have as much.” Noah and his mom also made a soccer ball out of newspaper and twine to show his friends what children in some developing countries might have to use, then they played a game with the homemade ball.
A Party With a Purpose Olivia, Age 8 Kansas For Olivia’s birthday, she asked friends to donate money to help get kids sponsored. She raised $175! SUMMER 2012
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ADAPTED BY REBECA HARCHARIK
In the developing world, kids don’t always have money to buy equipment for games, so they use materials they can find or make -and have just as much fun!
Thailand
ELASTIC JUMPING
(Kra-Dod-Yaang )
Girls in Thailand love to play this game. It is like jump rope and limbo. The objective is to jump as high as possible over a “rope” made of rubber bands.
Directions 1
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Take 20-30 rubber bands and loop them together until you have a “rope” of rubber bands long enough to jump over — about five feet long. 1b
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One child holds each end of the rope. A HUNGER IN THE third child can now jump or skip over or DEVELOPING WORLD? under the rope. There are 10 levels to this game: ankle bone, calf, knee, thigh, waist, chest, neck, ear, head and overhead. For the first four levels, players must not touch the rope at all. But from the waist level up, they are allowed to use any part of their body to get over or under the rope.
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Get creative! Do somersaults, find an object that can help you get over the rope, etc.
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If a player does not pass a level, she will need to trade with one of the rope holders.
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Any players who are able to pass the last level (overhead) are the winners!
Bouncy Ball Roll a piece of aluminum foil into a ball. Wrap a rubber band tightly around the ball. Continue doing MORE FUNwatch WITH this and the ball grow!
RUBBER WalkingBANDS Stick Handle
Wrap several wide rubber bands around the end of a tall stick to create a comfortable grip.
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SEVEN STONES DODGE BALL (Saat-Pathar )
India
Children in India enjoy playing this variation of dodge ball. The defending team’s objective is to keep a pile of stones from getting knocked over by the other team and to tap the players of the opposing team with the ball. The objective of the offensive team is to knock over the pile of stones and avoid getting touched with the ball thrown by a defender.
Requirements Seven stones that can be piled on top of each other. (See photos.) If you’d like, use other objects that can stack up on top of one another. A ball soft enough to throw against each other’s legs.
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Directions
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Divide the players into two groups.
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Set boundaries for the playing field, and pile the seven stones on top of one another in the center of the boundary area.
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Select a team to be the offense and the other team to be the defense. Defenders surround the seven stones to protect the pile from getting knocked over. Players on the offense position themselves farther out. The round starts when a player on the offense throws the ball, trying to knock over the stacked stones.
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Scoring If the player on the offense manages to knock over the six top stones, the offense wins the round (1 point). However, if only a few stones fall, then one of the defenders restacks the stones. If the player on the offense misses the stones or knocks over less than six, a defender takes the ball and tries to hit an offense player on the legs, below the knees. He must throw the ball from where he picked it up. If he hits an offense player on the legs, then that player is out for the round. If he doesn’t hit one of the players on the offense, then a player on the offense gets the ball and can try to knock down the seven stones.
If the defending team manages to hit all of the players on the offense with the ball without having the stones knocked over, they win the round (1 point). The players on the offense have three chances to knock over the seven stones. If they are unable to do so, teams swap roles and the next round begins.
Most of the poorest kids in India don’t even get to eat three meals a day. They usually just eat a little bit of rice once a day. These kids don’t have extra money to buy toys or games.
After six to 12 rounds, the team with the most points wins! SUMMER 2012
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BY REBECA HARCHARIK
In Mexico, kids love to have parties, just like you do! Try these crafts and recipes to make your own Mexican-style party! Invite your friends and talk about how life might be for kids in Mexico.
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Pastel de Tres Leches (Cake Made With Three Types of Milk) Ingredients*
Directions
1 ½ c. cake flour
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
1 pinch salt
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Grease and flour a 9x13" or 12" round baking pan.
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Combine flour, baking powder and salt.
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In a separate bowl, combine oil, sugar and vanilla extract.
½ c. whole milk
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cream syrup for soaking (see recipe below)
Add the eggs to the sugar and combine.
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Stir in the milk, then gently fold in the flour mixture a little at a time.
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Pour this batter into the pan and bake for 30–40 minutes or until it feels firm and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
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Let the cake cool, turn it over onto a serving platter, and pierce it in many areas with a fork. Let it cool in the refrigerator for an additional 30 minutes.
1 tsp. baking powder c. oil 1 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 5 large eggs
¾ c. whipped cream
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While the cake is cooling, make the cream syrup. 10
Pour syrup mixture over the cake then cover with whipped cream.
Cream Syrup To make the cream syrup, whisk together ½ c. heavy cream, 12 oz. evaporated milk, and 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk. *For high altitude, omit oil and use 2 cups of flour, 1 ½ tsp. baking powder, and cup milk. Bake at 350 degrees F. Adapted from: www.mexicanfood.about.com/od/sweetsanddesserts/r/ treslechescake.htm
Mexican Hat Dance To play this popular Mexican game, place a sombrero (a large Mexican hat) on the floor. If you don’t have a sombrero, use any large hat. Play Mexican music while you dance around the hat to the music. Have one person start and stop the music. Every time the music stops, freeze in place.
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Piñatas (Pin-yah-tahs) Piñatas are filled with goodies and hung from the ceiling or a tree branch. Children are blindfolded and try to hit the piñata with a bat until it bursts open and all the goodies spill out!
Supplies 2 c. flour 3 c. water 1 balloon newspaper paint, crayons or markers colored crepe paper string
Directions 1
Blow up a large balloon and tie the end.
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Mix the flour and water to make a paste.
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Cut the newspaper into long, 1-inch-wide strips and dip them into the paste.
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Place the strips on the balloon until it is covered, leaving an open spot at the top.
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Set aside and let the paste dry on the balloon.
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Repeat steps 4 and 5 twice more.
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When dry, pop and remove the balloon.
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Paint your piñata with different designs and colors, and hang crepe paper from the sides and bottom.
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Punch 2 small holes in the top near the opening and string a large piece of string through the 2 holes.
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Fill your piñata (through the hole you left at the top) with candy, small toys, or any other fun surprises. You should also add strips of newspaper so the surprises are not all in one location. Tie your piñata in the air with the string and have fun taking turns hitting it!
Chips and Salsa Salsa Ingredients 6 tomatoes
4 small mild chilies
1 c. onion
4 tsp. salt
1 c. cilantro
4 tsp. lemon juice
Directions Chop and combine all ingredients. Enjoy!
Baked Corn Chips Ingredients 1 pkg. corn tortillas
nonstick spray
Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut entire package of tortillas into triangle shapes. Spray both sides with nonstick spray. Lay the pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet and cook for about 5 minutes until brown and crisp.
Adapted from: www.chevroncars.com/learn/fun-games/howto-make-pinata
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BY JEREMY V. JONES
Nate Hunter gets creative to help his friends in Africa — and he wants your help.
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There’s an army of cuddly monsters multiplying, and their mission is to help Compassionassisted kids in Kenya. Their leader is Nate, and he hopes you’ll join him. Nate was 10 when his family visited Kibera, Kenya, one of the biggest slums in Africa. “It’s crazy how extreme the poverty is,” Nate says. Raw sewage flows along Kibera’s dirt streets. Houses are made of metal, wood or cardboard scraps and crammed side by side. And can you imagine if your entire family lived in a house the size of your bedroom? But Nate was blown away by the joy he saw in the friends he made at the Kibera Compassion child development center. Their generous hearts seemed bigger than their homes. Kids shared their only pieces of candy. One boy gave Nate a carved boat — something his family could have sold to buy food for a week.
“God wants us to love poor people like He does,” Nate says. “We can use a talent or idea like making Denim Dudes to help other kids know that we care about them and that God does too.” Back home in Colorado, Nate kept thinking, Kids in Kibera really want to go to school. They want to learn and to help their families. “That inspired me to find a way I could be part of their lives,” he says. “That’s why I started Denim Dudes.” Denim Dudes are like do-it-yourself Build-A-Bears®. Nate buys blue jeans from thrift stores. The bigger the better! He cuts out patterns, then stuffs and sews the animals closed. Some Dudes have capes, animal snouts or tails. They’re easy to make using the patterns from compassion.com/explorermagazine. Nate sells his critters and donates the money to Compassion. He dreams of more kids making Denim Dudes to help others get food, education and hope to beat poverty. TURN THE PAGE TO MAKE YOUR OWN DUDE!
Nate and his new friend Brian overlook Kibera. The rusted roofs probably look different from your neighborhood. KENYA
About 2.5 billion people in the world don’t have good bathrooms or sewers. That makes thousands of kids sick every day. SUMMER 2012
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How to Make Your Denim Dudes 1
Download one or more pattern outlines at compassion.com/explorermagazine.
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Trace a pattern twice onto old blue jeans. Then cut them out.
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Use embroidery thread to sew on button eyes, a stitched smile, and other decorations such as stripes, a cape, a tail, a skirt — whatever you want.
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Sew the pieces together with a basic whip stitch. Leave a hole to stick stuffing into.
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Stuff the inside with cotton or other fluff. Fill the arms and legs first, using a pencil to get the stuffing to the ends.
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Stitch up the hole, tie a knot, and stuff the knot inside.
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Send Compassion your pictures and stories about your Denim Dudes! Send them to Editor, Compassion Explorer Magazine, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. Or email them to compassionkids@us.ci.org.
Now you’re ready to sell your Denim Dudes and give the money away!
HOW TO USE
Your Dudes! Here are some ways you can spread the word about Denim Dudes — and help more kids around the world. Get your art club or after-school club to create Dudes together. Have a Denim Dudes birthday party where friends create creatures. Get your Boy or Girl Scout troop to join in. Maybe you can earn a badge. Get your whole class or school to have a Denim Dudes drive. Sell your Dudes at a craft fair, holiday bazaar, or art market. Ask a local coffeehouse or boutique if you can sell your Dudes there.
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” — 2 Corinthians 9:9
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BY LORIE BARNES
Have you ever been on a summer hike? Did you take a water bottle in case you got thirsty? Have you ever sung a song while you were walking or hiking somewhere? In Africa, kids your age often have to walk a mile or more to fetch clean water. They walk twice a day to get their families water for cooking, drinking, bathing and gardening. These kids don’t have a refrigerator or faucet. But no matter how big or old the kids are, you might hear the children in Africa singing a song called “We Are Walking in the Light of God!” while they are doing their hard chore of collecting water. Their water chore becomes a source of joy and fun!
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In the Bible, God’s Map for Life, read or listen to 3 John verses 2-4. Discover why the apostle John was glad to hear his friends were following Jesus and living joyfully for Him.
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John’s friends showed they were following Jesus, the “Truth.” What do you think they were doing?
©iStockphoto.com/kedsanee
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What might you do to walk in the “Truth” and follow Jesus this summer? With your friends? With your family? With your sponsored child?
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Think of a time when you felt joy because you knew you were “walking in the light and truth of Jesus’ love” even when life was hard. What happened that made you feel that way?
Dear Jesus, Thank You for showing me how to live for You and how to “walk in the Truth.” I pray for (sponsored child) ____________ that she/he might learn more about You and how to live for You every day, too. Thank You for my parents/caregivers and help me to bring them joy and gladness because of the way I live for You. In Your name, Amen.
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Compassion International 12290 Voyager Parkway Colorado Springs, CO 80921-3668 (800) 336-7676
A moving bakery!
Can you write a caption for this picture? Send it to: Compassion International, Attn: Compassion Explorer Magazine Editor, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. Or email it to compassionkids@us.ci.org.
Jadon, 10 Eldersville, Pa.
Wait, I think I could fit about 10 more balls on here. Bethany, 11 Whiteman, Mo.
Ummm, a little help? Abigail, 9 Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Three thousand, five hundred and ... oh no, I have to start over! Wesley, 8 Broxton, Ga.
Can somebody help me count these? Luke, 9 Lansing, Mich.
Hmmm ... I’m sure I put my keys around here somewhere ... Anna, 8 Farmington Hills, Mich.
How many balls did we order?!? Jemma, 11 Chesapeake, Va.
I’d be better off carrying an elephant in my truck. Hunter, 8 Mt. Wolf, Pa.
Remember this picture from the Winter 2012 issue of Compassion Explorer Magazine? These are some of your great captions!
IN285 (5/12)
Man!! Do his children like balls!!!