The Story Behind the Gift

This month we were asked to write about the story behind a gift.  This can be a precious Christmas or birthday gift, or a gift that can change someones lives such as the ones offered in the Compassion International gift catalog.

Click here to see the Compassion gift catalog.

There are many awesome gifts offered in this catalog that to many would be great to receive (and to us wouldn't seem like the typical gifts), such as clean water, medical treatments, emergency food or shelter, etc.

Today I'll talk about the gifts mentioned under the "Children at Risk" heading.  For $25, you can provide food and water following a disaster.  This is important since just recently, there was another typhoon in the Philippines and those kids at the centers affected will probably need this extra food/water while they are in the process of clean-up, while their parents are without work, etc.  It can mean the difference between going hungry and being cared for and knowing they are loved.

You can also purchase "Emergency Shelter" for $50.  I saw this first-hand while in the Philippines a few weeks ago.  There was an area that was affected by a fire, and there were families living in tent cities.  To us it is not glamorous, but to them, it was at least a roof over their head and a little bit of privacy compared to being forced to live on the streets.  These people who have so little can be devastated when something happens beyond their control (fire, storms, floods, etc.).  Providing these kids with shelter for only $50 sounds like a great deal!

There are many more wonderful gifts you can offer to kids around the world this year.  Offer them hope for a better future, by helping them stay healthy, fed, sheltered, and protected. 

God bless you all this holiday season.

What does it mean to be a child of God?

This month our blogging assignment is to write about what it means to be a child of God.  I think having a relationship where you turn to God, just like you would a parent is a huge part of it.  I talk to God (in my head) like I'm having a normal conversation with a friend or parent.  I turn to him with my problems, and no that no matter what, he'll be there for me like a parent is. 

We were given this verse as one of the examples of being a child of God:

Jesus said,

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:15)

  
I think having the mindset of a child is key here, by believing in God through faith like a child.

I also believe that caring for God's children should be a priority to us.  Not only by raising up our own children in the faith, but in spreading the faith to other kids around the world.  Compassion International is one example of this that through the word of Jesus, these kids are given a future (in heaven), as well as getting their physical needs met by providing them with an education and job skills, food, clothing, medical needs, bible training, etc. 

To me, I see Jesus through these kids.  Their innocence and faith is astounding.  They have gone through so much and have so little (financially), yet they are constantly in prayer and thankful for what they do have.  These kids are a great example of what it means to be a child of God.

This past week we received a few letters from our Compassion kids where they mention that they will not go to bed before praying for us (and we do the same for them too).  It is just amazing the love they have for us, as well as for their father in heaven.

I encourage you to sponsor a child today (or write to yours if you already to).....it is so worth it!

15 kids I'm advocating for still need sponsors!

I still have 15 child packets of kids needing sponsors with Compassion International from Uganda, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Peru, Philippines, and Kenya (both boys and girls of many ages...but mostly pretty young).

Below are links to pictures/brief info on a few of them (one from each of the countries I listed), but let me know if a specific child stands out to you and I can get you even more info on them (more about their family, etc.). I only have these kids for about one more week before their packets go back into circulation so I'm hoping to find at least one of these kids a sponsor. If you want to sponsor one of these (or want me to get you links to the other 8 packets I have), let me know (either comment on here or send me an email to ca85@yahoo.com) and I'll help get you signed up. Thanks for considering it.  






If the links don't open automatically, please just copy and paste. 

https://www.compassion.com/cart/NeedBioPopUp.aspx?needKey=KE7720267&CartItemGroup=ChildSelected&tcmid

https://www.compassion.com/cart/NeedBioPopUp.aspx?needKey=GU9510422&CartItemGroup=ChildSelected&tcmid

https://www.compassion.com/cart/NeedBioPopUp.aspx?needKey=UG7310134&CartItemGroup=ChildSelected&tcmid

https://www.compassion.com/cart/NeedBioPopUp.aspx?needKey=HA8670191&CartItemGroup=ChildSelected&tcmid

https://www.compassion.com/cart/NeedBioPopUp.aspx?needKey=PE5250266&CartItemGroup=ChildSelected&tcmid

https://www.compassion.com/cart/NeedBioPopUp.aspx?needKey=PH8930277&CartItemGroup=ChildSelected&tcmid

https://www.compassion.com/cart/NeedBioPopUp.aspx?needKey=IN9890126&CartItemGroup=ChildSelected&tcmid

Back to school time.....and for some with Compassion, school for the first time!

All around the US kids are getting ready to go back to school.  School that is free and open to all kids (other than some school supplies and lunch of course).

In other parts of the world, kids aren't so lucky.  Education is not always free and poor families are not able to send their kids to school if they can't afford tuition, books, uniforms, etc.  Or they may only be able to send one child in the family to school, leaving the others at a disadvantage.

Compassion can help!  When you sponsor a child with Compassion, they are ensured an education, since this is a huge key in breaking the cycle of poverty for these children and their future generations.  Education is valued so much to these kids and they love going to school.

Consider sponsoring a child today for $38 a month with Compassion International to allow them to go to school, get proper nutrition and hygiene training, skills training, bible studies, medical check-ups, and so much more!  You can write to your sponsored child, encourage them to study hard, and let them know how much they are loved.  They will also write back so you will be able to build a relationship with them over the years (don't worry, letters are translated).  This would even be a great thing to do as a family with your kids.  Your kids can become the pen pals to your sponsored child, teaching your kids letter writing skills as well as about other parts of the world.  What a perfect lesson for this back to school time of year.

Please consider sponsoring a child today.  I have several child packets of kids in need of sponsors that I can tell you more about.  Otherwise, Click here to search for a child to sponsor.  It will be the best decision you ever make! 


To give you more to think about, here are some facts on education around the world:

• 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

What Inspired Me?

This months Compassion blogger assignment was to write about what inspired us to sponsor a child with Compassion in the very beginning.


For me it wasn't one specific thing.  I'd always thought about eventually sponsoring a child, but I wasn't sure on what organizations were out there, what was involved (time/money/writing, etc.).  I didn't research it either though, so at the time it was just a thought that it might be a good thing to do "someday".  I don't know what I was waiting for really. 

In January 2012 we went to a Christian music concert (there were like 6 different bands).  Compassion had a booth and the different artists talked about what child sponsorship was, how they had met their kids, etc.  Tenth Avenue North was one of the groups who talked about it along with Mercy Me.  During a break between artists they did a "packet pass" where you raise your hand if you are interested in sponsoring and volunteers walk around with packets of kids needing sponsors (I have since helped out at many of these events and done this exact same thing for others). 

We decided that we had the funds and we should sponsor a child.  We raised our hand and were handed 5 year old Said from Peru.  He looked so cute.  You can either sponsor the child you were handed or go to the table at the booth and look through the pile of other kids.  We decided to keep Said since we felt that God had them hand him to us for a reason.  Plus, how can you really pick one child over another.....its so hard deciding!  They all need the help so we filled out the form, handed it in, and haven't looked back. 

Said has been a great letter writer and artist.  Now that he's 7 he is finally writing his own letters (before it was his tutors) so it is neat seeing his handwriting improve.  Right after we signed up to sponsor Said I did a ton of research on Compassion.  I learned about how the money helps the kids in various ways, how to build a relationship with them through letters, etc. I found great blogs and Facebook groups to join and learned that I could be a correspondence sponsor as well (where someone else sponsors them financially but they don't want to write to them for whatever reason, so the correspondence sponsor does that instead......and the kid thinks you are their new sponsor).

In February 2012 I signed up to be a correspondence sponsor to Selemani from Tanzania and Priyanga from India.  I was doing great for about a year with those three, and then decided to get a few more correspondence kids.  In February 2013 I decided we could financially sponsor more than one so for my birthday I decided to sponsor someone.  A fellow advocate was posting about Sonia, who was 5 (almost 6) from Rwanda whom Laurent could go visit and take pictures for us when he let her know who her new sponsor was.  To me that was an awesome opportunity so that helped me decide to sponsor her. 

After Sonia, I got a few more correspondence kids and then cut myself off, since I wanted to make sure I had enough time to write to them all every month.  I said to stop at 8, but then they accidentally added 2 more to my account (which I can't say no to since I'm sure God had a reason for it), so after that I had them for sure take me off the list so that I could keep up.  They were my perfect 10.

Then God really tested us.

As I just mentioned I added Sonia in February 2013, bringing our financial sponsorship to 2 (with 8 correspondence kids whom we also sent birthday money to and letters and such).  In April 2013 we took a missions trip to Costa Rica.  We came back to a voicemail from Compassion stating that Flor's financial sponsor had dropped her sponsorship.  We needed to decide if we wanted to pick up her financial sponsorship or let her go out into the system to be sponsored by someone else.  We hadn't received a single letter from her yet since she was only added a few months before (but I had already sent her like 10 letters telling how much we loved her and such).  Now as I said before, I can't say no to any of them, especially once I've told them we care for them.  After talking to Adam we decided we'd take on her sponsorship too.  Now we were at 3 sponsorships and 7 correspondence kids.

Then a month later we were tested again, when we received that dreaded phone call.  Priyanga's financial sponsor dropped her.  She was our first correspondence girl and she wrote wonderful letters to us (in English even), calling us auntie and uncle.  How could I ever drop her either?  After having them delay the start of the financial charges by one month, we picked up Priyanga.  She was told her sponsor dropped her so she wrote a new "first letter" to us again.  It took a little while for her to realize it was still us!  But now we are back to our great relationship. 

After that I was scared that it would keep happening to our correspondence kids.  We can afford 4 right now (since we don't have any actual kids) but I don't want to get into a position where I'd have to give any up if our finances change so that part worries me with correspondence kids.  I just pray and know God will provide...either for us to keep them, or to allow my heart to let them go if that ever does happen. 

We've been fortunate enough to get to go to Peru and meet our 3 kids there (2 sponsored, 1 correspondence).  We are so happy that we were able to keep Flor since I can't imagine not getting to know that sweet girl.

Back in March 2014 our oldest (and first correspondence boy), Selemani decided to move out of his Compassion project area (so he could no longer be part of the program).  He was almost 21 and had finished high school so it was still a great success.  He was moving to find a better job for himself so that is always a good reason!  It was still a sad day.  I decided to replace him with another correspondence child as they were posting that there was a great need for correspondence sponsors at that time.  I received Diane from Rwanda who is 18 and sponsored by a business (so I can be safe that she won't get dropped, thankfully!).  I was back to my round number of 10.  Then there were still kids who needed correspondence sponsors and I took a leap of faith and got 2 more (one of whom is also sponsored by a business so that should be safer too).  I've kept my requests to the same countries:  Tanzania, Philippines, Rwanda, Peru, and India so that I have multiple kids per country (Tanzania is down to 1 kid now though after Selemani left the program).  That way if we are ever able to visit, we can see more than one kid at a time.

I am content with my dozen :) 

That is my long version of why I started with Compassion, how I've grown in numbers, and grown in faith by picking up additional sponsorships, etc.  I've became an advocate, helped spread the word about Compassion, and helped at events.  I just love this organization and all the blessings it has brought me. Thanks for reading my story.

If you feel ready to sponsor your first child, please Click here to see kids waiting for a sponsor  It will bring you to the Compassion website where you can search for a child to add to your family and heart :)  Thanks.