The Season of Lent: Giving things up to gain more!

Today marks the beginning of the season of Lent, with Ash Wednesday.  During Lent, we give things up (such as pop, candy, or other vices).  We give things up to gain more....as in closeness to God, a better devotion, etc.  We grow stronger in faith through sacrificing small things and concentrating on the real reason for the season.....Jesus!

This Lent, I want you to consider sponsoring a child with Compassion International.  Through giving something up in your daily life (or even just once a month), you will have extra money to sponsor a child.  For $38 a month, you can sponsor a child to help provide an education, medical checkups, food, faith education, and so much more to help break the cycle of poverty.  This works out to about $1.25 a day.

While I am not a coffee drinker at all, I know some people do go to Starbucks or Caribou Coffee each day and get a $3 coffee (or are they more?....no idea here).  Even if it is just once a day during the work week, that averages out to $60 a month.  Even cutting back on the amount of times you buy a fancy coffee can help you easily afford to sponsor a child.....and in return you will gain so much!  The love of a sponsored child is evident through letters you write back and forth.  These small sacrifices mean so much, as we are sharing our faith, resources, and time with a child of God.

You can find small ways here and there to consolidate bills, cut extra fees, cancel unused phone lines, sell unused items, etc. in order to be able to pay for the sponsorship.  Eating out one less time a month also pretty much pays for a sponsorship with restaurant prices, taxes, and tips these days.  I use coupons as much as I can and sales racks and clearance racks are awesome!

I'm not saying we have to live primitively by any means but by giving up a few indulgences or extras, we can gain so much in return.  The rewards are both here and now, but also in heaven as Jesus calls us to love children and the poor. 

Please consider using the money you save giving up something for Lent to sponsor a child.  You won't regret it!

Please click on this link in order to get taken to the Compassion site to see children in need of sponsors: Click here to sponsor

"Son of God" movie review

This weekend I went to the movie "Son of God". I helped at the Compassion table at the movie hoping that people would want to sponsor a child through this great organization. We were able to get a few kids sponsored over the weekend so that was great.

The movie itself was great. It had dramatic music, high def type picture, the actors showed lots of emotions, etc. The story is of course the life of Jesus from starting to meet the disciples to his death and resurrection. The movie helps make the Bible stories come to life and is great to get a better appreciation for all Jesus went through.

I recommend seeing this movie if you get a chance. It is almost 2.5 hours long though, so make sure to use the bathroom ahead of time :)

Also, if you feel led to sponsor a child through Compassion International, that would be wonderful too! You can click on the following link to see children in need of a sponsor around the world. This is a great organization who does great work helping children beat the cycle of poverty by providing them with an education, health services, nutritional supplements, faith education, etc. Let me know if you have any questions let me know.

www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=133043

Go see the "Son of God" movie this weekend!

This weekend I will be helping work at the "Son of God" movie with Compassion International (helping run a table to try to get more people signed up to be sponsors).  I will be able to see the movie at the same time so next week I'll do a review.  I've heard its supposed to be really good though so I suggest you all go out and enjoy the movie, and sign up to become a Compassion International sponsor while you are there :)

Yessica is going to be a big sister!

We will be going to visit Yessica in Peru in a few months so I wanted to make sure I knew how many siblings she had and such (to know what types of gifts to buy).  In her letters she mentioned 2 siblings, but Compassions records showed none, so I had them put in an inquiry to see what was correct.

Here was their response yesterday:

I have heard from our staff in Peru regarding the siblings that Yessica mentioned and this is what we learned:

 

The project in Peru confirmed that Yessica does have two siblings.   Their names are Erika (sister, 10) and Ander (brother, 9). The reason the project didn’t mention the siblings is because the siblings do not live in the same home as Yessica.  In this case Erika is Yessica’s sister only by her father side, however she has never lived with with Yessica. We have just been informed that Erika is also registered in the program and is already sponsored but they see each other frequently in the project. Ander is Yessica’s brother by her father and mother, but the parents separated before Yessica was registered in the project and Ander was living with Yessica’s mother in another place.  Currently, Yessica lives with her father.  Her father recently got engaged few months ago and they are expecting their first baby. Erika loves her siblings very much and has a good relationship with them.

This is awesome since now I know more about her back story.  Plus I can bring a baby gift for her family too (gender neutral of course since I won't know what they are expecting).  This will be something fun we can write about and she can talk about how her sibling is growing and such (once born).  Excited to meet Yessica soon!

Happy 14th Birthday Priyanga!

Our sponsored child Priyanga from India turns 14 today!  She is growing into a wonderful young woman who writes great letters.  She does well at school, is involved in activities, and loves her family.  We are so proud of her!  This was her picture from about a year ago. 

Today I wrote her a quick letter using the online writing tool telling her that we were thinking of her on her birthday and such.  I'm hoping to get all my handwritten letters done for our 10 kids this weekend.  With all the snow, it will be a good thing to stay inside and do!