Works of Heart

Making art can be a fun, healthy way to express feelings. See how a 12-year-old living in a poor area of Mexico uses his talents to create beauty amid the ugliness of poverty.

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Sad Beginnings

Hector, in blue, and his brother eat a meal at home with their grandma and aunt. When Hector was little, his dad left their family. His mom struggled to raise him and his brother, so they went to live with their grandma and aunt in a happier home. But at school, Hector was bullied by kids who said he seemed different.

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A Safe Place

Thankfully, Hector had a place where he didn’t have to worry about bullies — his Compassion center. Since his family doesn’t make enough money to meet his needs, he was registered in Compassion’s program to receive health checkups, food, clean water (stored in the black tanks on the roof in the photo), Bible lessons and tutoring. He also began talking about his feelings with a psychologist at the center.

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Tools for Talent

With the art supplies and help of teachers at his church-run Compassion center, Hector has built his God-given talents. He is inspired when he sees colors all around him and enjoys using vibrant colors in his own artwork.

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Artistic Award

Standing in front of his family’s concrete home, Hector holds a painting he created at his Compassion center. Last year, Hector traveled from his city of Veracruz to the National Palace in Mexico City to accept an award he won for one of his paintings, which is hanging in a government building!

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Power of Beauty

Although he felt a lot of sadness when he was younger, Hector knows he has the support of Jesus, his family, adults at his Compassion center and his sponsor, Henry, to help him. Now colors fill his life with beauty and joy. “I sometimes feel that what is beautiful must be even more powerful than sadness,” he says.

Sad Beginnings

Hector, in blue, and his brother eat a meal at home with their grandma and aunt. When Hector was little, his dad left their family. His mom struggled to raise him and his brother, so they went to live with their grandma and aunt in a happier home. But at school, Hector was bullied by kids who said he seemed different.

A Safe Place

Thankfully, Hector had a place where he didn’t have to worry about bullies — his Compassion center. Since his family doesn’t make enough money to meet his needs, he was registered in Compassion’s program to receive health checkups, food, clean water (stored in the black tanks on the roof in the photo), Bible lessons and tutoring. He also began talking about his feelings with a psychologist at the center.

Tools for Talent

With the art supplies and help of teachers at his church-run Compassion center, Hector has built his God-given talents. He is inspired when he sees colors all around him and enjoys using vibrant colors in his own artwork.

Artistic Award

Standing in front of his family’s concrete home, Hector holds a painting he created at his Compassion center. Last year, Hector traveled from his city of Veracruz to the National Palace in Mexico City to accept an award he won for one of his paintings, which is hanging in a government building!

Power of Beauty

Although he felt a lot of sadness when he was younger, Hector knows he has the support of Jesus, his family, adults at his Compassion center and his sponsor, Henry, to help him. Now colors fill his life with beauty and joy. “I sometimes feel that what is beautiful must be even more powerful than sadness,” he says.