• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Display Search Bar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS

5 Minutes for Mom

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Snack
      • Lunch
      • Appetizer
      • Dinner
      • Dessert
    • Ingredient
      • Apple
      • Beef
      • Blueberry
      • Chicken
      • Chocolate
      • Cranberry
      • Peach
      • Pumpkin
      • Squash
      • Strawberry
      • Tomato
      • Vegetables
      • Zucchini
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Baking
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • No Bake
      • One Dish
      • Slow Cooker
    • Type
      • Breads and Rolls
      • Cakes and Muffins
      • Condiments
      • Cookies and Bars
      • Drinks
      • Food for Kids
      • Gluten-Free
      • Main Dish
      • Pies and Crisps
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Wraps
      • Side Dishes
      • Smoothies
      • Soup
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Crafts
    • DIY
    • Kids Crafts
    • Printables
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing
  • Family Life
    • Giveaways
    • Lifestyle
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Parenting
    • Pet Care
    • Special Needs
    • Time Management
    • Travel
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas

No Le Importa

November 6, 2008 by Jennifer Donovan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail

CompassionIn addition to the heat and humidity that we’ve battled here in the Dominican Republic, on the first day we also encountered mud and puddles. As a woman invited us into her home, we each hesitated, trying to scrape the sticky clay-like mud from our shoes, before we walked into her small, but immaculate home.

“No le importa; no le importa. Venga. Sientse.” (“It’s not important”, she assured us. “Come in, come in. Sit.”)

She was wearing her best shirt, and her one-year-old son had a short-sleeved button-up shirt. When we arrived it was open, but as he sat on the implementer’s lap, his mom fussed with him, trying to button in that sweet baby belly. “No! Hace calor,” the implementer told her, as she waved her hand away. It was too hot to be buttoned up.

She was willing to sacrifice his comfort for him to look nice for the visitors. She was willing to sacrifice her floor to welcome us — muddy shoes and all. With the muddy paths throughout the neighborhood, I know that she had worked hard to get that floor clean, because I saw no trace of dirt anywhere. After we left, she would probably be on her hands and knees for hours removing the mud from the extra 6 pairs of shoes that crowded into her small home.

But to her — No le importa. It wasn’t important. What was important is that she offered us what she had. The people whom I have met here have modeled hospitality. They have little, but they love much.

People have sent me emails and left comments saying that I am doing an amazing thing. They’ve said that they are proud of me. It did take some sacrifice for me to come, but because of the support of my family and my conviction that this was what God wanted me to do, the choice was easy. Other than that, it’s not so amazing. The sacrifice — no le importa.

I will forever be changed, and I will forever understand that changing one child’s life makes a difference. The real hope is that because of my journey, others will come to understand that too.

If you’ve been moved by the work of Compassion this week, will you also show your support by clicking over right now and sponsoring a child for $32? I know that for some of you it’s a sacrifice On what do you spend $7 a week that “no le importa”? Fast food? Coffee? Shoes?

For some of you it will be a sacrifice. And for some of you God may be asking to sacrifice a little more by taking on another child. Take a chance on what is important, and watch your cares about what is not important fade away.

Sitting here beside my computer is a red construction-paper butterfly. A young girl had made them and passed them out to all of us. They say “Bienvenido (a) nuestros corazones. (Welcome to our hearts.). They don’t know anything about us, except that we are sponsors of Compassion children, and that because of people like us, they get additional help with their education, a nice lunch each day, hope in the form of Jesus’ love, and so much more.

They have already welcomed you into their hearts. Will you welcome one of them into your heart and your family?

Visit my Compassion Trip Page to see all of my posts from my journey and go to CompassionBloggers.com to read posts from all the bloggers on this trip.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail
Win A Stepping Sone Play Mat
Chino, My Sponsored Child

About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

Reader Interactions


Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments

  1. Marci C. from MO says

    November 7, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    …I will forever be changed…

    I have followed all of the bloggers on your trip, and one my prayers has been answered in your statement above.

    I sponsor four children in Africa, and visited two of them this past February, along with Jo Ann with Compassion.

    May the Lord continue to bless you, and may you continue to reach out to others for the sake of these Compassion children and the hope of their future.

    Thank you for all that you have shared with us.

    Blessings,
    Marci

    Reply
  2. Lisa writes... says

    November 7, 2008 at 9:49 am

    The pictures are worth a thousand words!

    Reply
  3. Piera says

    November 7, 2008 at 1:16 am

    What a wonderful post!
    You’ve been tagged!
    Jolly Mom

    Reply
  4. Kelly says

    November 6, 2008 at 11:28 pm

    So much of what we do everyday is no le importa. But touching the life of a child, especially the chance to change the future for a child mired in poverty? Muey importa.

    Reply
  5. Erica says

    November 6, 2008 at 10:31 pm

    What a beautiful post, Jennifer. I am SOOOOO glad that you were able to go and experience Compassion’s work. Thank you for your posts and photos. I have enjoyed following you on your journey. I wish you a safe trip home.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Bringing Moms Together

We are Janice and Susan, twin bloggers and work-at-home moms. We're here to inspire, encourage & empower you.

Meet Us…

Work With Us…

Subscribe via Email

to be first to read new posts

Trending Now

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Among Us Costumes – How To Make Pretty DIY Among Us Cosplay Outfits

Among Us Costumes – How To Make Pretty DIY Among Us Cosplay Outfits

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Instant Pot Apple Crisp that is Ready in Minutes!

Instant Pot Apple Crisp that is Ready in Minutes!

browse around

  • Posts by Susan
  • Posts by Janice
  • Favorite Recipes
  • Favorite Crafts
  • Giveaways
  • All Posts

Footer

Recipes

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

25 Awesome Rainbow and Green St. Patrick’s Day Treats

25 Awesome Rainbow and Green St. Patrick’s Day Treats

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Crafts/DIY

Easter Egg Painting – How to Paint Easter Eggs with Acrylic Paint

Easter Egg Painting – How to Paint Easter Eggs with Acrylic Paint

DIY Flower Press – How To Press Flowers

DIY Flower Press – How To Press Flowers

Valentine’s Day Crafts For Kids – Super Cute and Easy Valentine Craft Ideas

Valentine’s Day Crafts For Kids – Super Cute and Easy Valentine Craft Ideas

Giveaways

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Mom

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Mom

School Supplies List and Back to School Shopping Guide

School Supplies List and Back to School Shopping Guide

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 5 Minutes for MomTheme by Melissa Rose Design and Once Coupled