Sunday, April 13, 2008

Dare You to Move



I have been a sponsor of children through Compassion International since I was a college student. Currently, I am sponsoring a young boy in India and a teenage girl in Ethiopia - I think she was about six when I first received her sponsorship information, and now she's almost at the age to graduate from the program. I received a letter from her yesterday:

My dear mother for whom I am wishing peace and health! How are you and your family doing? I and my family are all fine. I have celebrated the Christmas holiday pleasantly with my family and friends. I have received your Christmas gift of money 126.36 Ethiopian and bought a skirt and a sweater. Thank you very much for the gift and your letter. Congratulations for your marriage. I felt very happy that you are married. Please send me your photograph of the marriage ceremony. Please pray for me so that God helps me in every performance. Where did you recreate on your marriage day? Till your next letter, good-bye.


Doesn't that just warm your heart? It does mine. I hope that though my small monetary contributions these sponsored children will receive tangible and intangible gifts. I pray they will have more hope for their future than if they were left alone to deal with the poverty that they and their families face.

I encourage you to support impoverished children whether it be through Compassion International or other excellent organizations like Half the Sky or Pennies for Peace.

"The the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."


Matthew 25:34-40

7 comments:

C's Mom said...

Just beautiful!

Pixel Fairy Princess said...

Love Switchfoot and that song. This rendition is so wonderful and moving! We are supporters of Half the Sky and the orphanage that Li Li was so lucky to end up in in China - a private orphanage for children with SN.
Thanks for sharing this :D

Ladybug hugs,
;D

Catherine said...

TOO COOL!!! Just this morning our pastor spoke on Matthew 5:31 - 46 and challenged us in a practical way to show these little ones Jesus. He spoke of a young man he'd met in Peru in January of this year who was once a child sponsored through Compassion International. (Love it when God shows his timing like this!) This gentleman told my pastor that when he was a child he was told about God. When someone began to sponsor him and he had food in his belly and clothes on his back, he knew there was a God and received much teaching about Him.

Just hours ago I signed up to sponsor a beautiful little girl, Fiorella, in Peru who will turn 4 next month!

How neat that today is the day you posted about this!

Thank you for sponsoting these precious children so that they can be fed with food and more importantly, the word of God.

OH MY #6 said...

Lovely, just lovely.

Lea

Jacquie said...

When I was about 18, my Great-Aunt died and I was given her desk. When I went thru it I found letters from children she had sponsored for many years. Most kept in touch all the way into adult hood. They made me cry the letters were so sweet.

Two years ago I had the opportunity to sponsor a child thru The Plan (use to be Foster Parents Plan in Canada) so I did. It is so nice to get letters from the boy we sponsor in China, and to send to him also.

Shannon said...

What a wondeful letter! Such a profound connection you have made. I loved the formality of her letter. So eloquent. Thank you for sharing this experience and letting us know of such an opportunity.
Love the song. A constant on my IPOD.

Paulette said...

You have a heart of gold