Advocacy Kids

I've been good lately and haven't checked out the kids awaiting sponsors (since otherwise I want to sponsor them all myself and I know I can't do that!).

I have a real heart for the older kids.  They are sometimes without a sponsor for various reasons, but I know they are harder to find sponsors for because people gravitate towards the young/cute ones.  These older kids are just as special and really need someone to write to them and encourage them the last few years in the program.

Sponsoring an older child is also great if you know your life circumstances will change in a few years and you don't want to commit for too many years (but you could handle a couple).  You would make such an impact in their lives (and of course they impact you right back!).

A few different older kids jumped out to me today for various reasons so I want to advocate for them.  If you feel like you would like to sponsor any of these kids, just click the link I provide and it should take you to the Compassion website to sign up.  Thanks!



Gatie from Kenya

She just turned 20 a few weeks ago so she only has 2 years left in the program.
Since my name is Katie, her name stuck out to me (different, but similar).  There are 5 kids in her family and she is above average in school.  You could be a great friend to her and encourage her to follow her dreams.  She's so pretty!



Click here to sponsor Gatie



Selemani from Tanzania

His birthday is tomorrow (Jan. 29th) and he will be 20.  He jumped out to me since we used to be correspondence sponsors to a Selemani in Tanzania too so it was kindof fun finding another one on the site.  Our guy left the program at about 21 years old (to find a job in another community) so hopefully this Selemani can finish the program.  It says he is in vocational training right now so he's probably already finished high school.



Click here to sponsor Selemani


Sintayehu from Ethiopia

He is 20 (will be 21 in November).  He is only in middle school at this time so your help would be great to help him continue on in school.  He lives with his mother, who is at home so I'm sure they could really use the help!  He was the oldest child available for sponsorship on the Compassion site at this time so I was hoping to advocate for him to help finish his time off with a great sponsor!



Click here to sponsor Sintayehu


There are over 1000 kids over the age of 14 still needing sponsors.  If you would like to sponsor one of these older kids, I would love to help get you signed up, give you pointers, or just share in the joy of sponsorship.  These older teens write great letters and some even draw great pictures for you (our Yessica is an amazing artist and she's almost 15).  We sponsor/write to kids from age 3 to age 18 so we have some of all ages. 

Let me know if you have any questions at all.


Or to sponsor a different child, click here:

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