More than 8,000 children have been sponsored through the “8,000 miles for 8,000 kids” effort inspired by Walk2gether, the 8,000-mile solidarity walk through Latin America led by CFCA President and Co-founder Bob Hentzen.

Related news report: ’8,000 miles for 8,000 kids’ meet goal

We cannot thank everyone enough for all the help we received in making this possible. This was a labor of love for so many people, and we deeply appreciate your support.

As Bob says, “For each of you who walked with us in fact or in prayer, this continues to be an exciting and humbling journey into the lives of our sponsored friends, their families and our CFCA colleagues.”

Thank you, CFCA community!

In another of our tributes to Walk2gether and our “8,000 miles for 8,000 kids” campaign, this video features Israel Itzol, a CFCA-Guatemala staff member.

During Walk2gether, he drove the support vehicle from Guatemala to Chile. (Walk2gether was a nearly 8,000-mile solidarity walk through 12 countries led by CFCA President Bob Hentzen.)

Israel served the walk team, not only as a driver and mechanic, but as a trusted friend.

Thanks to the help of our CFCA community, we’ve found sponsors for 6,630 kids. Please consider telling a friend or someone you know who might be interested in sponsoring one of these children in need.

Thanks so much, Israel, for your labor of love!

Related links

• We honor some of Walk2gether’s heroes
• Walking with sponsored children

Artwork by a child sponsored in Guatemala to @biggreenpen's daughter.

Yesterday we conducted a Twitter chat all about giving thanks (just in time for Thanksgiving)!

It was a great topic, and we enjoyed your ideas. Submissions ranged from access to clean water to family health and washing machines.

Read the highlights: “What are you thankful for but often take for granted?” on Storify

We’re grateful for all the participation and engagement during this hour-long chat. If you haven’t had a chance yet to join our Twitter chats, we’d love to see you next time!

Singer/songwriter Barclay Martin and CFCA web editor Shanxi Omoniyi at the Twitter chat.

Yesterday we conducted a Twitter chat with singer/songwriter Barclay Martin, who will be performing at CFCA’s upcoming “Shine a Light” benefit concert.

[Read the highlights: "Barclay Martin speaks on Shine a Light: CFCA Benefit Concert" on Storify]

P.S. Want to help us “shine a light” on poverty? Please share the following video of Barclay Martin with your friends! Thanks so much.

Hope to see you there!

But our campaign to find sponsors for 8,000 kids continues!

We cannot thank you enough for taking this journey with us. As of Aug. 26, our records show that 2,781 children have been sponsored through this campaign.

We’re confident that by the end of this year, we’ll have succeeded in sponsoring many more.

Behind every sponsorship is a person telling someone else about CFCA – whether it’s through word of mouth, online communications or social media.

So thanks for all your help! We deeply appreciate your support.

P.S. So far more than $80 has also been raised for CFCA scholarships through our related #8000kids campaign on Twitter. That’s great news!

CFCA President Bob Hentzen and his wife, Cristina, arrived June 24 in Guatemala after completing Walk2gether, a nearly 8,000-mile walk through 12 Latin American countries to show solidarity with those living in poverty. Gerver Churunel from the Guatemala communications center sent us his reflection of the homecoming.

June 24: Over 500 CFCA employees from all regions of the Hermano Pedro project were at the airport to welcome Don Roberto (Bob) and Cristina. CFCA coordinators from other Central American communities were there, and they were surprised to see the amount of people waiting.

Finally Don Roberto appeared, and everyone sang. Teams showed so much joy, with hugs, cheers, songs, banners and percussion instruments. Some cried from excitement because the CFCA co-founder and his wife were returning home.

After the welcome, a caravan of buses made its way from the airport into “La Democracia” Park where the CFCA staff had planned many activities.

Each region conducted a chant when the pilgrims entered. Brother Jorge Armas, Hermano Pedro project coordinator, welcomed them. We had a party with “Guayacán,” a band of marimba players; some musicians are CFCA scholars.

Everyone also enjoyed the more than 600 snacks prepared by mothers of CFCA students. Then the regions gave awards to thank Bob and Cristina for completing the walk.

The project also presented awards to Israel Itzol and Ricardo Ajpuac (Hermano Pedro staff) for their personal sacrifice along the walk; they were separated from their families for several months.

Bob said, “This walk is only the beginning. Our journey is to continue walking together with the poor and those in need.” Bob also stressed the importance of caring for our environment; he said he saw much pollution throughout his journey.

Cristina said, “We can all reach any goal in our lives, no matter the obstacles we encounter along the way; we can always reach our goal.”

June 25: About 15,000 sponsored friends and their families came to “La Democracia” stadium in Guatemala City to welcome Bob and Cristina with songs, applause, firecrackers and music. We had music, cultural events and a Mass of gratitude to God for having the Hentzen family back home.

June 26: In the morning, we traveled to greet other CFCA families in the Chimaltenango and Occidente regions (more than 4,000 sponsored friends and families). A choir of sponsored children and their mothers celebrated with songs, applause and shouts of joy. Families offered gifts to Bob and Cristina.

The caravan continued toward the Patzún region where around 2,000 sponsored friends and their families walked with us to a basketball court for more celebrations.

At that time the light morning rain became more intense, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of hundreds of sponsored friends and families waiting from the South and Sololá Regions, our next stop.

At the end of the day a countless multitude of CFCA families, both sponsored and non-sponsored from San Lucas Tolimán, waited along the streets for the caravan and Bob.

The CFCA staff in San Lucas Tolimán and Project Atitlán welcomed the caravan with the inauguration of a park, called “Roberto y Cristina Hentzen.”

During the park’s inauguration, Bob, Cristina and the CFCA Central American coordinators planted 18 trees, representing 18 months of Walk2gether.

A photo was also revealed in honor of our founders (Bob and Cristina), accompanied with marimba music, rockets and fireworks.

We ended the celebrations with a Mass and thanksgiving dinner.

“La palabra es gratitud.” (The word for the day is gratitude.)

CFCA President Bob Hentzen’s words gathered us in a circle hours before dawn in the rain, the morning of Walk2gether’s last day.

Cathy Crosby

Dead birds and dry riverbeds along our route had offered silent witness to the plight of the people.

Gratitude for the rain underscored our thanks for months of safety, the gift of one another, and most of all the countless gifts from sponsored friends and their families.

Connection, connectedness and unity (not uniformity) are threads woven through my Walk2gether experience.

These words hint at, but fail to capture, the profound interconnections that are the heart of CFCA.

CFCA and its Hope for a Family sponsorship program are built on loving relationship, beginning with Jesus’ love for his heavenly Father, his earthly parents, each person he encountered, and extending to all of creation.

As a sponsor, I have been privileged to travel to Guatemala and Kenya to be with my sponsored children and their families. That relationship is foundational. Our prayers, letters and photos keep us connected.

Walking is a powerful reminder of our connection to our earth as well as one another.

When walking in darkness or slippery mud, we must take care with each step, often directly in the footsteps of the walkers in front. Those following will step into our footprints.

In daylight we share creation’s countless small gifts: a lingering wildflower, a spectacular cloud formation.

Gravity grounds us and binds us to our planet, yet our spirits soar as each mile unites us as companions on our life journeys.

A sliver of fingernail moon, waves crashing over the seawall, distant mountains and huge sand dunes: these images integrate each physical step with an awareness that our careless misuse of God’s gifts contributes to the burden of our sisters and brothers living in poverty.

The rhythm of our days made walking sustainable and enjoyable. Our initial hours of silent walking offered the perfect time for prayer and reflection.

Approximately every 3 miles (5-6 km) we met smiling, clapping CFCA-Chile staffers and bountiful refreshments. Fruit, cookies, coffee, tea and a few surprise treats sustained us each morning.

A 30- to 45-minute break let us care for our feet and chat with one another, sharing Walk2gether and our stories.

One of many daily miracles was a hot roadside lunch by Chilean mothers on tables set with colorful tablecloths, real plates and utensils, even including dessert!

The love with which they prepared and served our meal nourished us as much as the food.

Our days ended by nightfall, and our efforts were rewarded with God’s glorious sunsets. The evening meal let us relax together, anticipating the next day and resting in gratitude for this one.

Bob’s wife, Cristina, and her granddaughter walk during the last day of Walk2gether.

Walk2gether offered me the opportunity to visit Edna, a bedridden but lively elderly woman, sponsored by a friend of mine for 13 years.

We brought my friend’s photo into the room, and our conversation about her allowed her to be present with us in a palpable way.

The sponsor-to-sponsor connection was another highlight. We shared stories of our sponsored children and aging, our growth in faith through sponsorship, our sharing of the CFCA story with others in multiple ways.

Both Kansas City and Chilean staff walked with us; seven countries were represented along this final leg!

Several of Bob and (his wife) Cristina’s family members accompanied us, and their strong bond graciously included all. The joyful commitment of Bob and Cristina’s young grandchildren powerfully reminded us of our connection to CFCA’s future and the many still waiting for sponsorship.

Gratitude. Reflecting on my Walk2gether experience will continue for the rest of my life.

I’m grateful for the countless gifts by families, staffers, and Bob and Cristina’s profound witness to Jesus’ love, through joining my steps physically and metaphorically with so many others.

I hope to continually expand and deepen my awareness that sponsorship “is about walking together not just with your feet, but with your heart.”

Welcome to the 1st @CFCA chat w/CFCA Pres. and Cofounder Bob Hentzen! For the next hr., pls comment or ask questions using #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Our moderators for the chat are @clos1981, @lacajag, @shanxio and @mariekb. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@CFCA Pres. Bob Hentzen, 75 y.o., just finished Walk2gether, an 8000-mile walk through 12 countries to shed light on poverty. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Pls ask Bob any q's about Walk2gether or CFCA’s mission w/families living in poverty. Let’s begin! #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Why did you decide to walk 8000 miles #cfcachat—
Carlos Casas (@clos1981) June 20, 2011

Bob: I wanted to walk in solidarity with the poor, shed light on their struggles, see the impact of our sponsorship program. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Bob: Q1: 2nd goal: Encourage others to join @CFCA by sponsoring a child for each of the 8000 miles I walked. #w2g #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Q2: What countries did you walk through? #cfcachat—
Marie Biggs (@mariekb) June 20, 2011

Bob: Q2: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil & Chile. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Bob, what is the best thing parents here in the #US can do to raise awareness in our kids re: the countries where you walked? #cfcachat—
Paula Kiger (@biggreenpen) June 20, 2011

@biggreenpen Bob: The best thing is to sponsor 1 child, study the country, & travel to see the family you're sponsoring. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@CFCA Great idea! My daughter and I leave for #Guatemala on 7/16 to visit our child!! So excited. #cfcachat—
Paula Kiger (@biggreenpen) June 20, 2011

@biggreenpen @CFCA Bob: I will see you there! :) #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

RT @taniawallace @CFCA Did you ever feel like giving up? #cfcachat—
Carlos Casas (@clos1981) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 @taniawallace No, but there were discouraging moments e.g. seeing environmental damage along the road. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

How does CFCA help people living in poverty? #cfcachat—
Carlos Casas (@clos1981) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: We help them with long-term accompaniment to fulfill their families' needs, such as education, healthcare. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: Also, we help them with an infusion of hope into their family: Hope for a Family. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@CFCA What was your most memorable moment? #cfcachat—
Guadalupe Centers (@GCI1919) June 20, 2011

@GCI1919 Bob: Most memorable moment was north of Arequipa, Peru. We were caught in a terrific hailstorm at 14,500 feet high. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@GCI1919 Bob: It literally ripped off our rain gear. That was pretty memorable. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Weather came in all shapes, sizes and temps on #Walk2gether. #CFCAChat http://tinyurl.com/3augsof—
Judy-Anne Goldman (@lacajag) June 20, 2011

If you could start over again, would you do anything differently? #cfcachat—
Marie Biggs (@mariekb) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: No, I feel like I could do it again. I feel healthy and full of gratitude. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: The adventure will be into the lives of our sponsored children & families, & the lives of coworkers worldwide. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Bob: I got a new pair of walking shoes for Father's Day. I'm wearing them. :) #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

What were some of your favorite countries to walk through? #cfcachat—
Carlos Casas (@clos1981) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: All of them are special countries. I feel a special bond to Guatemala, with 100,000 families sponsored. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: Also Colombia. We have 2 children adopted from Colombia. But all the countries are very special. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Bob: I was privileged to walk thru some of the most beautiful places and circumstances on the Earth. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Bob: Since we were always moving south, we always saw mountains and oceans. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Bob: We crossed the Andes 3 times. Now I know why they always put it in the plural. It seems like it will never end. :) #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@CFCA Did you accomplish what you wanted this trip to be? or would you change anything about it? #cfcachat—
Guadalupe Centers (@GCI1919) June 20, 2011

@GCI1919 Bob: It's amazing how simply the trip developed, just as I'd envisioned it. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@GCI1919 Bob: 2 reasons: walk with 182K families on the route and raise awareness and sponsors for 8,000 new children. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@GCI1919 Bob: We haven't reached our 2nd goal to sponsor 8,000 yet, but I'm very encouraged that we will reach our goal. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

What did a typical day look like for you during the Walk? #cfcachat—
Marie Biggs (@mariekb) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: Very early rising like at 1 a.m. Sometimes we slept in until 1:30. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: We'd go to the walk site where we'd stopped the day before. We'd usually take our 1st steps before 3 a.m. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: Then it would be a 15-hour day. Every day. That included breaks every 6 km. Our average is 40 km/day. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@CFCA what was the most inspiring moment of #walk2gether? #cfcachat—
Allie Kline (@AllieSheaK) June 20, 2011

@AllieSheaK Bob: Most inspiring moment was a little girl in Bolivia, in a stadium. She said, "I don't have a daddy or a sponsor." #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@AllieSheaK Bob: My wife and I now sponsor her. Her name is Raquel. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@CFCA Bob, what was the hardest part of your walk? #CFCAchat—
Patrick Padley (@ppadley) June 20, 2011

@ppadley Bob: The hardest moment was the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@ppadley Bob: It was so hot that we had to put leaves and grass in our hats so as not to melt our brains. It worked. :) #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

What gave you energy during those long days? #cfcachat—
Judy-Anne Goldman (@lacajag) June 20, 2011

@lacajag Bob: Two reasons. 1: The inspiring example of our struggling families. 2: Peanut butter and honey. :) #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

What’s your secret for staying healthy? #cfcachat—
Carlos Casas (@clos1981) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: There's no secret. It is the loving care of the Almighty. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: Secondly, I make every effort to stay in shape. I work out 2x/day. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Did you walk all by yourself? #cfcachat—
Marie Biggs (@mariekb) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: No. My wife, Cristina, was with me the whole time. She had to take some time off when she got appendicitis. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: I sometimes say Cristina walked more than me. She had to take 3 steps when I took 1. :) #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: Also, we had coworkers from the KC office; my kids & grandkids. At times we had 3-800, occasionally 2000 or more. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Q from Karen A: Bob, is there a particular stretch of (up)hill that you remember well? #CFCAChat—
Judy-Anne Goldman (@lacajag) June 20, 2011

@lacajag Bob: I had the expression, "Embrace the up." That is, don't fight it. Accept it, stay with it, don't try to beat it. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

One of the cutest “scenes” along the Walk2gether route, imho: #CFCAChat http://t.co/1grkfMo—
Judy-Anne Goldman (@lacajag) June 20, 2011

@lacajag Bob: Half of this journey was uphill. Sometimes going down is difficult also. Most people get blisters going downhill. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

What’s next for you now that the walk is complete? #cfcachat—
Carlos Casas (@clos1981) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: Continued CFCA journey w/our families. I'll be returning to Guatemala 6/24. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: There'll be solidarity walks involving tens of thousands in Guatemala. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: The journey will continue into the lives of our sponsored families & sponsors. We're excited. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

What walking shoes would you recommend for anyone else wanting to walk 8,000 miles? #cfcachat—
Marie Biggs (@mariekb) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: I'd recommend an open-toed shoe, lightweight, good cushioning and well-built. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@mariekb Bob: I'd recommend multiple pairs of wool socks, changed frequently. Hint: Use motor of support vehicle to dry socks. :) #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

What made you decide to start CFCA? #cfcachat—
Carlos Casas (@clos1981) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: It was a natural outcome of my years of teaching in S. America. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

@clos1981 Bob: I didn't see any org. out there doing what CFCA does in such a loving, personal way. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

Thanks for joining! Find a transcript of our conversation w/Bob tomorrow on our blog http://ht.ly/5iMnA. #cfcachat—
  (@CFCA) June 20, 2011

During the 17-month adventure, certain images have become associated with the journey for participants and spectators. We’ve compiled nine of them in this list:

	Camper: This 1983 Toyota Dolphin, a “home away from home,” has led virtually every leg of the walk through 12 countries. It was a refuge for Hentzen and his wife, Cristina, as well as a sign that the walkers were nearby.
	Footwear: Every walker, including Hentzen, swore by a good pair of shoes and socks.
	Safety vest: Bright orange and yellow vests alerted drivers to be cautious.
	Water: Walkers hydrated every six kilometers.
	Fruit: Fruit provided the necessary carbohydrates and nourishment to keep walkers going throughout the day.
	Coffee: A hot cup of coffee not only helped the walkers battle lack of sleep, but it also warmed the body on mornings when the temperature dipped into the 40s.
	Hat: No seasoned walker could do without this protection from the intense sun.
	Mobile toilet: The walk has passed through some remote areas. The mobile toilet was a welcome relief when nature called.
	Tooth fairy: Javiera, a sponsored girl from Catapilco, Chile, lost her tooth on Walk2gether! She and her mother, Ximena, along with several other sponsored members and their families, joined the walkers the morning of June 4.

What are your favorite Walk2gether memories/images? Feel free to add them in the comments below!

Walk2gether, a nearly 8,000-mile walk through 12 countries to show our solidarity with families living in poverty, has ended. But it’s not too late to help CFCA President Bob Hentzen reach his goal of getting 8,000 children sponsored! Check our Facebook page for more details.

She was at yesterday’s celebrations in Chile marking the end of Walk2gether, the nearly 8,000-mile CFCA solidarity walk through 12 countries.

Please check back in the following weeks and months for more about Walk2gether, including a video of the end of the walk!

Note: CFCA President Bob Hentzen will also be featured on a Twitter chat starting at noon CST on June 20. Anyone interested in hearing from him may tweet their questions to @CFCA using the #cfcachat hashtag.

Left is a CFCA community in Busunju, Uganda, participating in a solidarity walk with Walk2gether on May 21. Right is a CFCA community in Antioquia, Colombia, in another solidarity walk May 26.

Update: Walk2gether, the nearly 8,000-mile journey by CFCA President Bob Hentzen and others, has crossed the finish line in Valparaíso, Chile! See our news report.

The walk is Bob’s labor of love to shed light on families living in poverty and the benefits of child sponsorship.

For many CFCA communities around the world, Chile is a long way away – particularly if you’re living in Asia, Africa or even Central America.

That’s why they have hosted solidarity walks of their own! Here’s a list of recent and upcoming solidarity walks and celebrations around the world:

Bob Hentzen recently wrote to the CFCA headquarters from the road in Chile. You can see the full update on his Facebook page.

Sixty-nine days in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile have been very inspiring.

Some describe the desert as Tierra de Nada ni Nadie (Land of Nothing and Nobody). On Walk2gether, we have had a much different experience.

In the silence of the long treks, I find myself comparing the survival struggle of the young desert plants to the daily struggle of our sponsored members and their families, as well as those waiting for sponsorship.

These humble families honor us with their invitation to walk with them from the desert of their isolation to the fertile valleys of their hope.

As I write this, we are walking in a zone of olive trees, vegetable gardens, cypress trees and vineyards. I see signs of wildlife along the road, as well as domestic livestock sporting woolly winter coats.

Knowing full well that it’s winter ahead, we stride directly into the cold winds, moving south into the lives of God’s humble people. We are usually able to take our first steps of the morning around 3 a.m.

The Camanchaca fog is cold and mysterious, yet through it all, we know that the Southern Cross is ever present to guide us, as is God’s love and your love. I walk in awe of nature’s colors and harmonies as she responds to centuries-old Pacific currents and Antarctic airs.

All of this causes me to reflect and pray in gratitude for this experience. I’m grateful for the opportunity for growth through relationships with my co-workers and the dear families who live here in Chile and in the other countries where CFCA serves. Exciting days are with us as we approach the finale.

Loved ones from our natural family and our CFCA family are beginning to gather in Chile as we near Valparaiso. Believe me, you are helping us all to rise and begin anew each day of our journey. Please know of our love and thanks.

Bob
May 29, 2011

The CFCA community in Zamboanga joins with Walk2gether on a weekend solidarity walk.

Over the weekend, two CFCA communities in Zamboanga conducted an early-morning solidarity walk of about 9 miles (15 kilometers).

More than 1,000 sponsored friends and their families participated.

“In this experience, we are just having a taste of how Bob and the walkers do it every day,” said Alan Partosa, project staff member. “This walk is also giving thanks for the CFCA community and Bob’s walk for journeying with us in the daily battle of life.”

After the walk, CFCA staff members in Zamboanga showed a video of Walk2gether, and mothers and children reflected on the morning’s experience.

“A sponsored youth, Joseph Arthur, shared in the group, ‘CFCA is love. We can give without loving, but we can never love without giving,’” Partosa said. “I have heard this already, but for a 15-year-old boy to speak it from his heart is a different thing for me.”

Chris Palmer, project specialist for the Philippines, said he was excited to hear news of the solidarity walk.

“We really see the families walking in solidarity with the greater CFCA community,” he said, “even though they’re spanning such great distances.”

Bob Hentzen recently wrote to the CFCA headquarters from the road in Chile. You can see the full update on his Facebook page.

It is a pleasure to share with you these scenes from our walk through the beautiful and formidable Atacama Desert of Chile.

On March 22, 2011, we entered Chile from Bolivia at Chungara (more than 14,000 feet in altitude) in the awesome snow-capped Altiplano Chileno.

I’m happy to tell you that with God’s loving care and your belief in us, we have walked the entire length of the Atacama Desert in an unbroken line.

For us, it has become a place to pray, learn and appreciate.

We are right on schedule for the finale of Walk2gether in Valparaiso. We are preparing to walk and celebrate with our 6,000 sponsored members and their families during the first week of June.

We eagerly await those of you who will be traveling to Chile in person and in spirit during the next few weeks. Our youngest son, Robert Jacob, arrived on May 6. Naturally, Cristina and I say that Jake is a great walker and a great help.

Know of our thanks and love.

Bob
May 9, 2011

Bob Hentzen recently wrote to the CFCA headquarters from the road in Chile. You can see the full update on his Facebook page.

Fortified by the conviction that God lives, we walk deeper and deeper into the Atacama Desert, known as the driest place on Planet Earth, and we stay there day and night.

We have found that in a 24-hour period, the temperature can change by 50, even 60 degrees.

Cars, trucks and buses speed through this desert like it’s something to be feared and avoided. In high winds, their wake can literally blow us off the road.

We embrace our vulnerability.

Our small steps in the immensity of the Atacama may not seem like much. Yet down deep, in the very fiber of our being, we know that we are advancing toward something of incalculable worth: the 6,000 struggling CFCA families in the area of Valparaiso, Chile, and the community of compassion among ourselves that it will take to get us there.

Let me assure you that you are very much a part of all of this. Know of our love.

Bob
April 29, 2011

In other news, the Christian Science Monitor recently reported on Bob and Walk2gether. Check it out!

Bob Hentzen recently wrote to the CFCA headquarters from the road in Chile. You can see the full update on his Facebook page.

Heartfelt greetings from the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.

In most of the countries on Walk2gether, we have been able to find a “safe haven” for the night—or better said, for a few hours of the night, before beginning anew at 2-3 a.m.

Looking back over the last year and three months on the road, I can say that the wilderness would have been more restful than many of the places we have stayed.

It’s true that cities generally have what we need in terms of supplies, water, fuel, access to telephone and Internet. Yet, on the down side, many times their noise level and feel are like something out of Mad Max.

If by the grace of God we could well channel the nightly partying energy of the youth of Latin America, we would have an enormous force for good in our world.

Much like they were in the deserts of Peru, impressive are the distances in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. At times, the road is so narrow and the tandem semis so wide and fast that we have to go “all terrain.”

Whenever we can, we opt to pitch our tents where the coastal road has led us. Last evening, after we had our camp organized within meters of the ocean and supper underway, walkers began a search among huge boulders for scraps of firewood.

We discovered that we were camping near an open burial ground. Carabineros (Chilean police) say that there are many osamentos (bones) along these Pacific coasts – most probably remains of people fallen in battles between Chile, Bolivia and Peru-Guerra del Pacifico (1879-1884). May they rest in peace.

We are delighted to have Paul Pearce with us. Paul is CFCA’s director of global strategy. He is a great walker, and he also gives Israel a break in driving the camper.

In the grupo corazon (core group), on this two-week rotation in the desert, we have the loving care and company of two Chileans, Irma and Georgia.

As we enter La Semana Santa (Holy Week), we pray in gratitude for each of you.

Bob (April 14, 2011)

“I wanted to sponsor a girl in Guatemala around the same age as Morgan (my youngest daughter) so that Morgan could be a part of this relationship.

Morgan and Candelaria meet in Guatemala.

I was hoping that she would develop a relationship through the mail, write letters and one day meet this sponsored child, and it would be an automatic bond.

That’s exactly how it happened. Our sponsored child, Candelaria, is a year and a half younger than Morgan.

We sponsored her when she was 5 years old. (She is now 10.)

Every time I wrote to Candelaria, Morgan wrote or colored a picture for her. Often when I came home from work, she had written a letter or colored a picture and informed me I needed to do the same so we could get them in the mail.

We had been planning a mission awareness trip through CFCA for a couple of years. We could hardly wait to meet Candelaria and her family.

We arrived on a Friday and saw her for the first time on Monday. It was a beautiful reunion. She and Morgan hugged, but were shy toward each other at first.

It was only a matter of minutes before they were holding hands.

Candelaria is the oldest of four children. Her mother and baby brother came with her. They had to travel about an hour to see us.

Rosa, Morgan and Anna Maria.

Native Mayan language and Spanish are the languages of Guatemala. We had an interpreter, but sometimes words were not needed (and I did pretty well with my Spanish).

Many Guatemalan people are descendants from the Mayans. Here’s a picture of Morgan with Rosa (14 years) and Anna Maria (10 years), two of the sisters from a home he visited. Morgan was 10 in this picture.

Look at the difference in their sizes. Everywhere we went when the local children learned how old Morgan was, especially the girls, they stared and called her a giant.

Last, but definitely not least, Bob Hentzen was on the mission awareness trip with us. He was there to begin his walk from Guatemala for Chile.

This is one reason we chose this week – to be part of this history-making moment.

The walk began on Dec. 29, 2009, and I was there taking pictures along with everyone else on this 8,000-mile journey through 12 countries.

Everyone on the trip was invited to join the walk.

I wanted to leave at 4 a.m. with all the rest, but Morgan was not up for that and I could not leave her.

So we joined with the walk at 8 a.m. after breakfast.

Morgan, Bob and Christina.

Bob, Cristina (Bob’s wife) and the CFCA staff have mapped out this journey carefully with an ending destination for each day. Each day’s journey is 40 kilometers (about 25 miles).

They asked on the days before the walk how many kilometers we wanted to sign up for, in increments of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

Morgan insisted we only sign up for 5 kilometers. However, I was very proud of her. She walked 11 kilometers, about 7 miles, and I walked 13 kilometers. It was so amazing!!!

As we passed each town, they cheered us on, lined the streets and joined us on the walk. Many walked with us to the next town, then turned around and walked home.

Many families, women, children and men started from the beginning with Bob and journeyed with him to the end of the day after the 40 kilometers.

Thank you for taking the time to read this excerpt from our journey. Many ask, “Will you go back?” Definitely.

It was my second mission awareness trip through CFCA, but the beginning of more to follow, if that is God’s will.

Bob Hentzen recently wrote to the CFCA headquarters from the road in Chile. You can see the full update on his Facebook page.

A heartfelt greeting and abrazos from the extreme north of Chile.

It is extremely beautiful as we walk the foothills of snow-packed volcanoes and listen to the call of gentle ducks on clear Andean lakes.

It is also extremely challenging as we do our daily marathon at 14,990 feet, all so very natural under Chakana (Aymara for Southern Cross), as we greet the wild vicuna and a pair of swift desert foxes at first light.

With all the affection and tears of our CFCA Bolivian families and coworkers, it was hard to say farewell.

They slept little in order to accompany us to the Chilean border at Tambo Quemado/Chungara.

But what a CFCA team awaited us in Chile. They are prepared, generous and flat-out fun. To serve the CFCA families in Valparaiso and surrounding areas, our Chilean admin team rotates a few staff members into the walk every 15 days.

In addition to the Chilenos, we have our Grupo Corazon (Core Group) of Israel, Ricardo, Cristina and me.

We look forward to the proximate arrival of Paul Pearce, CFCA director of global strategy.

A special welcome to each of you walking with us in fact and spirit. Know that we carry you in our hearts.

I am deeply grateful for the thoughtful and encouraging messages received on the occasion of my birthday.

Bob

From left, Cristina Hentzen and CFCA President Bob Hentzen.

Dear Bob,

Happy 75th birthday!

You’re the president of CFCA, but to many of us you’re also a friend – one who takes the time to meet us at our desks, shake our hands, smile and ask how our day is going.

Without your vision and those friends and family who founded CFCA with you, we wouldn’t be here today.

Because of you and our sponsors who have partnered with CFCA, we are privileged to serve more than 300,000 individuals and their families living in poverty.

We want to keep serving and growing – thanks to your courage and faith.

Godspeed to you, Cristina and all those with you on Walk2gether. We’re sure they will help you celebrate your birthday in Chile!

Peace from

All of us at CFCA in Kansas City

Send your own birthday wishes to Bob with a comment below or on Bob’s Facebook page.

P.S. Enjoy this video of our singing happy birthday to Bob!

Bob has crossed into Chile, the 12th and final country that Walk2gether will visit. Here’s a reflection from his Facebook page after visiting CFCA’s sponsored members and their families in Brazil.

It is an honor to share the ideals and excitement of Walk2gether with the sponsored members and their families in Brazil.

It’s the rainy season, and we splashed our way through many a knee-deep puddle on the country roads.

The heat and mosquitoes are challenging too, but again our families give us excellent insights into acclimatization and ecology.

It takes a while to get out to this rural area in Cipauba, Piaui (a state in Brazil), but I find very little trash along the roads.

These are a deeply religious people, who hold frequent Bible services on their own and look forward to the monthly visit of a priest.

Within the loving confines of a small rural school, I discover confident and brilliant students, who have obviously received a lot of personal attention since their very first day in preschool.

In Mineiros, the children and families have been preparing for a good long time … and it shows. Festival dances are lively and very well done. Some of the regional dances resemble traditional U.S. square dances.

Typical foods prepared by the mothers are really delicious. I find it very inspiring to spend time with these families, sometimes in their own simple homes.

Enthusiastic and creative mothers are showing the world how to live with dynamism and hope in the midst of great challenges. In true CFCA spirit, there is an openness and tenderness between staff and children.

We really enjoyed an hour’s interview in Portuguese and Spanish on Radio El Dorado in Mineiros.

It was facilitated by Dom Elias, host, with translation help from young Benedictine priest Dom Rodrigo (a fine linguist and friend of CFCA); Eutimia, Mineiros project coordinator; Cristina; and myself.

I ask for your prayers as we begin Walk2gether in the north of Chile. Please know of our love.

Bob

Many of you are already supporting our efforts to help CFCA President Bob Hentzen reach his goal of 8,000 kids sponsored during his 8,000-mile solidarity walk. We can’t thank you enough!

The CFCA social media team is now hoping to harness Twitter as a tool for spreading the word about Bob’s goal and Walk2gether.

For every tweet with the hashtag #8000kids (that doesn’t come from us), donors will contribute one dollar to fund CFCA scholarships for students to complete their education.

We’re hoping to get at least 200 tweets with the hashtag #8000kids – that’s up to $200 for scholarships!

While raising money for scholarships is one of the goals of our initiative, our primary goal is to utilize Twitter to tell more people about CFCA and Bob’s walk to help children living in poverty.

Do you use Twitter? If not, do any of your friends and family members? Here are some suggested tweets to send, or compose your own using the #8000kids hashtag to start spreading the word. Thanks so much.

• Half the world’s children live in poverty. Bob, 75, walked 8,000 miles to help them. http://on.fb.me/8000miles #8000kids

• Did you know a guy walked 8,000 miles at age 75 to help kids in poverty? Check it out! http://on.fb.me/8000miles #8000kids

• A 75 y.o.  walked 8,000 miles to help kids in poverty! Learn more: http://on.fb.me/8000miles #8000kids

Bob Hentzen recently wrote to the CFCA headquarters from the road in Bolivia. You can see the full update on his Facebook page.

It’s a pleasure to be in touch from Bolivia.

The going has been challenging with high altitudes, swollen rivers and steaming tropics. Yet each morning we have walked with confidence and wonder into the morning sunrise and enjoyed spectacular beauty of the rainforest.

We have been accompanied and inspired by walkers from different nations – devoted sisters from Poland and Colombia, volunteers from Switzerland and the USA, orphans and youth with different abilities, CFCA sponsors from Minnesota and Iowa.

Through these photos we offer you the smiles of our young people, the determination of our mothers and the joyful exhaustion of our walkers.

I thank you for your solidarity as we move on now to the CFCA projects in Brazil. We will enter Chile at Tambo Quemado on March 22. The Atacama Desert awaits us.

We ask for your prayers.
Bob

Walk2gether is now in Brazil. The walkers arrived there March 9.

Walk2gether will arrive in Brazil on March 9.

To commemorate Walk2gether, CFCA’s project in Mineiros, Brazil, will conduct a small solidarity walk through the city streets, stopping at the plaza to watch artistic and cultural presentations by the sponsored children. They will visit the families CFCA serves and at night share a dinner of Brazilian food.

Eutimia Neves, coordinator of CFCA’s Mineiros office in Brazil, shared these thoughts about the arrival of Walk2gether.

For my team and me, Walk2gether is an opportunity to become aware of the sponsored members, their families and for the community to show the good work that CFCA is doing for our people.

This makes more people feel more solidarity so that they can fulfill their mission, not only in Mineiros, but perhaps, all over the world.

We believe there will be more encouragement and acceptance by the sponsored members and their families as they understand that CFCA does not want to give them everything, but that they need to learn to fight to improve the lives of their families.

CFCA offers this help, and together, they will have more hope for their families.

Read about Carnival, which is taking place in Brazil from March 4 to 8.

Do you know how long 8,000 miles is?

• It’s twice the length of the continental United States.
• It’s roughly the diameter of the planet Earth.
• It’s like walking the Boston Marathon approximately 300 times.

We’re hoping to put together an infographic explaining just how long 8,000 miles is, and we’re asking for your help! Do you have other comparisons or measurements to help our audience grasp how long Bob’s walk really is?

1) http://robinclark.info/?p=22

Our second mention was from Elie Gardner, a freelance photographer and journalist who joined CFCA President and Co-founder Bob Hentzen when Walk2gether was in Peru and crossed into Bolivia:

2) http://eliegardner.com/2011/02/24/a-long-walk

Please help these bloggers by clicking on their posts and commenting on them. We’d like to support them in any way we can!

A unique experience I had in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, was when Bob and Cristina did the 2-kilometer walk with our American group and the local village members.

Families join Bob and Cristina Hentzen in a solidarity walk during a recent Bolivia mission awareness trip.

After we disembarked from our bus, we walked to the front of the big group where Bob and Cristina were ready for us.

The walk began with the majority of the American group walking up front near our leaders.

I decided that I wanted to walk with the villagers and proceeded to move near the end of the line where they were all walking.

I wanted to internalize the experience and try to have a sense of connection as I walked with them.

As I walked I spoke in the best Spanish and the few words that I knew with some of them.

Although I took photographs, I approached one woman with a small child walking and said, Buenos días, señora. ¿Cómo está usted? ¿Bien? (Good morning, ma’am. How are you? Well?)

Bob and Cristina Hentzen participate in a solidarity walk during a recent Bolivia mission awareness trip.

She responded with, “Sí” and a big smile. I then extended my hand to the child who looked up to her mother, who nodded, and we walked TOGETHER.

I did hear some laughter and applause behind us.

I did this about three times with different people when, on the last time, I felt someone slip their arm and hand around my right arm.

When I looked to my side, I looked into the eyes and face of one of the mothers who appeared to be saying with a big smile, “We’ll walk together with you, too.”

I felt a big rush of euphoria come over me, and that internalized my reason for being there. For three seconds I realized what Bob and Cristina experienced for 8,000 miles.

It was an experience that will be with me for a long time.

John Aceti, from Texas

What are the most memorable moments during the walk?

The Walk2gether camper had to leave the walk so that its country circulation permits could be renewed in Peru. We drove the camper back to the border to renew the permits.

During this trip, the camper suffered several mechanical problems, causing a delay in catching up with the walk.

Walk2gether in the desert in Peru.

The camper was away from Walk2gether about five days. Most of Bob’s equipment and gear is inside. It’s the only place where he has time to rest and relax during the walk.

In spite of this, Bob showed his strength and will to continue and spent these days in a minivan to rest and keep the little gear he had. We were able to spend more time with him and see a different side of his humanity.

The second most memorable moment was walking on the road from Arequipa to Juliaca. The narrow, steep roads took us from 2,800 meters (about 1.7 miles) above sea level to 4,528 meters (about 2.8 miles) in the same day.

The curves were very dangerous and the visibility was poor. A very strong rainstorm occurred, and we suffered extreme cold that numbed our body. Then a hailstorm hit as we were going up the road.

Despite these extreme weather and road conditions, Bob did not stop and motivated all of us to continue with our mission.

What are some challenges Walk2gether encountered?

CFCA-Lima has three full-time staff members and serves about 1,600 sponsored members. At the same time, the walk in Peru was going to be very long, almost four months, because Peru is a big country — almost twice the size of Texas. During much of the walk no sponsored members or their families were nearby to accompany it.

All three of us agreed to take on this challenge, and we did it!

What are some things that went well?

We had company and protection from the national police and the ability to consolidate our team’s duties by multitasking.

Walk2gether’s portable bathroom.

We had a police escort 98 percent of the way in Peru. Some policemen even joined the core group of the walk (“Grupo Corazon”) and walked long distances, offering protection.

Did you have a funny moment during the walk?

Many! One was at a rest stop when one of the drivers went to use the portable bathroom.

Nobody knew he was in there and the truck driver pulling the portable bathroom took off.

The man inside the bathroom did not know what to do. He opened the door and realized it was moving, but he could not close the door again and stayed and greeted the people in the buses that were passing by.

We remembered this moment along the rest of the walk!

Did anything go wrong?

The spare tire of one of the vehicles and the power generator we carry were stolen in the city of Chiclayo.

How many sponsored members and their families participated?

Thirty-five sponsored members walked out of Lima. We had about 600 sponsored members and their families in our main event at the center of Lima.

Anything else you would like to add?

The walk symbolizes the daily burdens that our sponsored members and their families face in their pursuit to survive in a world that still turns its back on them.

Just as Bob does not stop in spite of weather conditions, sand storms, dangerous roads and crazy drivers, the CFCA staff in Peru won’t stop our efforts to create a CFCA closer to our sponsored members and their families amid the problems we face.

CFCA dancers at the Festival Folklorica in La Paz.

He has passed through La Paz, enjoying his experience of the Festival Folklorica there.

“I see a lot of shows around the world, but this one has been an enormous and spontaneous outpouring of ‘carino talento, entusiasmo’ (talent and enthusiasm) – in particular among the children and youth with special abilities and the sponsored elderly,” he writes on his Facebook page.

Bob also visited Cochabamba, and here’s a note we received Feb. 2 from Eufronia Taquichiri, Cochabamba project coordinator:

“Cochabamba is living the emotion of the walk. Don Roberto (Bob) just passed a grueling stretch, completing the planned 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) with such courage and strength against the icy winds of our antiplano, climbing to reach the summit at 3,800 meters (almost 12,470 feet) above sea level.

“To my colleagues in Kansas: this walk is a true challenge. My respect and admiration for Don Roberto. May God bless him always. This is a life lesson. … Viva CFCA! Viva Don Roberto and Doña Cristina (Bob’s wife) always!!”

Bob is now in the Andean town of Pongo. Today (Feb. 4) is a rest day for Walk2gether.

(Check out our Facebook album of Walk2gether pictures in Bolivia.)

We’d like to thank everyone who submitted a caption entry in our contest.

Many submissions, particularly those about safety vests, made us laugh, smile or giggle at our office desks, probably to the surprise of anyone passing by!

All of these were handpicked by our talented panel of judges (a.k.a. CFCA employees), who heard the caption only when they were judging and not the author’s name.

Everyone agreed that the contest was difficult, and the winner beat the frontrunner by only two votes.

Honorable mentions:

1. “You might want to hoof it or you’ll be late for your flight” – Catherine Kellerman
2. “If he follows us home can we keep him?” – Barb Kellerman

And the one that won, based on the most votes:

(drum roll please)

“Come on down to PABLO’S USED BURROS and pick out your next ride! Special offer this Sunday, all certified used burros receive a 10 point safety check and a nose to tail 30km or 30hr warranty. (Taxes and delivery extra, hats and safety vests not included in this offer).” – Ken

As winner of the caption contest, Ken will receive a beaded Walk2gether bracelet and appreciation from the general CFCA community.

For any of you wondering what the story behind this caption really is, here’s Paul Pearce, CFCA director of international programs, pictured right of the donkey:

“I think at the 20-kilometer mark (of Walk2gether), we always received fruit during our rest break of about 15 minutes.

“Kris (Paul’s wife, pictured left) saw these three donkeys about 200 yards down a small dirt road and wanted to go say hi. Two kept a distance, but the one in the photo walked right up to her and really enjoyed being petted.

“Kris is a complete animal lover and the many donkeys, llamas, alpacas and woolly Peruvian dogs can all tell as she made lots of friends along the way. … I believe the fruit (pictured with Paul) is an orange, mango and peach.”

Here are two Bolivian miniatures, gifts to some of our staff in International. They are about an inch tall and easily fit into the palm of your hand.

Henry Flores, director of CFCA’s communication center in El Salvador, spoke by phone with Ruth Valderrama, La Paz project coordinator.

Ruth and the walkers were arriving at the hotel and she did not have much time, but she managed to provide this brief explanation of the tradition.

The Las Alasitas fair is a local tradition that usually starts on Jan. 24 and lasts for about three days. People from all over La Paz and nearby El Alto come to the fair.

The fair is celebrated only in La Paz at the fair center and on the main avenue of El Alto, very close, but higher in altitude, than La Paz.

During the fair, local artisans, mostly indigenous people, make miniatures symbolizing different material wishes people have for the upcoming year.

These wishes can be for a house, a car, etc. People buy a miniature of the item they wish to receive.

There are also miniatures for those looking for a match. Women who want to find the man of their dreams buy miniature roosters. Men looking for a woman buy miniature chickens.

This major cultural celebration has its origins in indigenous Andean traditions. In ancient times, people would present miniatures to Ekeko, a household god of abundance and prosperity.

Many families in the CFCA sponsorship program participate in this local cultural celebration.

To see pictures from the fair, see our Facebook photo album.

Frigid temperatures, Walk2gether in the Andes, beautiful landscapes and ambling donkeys … they can only mean one thing.

A CFCA caption contest!

How would you describe the action going on in this picture? Share with us your clever caption by adding a comment below.

(Here’s a refresher on our guidelines – we don’t accept offensive or inappropriate comments, profane or abusive language.)

A team of qualified panelists (a.k.a. CFCA employees) will pick the winning caption in early February. The winner will receive a prize of a Walk2gether bracelet as well as recognition from the general CFCA community.

Enjoy, and feel free to pass this on to your friends!

They have walked more than 5,000 miles of the 8,000-mile walk through some of the highest terrain they will encounter: the Altiplano of Peru. Their highest altitude to date was 14,856 feet above sea level.

Thank you for all your prayers and support of Walk2gether during this time.

• Check out Bob’s note from the road on his Facebook page.
• Explore our work in Bolivia. Here’s a story about a mothers group started by CFCA in Cochabamba, as well as a short video.

Click to view slideshow.

Bob writes on Jan. 8:

Breathtaking natural beauty surrounds us on this highest day of Walk2gether.

We have walked this entire day at more than 14,000 feet and peaked at 14,856. With the arrival of Alberto Castro (originally from Colombia), we now have walkers from the United States, Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia and Ecuador.

We left our home base at 2 a.m. to reach our starting point. The camper was running low on gasoline, and we had quite a challenge finding a gas station (called “grifo” in Peru) open at this early hour.

Very much open to overflowing were the many disco bars, catering to the young people of Juliaca. I pray that with God’s grace and walking together, we can encourage these young people to channel their energies for good.

In contrast to the partygoers are the humble peasants, walking through the cold of the early morning carrying heavy loads of fruits, vegetables and handwoven blankets to market.

Jan. 7

The day started off cold but indescribably beautiful on the high chaparral that goes on forever, adorned by inspiring shepherd families caring for herds of woolly alpacas, llamas and vicunas. The wind kicked up in the afternoon with an abundance of hail.

The walkers put on all the clothes we had, and were still very cold. Two of the group took ill from the altitude, but are OK this next morning—gracias a Dios.

The storm pelted us but good, and it left the city of Juliaca blanketed in white, looking like Christmas eves of old. But we’re here with God’s people; we carry you in our hearts; we’re safe; we’re getting there; we send our love.

Jan. 6

After enjoying a phenomenal day with 386 sponsored members and their families, Father Alex and staff on Jan. 2, we have gone deeper and higher into the Andes, and right through a National Reserve for Flora y Fauna.

Yesterday and today, we have walked at right around 14,000 feet above sea level. Very cold in the early morning and late afternoon.

It’s a challenge to walk at these high altitudes, but it’s also a very rewarding privilege to walk with God’s people amidst majestic snow-peaked mountains and hundreds of alpacas, vicunas, llamas and song birds.

Listen to Bob’s podcast in December about walking along the high chaparral:

Walk2gether on the high chaparral by cfcausa

Hello, dear friend camper:

I remember the first time I saw your picture. You looked good. Don Roberto (Bob) told me, “It’s old, like me, but it still runs.”

CFCA Walk2gether camper.

They told us your name: Walk2gether Camper.

We waited for you happily. I fondly remember March 1, when you arrived in Costa Rica together with the walkers. Everyone watched you with respect.

You came loaded with luggage, lots of water, tools, spare tire, food, kitchen supplies, clothes for the walkers, medicine, electric generator, etc.

You looked tired and beaten, but in your lights, I noticed an immense joy.

With your flashers, you animated the children and sang with us, “While walking, borders disappear. We become of one land, one cry for justice, and we blend together like the land blends when we make footprints while we walk. We join dignity and hope in one flag … Latin America.”

You drove thousands of miles on your tires. The logos and banners you wore indicated you were not simply a camper. “12,500 kilometers bringing hope.”

You were like Noah’s Ark, crossing oceans to bring hope and blessings to all the villages.

I remember one rainy afternoon when you shared what it means to be part of CFCA:

“When they were about to toss me out like a useless piece of junk, the foundation noticed me. It said I was important. My life had meaning. There was hope for me. This renewed the spark in my motor.

“What they have done with me, the CFCA staff in different countries do with others. I have seen many families who were forgotten and disillusioned recover their dignity, get up and today walk through life with a purpose. That is my life today.

Paul Pearce, CFCA director of international programs, gives the camper a helping hand. The picture was taken when the camper was at CFCA’s Kansas City headquarters.

“I accompany Don Roberto and Doña Cristina (Bob’s wife), prophets of life and hope. I welcome them inside so they can regain their strength.

“They make coffee in my cabin. We have peanuts, a small bath, two beds. This isn’t a mansion, but it is a home. When they go back outside to walk, I feel proud of my work.

“I continue my journey with my lights on, protecting them and saying to the families they are not alone. Walk with us.”

You walked nearly 600 kilometers (about 373 miles) in Costa Rica. You said goodbye to the walkers on the border with Panama and prepared for the journey to Cartagena, Colombia.

We had to bring you to the port. We couldn’t take you on the road. We had to bring you on a special apparatus called a “low boy.” We did it.

We accompanied you until the final moment. We watched from afar as you moved away from land on your journey by sea to Colombia.

Thank you, companion camper. It’s been an honor to spend time with you! Keep bringing happiness. Keep bringing hope!

Cordially,
Rafa

Bob Hentzen comments:
“The camper is a symbol of the spirit of the walk. … We found this camper on eBay and it was perfect, it was us. It’s a little bit old but still strong. It’s very economical, doesn’t pretend to win races, but it will get there. There have been places where I thanked God for this camper, where Cristina and I have gotten a good night of sleep. “

The trip by our CFCA President and Co-founder Bob Hentzen through 12 countries is about love – to show families living in poverty that they are not alone.

It’s also to raise awareness about the dire living conditions faced by these families, who often earn less than $2 per day.

A picture of the Walk2gether team as it passed through the desert in Peru.

Bob wants to highlight the tremendous potential of the families, who struggle heroically to provide for their children.

Bob’s day begins around 2:30 a.m., when he wakes up in an old Toyota camper. Like many of us, he enjoys a hardy breakfast and kisses his spouse before hitting the road.

His wife, Cristina, travels with him and often walks with him to encourage him and others who join the walk.

Bob covers an average of 20 to 25 miles daily through vast terrains — from beautiful farmland and mountains to treacherous highways and deserts.

Yet Bob still finds the time and energy to meet some of the 182,000 families CFCA serves in the countries he walks through.

“I’m grateful to people living in poverty for all that they have taught me about life and unconditional love, even under the toughest of circumstances,” Bob said. “I enjoy the time we get to spend together because they give me the energy to keep going.”

Walk2gether is now in Peru. The team expects to enter Bolivia on Jan. 16, 2011.

Read CFCA’s news report on celebrating the 1-year anniversary.

From “Heroes/Saints of the Walk” to “Saints of Lima”…. The hijas de la misericordia (Sisters of Mercy) who run the residence home for girls are my No. 1 candidates.

The love and loving discipline they lavish on these girls are evident in how wholesome, happy and loving the girls are. The girls learn not just school subjects but life lessons – how to cook, clean and take care of each other.

The mother superior was here from Chile. She frequently served us and quietly cleared the table. Her attitude of gentle service and compassion is shown in each of the sisters.

One stood out among the others (although she probably wouldn’t want to) – Hermana (or rather Madre) Cristina. As Bob (CFCA President Bob Hentzen) said, her spirit permeates this place – her joyful spirit and openness. … I believe those closest to God are full of joy. Over the last few days we have walked with God through these precious sisters.

We’re sad to leave but onward we go – step by step.

Day one
Walked into Lima today … More than 80 people were ready to walk at 3:30 a.m..

The Walk2gether team continues through Peru.

…. It was a challenge keeping this group secure along the road, but they started dropping out at the end of the first 5K, catching buses to return home. At 15K most were done – leaving us with about 12 girls from the residence home and the core group as we neared the center of Lima.

I was tracking our speed on my Garmin GPS – doing 1 km (about 0.6 mile) in less than 13 minutes. …

By now, my feet were ready to stop. I am so glad Bob had cut back to 35 km/day (more than 21 miles per day).

After an hour passed, I thought maybe Israel (our support vehicle driver) missed seeing the marker. We kept moving. Finally we came to a different style of marking – it said CFCA.

Turns out the police saw where the original marker was and decided it was too dangerous for us to stop there so they removed it. … Bob estimates we probably did more than 40 km (about 25 miles) with all the side roads, highway crossings and the additional km – all before lunch.

Day two

Girls from the residence home arrived mid-morning along with Hermana Cristina and a newly ordained priest friend of hers. We eventually left Lima.

At 30K, we stopped at a nice highway rest stop – gasoline station/eating places fairly similar to those in the U.S. …

After lunch and the final 5K, we bid the girls farewell – from here on, it will probably just be the core group.

A child dressed in Peruvian clothing

Days three and four

We walked past the beaches south of Lima. Almost everyone took the opportunity to sit and watch the ocean.

As we get farther south of Lima you see the wealthier side of Peru – motocross bike paths on the hillsides, more personal cars on the road.

The farther we go the more money is evident … signs for beach condos, a golf course, etc… This is a very picturesque country.

Day five

Yesterday was filled with activities by the CFCA communities. Many displayed their livelihood projects.

Then they had a program for us – scheduled to last three hours but took about five. Even the seminarians prepared songs to share.

….After many dances, speeches and songs, they had the grand finale. A “moto” had driven onto the back half of the field with lots of bamboo-type stuff. They proceeded to build a structure – dedicated to CFCA. Once everything was over they told the parents to keep their children under control and proceeded to start up fireworks that had been wired into the structure … Amazing and beautiful …

Take care,
Catherine

We want to hear from you! Out of the top 10 blog posts for 2010, which would you consider the No. 1 post?

And the nominations are:

1) ‘Magic belt’ makes Ecuador walker’s pain disappear

CFCA accounting manager Bill Hansen joined Bob Hentzen during Walk2gether in Ecuador. The 21-mile days were no challenge for Hansen until excruciating back pain left him immobile. Bob’s “magic belt” enabled Bill to finish the walk pain free.

2) Brother writes letter after sponsored youth dies

“Our whole family grieves his death, but we know that he is an angel of Jesus and he takes care of us from heaven.” So writes Santos Salomón’s brother to Santos’ sponsor after Santos died in an accident: “He said there is no better medicine than God and a smile.”

3) Cleaning Cinquera

After hiding in the mountains for 12 years during El Salvador’s civil war, residents of Cinquera returned in 1992 to find their beloved town destroyed. Today CFCA sponsors 500 children, youth and aging in Cinquera, and the town is a model of community cooperation and pride.

4) Regina’s gift to her sponsoring family

“Years ago, a priest came to our parish in Hannibal, Mo. He spoke of CFCA and the dire need of children and elderly around the world. Our girls asked, ‘Can we adopt a sister, PLEASE?!!’ We found it hard to say no. Actually, it was God saying yes to a blessing in our lives. My husband and I thought we could make some small difference in a child’s life; we didn’t realize the difference Regina would make in ours.”

5) Going back to school at 74

“Today I have some homework in Spanish. I have to answer the following questions: Who am I? What do I want to be? I am not going to answer much. What I will write is: ‘I am Flor de Maria. I am 74 years old. I want to be a lawyer. Granted, this isn’t up to me. This is up to God.’ “

6) Juan Antonio – the dancing man

Ever wanted to see an 83-year-old dance? Here’s your opportunity! Meet Juan Antonio, a vibrant man in El Salvador sponsored through CFCA.

7) Walk2gether brings out hope on the highway

“At CFCA we talk about hope a lot. It’s in the name of our sponsorship program: Hope for a Family. But have you ever actually witnessed hope? I hadn’t until I visited Ecuador and walked with Bob and CFCA families on Walk2gether. Hope was everywhere.”

8) From beneficiaries to partners

“Nonprofit organizations often divide their stakeholders neatly into two categories: donors and beneficiaries. But CFCA has always viewed things a little differently. The word “beneficiary” implies someone who passively receives assistance from another person. But sponsored members and their families are not passive. They are some of the most active people I have met.”

9) El Salvadoran man, 103, explains how to live a long life

Need we say more?

10) Miguel reads a poem

Watch this video of an incredibly eloquent 8-year-old, and be amazed! Miguel, a third-grader, read this poem to CFCA President Bob Hentzen and others on the second evening of Walk2gether.

The No. 1 post that the majority of our readers choose will be given a place of honor on our blog, and it may be repurposed for our promotional and marketing materials.

Have you made your choice? If so, click here to take the survey.

Please share the survey with your family and friends, particularly those who don’t yet know about CFCA. We’d enjoy hearing what they think of these posts, too.

Thanks, and we appreciate your help!

We walked into Lima to a residence home for girls (Nuestra Señora de Misericordia, or “Our Lady of Mercy”).

When I arrived on Thursday morning, we came here to ride out with them (or them with us) to meet Bob. We stuffed 20 people into a van probably intended for 15 – girls, a couple of moms, a couple of Catholic sisters, Luis (from Ocotepeque, Honduras) and myself. What a welcome to Peru!

They fashioned extra seats in the van by putting in little wooden school chairs. This was in addition to girls sitting on one another’s laps. They were all so friendly, good-hearted and joyful.

A Peruvian group joins Walk2gether out in the desert.

Bob told me the residence home had contests – the group that could come up with the best cheers for Bob would get to join him for a day.

When we found Bob’s entourage (thankfully, close to a rest time), they cheered him on appropriately. Lots of hugs, hellos, etc. … After a brief rest, we got them vested up (with safety vests) and we were off.

When we stopped for lunch at 30 km (about 18.6 miles), one mom could barely move. Her feet seemed to be made out of wooden blocks. …. But she wouldn’t give up.

She finished out the entire 35 km (about 21.7 miles) – so sweet, so determined to be a part of this movement and show her gratitude to Bob. She joined us again today. Both she and her feet fully recovered.

Back to today …

We drove to the residence home after yesterday’s walk and stayed the night here. And although many of the girls said they were going to walk with us today, none showed up at 3 a.m. when we were leaving.

At some point in the morning, a somewhat small bus stopped on the other side of the highway and our first group joined us (about 15-20 in this group).

A little bit later up the road, I saw something – a huge sign … more kids. Introductions, songs, cheers, more vests handed out, more water and onward … a little further down the road, the familiar blue van – kids from the residence home. What a joy to see them again!

Girls from the residence home meet Walk2gether.

As we neared Lima, another group – more girls from the residence home walking to meet us! What a delight!

We now had anywhere from 70-100 people – moms, kids and vehicles. … Thankfully we also had a police escort.

As we prepared for a water/rest stop, they moved us further along to a safer place – there was now time for rest and more water.

I do hope I can get the pictures uploaded of the welcome we received at the residence home in Lima. Both sides of the entrance lined with kids, teachers, other CFCA subproject coordinators along with a band. What fanfare.

They treated us to a nice program – more band music, introductions, speeches, etc. before they finally released us!

I wrote a long report on everything I’ve seen and decided it was way too long. So I’ve taken a stance at communicating one aspect of the walk: the heroes/saints I encounter daily.

1) Israel, camper driver

Only until you drive one of the vehicles for the walk can you truly appreciate what it takes to drive at 3 mph. Israel has driven the camper for nearly the entire walk (with the exception of Venezuela).

Israel

Go home tonight and try to drive this slow. It is nearly impossible — at least for me.

Tomorrow I hope to ride with Israel to see how he manages to let the camper creep forward without killing the engine and without using the clutch and brake constantly.

This is a tense job. If you get too far ahead (I consider about 100 yards too far ahead of the walkers), you stop and wait for them, but you are watching in the side-view mirrors (you can’t see directly behind this thing) …

So it is a constant creeping forward while watching in the side mirrors where the walkers are — of course, keeping an eye out for anything that might harm the tires — rocks, etc.

Israel is a quiet, humble man. He takes excellent care of Bob and [Bob’s wife] Cristina, not only driving the camper, but making sure they have everything they need.

2) Señora Luz, organizer

I didn’t have any idea how much organization it took to pull this thing off. Every meal must be planned, places located, hotels secured — for varying numbers of people on a daily basis.

Señora Luz

Yesterday, there was no place within a reasonable distance for lunch so Señora Luz called her friend, Robertina (I believe she and Señora Luz walked with Bob as he entered Peru) to fix lunch for us.

It was an outrageously delicious meal served at the ruins of an archeological site that her daughter and son-in-law are helping to uncover (they are archeologists). Amazing food in an amazing place.

Señora Luz does this day in, day out for the walk. Today (our rest day) she and her husband (he’s another story — a real sweetheart — keeps us laughing and acts as a father to everyone) went to mark each 5k along the route for tomorrow.

This way the driver knows exactly where to stop and Señora Luz knows exactly where to set up for breakfast, where we’ll have lunch and where we’ll end up so she can line up a hotel. …

She is so pleasant. When I relayed (CFCA CEO) Paco Wertin’s gratitude to her for everything she is doing for the walk, Bob and CFCA, she asked me to relay her gratitude back to Kansas for the opportunity to stay busy.

She does all this as a volunteer.

3) Bob

Sure he walks 35 km (more than 21 miles) each day, but did you know as we head to the hotel, he gets into the front passenger seat of the camper, plugs in his laptop, waits while it boots up, plugs in the modem, connects to the Internet to check his emails and monitor the world news?

Bob Hentzen

I watched yesterday as his connection dropped several times. He just tried it again and again … just part of the game down here. That laptop goes everywhere with him. His patience and diligence to stay in touch is admirable.

Seeing Bob with the girls and sisters from a residence home in Peru the other day was beautiful. The girls were singing a song that required a response from whomever they had addressed in it — he playfully sung his response back and then had to sing mine.

He also took time to address them before they left for Lima — encouraging them, reassuring them. They listened to every word.

Today (our rest day), he spent the better part of breakfast and quite a while after, discussing plans for the activity day in Lima.

He said he sees the walk as a period of formation for future leaders of CFCA. He is ensuring that the values of CFCA continue in the future as he walks each day and talks individually with the people who will be instrumental in creating our worldwide community of compassion.

After lunch, we focused on how to get his video and audio files to you. He never quits. He is like the Energizer bunny — always focused on CFCA, the movement.

Take care all,
Catherine

1) How did you hear of CFCA, and how did you become a board member?
I read a newspaper story about CFCA and knew that a co-worker and friend had recently become a sponsor. I decided with my husband, Jon, to sponsor a young girl in Guatemala, a country we had visited about 20 years ago.

Coincidentally, a few months later, Sister Therese Wetta, a former CFCA board member and a classmate from Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, asked if she could nominate me for the CFCA board. I agreed, and after making my written application, I was selected.

2) What was the Walk2gether solidarity walk like?

Carolyn Zimmerman

The solidarity walk happened in Hyderabad and our traveling team was expecting to participate. However, there were some security concerns at the time and it was decided that instead we would meet up with Bob and the Walk2gether solidarity walkers at the Mothers Annual Conference, which began late morning.

3) How would you describe the mothers groups and the Indian news media’s coverage of the conference?

These groups are very interesting and inspiring to me. I believe they are an important development in CFCA’s hopes for the future of the sponsored children. The women are achieving a new dignity and confidence as they learn practical skills and ways to navigate their world to benefit their children. There is a sense of community and common purpose.

At the annual conference, there was quite a bit of media attention, especially because of Bob’s presence and the participation of the state’s Home Minister, who is evidently supportive of CFCA in Hyderabad. She recognizes the value of the organization and the progressive nature of the work.

4) Had you ever been to India before? If not, what were you expecting and how did the experience measure up to your expectations?

This was my first trip to India. My knowledge of the country was – and still is – limited. My sources were a childhood book, The Secret Garden, whose heroine Mary returned to England after her parents died of cholera in India, and the movie Gandhi along with some of that great man’s writings. I had also been reading a recent novel, Shantaram.

Stories of overpopulation and abject poverty have long dominated Western media; those stories and the current situation with Pakistan led me to be a little anxious about the trip.

The experience confirmed some old impressions of India — teeming cities, in-your-face poverty, abysmal slums, and child beggars swarming among the cars at traffic stops — but also revealed many beauties.

I appreciated the co-existence of many religious traditions. In Calcutta we were awakened before 5 a.m. by an Islamic call to prayer from a nearby mosque; then we heard the sweet singing of our Catholic sister hosts in the upstairs convent chapel. Passersby on the streets wore distinctive dress, identifying them as Muslim or Hindu.

Color was everywhere, especially in the women’s saris and other traditional dresses worn daily. On a humorous note, I was often asked by families if I would be in a picture with their children; I must have been the whitest person they’d ever seen.

I was most touched by the beauty of the indigenous people we met in the countryside of Bhagalpur. Despite the lack of opportunities and the harshness of the environment, they seemed resilient and hard-working.

The roads were awful by almost any standards and the climate a combination of arid and tropical. The landscape ranges from rocky outcroppings to forests to dusty plains. There are no road signs, either to identify your location or direct your travels. Fortunately our wonderful CFCA staff guides knew exactly where we were going.

As CFCA visitors we were welcomed with great affection and celebration everywhere we went. We could tell that much effort had gone into the preparations for our arrival.

5) How would you describe CFCA to someone who hadn’t heard of it before?

I usually say that CFCA is a one-to-one worldwide sponsorship organization founded and led by lay Catholics and based in Kansas City, Kan.

It links a donor with a child in the developing world through the provision of tangible benefits for the child — education, nutrition, health care, family assistance and encouragement — and the exchange of letters between the sponsor and the sponsored child.

I try to distinguish CFCA by describing its “Hope for a Family” concept that helps a family move out of poverty to a more dignified life.

I also stress that CFCA does not discriminate against any group and serves children of many different faiths and cultures in Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, India and the Philippines.

I tell them that my husband and I sponsor Gabriella in Guatemala and Robin in India.

6) How will this experience impact your service as a member of the board?

Certainly being in a developing world setting made me realize what a luxurious life I really have – not by American standards. By American standards we’re pretty ordinary. By global standards we’re incredibly rich. That makes me more motivated to share that wealth.

Now that I’ve been there, I have a better understanding of the role that the families are playing. They are participating; they’re not just passively accepting. I think that will help me as a board member, to understand the relationship between the sponsors and the families of their sponsored children.

Bob and the Walk2gether team are still in Peru, as of Nov. 15.

“But then I will lure her back. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.” — Hosea 2:14

This text from Hosea brings profound clarity to Walk2gether pilgrims as we traverse the desert of Peru.

Rafael Villalobos

Our Lord has an uncommon way of enchanting us. He brings to the desert those who have been chosen and talks to their hearts.

In the desert, you either trust him or die. There are no certainties or comforts. It is a place of insecurity and solitude.

The desert is a place where we feel we can easily lose important people and things in our life.

In this desert, God talks to the heart of CFCA. He is luring, enchanting and questioning all of us who are part of this movement.

In this harsh reality, he calls us to return to generosity, toward dreams that feed our desire for a new world, and to trust that he is with us on our journey.

It is a call for radical love. We need lots of love to be able to walk these roads.

I believe that this experience is a call to leave a comfortable life, without commitment, without devotion, and to turn toward a lifestyle more in tune with the call we are receiving.

Don Roberto (Bob Hentzen) always says that being in CFCA is a vocation, a calling. It’s not easy work.

It is truly impressive to watch him and Doña Cristina (his wife) go step by step in the middle of the desert, walking with happiness and hope.

The Walk2gether team continues in the desert of Peru.

Recently, the movie “Eat Pray Love” was released. I have tried to conjugate these verbs in this desert of Peru:

Eat: There are no luxuries in the desert. We eat simply at the side of the road the food prepared by Doña Luz. The food tastes glorious when it is prepared with love and shared among friends.

Love: Love conquers pain and fatigue. Here in the desert, love is more pure, without applause or media. You need a love beyond limits to be able to walk this path. We support one another. We encourage one another to keep going when we are tired.

Pray: “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip” (Psalms 121:1-3). This psalm profoundly reflects the experience of praying in the desert.

May God grant us all the spiritual experience of a desert so that we can rediscover the true sense of our life of service to those most in need.

Residents of a girl’s boarding school in Lima joined the walkers for a day. Hear Bob’s podcast below.

I love talking to sponsors. Not only do I work at CFCA, but I’m a sponsor too.

Sponsors are hard-working, extraordinary people with big hearts and open minds.

You will see many stories about how amazing our sponsored members and their families are, about how they struggle to overcome difficulties, and live day to day to raise their families. But you know, CFCA sponsors are just as amazing.

Ruth Hubenthal

You see, sponsorship is not just about sending a monthly amount of money, although this is very important. It is about having a respectful relationship with someone you may never meet.

So many sponsors have lost a loved one, but rather than shutting down their hearts, they open them up and allow sponsored members and their families a share of that love and compassion.

That takes courage. That takes passion. And I am fortunate enough to hear these stories every day.

The amount we as sponsors send each month may not be a whole lot. However, to sponsors like me who have babies, or to sponsors on a monthly pension, it takes budgeting, commitment and patience to send that amount.

But sponsors see what good stewardship CFCA dedicates itself to, and they know in their hearts that it’s the right thing to do. It’s worth every penny.

Our president and co-founder, Bob Hentzen, is in the midst of his walk from Guatemala to Chile to show solidarity with sponsored members and their families.

Everywhere you go in the CFCA world, solidarity walks are taking place.

Sponsored members and their families in the Philippines, India, Mexico, Kenya and other countries are all walking to show that they are a true part of this community of compassion.

But you know what? They are also walking in solidarity with their sponsors.

They are walking to show their support of the incredibly brave, generous people who are giving them a second chance – their sponsors.

They are walking in solidarity with you.

What you may not have heard about is the fashion statement that CFCA is making in the process!

Many of the countries in which Bob is walking have made Walk2gether T-shirts for CFCA staff members, sponsored friends and their families to wear as badges of honor.

Enjoy the sample gallery slideshow that we’ve created:

Local companies and some CFCA livelihood projects have benefited from the design, manufacturing and distribution of these T-shirts.

One report in particular touched us: Benjamin Nestor, a sponsored youth in El Salvador who is in a wheelchair, created the Salvadoran T-shirt’s design.

Henry Flores, director of the CFCA Communication Center in El Salvador, told us that Benjamin taught himself how to use Photoshop, a graphic design program.

“A group of friends gave Benjamin the computer and he started to play with it,” Henry wrote. “He is awesome!”

Note: One of the benefits CFCA provides sponsored members is clothing. Many of them especially enjoy wearing their T-shirts designed with the CFCA and Walk2gether logos!

“…tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint…” — Romans 5:3

Eddie Watson, a member of the CFCA communications department, joins Walk2gether in Ecuador.

At CFCA we talk about hope a lot. It’s in the name of our sponsorship program: Hope for a Family.

It appears in many of our publications, and it’s posted throughout our headquarters in Kansas City, Kan. It’s at the heart of what this organization is all about.

But have you ever actually witnessed hope?

I hadn’t until I visited Ecuador and walked with Bob and CFCA families on Walk2gether.

Hope was everywhere. Right now, somewhere in Peru, hope is walking along the right edge of a highway in the middle of a desert. Cars are whistling right on by.

In fact, there is a hope trail that stretches from Guatemala south more than 5,000 miles to Peru.

I read the scripture passage cited above on my flight home to the U.S. It jumped off the page at me, and I thought it illustrated what I experienced on Walk2gether and what the walk is really all about.

The families CFCA serves face tribulations every day, challenges far more intense than walking the 21 or more miles a day on the walk. CFCA serves families who walk several miles every day just to get water.

No, walking wasn’t challenging for the beautiful people who met us as we passed through their communities.

What was challenging for many of them was walking the distance in flip flops or school dress shoes, because it was all they had.

But they didn’t complain. They had far more character achieved through lives in the rural mountains of the Andes; character developed working for $7 a day on someone else’s land; character achieved by having to work 12-hour days to feed your three kids and send them to school, to give them a better future.

Borja Homero, the father of a sponsored child from Mira.

Two sponsored children participate in Walk2gether.

I was walking in a rain shower with Bob early one morning, feeling bad for all the families with us getting drenched.

I began thinking about all the money I spent on the gear keeping me warm and dry: $140 Gortex-lined boots, a $40 fleece jacket, a $50 rain jacket.

We came to a resting point, and we lined up to greet the families and thank them for joining us. I wish you could have seen their faces.

They were so excited to meet Bob and so proud to walk for the organization. Nothing was going to stand in their way. This was one way they could give back.

As much as Bob is walking to show CFCA’s love, these families are walking to say “thank you.” They are thrilled to be on the journey.

I saw the hope in their eyes.

Their hope makes my food taste different. It makes my showers shorter, my “I love you’s” better, and makes me want to jump out of the bed in the morning.

The hope I saw makes me want to give my best.

Bob says this is what the walk and CFCA are all about. He says we should “be at our best for the poor because they deserve it.”

It started making more sense to me how a 74-year-old man can dream of walking 8,000 miles with these families. He sees hope.

I was privileged to see it. The worldwide CFCA community is beginning to see it, too, as we spread our message to more and more people.

My dream is for everyone to see it.

In its report, called “Metro Man Walks to Fight Poverty,” the news station WDAF highlighted Bob’s walk and explained CFCA’s role in serving those who are living in poverty.

Watch the video: http://www.fox4kc.com/videobeta/071f549c-024b-48ef-be7c-dc32e65b843d/News/Metro-Man-Walks-to-Fight-Poverty

Yessenia Alfaro

Walk2gether has covered 375 kilometers (about 233 miles) in Peru, South America. We have walked through many towns and cities observing the reality of this country and its people.

I have seen great contrast, tourist areas with huge hotels, oil exploration areas and poor families living in the middle of the desert sand lacking basic services.

Poverty and inequality are everywhere; they just have different shades in different places.

Every day our road is different. However, risks remain the same such as crossroads with heavy traffic, large vehicles and high-speed driving, sometimes up to 150 kilometers (approximately 93 miles) per hour.

Our group of five or six walkers is very vulnerable, but we can feel God’s protection and the prayers offered by all families who are part of CFCA walking in spirit with us.

Loneliness on the road, long distances, exposure, and the poverty and inequality we see only serve to motivate CFCA and its mission to transform this reality.

While walking in a desert, my attention was caught by some trees that were growing in the middle of the desert.

I asked myself, “Why plant a tree in this desert? How are the trees going to survive?”

Tree planted in a Peruvian desert

These trees were planted with the hope of seeing them grow. They were planted with a different method: planting four bottles with water, with very small holes in the bottom, so the tree could be wet enough until its roots grew a little.

The results are trees with green leaves and signs of developing life.

Many times, we think that families and communities we serve can’t grow because it is too difficult for them to develop.

Now I see families like these trees. They lack many things and go through lots of difficulties. The terrain is hard to work, but it is not impossible for it to produce and give life.

All we need to do is find the right method, with the hope that these families will be able to bloom.

Bob always invites us not to close our eyes to those who are in need.

They are there, close to us, and their blooming will require lots of work, effort and sacrifice, but the satisfaction will be much bigger.

“To walk with the poor.” That’s a phrase that sometimes just trickles from our lips without really thinking about it.

From left are Sherry Sopha-Potter, Evanson from Kenya and Matthew Potter.

We watch Bob Hentzen lace up his boots and head on down the road knowing that he does, indeed, walk with the poor.

Do we, as CFCA sponsors, walk with the poor, even though we aren’t on the road with Bob?

In fact, we do. The most obvious way is when we make our contribution each month in support of our sponsored friends.

We took on this responsibility in a conscious action with the intention of helping someone who needs some assistance, and with the knowledge that sharing in our good fortune is a directive given to us by God.

Jesus tells us, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48, New American Bible)

The money we send to CFCA each month goes to help a real, live person. Someone whose name we know, who goes to sleep each night and wakes up each morning.

Someone who laughs, cries, celebrates joyous occasions and worries about what challenges life will bring today. In other words, someone a lot like us.

Our lives are richer because of our relationships with our sponsored friends.

We walk with our friends each time we make our contribution, each time we write a letter, each time we pray for them.

They help us along the journey with their love and prayers.

Even though we may not travel the road with Bob, through our sponsorship and our faith, we most assuredly do walk with the poor.

Bob Hentzen, left, and Bill Hansen, center, continue along Walk2gether with their “magic belts.”

I joined the walk in Quito. Just outside Quito, we crossed the equator and had about a 6-to-7-mile uphill walk.

The terrain got steeper as we approached the top. On the other side of the mountains, we saw trees and mountains. It reminded me a lot of the Missouri Ozarks.

For the next two days, we walked through the Andes and fortunately, it was all downhill.

We saw cows. I don’t know how they would get on top of these mountains, grazing, or how they would get down, but it reminded me a lot of Switzerland.

For two days, we didn’t see any houses or any people. We saw traffic, of course.

When we arrived at the bottom of that mountain range, we entered the Ecuadorian rain forest. I saw a lot of palm trees, banana trees and coffee plants.

That’s when we started seeing people. We saw poverty, too. We were walking seven 5K segments, or about 21 miles a day.

On Friday, we came to a community called Porto de Quito where we started walking uphill into the Ecuadorian pineapple growing range. That’s when I had the experience with my back.

I’ve been running for about five years and I have never had any problem with my back. Everyone told me to watch out for blisters.

I was watching my feet, wiping them off, putting lotion on them, changing socks and I had no problems at all. I was in good shape and feeling good.

When I first felt the pain in my back, I thought I could walk it off. Sometimes when you’re running, you get a cramp in your muscle.

You run through it and it goes away. But this wasn’t going away. By noon on Friday, my back had had it.

During a rest period, I was waiting in the van, discouraged and very depressed.

When I started planning my participation in the walk last February, it never dawned on me that I wouldn’t be able to do the whole week. My back has never bothered me.

I prayed and told God how I felt.

“Why did you bring me this far just to stop it here?” I asked.

Bob came out of the camper to start the walk again. I knew at that point I wouldn’t be able to go any farther.

Before I could say anything, Bob came up to me and asked, “How are you feeling?”

“My back’s had it,” I said. “I’m really, really sorry.”

“Wait a minute,” Bob said.

He went into his camper. That was really strange because when Bob gets out of his camper to go again, he doesn’t stop for anything. I knew something was up.

He brought out this back belt with two straps that go around your shoulders and an elastic band that goes around your midsection.

You tighten the elastic band around your midsection and it feels like somebody is pushing up on the small of your back.

The minute I put it on, it was instant relief. I didn’t feel the pain at all. It completely went away.

We started walking, and I thought, “Wow! This is great.” It was the key.

I walked all day Friday and all day Saturday. I wore the belt both days and had no problems whatsoever. I would not have been able to finish the walk without that belt.

Some people call it the “magic belt.” It really is a magic belt. I was able to finish the whole week. It was an answer to prayer.

Bob Hentzen comments:

Greetings to all.

Bob will be in Peru until mid-January 2011. He will cover challenging terrain, including mountainous areas in the Andes and desert regions along the coast. Despite the obstacles, he has expressed his appreciation for support from friends and family.

Along with his wife, Cristina, an international support team will be traveling with him for the next month: Yessenia Alfaro, from the CFCA project in Santa Ana, El Salvador; Irrael Itzol, from the Hermano Pedro project in Guatemala; and Luis Jaco and Miriam Cartagena from Ocotepeque, Honduras.

Go to CFCA’s Peru country page to learn about our work in Peru. We also have a video about a Peruvian family who’s building a new house with CFCA’s help.

We also encourage people to post prayers and messages of solidarity for Bob and the team. We’re at 500 comments and counting!

Participants in Carol Gall’s World Walk

From Michigan to Meru, Kenya, people associated with CFCA are creating their own versions of Walk2gether, CFCA President Bob Hentzen’s ongoing journey from Guatemala to Chile (Bob is now in Peru).

By Carol Gall, CFCA sponsor

The weather was perfect. We started at Destiny Christian Ministries at 9 a.m. with about 30 people. We enjoyed worship music by Michael W. Smith loudly playing from the back of the lead van.

We walked 3 miles to the Gall family’s home for our first break where we enjoyed homemade egg rolls from a fellow participant. Many commented, “That was the best egg roll I have ever had!”

We walked about another 3 miles to another family’s home for our 6-mile break. The hostess served chips and two flavors of salsa from the La Senorita restaurant where her husband works. She decorated the porch and tables in Mexican style. We were refreshed for the next 3 miles.

We walked about a mile to Morey School where 10 people were waiting to join us. We were gaining in numbers! The weather continued to be pleasant, and we enjoyed a gentle breeze. When we arrived at our lunch destination, the 9-mile mark, another walker, his mom and sister greeted us at the road! They served a tasty lunch of Spanish rice, beans, tortillas, Kenyan stew, fresh fruit and vegetables. The basement where we ate was cool and relaxing. We browsed the many posters, informational brochures and multicultural items displayed by HIS World News Club.

After that satisfying lunch, some headed back toward Shepherd, where the walk began. When we arrived at Morey School, we lost some of the walkers that had parked their cars there. We were now down to only nine walkers who remained with us to the finish.

Read about walkers in Meru, Kenya, who also expressed their solidarity with Walk2gether.

People walk in Meru, Kenya, in solidarity with CFCA President Bob Hentzen as he continues on Walk2gether.

From Michigan to Meru, Kenya, people associated with CFCA are creating their own versions of “Walk2gether,” CFCA President Bob Hentzen’s ongoing journey from Guatemala to Chile (Bob is now in Peru). Here is a report by Regina Mburu, communications liaison in Kenya, of a 16-mile solidarity walk.

“By walking with them, we are saying you are not alone, we are listening to you and we are learning from you.” – CFCA President Bob Hentzen, who has been walking since Dec. 29, 2009.

In a show of solidarity with this noble course, the CFCA-Meru community organized a walk on Aug. 20, 2010.

A woman weaves as she walks in Meru, Kenya.

The 25.5-kilometer (16-mile) walk in the rural setting of Meru attracted many members of the CFCA community. Led by a group that held high the CFCA Walk2gether banner, the participants braved the hot sun and dusty roads. This day held great significance to them.

Some women decided to make their walk more interesting by weaving as they walked, their hands busy at work but their feet swift as they enthusiastically joined Bob in his pilgrimage.

“As I joined the Meru CFCA community in this walk, I could sense the deep sense of commitment and pride the community has towards the foundation, walking the significant distance is a demonstration of oneness with Bob,” said Marios Wanjiku, Meru project coordinator.

At the end of the walk, there were cultural presentations made to crown the day.

“We are glad to take part in Bob’s journey; we pray that walking together will help us understand each other’s needs better,” Wanjiku said. “We hope that Bob will feel encouraged as he carries on with his mission.”

Editor’s note: Read about another recent solidarity walk in Michigan.

Bob Hentzen and other Walk2gether participants walk through Costa Rica.

Update: This reflection is from Rafael “Rafa” Villalobos, San Jose project coordinator, written after Walk2gether passed through Costa Rica earlier this year. The walkers have entered Ecuador and expect to be there until Sept. 14.

“Peace is passing through Costa Rica”
A Costa Rican radio station gave this title to Walk2gether. We have been waiting for it with much faith, love and hope.

Day 1

At 6 a.m., 250 families, representing all sponsored families in Costa Rica, were waiting for Walk2gether’s arrival. As we waited, songs were heard: “Come, a new day is here and amidst challenges and happiness, CFCA is growing.” “My heart, your heart, become one when we walk.” School bands, flags from Latin America, big banners with messages, all awaited the moment.

The walkers crossed into Costa Rica three hours later to cheers, applause, songs, prayers and hugs. A sublime moment came when Bob (CFCA president and co-founder Bob Hentzen) and his wife, Cristina, knelt and kissed the land. This was a symbol of deep love for our country and our CFCA families. We are stepping on holy land, the land of the poor who are the face of God. This land is blessed.

Bob gave words of gratitude and reminded us of the meaning of Walk2gether: “I want to be close to the families. We walk for the most in need.” Cristina offered her love to the families and encouraged them to continue despite daily burdens. There were 15 other walkers from Guatemala and the Philippines.

We walked five kilometers from the border, Peñas Blancas, to the Las Vueltas River. In front of us a big banner said, “CFCA, 12,500 kilometers, bringing hope.”

Day 2

We began at 4 a.m. with a prayer asking for blessings upon our route. The heat intensified, and we rested often. This was a great opportunity for teachable moments with Bob, to share our experiences, difficulties and achievements.

Brother Jorge, CFCA Hermano Pedro project coordinator in Guatemala, shared the meaning of the CFCA logo. Later, we heard the testimony of Jafet, a scholarship student. He thanked CFCA for the outreach he received from the Costa Rica team.

Day 3

We walked from the community of Santa Rosa to the community of Liberia. Bob spoke with the youth walking with us. The teens commented on their worry of drugs, violence and lack of job opportunities. Marvis, a CFCA social worker, shared about the importance of strengthening family values.

Families from the community of Liberia came to greet the pilgrims, singing and showing beautiful banners with messages of hope and gratitude for CFCA, Bob and Cristina.

Day 4

The route planned was to walk 40 kilometers from Liberia to the Bagaces community. At kilometer 10, we had breakfast at the community of Pijije. This community has donated a piece of land for a CFCA office. Bob and Cristina inaugurated the construction of a CFCA center for sponsored members and their families. A few trees were planted as signs that we are called to offer life, love and strength.

Later, we arrived at the gym of the community of Bagaces. Some 400 people welcomed the pilgrims.

We also blessed the house built for one of the CFCA families. It was built by a group of North American students from the Saint Anselmo school (St Anselm’s College from New Hampshire) and members of the CFCA team.

March 5

We rested near the Miravalles Volcano, surrounded by spectacular views and thermal waters. Bob and Cristina’s family, Jake and Cesar, their wives and grandchildren, as well as one sponsor, joined us today.

One song has tried to gather the spirit of this pilgrimage.

Walking we make borders disappear,
We all become one on earth
One voice where hunger, cold and fear unite
And your burdens become mine
And your loneliness becomes my pain

They mix like the soil and our steps
Dignity, hope become one flag for Latin America

I have always aspired to work with the less privileged in society. I get a lot of inspiration from working with the beneficiaries and staff members.

I was very much excited to be coming on the walk. I always look forward to learning something new. In each and every project there are good practices, and I was able to learn so many new things to take back to Nairobi to make our project stronger.

It is so beautiful in Ecuador, and walking with these people and seeing how they live was a great experience for me. I grew up in a small village in Kenya and helped my father with our coffee plants from a very young age. We would wake up early to harvest coffee. I know the challenges that families living in the farming communities in Ecuador face.

There is so much potential in these families. It was a big lesson for me to see their energy and see how important they are in this movement. The sponsored members and their families helped us get through the miles by walking with us. It showed me how interdependent our mission is and that our community is growing even stronger each day with this walk.

On the walk, I started out well, but along the way things got very tough. I was only able to make it 20 kilometers out of the 35 kilometers my first day. It is a lesson, though, to see the families that came out to walk with us cover these distances, and we should not take their strength for granted.

It is an inspiration that these families are able to overcome so much. We just need to help them along their path. It is not easy work helping these families, and the walk is a symbol of this effort.

The walk is very challenging. We have to cover long distances. The pain in our legs and muscles can be translated to the pain these families experience. But like them, we just have to keep going and keep walking with them.

One of my favorite parts of the walk was interacting with the families. Singing and dancing is very integrated into society in Africa. Many of the youth walking with us were shy at first, but they were very eager to learn from me when I started a song or dance. And when you are having fun, the kilometers go by much faster.

Getting to spend time with Bob Hentzen (CFCA president and co-founder) on the walk was also a great experience. Bob is superhuman. Every time you are around Bob you get inspiration. When you see somebody that age (74) walking all that distance, and here I am a young energetic person who couldn’t walk the whole way for just one week. He is a great example of how we can focus our energy.

CFCA’s invitation for us to join the walk to help our brothers and sisters in South America is a good message. It was amazing to learn from one another and spend time with the people who have been on this journey.

People around the world need to know there are many people struggling and in need of help. I am proud to have been a part of this walk and to help spread the message that there is hope for these families.

Walk2gether has left Colombia and entered Ecuador, after covering a distance of 5,043 kilometers and walking through seven countries.

Judith Bautista, right, coordinator in CFCA’s Bogota project, and Bertha Duran, left, coordinator in the Cali project, both in Colombia, reflect on their experiences with Walk2gether in their country.

Judith Bautista: Walking with the flag of CFCA

After walking almost two months in the company of the sponsored members and their families, throughout all the CFCA projects and its communities, Walk2gether left Colombia to enter Ecuador. This has been a very special experience; it has represented great benefits for all of us staff members in Colombia, and it has helped to unify the teams and projects of CFCA in Colombia.

The unity that we have developed among staff members and sponsored families is stronger than before. We are called to work harder toward the empowerment of the families and mothers, which directly enhances the creation of communities of compassion in our projects.

We witness how people came out to greet us, to offer us their best wishes, to bless us, and for me, this is walking with the flag of CFCA, which is the flag of Hope for a Family.

Ending Walk2gether in Colombia is a bittersweet moment, full of mixed feelings, because we have been so happy and received so much inspiration in this walk. But we are sad because we are not going to continue physically walking.

Bertha Duran: The beginning of a new vision

This walk has been exciting and rewarding. It has made all of us involved in CFCA proud that we were able to carry such a huge and strong mission. It is a great feeling to know that we were able to comply with the sacrifice made by staff, families and sponsored members while walking in Colombia.

This walk taught us very much about teamwork, solidarity, respect and hard work, but the most important thing that we learned is that in spite of feeling tired, hungry and thirsty, we need to continue with strong steps toward the completion of our hopes of a better world.

We had many teenagers, both sponsored youth and scholarship students, walking. This experience has helped them to restructure their own goals in life, realizing that it is worthwhile to fight for opportunities and their dreams.

This walk has offered our sponsored members and their families a sense of a new beginning, where there has been a before and after in their lives, a breath of hope and the call to live in solidarity, respect and unity as a family.

This is not the end of the walk; this is the beginning of a new vision that reminds the sponsored members and their families that we believe in them, that they are worthy and that we want to see them reaching their hopes and dreams out of poverty.

Veron Telar

It was 2:30 a.m., Philippine time, on June 20, 2010, when I finally arrived home from my 21-hour trip from Kansas City back to my country, the Philippines. Thanks be to God for a very pleasant trip. What an absolute feeling of excitement and happiness I had during my entire journey. I was reunited with my son, my whole family and my CFCA family in the project. Yes, everyone at home had been waiting for me.

It’s been about six months since I left the Philippines and joined CFCA’s Walk2gether in Latin America, and now I am back. Honestly, it was not even easy to leave the walk, the people and the CFCA family who took care of me, inspired me and loved me while I was away from my family. I am blessed to have had this very significant and life-changing experience as a member of the Walk2gether team for five months and 12 days. With Sir Bob and Ma’am Cristina (CFCA President Bob Hentzen and his wife, Cristina), I have walked 4,004 kilometers, slept in 61 beds and taken 6.6 million footsteps.

I have truly my innermost, overwhelming feeling being with Walk2gether. Being with the people each day and listening to the words of wisdom of the CFCA president are my greatest gift. I was completely at peace and content, traveling and staying in a foreign land, just keeping in mind that I belong to CFCA. True enough, CFCA is a worldwide family and community. There was no room for uncertainties, only assurances of love, belonging and protection when there are possible dangers. Along the road, we always tell the people that we offer hope and we share love with them. In return, we are receiving more than we gave, as they helped us realize the greatest value of life with simplicity and humility in words and in deeds.

I came home very happy, at peace and ready to face the day-to-day life with my family and the Manila project. I am much honored and perpetually grateful that I represented my country during my time with Walk2gether. I have a renewed spirit of hope, love, service and commitment to the CFCA work and mission. I truly appreciate the opportunity of knowing so many sponsored families and co-workers.

As CFCA offers hope for families in this challenging time, we in the Philippines are becoming more hopeful that changes for the better will take place in this beautiful world. May the Lord bless us as we work hard for this mission.

Indeed, my participation in Walk2gether provided me a renewed life and spirit of service and mission. Walk2gether is one of the best experiences that CFCA has given me, and I thank God for this blissful homecoming to my beloved Philippines.

July 24

It is 3:30 a.m. and I’ve just arrived at the Bolivia International Airport of Santa Cruz, on my way to Cochabamba, Bolivia. The CFCA’s Hope for a Family Program continues to build options for its members into their own and individual process to self-sustainability; this is why, during this week, staff members from different countries will get together in what we call ‘Encuentro’ — encounter — where we will learn and teach each other about the many initiatives and programs being implemented at the different projects.

It is very exciting to be part of this worldwide community of compassion, and I am looking forward to this week of learning, feeling excited about the many ideas, projects and programs that will be developed from here to all the families of CFCA around the world.

July 25

After a very good night of sleep to recover the energy for travelling more than 24 hours yesterday, this morning I met Peter, CFCA coordinator in Nairobi, and Teddy, project coordinator in Uganda. We had a wonderful conversation and learned from each other about the challenges that our countries, and especially women in each of them, have to face.

Teddy is a very young smart girl who, to my surprise, had been sponsored by CFCA and now she is the project coordinator. And Peter, a 40-year-old man, has been working very hard in creating opportunities for the mothers in his project to find a path to self-sufficiency.

I am always surprised by the potential that is unlocked by CFCA in each of its staff members. God has blessed us all to be part of this community.

Watch the following video to meet Cristina.

As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day, let us remember those around the world who struggle daily for another kind of freedom: economic freedom.

In CFCA communities around the world, individuals are making sacrifices every day to achieve economic freedom. They are hungry for opportunity and will make heroic efforts to improve life for their families instead of remaining imprisoned by poverty. They walk great distances, study long hours and engage in backbreaking work. They are living examples that the human spirit burns brightly, even in the bleakest of circumstances.

Please pray
Dear Lord, help us to see the blessings and freedoms we enjoy and not take them for granted. Keep ever present in our minds the pleas of our brothers and sisters struggling to break free from poverty. Send your Spirit to work through us to help others develop their talents and become self-reliant. Keep this fire of struggle alive in our hearts until all your people are free from poverty. Amen.

Blessings,

CFCA Prayer Team

Related post:
Celebrating freedom

Thank you for your hard work, Clare!

It all started when my teacher assigned our reading class to each do a service project. My family supports a little girl named Jarling through CFCA. I decided that I could help boys and girls like her. My mom and I decided I could sell flowers after church on Valentine’s Day. We earned at least $100, but that was just the beginning. Next, I worked with two seniors from Culver Academies to do a tie-dye workshop at my school. It was a huge success, and a whole lot of fun.

My overall total was at least $700. I enjoyed it a lot. I hope to continue helping others and I want to do the workshop again.

Thirteen years ago, there was a young girl in the Colombian town of Tarso with no clear goals or dreams. But one day some people came by her house asking what the needs of her family were, and suddenly a hope for her future awakened.

Thanks to the those social workers and two angels, her sponsors, the young girl, Yuli, started to feel motivated in her schooling and improving herself each day. God was granting her opportunities through the people Yuli considered her angels.

As the years went on, Yuli, the girl who previously didn’t have any aspirations, now had a defined path. She was attending high school as a result of the financial support and encouragement of her angels, and kept focused on the dream she wanted to accomplish, which was to graduate.

Yuli, with determination, kept telling herself, “I will keep on no matter what.” Her efforts were worth it as she reached that goal and after graduation started a career with CFCA’s Madre Paula project.

She experienced the love of her angels and is grateful to them for the many years of spiritual and financial help. Yuli also thanks God for allowing her journey to cross paths with her sponsors.

Yuli’s words of wisdom:

“Life has great opportunities in store for the ones who assume challenges and take risks.

Sponsorship may change the course of a person’s life entirely if that person learns to take full advantage of it, but their work does not end there. They must become like a hummingbird that is so skillful in spreading seeds from branch to branch, from flower to flower. There are not limits but definite purposes for the ones that take the opportunity.

Dream, fly, share and never forget that there will be angels on your way.”

This reflection was written by Deisy Yuliana Betancur Cardenas, former sponsored child and now a CFCA staff member in the Madre Paula project in Colombia. Yuli shared her reflection with participants on a CFCA mission awareness trip in Colombia in May.

The Chinese proverb says: “A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” May you walk with a song in your heart.

Since the Word of God is always the same, but ever new to us, a quote from Psalms:
“I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 116

May our Brother be your strength and protection as you walk with his brothers and sisters. Live, Jesus, in our hearts!

May you walk in hope-filled witness, embodying the spirit and faith, the joys and struggles of all who have walked and prayed these paths.

May you walk with the assurance of a daily remembrance in my Mass and prayers that you be blessed with peace and safety as you walk with and for the poor, bringing hope for families.

May you walk … with the sun on your face, with the wind at your back, with peace of mind, and with all of us in your heart.

Que abunda el frijol
Que abunda el maíz
Y que seas muy feliz
Que abunda el frijol
Que abunda el arroz
Y que te bendiga Dios.

Que Dios te Bendiga! Yo espero que yo puedo unir su viaje siguio el camino. Su amigo tambien.

May the light of God illumine the heart of your soul.
May the flame of Christ kindle you to love.
May the fire of the Spirit free you to live and keep you well on your journey.

~ With Love,
2010 CFCA Board of Directors
Scott Wasserman, Chief Governing Officer
Ed Herman, Treasurer
Rev. Allan Weinert, C.Ss.R., Secretary
Catherine Crosby
Eileen Greenlay
Louis Guillou
Rev. Vince Haselhorst
Anne Ryder
Carolyn Zimmerman

Sunilde (left), Barquisimeto project coordinator in Venezuela at the border with Judith, Bogota, Colombia, project coordinator

With an emotional encounter between Colombian and Venezuelan colleagues in Paraguachon, Colombia, Walk2gether ended its time in Venezuela, leaving behind in each of us a process of profound reflection, inspired by shared moments and all the things we’ve seen during this long journey.

Also, this encounter between colleagues reaffirms that there are no borders when our unity comes from God. The most important thing is that with this experience, we understand a little more about the challenge set before us by CFCA to give hope to families.

Likewise, the walk allowed us to affirm our own reality in the context of strengths and weaknesses clearly evidenced on the route/trip.

Strengths

• Beautiful landscapes

• The presence of our CFCA families (parents, guardians, boys, girls, teenagers and the elderly), giving us their support and solidarity at all times.

• The support we received from people and families who aren’t a part of the sponsorship program.

• The logistical support on the part of the sponsored teenagers and scholarship students.

Weaknesses

• The large quantities of trash observed along the route of the walk.

• Dead animals, the majority of which were run over on the highways.

• Violence along the roads committed by the drivers of the vehicles.

Challenges raised by the Walk
We are called from this point forward to a series of very significant challenges in our community-level intervention and especially, in our work with CFCA families:

Social challenges

• Learn to live in community.

• Respect diversity in its different manifestations: ethnic, political, religious, cultural and others.

• Relationship with the environment of which we are a part.

• Emphasize a true culture of peace.

• Quality education for all.

Challenges to life

• Respect life. Encourage a culture of life to counter the culture of death that reveals itself to us in the form of violence and threatens individual security.

• Protection for the lives of animals.

• Respect for human rights.

Environmental challenges

• Elimination of trash, starting with the communities where we work.

• Beautifying the communities.

• Care and conservation of natural resources.

I say goodbye with sincere thanks for this experience, and for Bob and Cristina’s presence among us as symbols of peace and brotherhood among all people.

Sincerely,
Sunilde Pérez
Barquisimeto Project Coordinator, Venezuela

Rafa Villalobos, San Jose project coordinator, said that Jerlin means a lot to the project staff. They felt especially protective of her after her father died.

“In the midst of great difficulty, she has moved on, overcoming obstacles,” Rafa said. “When Don Roberto heard her testimony during a mission awareness trip, he said her story was a cathedral of hope.”

In the video below, Jerlin talks about how the CFCA scholarship program has helped her through many obstacles in life and how receiving a good education is allowing her to achieve her dreams.

We are resting today (Wednesday). We are doing fine here in Colombia. What a best time to rest: we are at the beach right now. So far we have walked 3,162 km since we began in Guatemala. I am looking forward to walking another 1,000 km until June.*

Normally we get up between 2:30 — 3:00 a.m., depending on the distance that we have to travel to get to the place where we ended the previous day. We basically end at 5 p.m., but the other day, we started at 3 a.m. and finished at 6:45 p.m.

The temperature here is getting hotter each day, as we are walking close to the ocean. We are now here in Magdalena leading to Cartagena. The last week we walked in La Guajira, and the heat was terrible. It seems that we walked in the desert — about 100 degrees F. But, we survived.

Tomorrow we will be on the road again. I am refueling myself with the fresh fish and rice that we are having these days. Sir Bob, Ma’am Cristina and the team are absolutely doing fine.

*Editor’s note: Veron will return to the Philippines in June.

How was the experience of Walk2gether entering Colombia?
It was very exciting. It was Saturday, and I was in company of Isabel, another CFCA-Colombia staff member. We did not expect the walk to arrive until the next day. We were at the border, reviewing some plans and, suddenly, we turned toward the Venezuelan side of the border and saw a group of people with traffic vests and flags, and Bob was leading them. I got really excited, they were singing and we started singing back. It was incredible, emotional. All of us from the CFCA team in Colombia, about 60 people, walked to meet them. We laughed, hugged each other. There was joy, smiles and tears, this was an unbelievable moment for me.

Did the Walk2gether group have any problem crossing the border?
They did not have any problem entering Colombia. One thing we were told by the border authorities is that they needed us to keep informing them of the location of the walk every other week so they could be alert.

How was it for you to work with the CFCA Venezuela team to organize the walk?
It has been great! They are a great team: hard-working women and very close to their communities. The project coordinator in Venezuela, Sunilde, and I have an excellent relationship, when we saw each other at the border we both cried, and it was hard to say goodbye.

Sunilde and I have a lot in common. We both share the same spirit for CFCA, the same values, and we both enjoy working with the sponsored members of CFCA. Our dream of finding options for our communities is something that unites us. She is a woman who has done much for the communities in Venezuela.

Sunilde shared with me the rough moments they experienced in Venezuela while walking. In some places, people, in general, understood about the walk, but some who didn’t understand were rude to them.

So, working with the Venezuelan team gives me a sense of admiration because in spite of all their challenges, they are doing so much good for the students, families, communities, etc. Their sponsored children and elderly are people with brave hearts.

What is the feeling of the CFCA Colombian team of welcoming the walk?
Looking at the walkers crossing into Colombia is something that we were dreaming about for a long time. In Colombia, we are excited and happy, hearing our voices united in song with the voices of the Venezuelan team was beautiful.

Ending one section of the walk and beginning a new phase is admirable. The feeling is something hard to describe, it is something that you feel in your heart and soul.

Seeing both flags, Colombian and Venezuelan, waving in the middle of the border between both countries, was like being in limbo, where nothing else mattered. I remembered that borders can be drawn by the men but, in spite of them, CFCA reaches across, like a big family, and words are inadequate to describe this feeling.

The flag of unity of CFCA tells us that something very special is happening in the world and in all of the countries where Walk2gether visits.

CFCA President Bob Hentzen is now in Colombia, the sixth of 12 countries on his 8,000-mile trek through Latin America called Walk2gether. Besides building community and strengthening the bonds of unity between CFCA sponsored members, sponsors and staff, Walk2gether is promoting care of the environment.

To counter the serious problem of deforestation, and to motivate people to plant trees, sponsored members and scholarship students planted maya nut trees about every six miles along the Walk2gether route in Guatemala, said Luis CoCon of CFCA’s Hermano Pedro project.

The maya nut tree adapts easily to different weather conditions, requires little maintenance, and its fruit is rich in nutrients.

“A lot of our people use the forest for firewood,” said CoCon. “But I think the main problem is that the big plantation owners clear hundreds or thousands of trees every day to make room for sugarcane or corn fields.”

The Hermano Pedro project planted 100,000 trees in 2009 and hopes to plant 1 million between 2009 and 2011, CoCon said.

Photo courtesy of www.theequilibriumfund.org. These adaptable trees produce a highly nutritious fruit and can grow to 150 feet.	Brother Jorge Armas, Hermano Pedro project coordinator, plants a maya nut tree along the Walk2gether route in Guatemala.

Today, something very exciting happened on the Colombia/Venezuela border. The Cartagena project and I met together, finalizing details to receive Bob and the walk team from Venezuela tomorrow (Sunday), when suddenly I saw a multitude of reflective jackets, everyone was holding hands and in the front walked Bob. It was very exciting, beautiful, encouraging, emotional, totally inspiring … It was one of those moments. There were hugs and much emotion but above all, happiness of meeting and a celebration of life …

Today we are excited, we await the passing hours in order to meet each other again and begin walking together.

To all, a strong hug in Christ

The murals, each about 2 meters by 4 meters, were designed by a sponsored scholar and a CFCA volunteer from Spain. The majority of the work was completed by sponsored youth and scholar students, with some help from parents and CFCA staff.

It took one full weekend and nearly 40 gallons of paint to complete the murals. The mural team split into five groups and spent a Saturday sketching the murals and began painting (the surface was prepped the weekend before). They completed the painting the next day.

The murals symbolize scenes from the walk with a focus on nature and the importance of preserving our environment.

Sunilde Pérez, Barquisimeto project coordinator, said of the environmental theme in the murals, “We are all united as one community.”

The central theme of the walk is to remind families that they are not alone. The CFCA family—made up of sponsors, staff, volunteers and other sponsored members—is with them every step of the way.

“We are all in this together,” Sunilde said. “Everything that we do has an effect. When the walk passes through, it affects all of us, as well as our environment.”

We translated her poem to English for you but included the Spanish version, too. Happy Earth Day!

The Rain Forest
by Maria Alejandra Villalobos

There is not a sound nor is life visible,
Only a symphony of rain drops with a plic plac sound …

Many colors can’t be seen, only a deep natural green but, once in a while,
A little colorful flower gives life to the landscape …

There are different shades of leaves, large, small and coiled
Trees, with their chests held high, show their beauty …

The flora is striking in its natural green
And the moss offers a beautiful coat to the proud trees …

Far ahead a calf is grazing up in the mountain
A very straight pine tree firmly holds its acorns …

It is then when a soft wind can be felt,
The leaves wave from side to side …

The monkeys and squirrels are sleeping in the trees
Waiting for their reward in the form of a beautiful rainbow.

El Bosque Lluvioso
por Maria Alejandra Villalobos

No hay ruido ni tampoco se ve vida
Solo se oye la sinfonía de las gotas de lluvia que caen suavemente haciendo plic plac …

No se ven muchos colores, solo un verde natural, aunque, de vez en cuando,
Una florecilla colorada le da vida al lugar…

Hay distintas formas de hojas, grandes, cortas y enrolladas
Hay árboles que con su pecho en alto muestran su belleza …

La flora se resalta en su verde natural
Y los musgos verdes le dan un hermoso abrigo a los árboles grandes …

A lo lejos se ve una vaquita pastando en la montaña
Un pinito parado bien derechito mantiene con firmeza sus bellotas …

Cuando se viene una ráfaga de viento las hojas, amarradas de sus raíces,
Se ondulan de lado a lado

Los monos y las ardillas duermen en lo árboles
Esperando de recompensa un lindo arcoíris.

So we set up a page on our blog where everyone can leave messages of support and encouragement to Bob, the Walk2gether team and their sponsored friends. Many people have done just that. Some messages are in Spanish, some in English, some are from sponsors and some are from project staff members. The messages are personal, caring and inspirational, but this one left by Ted Dauphin especially caught our attention:

Talk about inspiring! Thanks for sharing, Ted.

Head on over to the Walk2gether tab, read what others have to say and leave your own message. We can’t wait to hear from you.

We, at the Barquisimeto project, welcomed with special affection our dear friends, Bob and Cristina Hentzen. Their presence among the Venezuelan sponsored members is a solid witness of faith and hope. This movement is being called Walk2gether: together in our joys, together in our sorrows, together in good times, together in bad times.

Therefore, to us, Walk2gether means:

Creating links of unity and brotherhood.

Walk2gether encourages us to see with kind eyes the needs of our people.

Walk2gether is an activity that holds up humanity at all times, above all else. It gives special meaning to CFCA’s statement that “to be more” is more important than “to have more.”

Fraternally,
Sunilde Pérez
Project Coordinator
Barquisimeto, Venezuela

No matter where one travels, mothers have the same concerns, cares, thoughts, worries and desires for their children. While on my recent Walk2gether adventure in Costa Rica, I met Zaida, an extraordinary and simple mother. She resides in Bagaces, a town northwest of San Jose, Costa Rica.

She is a supporter of CFCA, which was evident by her 3:30 a.m. arrival time to the small and quaint town center for a long, tiring walk. Many are dedicated to CFCA in this town! Everyone proudly wore their blue CFCA T-shirts and baseball caps. The streets were filled with excitement, including the echoing of music from large speakers attached to the back of a car. Little did I know that this first day of walking would end up including some of the most memorable moments of my week!

I was more than ready for the walk, mentally, physically and spiritually. After completing my first 10K and enjoying a traditional Costa Rican breakfast, we began the second 10K of the day. The sun was up as we continued along the rocky, gravel-covered path through the extremely rural and poor areas of Bagaces. Out of nowhere, an arm was put around me, and I was swept into a conversation with Zaida that would last for hours.

At first there was a lot of small talk. The words that one would share when meeting a fellow mother for the first time, be it in small town U.S.A. or Bagaces, Costa Rica. What else would two moms start a conversation with besides, “How many children do you have?” and, “How old are they?”

We continued discovering more about our children. Isn’t this so typical of mothers? The common bond of our children allowed us to talk for an extended period of time. I was honored to meet her youngest child, and I could see that Zaida was proud to introduce her to me, just as I would have been proud to introduce my own daughters to my new friend. As time went on, we talked about other topics, but somehow the conversation always led back to our children.

Each day on our journey, Don Roberto (Bob Hentzen) would stop and compassionately and respectfully listen to the CFCA parents tell their personal stories and their perspectives on how CFCA is helping and can better help in each community. Each community is unique and Bob knows this. He knows that one of his biggest allies is the CFCA mothers.

Zaida respectfully and confidently sat down next to Don Roberto and shared her story, her desires, her concerns and her ideas regarding her own children and the children of Bagaces supported through CFCA. Zaida is like so many mothers. We do whatever we can to make a better life for the ones we love the most.

Our day continued, and we were extremely comfortable with each other. Our energy was never-ending, even though the songs blasting from the oversized speakers were the same ones we began listening to at 3:30 in the morning. We put our arms around each other and shouted the now so familiar words, “Mi corazon, tu Corazon.” — my heart, your heart — became our battle cry. Arm in arm, we knew we had forged a friendship, a friendship based on the love for one thing all mothers around the world have in common: the love for their children.

There are many reasons people walk. Some walk out of choice, others, out of necessity. Along the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:15-35), we meet two people who walked simply to get away. The one in whom they had placed their hopes had just been executed as a criminal, and now his friends – and theirs – were hiding in fear. Believing that nothing was left for them in Jerusalem but danger and disappointment, they decided to leave.

On the road, they met a stranger. The temptation to wrap themselves in fear and reject the stranger must have been strong, but instead they invited him along. And, as they continued walking, an amazing thing began to happen. Step by step and mile by mile, these two wounded travelers found restored hope in their encounter with this remarkable new companion.

The stranger was really the resurrected Jesus – a fact that the two disciples only discovered at the end of the day when they shared a meal. But once they did, they couldn’t get back to Jerusalem fast enough, for such was their desire to share the good news.

In life, sometimes we feel as if we are walking toward something, and sometimes we feel as if we are walking away. But when the dust settles, the reasons we walk aren’t nearly as important as the fact that we do, indeed, keep walking. For, like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, it is only in the journey that we continue to encounter Christ in traveling companions.

For the next two years, hundreds of sponsors will join CFCA President Bob Hentzen at points along the Walk2gether route from Guatemala to Chile. Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they, too, are discovering a new and glorified face of Christ in the faces of the poor. And, again, like those disciples, they can’t wait to take that good news home with them.

As we enter into this beautiful season of Easter, may each of us be blessed with fresh legs and renewed spirits. May we walk as happy wanderers, intent on savoring the blessings of the journey. Whatever sorrows we may be leaving behind, and whatever dreams we may be moving toward, may we always hold onto the joy that comes from knowing that the one who defeated death is our constant traveling companion.

Some creative staff made a sign …

… decorated appropriately:

And, of course, in true CFCA style, there was music and singing:

Happy birthday, Bob!

~From the CFCA Kansas staff

We think Juan Antonio is cool, too. But don’t take our word for it. Watch on to meet this charming man.

Read more about the dance program.

The report also said that a day center where aging members ate breakfast and lunch and took handicraft and art workshops is uninhabitable. As a result, the sponsored elderly will receive their nutritional benefits at another location and all workshops have been postponed until a new location is identified.

And finally, Sara Leiva, the Valparaiso project coordinator, said that sponsors with friends in Chile should keep in mind that letters both in and out of the country will be delayed. Some letters may arrive late or coated with earthquake dust. For now, the staff’s top priority is to assess and respond to the current needs of the families.

For more information, read the full news story on our website.

Dear Henry,

Good afternoon. Thank you very much for sharing the worries and concerns of the CFCA community. We have power in some areas of Valparaiso, Chile, and I was able to send this email from my sister’s house.

It was 3:35 a.m., when the earthquake started. We are kind of used to this because Chile is an area with high possibilities of earthquakes; however, this earthquake kept going longer than usual. It was then when my husband, Luis, our son and I tried to secure ourselves in the safest section of our apartment.

The noise was terrible. In spite of having the lights off, they began turning on and off by themselves. Shortly after that, the power went off. From my home, you can usually see all of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, but when I looked outside, everything was dark. The water was off, too. Everything was full of dust, and phones lines had collapsed.

Some time later, some of my CFCA colleagues started to phone me, because we could not call out. Praise God, they were fine. At this moment, I can say that my family is well, too. Praise God, the construction in Chile is strong and can withstand the full force of the earthquakes.

As soon as we had daylight, I went to the CFCA office. On my way to there, I saw some areas of Valparaiso. They are very affected because they are historical constructions and not as strong as present-day buildings. I saw houses collapsed and many destroyed walls. The CFCA office looks OK. When I entered, I saw everything on the floor, the walls have cracks and the place is full of dust.

One of the walls on the first floor have collapsed, and there was water coming out from somewhere. I contacted some firemen who were working in the area, and they helped me close it. The firemen told me that I needed to report the damages because some of the walls are loose and dangerous. They suggested that we evacuate the office building.

We immediately took the files and other important things to the houses of some of the staff members to keep them safe. We knew that in situations like this there is always a high risk of robbery. After that, I visited the house of some of the staff members: Luis Olivares, Olga and Mauricio. We need to contact a friend of ours who is an engineer to have him assess the damages we have in the office.

The most affected area is located south from Valparaiso, and at this moment, we are in alert of tsunamis. The islands in front of Valparaiso are being affected by the high waves.

Henry, we strongly believe that our CFCA families are very scared, without running water, power or communications, but we are hopeful that they are well. As soon as we receive more news, we will notify you. We hope to have a steadier channel of communication, because we won’t be able to go back to our office for some time.

Thank you for your concern. I will be in touch.

Sara

Read the news story

I called down to Nicaragua and spoke with Adolfo, who is with the walkers. He’s driving one of the vehicles and is the technical expert. The tsunami warning covers an extensive area including Central America. Aldolfo said that they had heard the news earlier this morning when they started walking. They are only 15 or 20 kilometers from the coast so they are keeping an ear to the news stations. They aren’t overly concerned for their safety, but are aware of the warning. I let him know that the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center shows that a tsunami has been generated but doesn’t specify where in the Pacific. He sends greetings to all.

I arrived back in Honduras on Jan. 16, 2010, just in time to join up with the Santa Rosa project’s portion of Walk2gether. After volunteering with the Santa Rosa project for 10 months, I was reassigned to Hermano Pedro project in Guatemala in June for six months because of the political crisis that had erupted in Honduras. Thankfully, everything went smoothly with the elections, and I was able to return to Honduras.

I was greeted by the familiar faces of the Santa Rosa staff, members of the Guatemalan staff and many sponsored individuals and their families. One woman in particular stuck out to me, Olga. I have known Olga since I began volunteering in September 2008. Olga has been a part of the CFCA family for seven years and has three children who are sponsored. I came to know Olga because she was always in the office sweeping, washing dishes, making coffee: she wanted to do whatever she could to show her gratitude to CFCA.

I talked to Olga while we were walking, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to spend time chatting with her after my long absence. The participating walkers from the CFCA communities were walking a maximum of 10 kilometers, so I was surprised when Olga continued walking after the others had stopped. Yet, the next day, and the next, and everyday throughout the week, Olga was walking with us.

As the days passed, it became very clear how important this walk was to Olga. She began suffering greatly from the varicose veins in her legs. The veins became very swollen, and there was concern of them rupturing. However, Olga kept walking, limping along and overcoming her pain. Even when we were finally able to convince her to ride in the support vehicle for a bit, she would not stay in the car for more than 10 or 15 minutes. When I had the opportunity to ask her why she didn’t want ride, she shared with me that this walk was something she was doing as an offering for her children’s sponsors, whom she has never met.

The walk was something she wanted to do to thank the sponsors who have helped change her family’s life. Olga said that without CFCA and the sponsors, her children would be unable to go to school. She and her husband simply do not make enough money to pay for their children’s educational expenses. Olga herself did not have the chance to attend school because of similar circumstances. For this reason, Olga realizes the great opportunity her children have been given through CFCA to help them move forward in life.

Olga says, “Walk2gether is a walk of love.” It is not only a walk showing the love Bob Hentzen and CFCA have for the people being served in these countries … it is also a walk that sends its love all the way to the sponsors, wherever they may be.

The sponsored members and their families are walking to support Bob and to show their thanks and love to CFCA and their sponsors. Those who participate in the walk are saying CFCA has made a difference in their lives, and they will walk in the hot or cold, up mountains, with blisters and even painful varicose veins as their way of saying, “Thanks for your help” and, “I love you.” Just as Olga has shown us.

Feb. 6, 2010

Dear Ma’am Trisha,

Thank you for the very inspiring message and for sharing my journey with the CFCA. Thank you also for the appreciation, prayers and support of everyone in Kansas and in the projects.

We are now here in Nicaragua and have finished our first 40 kilometers here yesterday. So far, we have walked 1,051 kilometers after crossing the mountainous 575 kilometers of Honduras. It was a great time walking with the Honduran CFCA sponsored families and staff in the projects. I am privileged to meet my co-coordinators and the rest of each project team.

I deeply appreciate your support to the Manila project team as you are constantly communicating with my team.

We received a call from the Philippines last week during the mission awareness trip to Antipolo. It was really a great joy for me to talk with Ma’am Malou (Antipolo project coordinator) and share with them some of my journey and experiences on the Walk. Sir Bob also gave his message to the Philippines team. I believe they are having a wonderful mission awareness trip.

My prayer is that this year’s trip brings hope, joy and life-giving experiences to the sponsors, CFCA families and to all my co-workers in the Philippines. I am very proud to represent them in Walk2gether, and also all of our co-workers in Kansas and in projects around the world. It is very inspiring to walk, as every co-worker of each project that we have visited has requested me to continue walking for them. I am very thankful and will always be appreciative for this great opportunity provided by my CFCA family.

This is all for now. I will be in touch again in the next few days. I hope my emails do not take most of your time. I just want to tell my experiences in this beautiful journey. I would like to add that the Walk, to me, is a healing process of the many challenges in my personal and work experiences, and I am very hopeful that this will surely be a great success for me and for every CFCA community, co-worker and sponsors, as well.

Thank you very much. My best regards to everyone.

Sincerely,

Veron

Walk2gether continues and, step by step, we are overcoming the mountains of Santa Barbara and La Esperanza, walking at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet above sea level.

Some of the walkers have begun to experience the wear and tear from their efforts, such as blisters and chapped lips; however, their spirit continues, strong and unbreakable.

On Jan. 24, we arrived at the area of La Paz. Because the difficulty of the altitude, mountainous terrain and roads limited our progress, we were unable to cover the full 40 kilometers planned per day. So during our rest day, on Jan. 25, we had to go back and cover the 16 unwalked kilometers accumulated from the prior days.

That very same day we decided to suspend Walk2gether for two days, returning to the road on Jan. 28. The reason for this is that the new president of Honduras will be inaugurated on Jan. 27, and many demonstrations are planned for that day. This is a risky situation for us, as any type of demonstration is viewed as political. The local authorities are mobilizing military troops and police to the same roads where we are walking to prevent protesters from entering Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.

One little story during our walk: a few days ago, Bob fell while walking on a dirt road. I can report that he suffered no injuries whatsoever. On the contrary, he proved to be in great physical condition, and, at the same time, we discovered that Walk2gether will continue either walking, jogging, running or rolling down the road.

My best to all,

Manuel Pineda
CFCA Santa Barbara Project Coordinator

Jan. 11, 2010

Today the El Salvador mission awareness trip participants and I joined Walk2gether. We didn’t leave at 4 a.m. like the walk team and Bob did. We met them about 15 kilometers in, right around 8:35 a.m.

The 10 of us trickled into the line, meeting some CFCA staff and families for the first time. The morning weather was still slightly chilly from the unseasonably cold night, but the sun was quickly working the chill out of the air.

I didn’t know what to expect when we began the day. I was still trying to decide how to best cover the walk and share it with those who cannot experience it in person. In the end, I just decided to let the walk lead me, and a story would find me. And, a story did find me, many stories in fact.

Take Veron, for example. Veron is the project coordinator for CFCA’s Manila project in the Philippines. She is walking through Central America with Bob, both to represent her country in the walk and also her son, who is unable to walk. When she speaks about her 6-year-old, there’s a soft look on her face that tells me she is not entirely in El Salvador, but also 14 hours away at her home in the Philippines.

Veron overcame many obstacles to participate in the walk with “Sir Bob,” as she calls him, and now she adds a steady, soothing presence to the walk.

“Another 40 kilometers done,” she said at the end of the day.

Then there is Harry, a sponsor from Wisconsin. Harry has met Bob on several mission awareness trips. He is fully committed to CFCA and his sponsored children. I pulled out my audio recorder to document a sponsor’s view of the walk, but he was so choked with emotion before I finished my first question that he only managed to say this:

“This is the biggest thing I have ever done in my life, and Bob does this every day.”

Harry and I spoke several times during the walk and the rest stops, trading stretching tips and chatting about light topics. At the end of the walk, however, he smiled at me with tears in his eyes and said he might not be able to do that interview after all. That’s OK, Harry. Your eyes say it all, anyway.

At the 20-kilometer mark, I spoke briefly with Jose Francisco, a quiet man and the father of four sponsored children. “Which children?” I asked. He pointed at the two children I had just taken a picture of. They were giggling over my notepad, writing their names for me. I told Jose Francisco that I would like a picture of him with his family, meaning the two children. He sadly told me that only four of his 8 children were there. So I took a picture of him with his four children, and his wife and mother-in-law, who were also there, as it turns out. I took several photos of them but the one I like the best is the one in which I caught them laughing with each other. It isn’t perfect – the grandmother’s eyes are closed and Dina isn’t looking at the camera, but you can see the love they have for each other.

The final 10 kilometers of the walk were along a busy, noisy highway. We walked single-file, which gave us time for some internal reflection. I thought about all those I had spoken with through the day, and decided that Bob was right.

Walk2gether really is about the people.

If you’ve read the most recent Sacred Ground (our bi-annual magazine for all friends of CFCA), or looked around the Walk2gether website, you’ve heard about Sticker Sundays. But, just in case you haven’t, let’s re-cap:

On the second Sunday of each month, we encourage our sponsors to wear their Walk2gether sticker, found in the Fall 2009 edition of Sacred Ground. When people ask what the sticker represents, tell them about your sponsored friend and how you are “walking” with your friend through your sponsorship.

This is a great way that we can support the Walk2gether team, and find sponsors for the 789 children, youth and elderly waiting for sponsorship in El Salvador (where Bob is walking this week).

So, this Sunday, put on your sticker and watch for other CFCA supporters wherever you go. You may be able to make a new CFCA friend, and find a sponsor for a waiting child, all at the same time!

Your friends can sponsor through CFCA on our website, or by calling Sponsor Services at (800) 875-6564.

If you would like Walk2gether stickers, please call Sponsor Services at (800) 875-6564.

Upcoming Sticker Sundays
March 13, 2010
April 10, 2010

This is Dec. 31. The first 10k before dawn. Beautiful morning. Full moon. And the interesting thing is that the volcano called Pacaya is in eruption and we’re walking straight towards it. Our reflection: Even the Earth is changing. Even the Earth’s a pilgrim.

Henry Flores [CFCA-El Salvador communications director] is kind enough to bring this recorder and my Flip camera out on the road together with Judy-Anne [CFCA-Kansas communications staff] and Loretta [CFCA-Kansas communications director]. They are filming as we actually go down the road. Everybody’s doing OK. Suresh [Hyderabad, India, project coordinator] has been fighting a fever and is taking a little break in one of the vehicles.

It is amazing to look at this line of volcanoes from Fuego, Agua, Acatenango, Pacaya: the ring of fire. It is just amazing.

Our little poet from last night [Miguel] is now walking with me. And when we reach the first stop he is going to be declaiming another poem that he calls, “The Challenge.” I asked the father a little about the family. There are two other children. It’s an uncle and the dad who teach this little boy these poems and acting.

Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010

We’re within 4.5 kilometers from the El Salvador border, as of yesterday evening. We will spend today and tomorrow with the community in Jalpatagua, Guatemala. Today was an all-region finalist talent event, and tomorrow a livelihood program showcase.

The walk is going well. A few bumps, but going well. Cristina (Bob’s wife) had three toenails removed, and the camper has a new clutch plate (we have lightened the load considerably)… Everyone’s spirits are very high.

We have had some very hot days and lots of climbs. Some of the walk days stretch from 3:30 a.m., when we board the vans, to 7 p.m., when we reach the 40 kilometer mark after dark. The third 10 kilometers of the day is the most difficult – “the wall,” and sometimes takes twice as long to get through. The enthusiasm is incredible along the road.

In Chiquimulilla we estimate there were 4,000-5,000 CFCA kids, moms, dads and staff on arrival. Yesterday, we had several hundred walkers. The moms, some dads, and children as young as 3, students and elderly are walking significant distances. They seem to understand the difficulty of the walk and its significance.

There are many, many individual stories we’re trying to absorb as we go. One story is that of Stephanie, who is sight impaired, walking 10 kilometers. At one point we were lagging behind the group quite a bit – probably 150 yards, so we decided we should run. I was amazed by her. Many stories like this.

We’ll sign off for tonight and get back on tomorrow. Hope everyone survives the storm up there. We’re having high winds.

Take care all. Greetings from many folks along the road. – Paul

At the end of a hot and dusty day, having reached the 40 km marker, CFCA President and Co-founder Bob Hentzen reflects on the heat, cooling techniques, and inspirational discussions along the route.

Artistic talent runs in Miguel´s family. Many of his relatives are painters, poets and songwriters. His Uncle Fernando, who wrote the poem Miguel recited for the walkers, has been a constant inspiration. Miguel has participated in poetry reading contests and has excelled and won prizes with the help of his Uncle Fernando.

Miguel is named after his father, a 30-year-old construction worker. His mother is Rosa, 27, who works weaving and making traditional Mayan blouses known locally as huipiles (wee-peels). Miguel has two brothers: Kevin, 7, and Luis Fernando, 5.

Interval workouts? Altitude training? Squats, lunges and sprints?





None of the above for CFCA President Bob Hentzen, who plans to walk 20-25 miles a day for 16 months.

Consistency and perseverance are more important than sudden high-intensity, high-repetition workouts.

“My style and training is to calmly and tranquilly be prepared,” Hentzen said. “It’s kind of like in school. You can’t just cram for a test. You’ve got to be studying all along.”





For years, Hentzen has risen early every day to jog or walk, do Tai Chi and stretch. His weight training consists of exercising with the same weight he will carry on the road – about 10 to 15 pounds.





Hentzen is familiar with the physical demands he will face. He walked 4,000 miles from Kansas City to Guatemala in 1996. That was 13 years ago, when he was 60. Though this walk is twice the distance, Hentzen isn’t daunted.





“I feel very good, very energized by the solidarity of the staff and CFCA families,” he said.


About two years ago, Bob Hentzen, CFCA president and co-founder, announced his desire to walk from Guatemala to Chile. Dreams, plans, logistics, organization, hope and physical training started to be in the minds, souls and bodies of thousands of staff members and families around the world.

Time has gone fast and, yesterday, we began Walk2gether, a pilgrimage of 8,000 miles through 12 countries in Central and South America. At 2:30 a.m., hundreds of people were walking around the halls of the CFCA center in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, excited for the pilgrimage to start.

Waking up to the sound of the marimba, traditional music of Guatemala, was fantastic, the vibes of the music touched my heart. As Bob took his first step into the walk, fireworks, firecrackers, flowers, smiles and tears were merging all together into a sense of deep spirituality as sponsors, staff members and CFCA families were connecting to the road, connecting to Mother Nature.

What an inspirational message it was for me to see how the families were coming out of their homes or gathering along the highway to greet Bob and the pilgrims, some other ones were walking for miles and miles with us, and when I was looking at the road ahead of us, I only thought of how much more we need to do, of how many more people we need to reach out to.

The first 25 miles of the walk are finished. There are 7,975 more to go, lots of challenges to be faced on the road, thousands of families to meet, and the promise of the Hope for a Family sponsorship program is carrying us and calling all of us involved in CFCA to continue our mission to help create a path to out of poverty and self-sufficiency for our sponsored families, with dignity and love.

Approximately 60 employees met in the community room at 9 a.m. to hear a report about the launch of Walk2gether, pray for the safety of the walkers and then make a short walk of solidarity.

Because a pre-Christmas blizzard left high snow drifts and dangerous ice on sidewalks, the walk was held inside instead of outdoors as originally planned. The Kansas City walkers followed a mile-long route marked by yellow boot prints inside the warehouse that is part of the CFCA headquarters.

The walk in Kansas City occurred at about the time the Guatemala walkers, led by CFCA President Bob Hentzen, were scheduled to make their first stop for breakfast. They began at about 4 a.m. and were due to walk 24 miles on the first day of the journey.

Other CFCA projects and employees held their own symbolic events for the Walk2gether kick-off.

At the Monrovia project in Liberia, staff and sponsored members spent the day volunteering at community hospitals.

In Ecuador, the Guayaquil project hosted solidarity walks 10 kilometers in length in areas where they have sponsored members.

The Bluefields subprojects in the northeast corner of Nicaragua will have a night vigil, where families, sponsored members and staff will join together in prayer. Throughout the duration of the walk, they will hold morning prayers and ask God to give both physical and spiritual strength to the walkers and to all of the families who will accompany them on this journey.

One employee, Jerry Gladbach of the Child Services department in Kansas City, made his own show of support for Walk2gether. He strapped cleats onto winter boots and walked 1-1/2 miles to work over snow and ice.

“I’m trying to be in solidarity with the walkers,” Gladbach said.

During the community meeting in Kansas City, CEO Paco Wertin led a prayer of blessing for the walk and its participants.

“Bob’s walk of unity unites all cultures, genders and creeds,” Wertin said. “It’s a way that helps us hear the cry of those living in poverty. He is carrying a message that you are not alone. Because they walk, we walk.”

Visit Walk2gether.org to learn more about why Bob is walking.

You can also send messages of support and encouragement that Bob will share with the families of sponsored members and the CFCA staff in the communities he visits.

On Dec. 29, CFCA President Bob Hentzen will embark on Walk2gether, an 8,000-mile, 16-month journey through 12 countries in Latin America.

Excitement and anticipation are building as families and CFCA staff in Guatemala prepare to bid Bob and his fellow travelers “Buen Viaje.” More than 65 sponsors participating in the mission awareness trip will also be on hand for the launch.

Meanwhile, CFCA staff in Kansas gave Bob an official send-off when he visited the headquarters in late November. Read more here.

Check out the new Walk2gether website, where you can follow Bob on an interactive map, and explore links to his electronic journals and to videos, slideshows and stories about the realities, people and activities in the countries he visits. You can also send messages of support and encouragement that Bob will share with the families of sponsored members and the CFCA staff in the communities he visits.

Walk2gether is a way to help counterbalance the isolation of people living in poverty, and show them that someone cares. The walk will help build community and strengthen the bonds of unity between CFCA’s sponsored members, sponsors and staff. It will also symbolize and promote the unity of countries, races, languages, genders and creeds. Visit Walk2gether.org to learn more.

Read more about the the solidarity walk.

Bob receives the wooden walking stick he used on the 4,000-mile walk in 1996 from Kansas City to Guatemala. The walking stick has been on display in the CFCA headquarters.

CFCA staff give Bob a blessing of safety and support.

More than 60 CFCA employees accompanied Bob in a walk along Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Mo.

Guatemalan staff members and CFCA families organized the solidarity walk as a way to kick off preparations for Bob’s walk to Chile, which is set to begin Dec. 29, 2009. The route Bob will travel will weave through 12 countries (see below for a list) in Central and South America and is scheduled to conclude in April 2011.

During the solidarity walk, the 12 countries were represented by their national flag along the three-mile trek.

We hope you’ll enjoy this video clip of the solidarity walk.

Bob will be walking through Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Chile, although not necessarily in that order. The official route is still being finalized.

The purpose of the walk is to facilitate the building of community and strengthening of the bonds of solidarity among our CFCA families, sponsors and co-workers. Bob will use this walk to thank the families for the inspiring example of their daily walk, and tell them that we love them. He hopes to help counterbalance some of the isolation of poverty and offer the poor a sense of identity with the CFCA community.

“On my journeys, I find that CFCA truly walks with the poor and enables many people of good will to do the same,” Bob said.

In 1996, Bob walked more than 4,000 miles from Kansas City, Kan., to Guatemala. His upcoming walk will continue that trek.