Jessica Ewald serves as the liaison between sponsored children and sponsors
Every Tuesday, this mother of three works in an office at the Diospi-Suyana School. When she was asked two years ago if she would be willing to maintain communication between sponsors and their sponsored children, she said yes without hesitation. And ever since then, this Hamburg native has been diligently ensuring a smooth flow of information between the sponsors and the 150 sponsored children at our school. The map on the wall above shows the Curahuasi district, which covers no less than 857 km². The boys and girls Jessica Ewald supports come not only from the small town itself but also from the various mountain villages in the surrounding area. A shuttle picks these children up in the morning and takes them back home to the mountains in the afternoon.
Three letters per child cross her desk every year. She writes reports, answers questions, and maintains close contact with both sides. The Christmas season is also peak season for her, as that’s when the children and teens send personal notes to their sponsors, who usually live far away. As Jessica Ewald reports, support currently comes from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, the U.S., and Peru.
She knows that the help and support provided by sponsors is much more than just a financial transfer to a stranger. People overseas often feel a deep sense of solidarity with their sponsored children. They hope and pray for them, encourage them, and show them appreciation. Over the course of months, an invisible bond of affection and a genuine sense of togetherness develop. In material terms, what Jessica does cannot be measured. But the true value of her volunteer work is immeasurable. It comes from the heart and lets the children feel how important they are. And Jessica knows from her own experience just what that means.
As a teenager, she had rather low self-esteem and was searching for her place in life. At age 15, she was invited to a Christian youth group meeting. For the first time, she heard that God truly exists. And that the Eternal One loves her through the person of Jesus Christ. This realization led to a major turning point in her life. Jessica puts it this way: “When I understood that if God accepts me just as I am, then I have a valuable and unique identity!”
Ten years ago, Jessica and a friend stopped in Curahuasi as part of a trip through South America. Their brief two-day visit was to see an acquaintance named Simon Ewald. He was doing volunteer work at our school, and it’s very likely there was more than just a friendly connection between the two of them. As they drove into town, a thought flashed through her mind: “I could live and work here for a while!”
In March 2016, the urban planner and the high school teacher of Spanish and politics became a couple. Eight years later, they traveled to Peru with their daughters Elisa and Anna as a missionary couple. An adorable little boy named David joined them exactly eight months ago. One detail is worth mentioning in this context: the little one is the proud holder of a Peruvian passport.
“Jessica, what experiences have you had with God in your life?” — The friendly woman from northern Germany thinks for a moment. Then she says, “I’ve seen time and again how God has miraculously intervened in my life, and occasionally I’ve felt His presence very intensely!”
As I slowly make my way down the stairs from the second floor, I’m overcome by a strong sense of certainty: “Jessica is exactly the right person for this important task!” (The total number of preschoolers and students is currently 571.) /KDJ
Bericht von Jessica über die letzte Campingfreizeit →
