Have you ever blown out candles on a birthday cake? Splashed in waves at the beach? Bitten into a juicy burger? Those things might feel normal to you. But for some kids, poverty makes them feel like the stuff of dreams!
In Brazil, we asked kids at a Compassion center one big question: “What’s your dream?” Their answers? A trip to the ocean. A party with balloons and a cake. A chance to taste a hamburger for the first time. And guess what? The center made their dreams come true!
Read on to see why these dream days meant more than burgers and beach waves. They showed kids that they’re loved, that their dreams matter and that with God’s help, anything is possible. When kids have hope, everything can change!
Dream: To See the Ocean
Ryany and Kissia are besties who live just two hours from the ocean. But for them, those two hours might as well have been 2,000. A beach day felt impossible. Their families had never had the money or transportation to take them. “I had only seen the sea on TV,” says Ryany. “My friends said it was ‘infinite’ but I never understood what that meant.” The night before their Compassion center took them on the big trip, Kissia and Ryany were so excited they couldn’t sleep. They kept picturing what the ocean would look like. But when the sea finally stretched out in front of them the next day, it was even more beautiful than they had imagined. It was truly infinite — that means never-ending! “I thought it was the size of a huge pond,” Ryany says, laughing. “I knew it was big, but it’s much bigger than I thought.” Sitting in front of the endless waves, the girls felt something growing inside of them: hope.
If they could see the sea, maybe their other dreams could come true too.
“My biggest dream is to be a doctor,” says Ryany. “And I believe that someday, all my dreams will come true.”
“I also have a lot of dreams,” adds Kissia. “One is to ride an escalator! And I want to be a teacher. Our teacher at the Compassion center tells us to dream big because one day, it might happen. Just like today — I saw the sea!”
Dream: Eat Chocolate Cake
Leticia had only tasted chocolate cake once in her life. But she never forgot it. Ever since, she dreamed of having it again. But her family doesn’t have money for treats like cake. Every bit they earn must go to buying groceries.
So when her Compassion center surprised her with a whole cake of her own, it meant so much. She even cried happy tears! “It’s delicious! Better than the first time,” she says. “I am very, very excited. I’m grateful!”
Leticia’s ultimate dream is to become an engineer. But for one sweet moment, a piece of cake was a dream come true.
Dream: Try a Burger
Kellyn, Antonia and Djalma had one simple wish: to try a hamburger for the first time!
“I know a burger is not very expensive,” says Antonia, “but my family didn’t have the money to buy one.”
Their Compassion center made it happen, and the teenagers couldn’t wait to take a bite!
“It’s as good as I thought,” says Kellyn with a big smile.
But this dream was about more than just a tasty treat. For Djalma, it meant something really big.
“It may seem like a small dream to others,” he says, “but if we can dream, we can make it come true. One day, I want to be the president of Brazil. We start with small dreams and always fight for a bigger and bigger dream.”
Dream: Taste a Strawberry
In Grazielle’s town, strawberries are hard to find. A small tray costs $2.50 — which may not sound like much, but it’s enough for her family to buy rice and beans for a whole week! That’s why Grazielle had never tasted a strawberry before. So when she finally got to try one, she was super excited.
“Strawberry is a bit sour, but I liked it a lot!” she says with a big smile.
In her community, dreaming big is rare. Many adults have stopped dreaming, and kids aren’t often encouraged to hope for more. But Grazielle has a dream that’s bigger than any fruit. “My biggest dream of all is to be a judge,” she says. “I know it’s a pretty tough road to become one, but it’s my dream!”
Dream: Have a Birthday Party
Carla had never had a birthday party before. “Usually, my family says ‘happy birthday’ when I wake up,” she says. “When I saw other kids having parties, I felt a little sad.”
Carla’s mom, Maria, felt sad too. “My daughter came home sad because I could never give her a cake,” says Maria. “It hurt my heart. I never had one either.”
She wanted to do something special for Carla’s 15th birthday but didn’t have the money. So she asked the Compassion center for help. One day, the center called Carla in. When they took off her blindfold — SURPRISE!
“My cake was so beautiful!” says Carla. “My friends were there with me too. I was so happy!”
In Brazil, it’s tradition to give the first slice of birthday cake to the person who is the most special to you. Carla knew exactly who that was. “My first piece of cake was to my mother,” she says. “I know all I have is thanks to her.”
Poverty can make even the tiniest dream (like a slice of cake or a strawberry) feel so far away. But when someone believes in you, everything changes. With the help of their local Compassion centers and caring sponsors, these kids got to see their dreams come true and were reminded that they can keep dreaming even bigger.
And guess what? You can too!
Your Turn! What’s Your Dream?
Draw or write about one of your dreams. Then write a prayer to ask God to help you dream big and trust him every step of the way!
