Passions of the Soul

The Joy of Giving

Giving a gift you know someone can use, one you know is needed or wanted by a loved one who would not be able to purchase the same, herself--then, giving is fun and a joy.

But what do you give to the proverbial person "who has everything"? More of the same? How about giving a gift that will benefit someone in real poverty?

Compassion International has produced a gift catalog, this winter, and it can be used all year 'round. There's even a calendar at the back where you can write in gift-giving occasions that will come up.

This morning I filled out (a little late) the printed order form for several gifts we will give to two family members. I had so much trouble deciding what to include, because every item is needed and of real value; also because we're still not made of money, we mostly we stayed with the lower-cost items, because we could spread the money around.

A couple of tips are in order: First, sponsors cannot designate these items for their own sponsored kids. Sponsors can, of course, call Compassion (800-336-7676) and express their interest in providing any of them for their kids, and ask about costs, which may be different from prices given in the catalog. They can then send the money, if they wish, and state in a letter their preference that the money be spent for the whatzit. But keep in mind that the child or family may have a much greater need for something else--like, say, a bed, or a school uniform, shoes, or food.

Second, I discovered today that if you order online, you can order and pay for only one item at a time, although you can order more than one of that item. They do not have an order page set up with all of the items listed so that you can order one of this, three of that, and two of something else, and then pay for all of it together. I would like to see them come up with such a page, but it isn't there, yet.

Okay. If you clicked on the link to the catalog, above, then you know that prices start as low as $10 for a treated bed net. These nets are saving lives. In many homes, all of the children--indeed, sometimes a whole family--will sleep under one net; children are more vulnerable to disease than adults, but adults get malaria, too, which can keep them from working and cause them to lose what little money they might earn.

Available for $20 and under are a soccer ball ($13), a chicken ($16), and baking supplies ($20). The chicken means food for the family, eggs to sell, and manure for a vegetable garden. The baking supplies allow for kids to learn vocational skills like making pastries and baked goods, helping them to become employed or even start their own business, once they leave school. Of course, the soccer ball is for fun; it also gives the kids a better chance to hone their soccer skills than with the homemade balls they usually have to use, and they learn teamwork in the process.

I won't list all of the items remaining--and I've not made a dent--because I provided a link above. But other animals are included, more life-saving gifts, and other gifts that will teach children, moms and fathers various vocational skills. If you have a bunch of money lying around, you can provide computers, farming equipment, clean water, and more, up to and including a $5,000 gift for the fund which covers the costs of surgery or other special medical care.

No, I did not go ahead and list everything. See for yourself! And please, keep this incredible resource in mind throughout the year. Whether you sponsor a child, or not, you can bless one or more, or a pregnant mom or an unemployed dad through one of these gifts, and do it in Jesus' name. As we often say at our church, "We are blessed to be a blessing."

Now, have a wonderful Christmas, remembering that it's all about Jesus.

"You don't matter!"

Have you ever voiced an opinion, or asked a question, or tried to contribute to a conversation or discussion, only to be ignored--or told that you're wrong, or you've asked a stupid question, or simply to "Shut up"?

I am musing on the message of poverty to its children: "You don't matter; you're just not important. Things have always been this way, and there's nothing you can do about it." 

But when a child is registered in a Compassion project, she begins to learn that she is very important to God! He knows the hairs on her head and even sent His Son to die for her, to give her hope and a future! He has a plan for her life! 

Somewhere along the way, she begins to find her voice. She learns that some of the people around her will listen! If she has a sponsor who writes to her, loves, encourages and prays for her, she will thrive. She is important to God, to people in her project, and to a person who lives far, far away, and she CAN do something about the way things are! (All of the above applies to boys, too!)

Sadly, millions of children never have this opportunity, are not able to go to school or to learn a skill that will generate income; they will never hear the Truth of how God loves them, never have the opportunity to become the people God intends them to be. Compassion can't reach all of them, even if every Christian in developing nations sponsored one or more chldren. Oh, but we're making a dent!

If you want to have a part in defeating extreme poverty, ask me about sponsoring a child ($38/month). Or click on the Sponsor Me widget in the sidebar. Or if you're on Facebook, go to my Photos and open the album of Children in need of sponsors.

Or make a one-time contribution in any amount to the Child Survival Program or sponsor a specific CSP project ($20/month), and help to reduce the mortality rate of infants and children under the age of five years.

Or ask me about the many other ways to participate in the ministry of Compassion International; e.g., the Bite Back! program to fight the scourge of malaria. As little as $10 will help to make a difference!

To sponsor or not to sponsor

Whether you have ever sponsored a child, never considered doing so, have thought about it but are skeptical that your money would be used properly, or would dearly love to sponsor a child but don't know which organization you can trust (this was me, eight years ago), read this skeptic's story. It wouldn't hurt to read the comments, as well; there weren't many, when I read it a little while ago, and several were first-hand testimonials favoring (mostly) Compassion International.

When you have read all of that and checked out Compassion at Charity Navigator, and when you are ready to sponsor a child, please consider the child whose photo shows in the widget to the left (this blog), or here.

I have told many stories, on this blog, about Compassion, my sponsorship experiences, and a few about my sponsored children. Compassion also has a blog which has more stories and tons of information.

But whatever you do, don't do nothing. Find a place, find an organization you trust, and do something to help the children in poverty.

Bite Back!

I know--two and a half weeks without posting, and then I do two posts, today. Cope with it. :)

Today is World Malaria Day 2010. If you haven't donated to any organization for this cause, please consider contributing to Compassion International's Malaria Intervention Fund. Every $10 that you contribute provides a treated bed net, plus money toward education, prevention, and treatment of those children who are infected.

Every penny of your contribution will go directly for this purpose. Not one red cent will be used for administrative, fundraising or marketing costs. Count on it. CharityNavigator.org gives Compassion its highest rating (4 stars) for the 8th consecutive year, for Compassion's consistent financial integrity, stewardship, and transparency. The American Institute of Philanthropy also rates Compassion very highly.

Malaria literally sucks the life out of way too many children under the age of 5 yrs., every day. Your contribution can truly save a life.

One Act = One Life

If you have not seen this video, please take 5 minutes to watch and listen to Tony, Jimmy, Michelle and Richmond.

All four of these young people are formerly-sponsored children through Compassion International. All of them did so well in the academic work, in their work at their respective Compassion-assisted student centers; all of them exhibit strong leadership abilities and a strong Christian testimony; and all of them were accepted into Compassion's Leadership Development Program (LDP). Now, all four are studying under scholarship at Moody Bible Institute.

I don't know if all four are yet sponsoring children, themselves (although I can just about guarantee that they will, eventually!), but I know Michelle is. She started with one. Then after she began studying at Moody, she figured out that if she ate just one meal a day (it might be two; I don't remember, for sure), she could afford to sponsor a second child.

I believe it is more common than I would ever have thought for former sponsored children to become sponsors, once they are out of the program (even if they do not go on to university). It is just one of so many ways that they "give back" for the opportunities they were given.

So...if they can do it, are you sure you can't sponsor a child? It's $38 per month; that comes out to $1.25 per day, and you will never miss it.

Big news at Compassion!

Compassion International Opens Sri Lanka

This makes the 26th country in which Compassion International is working to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. The difference with this opening is that they have started with the very youngest children, many of them still in the womb! Compassion's Child Survival Program is helping to reduce the mortality rate of children under the age of 5 years.

Priority Children

I currently have packets for five children who need to be sponsored.  Three of the five are considered Priority children, because they have waited for at least six months to be sponsored, and they may have been waiting as long as 18 months (or even more).  I heard a year or so ago about a boy in Africa who had waited for three long years, before he was sponsored.  Can you imagine how that feels?

Compassion International has 18,000 children who are registered in Compassion-assisted projects (aka student centers).  Well, no--somewhere around 1.1 million children are registered, and most are sponsored.  The 18,000 children have been waiting 12 months or longer to be sponsored.

Sponsorship costs $38 per month, and the benefits to the child (and her/his family) and to the sponsor far out-weigh the cost.  It can literally mean the difference between life and death for the child.  How can you help?  Thanks for asking!  Here are several ways:

1) Click the widget in the left sidebar to sponsor the child pictured there.

2) Go here to select a child.

3) Select any of the children pictured below and tell me you want to sponsor him or her.

UPDATE:  These first three are Priority children:

Yolanda (Yola), 9 y.o., lives with her parents and two siblings in Indonesia. She enjoys playing with friends.

So often, these children do not receive the encouragement they need from their families. Whether that is true for Yola, I don't know, but I do know that a sponsor often becomes more important to a child even than her own parents. Yola needs a sponsor who will love, pray for, write to and encourage her.

 

Selvakumar is 15 years old. He lives in India with his parents. He enjoys soccer, singing and art and also regularly attends church activities, Bible class and Vacation Bible School.

Because of his age, we know that Selvakumar has had and lost at least one sponsor. Losing a sponsor is huge, for these kids. No matter the reason, and even if the sponsor has written a most loving letter of explanation and to say "Goodby," the child wonders: "Did I say something wrong? Was it my fault? Will anyone ever choose me, again?" Selvakumar needs someone to see him through graduation from secondary school and the sponsorship program, so that he doesn't grow discouraged and drop out.

Four-year-old Alonso lives in Peru with his mother, father, and two siblings. He enjoys soccer, playing with cars and playing with marbles. He is at a great age for being registered in a Compassion-assisted project and for being sponsored. Given the love and encouragement of a sponsor, Alonso is young enough to thrive, in this program. But he does need a sponsor who will give him that love and encouragement and pray for him.

Waiting less time, so far, but in need of sponsors are these two kids:

Aishwarya lives in India with her parents and one sibling. She is almost 9 years old (February). She enjoys playing house, reading and playing group games.

She sounds like millions of American kids, doesn't she? But Aishwarya lives in extreme poverty. Her hope for a future outside of poverty lies in Jesus Christ, and she needs a sponsor who will represent the love of Christ to her; who will reinforce the message that she is vitally important to Him. Letters of encouragement and love will reinforce that message and help her to become a productive and fulfilled Christian woman as God intends. 

Jordy lives in Mexico with his mother and one sibling. He is nearing his 12th birthday (February). Jordy enjoys soccer, playing with cars and bicycling. Drugs and crime beckon to him on a regular basis, as they do so many, many of the children Compassion serves.

With no father in the home, Jordy could especially benefit from a strong male sponsor, although any Christian sponsor can love and encourage him. He is no doubt surrounded by strong male influences, but many of them are not good and would rob him of the life God has planned for him.

Please let your heart be moved by these kids and by the millions like them. Even if you don't sponsor any, please don't forget about them.  Pray for them and consider their needs.  And remember the words of Abraham Lincoln:  "No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child." (That's true for women, too.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

May all of you experience God's very best in your lives, in your hearts, in all that you do.

God gave me the very best of husbands when He gave me Bruce, and I am profoundly and deeply grateful for this gift that keeps on giving. Bruce is my husband, my best friend, my strong support, my partner, and so often my perspective-adjuster. I love being with him, living with him, working with him (when there is work coming in), enjoying life with him, and above all, worshipping our Lord with him.

I am grateful for the opportunities we've had to spend some time with my mom, this year.  Yes, for previous years, too, but this may be the last year that she is able to enjoy our times together.

I am thankful for the love of my sister Judy, my niece Heather, other family whom I've not seen in far too long, and my friends, all who share life with me on one level or another.

I am so thankful that God led me to a Compassion table, almost 7 years ago, where I found two little girls to sponsor. Being registered in a Compassion project and then having a sponsor has changed life in such profound ways for Tausi and Denisse, and for Maria and Uwizera who joined our "family" later.

What I did not know, when I began sponsoring, was that in sharing life with my girls, even by long distance, my life and my world view would change so profoundly. I had no idea how God would bless me, as He allowed (and allows) me to bless each of them.

As you give thanks today, or whenever you read this, please consider what you can do to share your blessings with someone in need. Opportunities abound to help someone in greater need than what most of us are experiencing, and it may not take much to bless someone, near or far. 

If you want to be part of something that lasts longer than the latest gadgets, the latest styles, consider joining Compassion. You might sponsor a child; just click on the link to choose a child for yourself, or on the widget to the left to sponsor the child pictured there. (See video linked to, below.) But please don't do either, if you want only a financial commitment. True child sponsorship through Compassion is about building a relationship with a child who desperately needs your love, your prayers and your encouragement. (If you really want to sponsor a child but, because of serious time constraints or other reasons, know that you will not be able to handle the correspondence, you can ask Compassion to find a correspondent sponsor for your child.)

If you cannot--or are not moved to--make that monthly commitment of $38, you might consider sponsoring a Child Survival Project for $20/month. There is no letter-writing involved, no relationship-building, but you will receive updates from or about the project you sponsor. And you will truly help to save the lives of children under the age of 5 years, who might otherwise not survive. That is fact, my friends, not hyperbole.

And then there are the Complementary Interventions, including (but not limited to) the Bite Back! campaign against malaria, the HIV/AIDS Initiative, Disaster Relief, and support for the Unsponsored Children's Fund, which enables Compassion to care for children who are registered but not yet sponsored. If you want to see still more options, go here.

*BONUS: Watch and listen to four of the graduates of both the child-sponsorship program and the Leadership Development Program as they talk about how their lives were changed. The video is just over 5 minutes, and it will take a couple of minutes for it to load. If the video screen is too large for your monitor, click on View (top left) and choose Fit to Screen, Half size, or another option, until you can see it all.

"If you think one person cannot make a difference, you've never spent a night in a closed room with a mosquito"--African proverb.

Maria

Maria will be 13 years old in about 3 months.  On my last visit to the Dominican Republic, she did not look much older than she had almost two years earlier.  I can't help wondering how she looks now--still like a young girl, or is she beginning to take on the look--in her face, even--of a pre-teen or young teenager?

I began sponsoring Maria in 2005 (photo at left was the one I received), two weeks after my first sponsor tour to her country.  Our group had been to her project, although I did not meet her, there; I'm not even sure she was there.  When I came home, I called Compassion and told them I wanted to sponsor a girl, aged 6 to 10 years old, from her project.  Two weeks later, I received her packet and fell in love.

On my next visit, in January 2007, I saw Denisse, again, and met Maria for the first time.  Denisse is very gregarious, where Maria is quiet and shy.  Denisse blatantly, even physically, inserted herself between Maria and me, several times, before I sat them down for a talk.  Up to that point, Maria was overwhelmed and decidedly not having a good time.  After we had talked--actually, I did the talking--we moved to the play area, where they gradually began to interact with each other.  When Maria, who is accustomed to swimming, nudged a timid Denisse down the slide into the pool, I knew Maria would be okay.

On my third and latest visit (10/08), the two girls acted like sisters, which was really fun to watch, and Maria had come more out of herself.  Their only connection is through me; they live too far apart to see each other, unless I go to visit.  She said she wished she could see me at least once a year, even suggesting that I should just stay there.  I did not tell her I wasn't sure I would ever be able to go back; the idea hurt too much.

Yesterday, I received a letter from Maria.  "I want to see you very soon."  And several lines later, "When will you come back to my country?"  My heart dropped.  I have mailed a reply, commenting on other things she told or asked me, and then letting her know that I have no idea when, or even if, I will be able to return.  I left the question in God's lap:  "If God wills it, I will be there!"  That's not a cop-out; it's the truth.

I could blame this on Compassion.  After all, they do everything they can to encourage the building of relationships between sponsors and their sponsored children.  They make communication possible; they funnel gifts (money) through for the children's birthdays and Christmas, and even gifts for the children's families.  They provide tours so that those sponsors who desire and are financially able can go to visit their kids.  The tours are well planned and executed, and as long as we follow some guidelines designed to protect us and our kids, we have nothing to worry about.  Besides the day spent with our sponsored kids, we also meet, eat with and hear from graduates of the sponsorship and Leadership Development Programs; meet the country-office staff; and visit several child projects (aka student centers).  If we are really involved sponsors (even those who are not able to go visit, and that covers most sponsors), our hearts are hooked, so that we ache with wanting to meet them or see them again.

I have two other girls (plus one in the LDP) whom I've never met, and sadly, I don't expect to meet them, in this life.  All but one of my girls have given their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ, so we will all meet, one day.  Meanwhile...I pray for them, they pray for me, and we continue to write to each other.  Each of our lives is forever changed by the relationship made possible through Compassion and through the grace of Jesus Christ.  I wouldn't trade these relationships for anything.

If this all sounds good to you and you would like to help release a child from poverty in Jesus' name while building a relationship with him or her, just leave a comment or send me an e-mail.  Other ways to accomplish the same:
    - Click on the widget in the left sidebar to sponsor the child shown there; or
    - Click on the "sponsor" link in the second paragraph and choose a child.

Just know that your life will never be the same...in so many good ways!

Meltdown

Ever wonder whether sponsoring a child really makes their lives much different from the way they would have been? If you were to hear any graduate of the program speak, you would no longer question. If you were to hear any graduate of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) speak, you would wonder no more. They often talk about what their lives were like before they were registered in a Compassion project, and they may mention the importance to them of the education they were able to receive, as well as the spiritual training, the reality of Jesus Christ in their lives, as a result of being in Compassion. But unless they have had a sponsor who never wrote to them, you will hear a lot about how important the sponsor was in their lives; just to know that someone far away loved them, believed in them, prayed for them and encouraged them carried them through all the challenges of their lives. They are usually articulate (not always fluent in English) and poised young adults.

But if you want to see one of them dissolve into tears, watch them as adults, when meet their sponsor, for the first time. Watch this classic example of such a meeting. (If you know how, move the slide (bottom of video) to about 3:45 (minutes); otherwise you'll hear various people talking about Compassion's effectiveness. The whole video is about 18 minutes, but this part takes only a few minutes.) Jimmy Wambau's story begins at the point I gave you, and then his sponsor is introduced.

When you have dried your eyes and pulled yourself together, ask yourself whether $38 a month really might be possible for you. Ask yourself--better yet, ask God--whether you can be a real hero to a child. If the answer is yes, either click on the widget in the left sidebar, or go here to choose your own special child.

Revised 10/16/09