Paper Airplane Prayers: See What 5 Kids Wrote to God

It’s Saturday in a cold, mountainous community of southern Ecuador — and for many children in the area, that means one thing: It’s Compassion day. Separately and together, they make their way to the center. Some arrive on foot, while others travel on the community bus or by motorcycle.

Many families in this area earn a living through agriculture. With adults spending up to 14 hours a day working in the fields, children are often left alone. But Saturdays are different. The center is a bustling place of love and hope, where children feel heard, seen and known. This particular day is even more special as the children continue a monthly tradition they’ve come to know and love.

Once gathered at the center, the boys and girls know what to do. Tables are covered with pieces of paper, pens and markers. They’ve been learning about the importance of prayer and encouraged to grow their faith in Jesus. Today will be an outward sign of that faith.

First, each child carefully writes a prayer request on a piece of paper, then decorates and folds the paper into the shape of an airplane. Together, the children follow their tutor to the top of a nearby mountain, where they pray together and launch their paper airplanes into the sky as a symbol of lifting their prayers up to the Lord.

After the paper planes are released, the children make their way back to the center. Before going home, they’re each given a piece of paper with a Bible verse to recite during the week — on their way to school, before doing their homework or before meals — such as “Know that I am with you every day” (Matthew 28:20, NIV). These words and the memory of their prayers flying through the sky toward their heavenly Father fill their hearts with hope and give them strength in the promises of God’s Word.