New Life Flourishes in El Salvador
Mothers and babies gather for a birthday celebration. These special events help build bonds with other mothers and remind them how precious each year of life is for their newborns.
Northbrook Church, you’re changing lives.
Thank you for helping two Survival centers give lifesaving care to local moms and babies.
Poverty deprives families of the resources, learning, and nurture that babies need to grow in their first year of life. But because you support these Survival programs, parents in El Salvador can give their little ones a strong start.
These two centers are currently serving 30 mothers and their babies. The program provides health care, basic supplies, spiritual guidance, and income training. With your support, the caring staff empowers mothers to create healthy, joyful homes for their children. We hope the photos and updates in this report help you celebrate the impact you’re making!
Matt Kitchen and Pam Arbeiter
Location
El Salvador
Impact at the Two Centers You Support
January – June 2026
39
baby and mother pairs served
2
babies born
4
pregnant mothers
received prenatal care
10
babies reached their first birthday and transitioned to the Sponsorship Program
A Mother’s Message of Thanks
Graciela and baby Zeynep are grateful for your support!
Dear friends,
May God bless you. My name is Graciela, and I am a 23-year-old mother from El Salvador. I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and hope you are doing well. I am very happy to be a part of the Survival program; it has been a great blessing in the lives of many babies.
My daughter’s name is Zeynep. She has a round face, and although she doesn’t smile very often, she is a very beautiful girl. She enjoys playing with rattles and spending time with her father and me. She especially loves playing with her grandfather as she is the youngest member of the household.
When I saw my baby for the first time, I felt immense happiness as I looked at her delicate face and tiny, soft hands. At that moment, I knew this precious little girl would bring happiness to our family and fill my days with joy. I thank God for giving me such a beautiful and healthy daughter. Just looking at her fills me with delight. I know that we will experience many special moments that will shape our lives as we overcome challenges together.
I joined the Survival program when I was five months pregnant, and it has been an immense help for my baby and me. Through home visits and classes, I have learned how to better care for and provide for my child. At the center, we receive teachings on a variety of topics. My baby has participated in various child-development exercises that strengthen her body and fine motor skills. These stimulating activities have helped her learn how to roll over and begin crawling.
I am very grateful to God for placing kind-hearted people like you in our lives who contribute to the program. Because of your support, we have benefited greatly and have learned to care for our babies in very special and meaningful ways. My family and I will keep you and your families in our prayers as we ask God to protect you, watch over you, and bless you with good health. We also ask that you would continue praying for the babies and mothers in the program.
I send you my heartfelt thanks and a warm hug,
Graciela
Letter edited for clarity.
A Window Into Survival
Through monthly program meetings and regular home visits, Survival staff faithfully serve the moms and babies at these two centers. Household supplies, parenting lessons, and Christ-centered fellowship help these mothers grow into healthy, confident caregivers. See a glimpse of recent program activities below.
Misión Cristiana Elim
Mothers who are new to the Survival program receive Bibles to encourage their spiritual growth through reading, study, and meditation on God’s Word.
Survival caregivers and their babies spend a fun, meaningful time together celebrating the birthdays of two participants who recently turned 1 year old.
The program staff deliver age-appropriate toys to all the participants that allow their mothers to stimulate their visual, auditory, and tactile senses through various textures, sounds, and colors.
Iglesia Nueva Jerusalén de Asambleas de Dios
All program participants and their mothers attend a medical checkup at the center. The purpose of this checkup is to ensure the well-being of the children through health assessments and vaccine updates. This preventive approach is important for the early detection of potential health issues.
Survival specialists monitor the growth of each baby to ensure they have the support they need to thrive. By checking height and weight, staff can identify potential health issues, such as malnutrition, as early as possible and provide treatment when needed.
During a workshop on motor skills development, caregivers created educational toys using recycled materials to help stimulate their babies progress in this critical area of growth.
Each participant receives a collection of essential groceries to guarantee access to nutritional support for vulnerable families. These healthy food items also bring a message of hope to families currently navigating difficult circumstances.
Holding A Little Piece of Heaven
Dear friends,
My name is Evely, and I live in El Salvador with my family. It is a pleasure to greet you and share a little about our lives. With deep affection, I want to thank you for helping build a better future for new generations.
My baby, Josue, enjoys being with members of our church and willingly goes into their arms when they hold him. One special blessing in his life is that his grandparents serve as pastors, and our family is committed to serving the Lord together.
When Josue came into my life, I felt as though I was holding a little piece of heaven. At first, I was concerned because the doctors felt there might be some complications with his health. Our family and church prayed together, and God answered our prayers. After eight days in the hospital, we were able to return home, and I was so grateful knowing that my son was healthy and safe.
Being part of the Survival program has been a tremendous blessing to me. Through the program, families receive monthly support, food packages, health care services, laboratory tests, and helpful information. I especially enjoyed a workshop where we created toys from recycled materials. I made a small worm toy for Josue, and he loved it. We have also participated in workshops that teach practical skills for caring for ourselves and our families.
Josue continues to reach new milestones. He has become interested in clapping his hands, enjoys singing with his grandparents, smiles at the women from our church, and interacts well with everyone around him. These are encouraging emotional and social developments for his age.
It has been wonderful to share about my beloved son, my family, and the work of our church. Thank you for your kindness and for caring about families like ours. On behalf of all the mothers in the Survival program, I thank you sincerely. Please keep us in your prayers. Pray that God will give my husband and me wisdom as we raise Josue in the fear of the Lord.
Evely
Edited for clarity.
Evely holds baby Josue in front of their home. They are grateful for your love and prayers!
Happy Birthday, Babies!
Every laugh, wiggle, and smile of babies in the Survival program calls for celebration. At the two centers you support, 10 babies have reached the most exciting milestone of all — turning 1! These little ones can now move into a new phase of care by joining Compassion’s Sponsorship Program. And as they do, the Survival programs can welcome new moms into the Compassion family. Meet some of these sweet 1-year-olds below.
Samara
Lian
Eliana
Nahomy
Karla
Edgar
Dariela
Ivan
Ailany
Survival Spotlight: Disease Prevention
Thank You for Giving
Northbrook Church, God has used your gift to radiate hope to a community in need. Thank you for ensuring that vulnerable mothers and babies in El Salvador have the care they need to thrive. We praise God for your generous partnership with Compassion International as we release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. May he fill you with joy!