A sponsor finds solace from grief through bonding with his sponsored friend

Childhood sweethearts Jimmy Arreaga and his wife Yvonne had what many would call a love of the ages.

The two initially met when they were students in elementary school. Fate brought them together once again when their paths crossed later in life and they began dating as adults.

A man of great faith and compassion, Jimmy had a dream of adopting children from a very young age. His parents reminded him that his dream to adopt would depend on his future spouse sharing the same dream. That dream found a foundation in reality when Jimmy married Yvonne. She was unable to have children and held the same dream of adopting a child.

As Jimmy and Yvonne built a life together, they found a way to make their joint dream of adoption a reality. They adopted two children — a boy and a girl — now in their 40s.

The children were welcomed into a love-filled home and like all parents, Jimmy and Yvonne found raising children to be both rewarding and challenging.

As their children grew up and started their own lives, Jimmy and Yvonne looked for other ways to share their love and make a positive impact in another’s life.

This became another answered prayer when the couple discovered sponsorship with Unbound 12 years ago through their parish.

Here they learned about how personal relationships are at the heart of Unbound and its international mission to provide personalized support to children, elders and families living in poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America. They learned how sponsorship connects individuals across geographic, economic and social barriers and encourages learning about others through listening and mutual respect.

This introduction offered Jimmy and Yvonne an opportunity to share their hearts through sponsorship of a young boy from Guatemala named Lisandro.

“Opening our hearts and home to our children was a love-filled experience,” Jimmy said. “When we learned about Unbound, we knew instantly we wanted to sponsor a child in need.”

Bonds formed through writing letters

Sponsorship offered Jimmy and Yvonne a platform to create a connection built on trust and learning through the simple act of sharing through letters and photos. They loved corresponding with Lisandro and as their personal relationship developed, they also got to know his family, including Lisandro’s younger sister María Alexandra.

After Lisandro graduated from the Unbound program, Jimmy and Yvonne wanted to stay in touch with the family, so they began sponsoring María Alexandra who was 6 years old at the time.

Because of their regular correspondence, Jimmy and Yvonne stayed well informed of the family’s needs and their efforts to build a path out of poverty.

With the Arreagas' support, the family purchased a goat and a cow, which would be a source of reliable nutrition for the family. When the animals needed shelter, Jimmy and Yvonne responded with characteristic generosity, helping the family with funds to build a shelter.

Each contribution helped the family move closer to a long-held dream of sustainability and self-reliance.

Now more than 10 years later, that partnership continues to provide kindness and caring, and María Alexandra, now 17, is continuing the flow of correspondence with letters that share messages of hope, resilience and possibility.

Finding 'family' beyond borders

A short time ago, María Alexandra’s family found themselves sharing an unexpected loss with Jimmy when he disclosed the passing of his beloved wife Yvonne. For Jimmy, this act of sharing was an important reminder that love, in its many forms, knows no bounds.

One of his letters also included the news that he was selling the home where he lived with Yvonne in order to relocate to a peaceful spot near the church where Yvonne was laid to rest. The move would enable Jimmy to be a short walking distance from her final resting place.

Adjusting to life without Yvonne has been challenging, but Jimmy continues to find solace in relationships with friends and family, including the 12 years of sponsorship and the resulting friendship.

The bonds of this friendship also enabled Jimmy to take another important step that would bring him into closer proximity to the family in Guatemala he and Yvonne had become so close to over the years.

In February 2025, Jimmy joined Unbound for an Awareness Trip to visit Guatemala and learn firsthand how María Alexandra and her family are using sponsorship to build a path out of poverty.

During his visit to Guatemala, Unbound staff members accompanied Jimmy to meet María Alexandra and her family in person. Upon his arrival, María Alexandra warmly welcomed Jimmy, who found himself overcome with a combination of joy and sadness as María Alexandra gently reminded him, “Yvonne is in your heart — she is with us.”

Throughout his eight-day visit, Jimmy met other families like María Alexandra’s who were building their way out of poverty and creating brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

He and his fellow travelers were welcomed into the homes of these sponsored members where they learned more about each family’s daily challenges, joys and dreams. The trip also included experiential elements such as helping the community harvest coffee or vegetables on local farms and grind corn for tortillas.

Following his return from Guatemala, Jimmy was moved to do even more, and he provided support for the construction of a detached cinderblock bathroom, complete with shower, toilet, sink, water tank, water heater and all necessary electricity hookups.

Through continued sponsorship, Jimmy will continue to watch over María Alexandra and her family, with Yvonne remaining present in memory.

Jimmy already has plans to return to Guatemala in two years to personally congratulate María Alexandra on her graduation from high school.

He looks forward to this as an opportunity to encourage María Alexandra to continue her studies and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.

“I am still adjusting to a life without my love,” Jimmy said. “But I have found renewed purpose and passion in the family Yvonne and I have been supporting and walking alongside for 12 years.”

Jimmy and Yvonne serve as incredible examples of the lasting impact sponsorship can have on everyone involved.

In the future, Jimmy looks forward to sharing his sponsorship experience within his parish with the hope that others will find the joy and fulfillment of creating meaningful relationships and connections through Unbound sponsorship.