Have you ever wondered what life was like for a child growing up in a developing country? Or what effect mission work in those countries have on their lives?

Gardendale Mt. Vernon Methodist Church will host The Compassion Experience this week, Jan. 8-11, giving locals a chance to see and experience the homes and lives of actual children before and after missionaries got involved.

The tour is free and self-guided, allowing each person a chance to explore at their own pace while learning about the horrors of life in these countries, the changes made by missions and where these children are now.

At the end of the tour, participants have the opportunity to sponsor a child. At a recent show in Cullman, approximately 300 children found sponsors, according to Jim Jeffries, who heads up the church’s missions.

The program is free and open to anyone in the community. Reservations are recommended, especially for groups, but not required.

The hours for the Compassion Experience are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, 8:40 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday and 11 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. on Monday. Reservations can be made at www.cts.compassion.com/events/.

Anyone interested in volunteering can also register at that site to assist with hosting the event.