Back to School

Here in the USA, kids have started the school year.  Around the world, some kids are not so lucky, as education isn't free in all countries.  Education is something we often take for granted, but children in developing countries long to be able to go to school and learn.

Here are some amazing statistics:

• Worldwide, nearly 80 percent of primary-school-age children attend school. In least developed countries, this figure is around 66 percent.
• The largest out-of-school population is in sub-Saharan Africa, where around 45.5 million children of primary school age are out of school.
• Of the 67 million primary-school-age children who do not attend school, 53 percent are girls.
• Worldwide, only 49 percent of children of secondary school age actually attend secondary school.
• Of the 49 percent of secondary age students who do not attend school, 52 percent are girls.
• The world’s functional illiterates include more than 130 million children who do not attend school, 73 million of them girls.

Sources: www.crin.org, www.unicef.org, www.childinfo.org

If you feel like making a donation to a great cause, click the link below to make a donation to the Compassion International textbook fund.  Thanks!


Click here to donate to the textbook fund.

Serving Those In Need

Today we received a new blog prompt to write about the following topic.  "How did you start serving those in need and what works best?"

This is such a broad topic that I'd like to throw a few random ideas out there of ways to serve those in need in small ways, as well as our main way of helping those in need:   Sponsoring kids with Compassion International!

Some random ways we help those in need are by giving money to our church, to other local/national charities, helping donate food to a food drive, donate items to women's shelters, etc.  We went on a mission trip to Costa Rica a few years ago with church and helped out at an orphanage for a week.  We try to help our neighbors, friends/family, etc. when we can and just be helpful people (since those in need might not always be in poverty....they might just be someone without the same skills as you).  What works best is doing what you financially and physically are able to do at the time.  No one can be expected to give millions or work full time volunteering (although it would be awesome if we had those capabilities!) so any good deed is appreciated by the recipient.  Even kind words of encouragement can go a long way to brighten someone's day (which is free).

Our main way of helping those in need is by sponsoring children with Compassion International.  Over the past 3.5 years, being sponsors has been so rewarding for us.  By sponsoring, we see the good it does in their lives to have a sponsor who cares for them, writes to them, and helps them with their basic needs (through the Compassion project they belong to).  We've also had the opportunity to visit 5 of our 14 kids so far and those are life changing experiences and memories.  Being able to see their homes, the poverty they live in, meet their families and see the joy they have in their lives (despite their poverty), etc. was amazing.  Even being a correspondence sponsor has been a really rewarding thing to bring encouragement and support into the children's lives through the letters we write, stickers we send, and birthday gift money we send too.  

I strongly encourage you to sponsor a child today.  It is $38 a month (for us, its eating out one or two less times a month) and you are helping one child help break the cycle of poverty through sponsorship and encouraging words in the letters you write them (and they write back wonderful letters too!).  Click on the links on this blog to sponsor a child today.  Thanks for reading.

Happy Fathers Day!

I know I'm a day late, but its never too late to celebrate our fathers!  I want to thank my own dad for being such a wonderful guy.  He has always been there for me, he's a silly and fun guy, and a great role model.  My father-in-law is also an awesome dad.

Our heavenly father is also a great dad.  He blesses & loves us each and every day even when we probably don't deserve it.  I want to thank God for always being there for me too :)

I know this is a short post, but sometimes life gets crazy so back to work for me.

Happy belated fathers day everyone.

Anyone want to sponsor Lebron James?

Last week I went to a meeting with other advocates to learn some new ways to tell people about Compassion and the different programs (Bite Back, Water of Life, etc.).  It was a fun meeting but we also got to look through some child packets to take to advocate for.

I was immediately drawn towards little Lebron James.

Isn't he a cutie!  He's from the Philippines, which holds a special place in my heart (since our two correspondence kids are such great writers from the Philippines and we were able to visit them last November and see where they live).

When we were in the Philippines we saw just how much they LOVE basketball so I thought it was cute that this little guys parents may have named him after a basketball player from the USA that they like.

His birthday is the day before Christmas (December 24, 2011).  He's 3.5 years old now.  He lives with both his parents and there are two kids in the family.  He likes art.

If you, or someone you know would like to sponsor little Lebron James (any basketball fans out there?), just let me know.  I have this packet for the next month.  Thanks!

Happy Mother's Day!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all mothers out there for the work they do every day!  I've had one of the best mom's ever growing up and I am lucky that she is still healthy and a big part of my life.  She has shaped me into the woman I am today with strong morals, good budget/saving skills, a kind heart, etc. (not to brag).  Without her good example, I wouldn't be who I am today. 

I was blessed with other positive female role models too such as coaches, grandmothers, aunts, family friends, etc.

While I am not an actual mother myself yet, I do consider myself a "mom" to my 14 Compassion sponsored and correspondence kids.  While in the Philippines, 14 (almost 15) year old Zymvra asked if he could call us mom and dad which was a special moment.  Now every few sentences he calls us mom and dad in the letters he writes to us.  Some of the other kids call us parents too and a few call us auntie & uncle.  I care about each of them as I would my own child. 

I'd like to thank all mothers out there and encourage you to sponsor a child today in honor of your mother :)  Or even just write to your sponsored children and tell them to give a special message of thanks to their mothers.