In November of 2012 my sweet husband lost his dear grandfather. A kind man with a big heart, a love for all things Lawrence Welk, and a lot of attitude, he left behind a big gap in our family and our hearts.
After his funeral passed, and as Thanksgiving approached, I began to try to think of ways to honor his memory. I do not recall what led me to Compassion International, specifically, but I know WHO led me. Unmistakably, the hand of God was present in my stumbling accross the Compassion International website and confronting the faces of sweet children across the globe.
After searching my soul and, truth be told, searching Google for charity watch statistics on Compassion International compared to other charity organizations, I was sold on the idea of sponsoring a child.
Thirty-eight dollars a month...One meal out for a family of three, and that's not even at a high-end restaurant. $1.25 a day--less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks. That's all it takes to sponsor one child through Compassion.
I picked our first child, 4 year old Mohamed Diarra, simply by sorting through the kids who had been waiting a long time for a sponsor, and then by looking at their ages. I have a 2.5 year old son, and my thought was that perhaps in the future they would be able to write to each other. I signed up to be a sponsor, and with a full heart I told my husband about my sponsorship..... then I started thinking about girls in developing countries, and how they are often considered second-rate, unwanted citizens. I began to worry...
Later that same evening, while watching TV, I flipped through row after row of kids on my phone. Then I saw sweet 5 year old Korotimi Millago. Standing in her best pink dress, looking hopeful but not *too* hopeful for the camera. I loved her instantly. Before I even had a chance to think much about it, I had signed up to sponsor her. My sweet husband just laughed and accepted her as part of our new family.
A few weeks later, after joining the Compassion forum for sponsors, I read a post by a young woman who, for financial reasons, was having to let go of some of her sponsored children. One face on her post kept tugging at my heart. I just felt so led to embrace this young girl, 7 year old Marcelle Banassim. After asking my husband if he minded if we picked up "just one more" I jumped in and asked to have her transfered to my account.
Now I am fortunate enough to sponsor 3 kids, and serve as a correspondent to 3 others--handsome 13 year old Andres, beautiful 15 year old Florance, and my lovely 21 year old Maryadasu.
However you select a child to sponsor, my plea is---listen to the tugging on your heart! For the price of a CUP OF COFFEE you can make a real difference in the life of a CHILD! And how much more valuable is a child than a cup of coffee?
After his funeral passed, and as Thanksgiving approached, I began to try to think of ways to honor his memory. I do not recall what led me to Compassion International, specifically, but I know WHO led me. Unmistakably, the hand of God was present in my stumbling accross the Compassion International website and confronting the faces of sweet children across the globe.
After searching my soul and, truth be told, searching Google for charity watch statistics on Compassion International compared to other charity organizations, I was sold on the idea of sponsoring a child.
Thirty-eight dollars a month...One meal out for a family of three, and that's not even at a high-end restaurant. $1.25 a day--less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks. That's all it takes to sponsor one child through Compassion.
I picked our first child, 4 year old Mohamed Diarra, simply by sorting through the kids who had been waiting a long time for a sponsor, and then by looking at their ages. I have a 2.5 year old son, and my thought was that perhaps in the future they would be able to write to each other. I signed up to be a sponsor, and with a full heart I told my husband about my sponsorship..... then I started thinking about girls in developing countries, and how they are often considered second-rate, unwanted citizens. I began to worry...
Later that same evening, while watching TV, I flipped through row after row of kids on my phone. Then I saw sweet 5 year old Korotimi Millago. Standing in her best pink dress, looking hopeful but not *too* hopeful for the camera. I loved her instantly. Before I even had a chance to think much about it, I had signed up to sponsor her. My sweet husband just laughed and accepted her as part of our new family.
A few weeks later, after joining the Compassion forum for sponsors, I read a post by a young woman who, for financial reasons, was having to let go of some of her sponsored children. One face on her post kept tugging at my heart. I just felt so led to embrace this young girl, 7 year old Marcelle Banassim. After asking my husband if he minded if we picked up "just one more" I jumped in and asked to have her transfered to my account.
Now I am fortunate enough to sponsor 3 kids, and serve as a correspondent to 3 others--handsome 13 year old Andres, beautiful 15 year old Florance, and my lovely 21 year old Maryadasu.
However you select a child to sponsor, my plea is---listen to the tugging on your heart! For the price of a CUP OF COFFEE you can make a real difference in the life of a CHILD! And how much more valuable is a child than a cup of coffee?
Thanks for sharing your blog on OC! I really enjoyed this post...especially your sharing that sponsorship is $1.25 a day....that really does put a different perspective on it!!
ReplyDeleteHannah, than you so much! Yes, doesn't it? I mean, Starbucks is more than that... I probably lose more than that in change in the couch cushions on some days.
DeleteWow, what a great way to honor him! All of your kids are beautiful. I am especially happy that Marcelle has a great sponsor still as I loved her so much after reading about her on her other sponsor's blog. I can't wait to read more about you and your sponsored children! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lizzie! I loved Marcelle from the minute I saw her, and there was no question in my mind that I should add her to our family. I can't wait to hear from her :)
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