Day 11: How you can help

Did you know that, as a sponsor, you can affect the life of a child living in a developing country and help that child grow in confidence and faith?

To become a sponsor, the small cost of $38 each month provides a wealth of opportunities and service to these children and their families. It helps to provide:

• educational opportunities
• basic health services
• encouragement, love and guidance through a local church

You also have the very great blessing of writing your child and receiving letters from your child. You get to know them through this personal correspondence. You can give them encouragement and hope. YOU can play a vital role in your child's life!

Being a sponsor is one of the greatest blessings I've received in my life. I love being a sponsor, and you will, too. Take a look at the many children listed on Compassion's website. One of those sweet faces could be the face of the child that is just waiting for you to take the step of sponsorship!

In His peaceful presence,

Sharon

Day 6: Helping on a tight budget

To start this post, I'm going to copy a statement from another Compassion blogger. (I'm sorry that I don't remember which one. If I find it again, I'll post the link to her blog!)

"With today's economy and political debate going haywire, it's more important than ever to address our commitment to the children we sponsor. This is just as vital as connecting other un-sponsored children with sponsors."

Those two sentences really spoke to me. When my husband and I decided to sponsor our little Beatriz in Brazil, we weren't really "deciding" to do that. We just answered God's call and obeyed. We were excited, and still are, but over time, we've found that our commitment, while still strong, doesn't have that "spark". Quite often, sponsors experience financial struggles and find it hard to maintain that initial excitement and commitment. Many times, sponsors lose that passion that they first had towards their sponsored child, and without engagement by their church, or a local Compassion advocate, or even other sponsors, it sort of can get lost in the shuffle.

There are many ways to become and stay involved even if the budget is tight. Listed below are a few ideas to get us started. I have a great opportunity to become "the Compassion person" at my church, and I plan to start engaging sponsors and potential sponsors as much as possible. Some of these ideas were adapted from other blogs, and some are things that I just thought of as I'm writing this post.

~Buy a world map from Barnes & Noble and put it on a bulletin board at your church. If you have a gym or a hallway or room where information about missions is placed, those would be good locations for the map. If you know some sponsors in your church, ask them where their sponsored children live, and then put a thumbtack or push pin in their country. You can even put the children's pictures on the map and ask people to pray specifically for them.

~Sponsor get-togethers: This can be not only a great way to keep sponsors engaged and excited, but it's also a good way for the ladies of your church to stay connected. Make it a potluck or pizza night. Food is always a draw. Ask each person to bring any extra supplies they may have on hand, such as stationery, stickers, envelopes, blank cards...anything that you would normally send your sponsored child. Create an exchange table, where sponsors can exchange, give-and-take supplies. Write letters to your sponsored children at these gatherings. It's a good way to stay accountable for writing those letters!

~Several sponsors can go in together to sponsor a child. I know of several people who do this. You can take turns writing the letters and sending the little "goodies".

~Start a blog! My blog isn't really off and running yet, mainly because I haven't promoted it, but that's going to change very soon. Even if you have only your friends and family reading it, who knows if one of your posts will prompt someone to think about sponsorship?

~Add a tag line to your email signatures. I've had a tag line on all my emails for some time now, and recently, I found out that someone (don't know who) sponsored a child under my advocate number. Hoping to plant many more seeds along the way!

~Carry a picture of your sponsored child in your bible, and every time you come across the picture, pray for your child. Show the picture to others at church. Makes a great ice-breaker for that conversation about sponsorship!

Just one final thought...You don't have to be an official Compassion advocate to do these things. Sponsors can schedule get-togethers with other sponsors, add an email tag line, carry your child's picture in your bible...and the list goes on. If you feel called to be an advocate, great! If that isn't something that the Lord has called you to do, you can still make a huge impact as a sponsor.

In His peaceful presence,

Sharon

Day 5: Potential

As I look through the faces of the children featured on the Compassion website, those who need sponsors, I wonder how many of them would like to grow up to be doctors or nurses, teachers, farmers, missionaries....how many have dreams of one day going to college...one day attending seminary...one day being able to visit another country, such as the USA or Ireland or France...and making their dreams come true.

What potential in those sweet faces! This little girl wants to be a teacher but she doesn't even attend school now because her family can't afford it. That little boy would love to one day become a doctor, but he's very sick and his family can't afford the medicine to make him well.  Those two little ones would love to one day have their own farm, with cows and horses and chickens and sheep, and garden after garden of vegetables, but they have no food to eat of their own.

You can help by sponsoring one sweet precious child. That's all it takes. One at a time. Sponsor a child and provide hope for them to reach their potential, make their dreams come true.

Look through the faces at Compassion's website, www.compassion.com, and search your heart, find the one that God has chosen just for you. Help them reach their potential and change the world, one child at a time, in the name of Jesus!

In His peaceful presence,

Sharon

Day 4: Birthday sponsoring

Did you know that you can go to the Compassion website and search for children who have the same birthday as you? This is a great way to get your family involved, especially your own children. Sponsor a child that has the same birthday as your son or daughter, and they will automatically feel connected to each other.

In His peaceful presence,

Sharon

Antonio needs a sponsor

This is Antonio in Brazil and he's waiting for a sponsor.

Antonio just turned 7 years old in June. He lives with his father and mother. His father is sometimes employed as a laborer. He loves soccer, playing with cars, and playing with marbles!

Little Antonio is a special needs child as he is crippled in both feet. Please consider sponsoring him! If you can't sponsor, please pray for Antonio, that he'll find a sponsor soon.

Would you like to sponsor Antonio?
Click here...
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/child-biography.htm?needKey=BR4240686

In His grace,

Sharon

Did you know...?

Did you know...

-more than a quarter of the world's 7 billion people are children age 15 and under?
-in developing countries, a thid to almost half of the population are children?
-about 153 million of the world's children are orphans?
-and, more than 100 million (of those 153 million) live and work on the streets?
-more than 100 million children who are school age do not attend school?

Children are our future. They are future parents, teachers, pastors, doctors, nurses, scientists, community leaders. Let's invest in their lives, both locally and globally. Help release them from their spiritual and physical poverty. Let's build them up and help our children to become responsible, healthy and happy Christian adults.

Sponsor a child through Compassion International today!

Click here...
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=126731

In His grace,

Sharon

Introducing...Armando

Meet my newest correspondent child, Armando from Guatemala! Isn't he just the most precious little boy?!?

Armando just turned 7 years old last month. He lives with his mother. He likes soccer and football, and hide-and-seek! And, he also likes cars (a typical little boy "like"). The information that I received indicates that the family is in extreme poverty, and they don't have money to send Armando to school. That just breaks my heart. I'm going to try to send him not just fun things in my letters, but educational as well.


Armando lives in the mountainous community of Totonicapan. Typical houses are constructed of cement floors, mud walls and tile roofs. The most common language is Quiche. (Note to self: research Quiche. I've never heard of it.)


His little face looks so sad. I hope that through my letters to him, I can bring a smile to that sweet face. Please pray for Armando today.


In His grace,


Sharon

Bookmarks

So many of us sponsors have those standard items that we send to our Compassion children...things like stickers, lapbooks, pictures, coloring pages, and bookmarks. Today, I'd like to give you a few ideas on different kinds of bookmarks to send. (Note: I plan to add pictures to this post this weekend; right now, though, here are a few thoughts. Some new sponsors may find inspiration from this post!)


Bookmark how-to
You can either make your own bookmarks by taking scrapbook paper (my favorite, since I love to scrapbook!) or construction paper, and cutting it into the standard bookmark size (about 1-1/2" x 6-1/2"). Of course, you can make it smaller or larger, depending on your preferences.


A few ideas on what to put on your bookmarks...


Bible verses: Write out your favorite bible verse! Your sponsored child will love to receive this from you! If you have access to a labeling machine, or a computer, just type it and print it out. Another idea is to buy some stamps with bible verses. You can find these in the scrapbook section of your local stores, such as Walmart, Target, Hobby Lobby (my favorite!), Michael's, and of course scrapbook stores if you're fortunate enough to have one in your town. We have several where I live, and they have a wonderful selection of stamps to choose from. Buy your favorite color inkpad and you're all set.


Your child's picture: When you make your bookmark, you can print out your child's picture and glue it on to the front. If you're creative enough, cut out a small square or oval at the top of the bookmark, glue the picture on the back so that the picture shows through and then glue another bookmark on the back of that. Remember that ribbon normally is not accepted, so you could "pretty it up" with stickers and colored markers.


Print out your child's name in big colorful letters, or use stickers, and glue it on to the front of the bookmark. I did this recently for my little Beatriz in Brazil and it turned out great! I'll post a picture of it later.


Laminate it! I did this on the bookmark I sent Beatriz with her name on it. It makes it a little nicer and will hold up longer than just a paper bookmark. Hobby Lobby has several small laminators you can choose from that are fairly inexpensive. I use my "purple cow" laminator for lots of different things!


Be creative...have fun!


In His grace,


Sharon




I would love to hear your comments and ideas!

Ideas coming...

One of my goals for this blog is to post about a few specific things on a regular basis. I'd like to start posting ideas for letter writing, have a mail call posting schedule, and to definitely post about children needing sponsors. All of these posts will be done on a regular schedule. I'm working on a few more ideas as well, so please check back often and share my blog with others. I'd love to build up a following because the more people who read my blog, the more people will be aware of Compassion and more children will be sponsored!


Thought for today: If you go by Starbuck's on the way to work every morning, could you possibly cut that back to once or twice a week and with the money you save, it may be enough to sponsor another child! I've been trying to think of ways to save enough so that I can add another child. Wouldn't that be a great way to do it?


Have a blessed day!


In His grace,


Sharon

What more?

Spring cleaning...it's something that I dread and know I really need to do, but put it off as long as possible. Those ceiling fans could really use a good cleaning because it's one of those things that I just don't think about wiping off each week. And, those dust bunnies everywhere! Our hardwood floor isn't quite as shiny as when it was put down. The bathrooms sure could use a good scrubdown, and don't even get me started on my closets! (Well, that sentence just popped my big happy balloon!) Don't we all feel this way sometimes? I know I do, more often than I want to admit. I'm quite blessed, but sometimes, I don't appreciate what I have quite as much as I should!


And, then I visit the Compassion website, and blogs of sponsors who have gone to visit their sponsored children. I look at their houses made of cardboard and mud and whatever materials they can get their hands on. I read about the people in those other countries who are joyful at the thought of being able to eat one small meal on any given day. I look through countless faces on the Compassion website, wondering if today might be the day that this precious little boy will become sponsored. Or, that beautiful little girl will have her heart broken once again on the next letter delivery day when her name isn't called.


I look at what I have, and I feel so blessed but I also feel so selfish. Who am I to deserve this house, this car, these clothes I'm wearing, the freedom to worship when and where I want, the money to go buy a new pair of shoes when my old ones wear out? So many blessings I have, but so many children who need sponors and who would be grateful for clean water.


My husband and I have sponsored a little girl (Beatriz) in Brazil for a little over a year now. I'm also correspondent sponsor to Hosea in Tanzania, and Andre in Indonesia. It's such a blessing to have this opportunity, and I'm grateful. But, I look around my house, and see all the things that just sit there, looking pretty but not really useful. I look at my house, which isn't a huge house, but it's brick, not made of mud and cardboard.


Sometimes, I stand with the pantry door open, or the freezer, and wonder..."what can I fix for dinner tonight? we have nothing in here; I need to go to the store, but I don't really want to get out...I really need to re-fill the freezer, and I will next time I go to the meat market...guess I'll fix the old standby of hamburgers or spaghetti..." All of these thoughts, whirling around in my head, and on the Compassion website are faces of hundreds of children who don't know where their next meal is coming from.


I feel so...I don't know...blessed, yes, but also so unworthy of what the Lord has blessed me with. Questions start popping into my mind...how can I share what I have? what else can I do? how can I shave off a few more dollars from our budget so that we can sponsor another child?


Two questions keep popping into my mind...what more can I do and how can I make it happen?


I'm on a journey to find out the answers.


In His grace,


Sharon

Keilyn needs a sponsor!

This beautiful little girl is Keilyn and she needs a sponsor today! Keilyn lives in El Salvador, on the plains of Cacaopera. Typical houses are constructed of tin and have dirt floors. With your sponsorship of Keilyn, she will receive bible teaching, medical checkups, and academic reinforcement.


I have her child packet and it expires today! Please prayerfully consider sponsoring this precious little girl. Contact me at firemom82(at)gmail(dot)com.

In His Grace,


Sharon

Letter from Beatriz

After receiving my first letter from Andre, I was so happy to see another cream colored envelope in my mail box today! The letter was from Beatriz, our sponsored child in Brazil. She writes:

"Hello. How are you? I'm well. My mom is 5-month pregnant with a boy. I'm happy. Do you have children? Thanks for the letter. I always pray for you. May the Jesus' love be in your life. Pray for me and my family. In the project I play doll, color and run. We learn about Jesus. My teacher is so cool and I like her a lot. Thanks a lot for everything you do for me. May God bless you. Pray for me always. Hugs."

I'm glad to hear that Beatriz is happy about the arrival of her new little brother soon. I don't know how this will play into their situation. I may call the Compassion office to see if they can tell me anything about Beatriz and her mom that I'm not yet aware of, but it sounds like Beatriz is well and happy! I smiled when I read that she thinks her teacher "is so cool". I wonder what the Portuguese word is for "cool"...?


I'm not sure what to think about her question asking us if we have children. I've told her all about our family. Maybe the project worker who helped her with this letter just stuck that in there. In any case, I'm working on a small scrapbook that I'm going to send her soon, with all of our pictures in it.


She also drew us another picture. It seems that she loves to draw and color. This picture appears to be a boy and a girl with swimsuits on, standing on the beach. Beside them is a big slide that leads down into a swimming pool. I wonder if she has had the opportunity to go swimming like this or if this is just from her "wish list". She did a great job. As soon as I can find the time to sit down and scan for a while, I'll scan in some of her very wonderful artwork!


We pray for you, too, Beatriz. May God bless you today.


I'm linking up with www.bloggingfromtheboonies.com! Wonderful blog!


In His grace,


Sharon

First letter from Andre!

I was so excited to see a letter in my mailbox, and was thrilled that it is my first letter from Andre, a new correspondent child. Andre is 16, in the 10th grade and lives in Indonesia. His information indicated that he plays the guitar, but I wasn't sure if that was accurate, if it is something he would like to do, or if he really plays. Well, in his letter, he tells me that he is the guitarist in his church! I would love to find out from him if he can read music or plays by ear. If he can read music, then I'll be able to send him some sheet music!

"Thank you for being my sponsor. My name is Andreano (Andre). I am 16 years old. I live in Tondangow district with dad and mom. My best friends are Heman, Arthur and Kevin. My hobby is playing guitar. I don't have pet. My favorite colors are white and blue. My favorite food is fried rice. David is a man who's clever to play harp. And, I am also greatful for God's love and mercy to trust me in serving as guitarist in church, in this case melodist. God is good to me, and also to Roland and Sharon Landers. How old are you both now? Please pray for me because I'm going to face grade exam. That's all from me. May God bless the activity of Roland and Sharon Landers."

What a wonderful first letter! My oldest son's name is Kevin, so there's a connection. And, I play the piano, so we have music in common. I'm so excited to learn about his life and I look forward to getting to know him better.


May God bless you, Andre!


In His grace,


Sharon

Need sponsors

UPDATE: Fataou Bakouan has been sponsored! Thank you!


I have two packets for children who need sponsors. Please consider sponsoring one or both of these precious little girls.

This beautiful girl is Keilyn Martinez, and her birthday is September 6, 2006. Keilyn lives in El Salvador, on the plains of Cacaopera. Typical houses are constructed of tin and have dirt floors. With your sponsorship of Keilyn, she will receive bible teaching, medical checkups, and academic reinforcement.

This is Fataou Bakouan. His birthday is December 31, 2006. A New Year’s Eve baby! Fataou  lives on the plains of Sector 4 in Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in the world. Your sponsorship will allow Fataou to receive hygiene education, medical checkups, Bible teaching, reading and writing classes at the project, and much more. Fataou lives in an aids-affected area, so sponsorship is critical for this little boy. Contact me to find out how you can be a blessing in his life!

If you're interested in becoming the sponsor of one of these children, post a comment here or email me at firemom82 (at) gmail.com.

In His grace,

Sharon

The first two!

Compassion sends each new advocate a package of materials to help them get started with their ministry. Included in that package are two child packets. My first two! It's a little overwhelming to think that I am now responsible to try to find sponsors for these two precious children. How in the world do I do that?!? That's the question that runs through my mind as I look at their sweet faces and read their information. Well, the only way to get started in this ministry is to...well,...start! So, the journey begins.