Mail day!

We had a great mail day! We received two letters from our Compassion child, Beatriz. One letter was a thank you letter, telling us how much she appreciates our gift to her. The way that Compassion works is that we can send funds to Compassion for Beatriz's birthday or Christmas. The Center where Beatriz attends will take those funds and help her buy what she wants or needs. Sometimes, it's basic needs, such as clothes or shoes. Other times, it's something fun. Beatriz used her gift from us to buy "fun toys". She didn't go into details, but I can imagine what enjoyment she got out of having money to spend on something to brighten up her life.

The other letter was just so sweet. On one side of the paper, she drew us a picture. We've discovered that she loves art and is actually pretty good at drawing for her age (she's 9). In the letter, she told us that she goes to church, and is happy and well. She told us that she loves us, and then she said "I love you Mr Roland". How sweet is that?!? And, we've only sponsored her for not quite a year yet. I'm so anxious to get to know her better, and to find out little details about her life.

In His grace,

Sharon

The need to do more

Last year, when our church had a table set up about Compassion International, my husband and I felt led to sponsor a little girl in Brazil. This past year, we have exchanged several letters with Beatriz. We're still in the "getting to know each other" stage, but my hope is that we will quickly reach the next level in 2012. She writes such sweet letters, and we love reading what she learns in school, her visits to her church, and things such as her favorite color and her favorite animal. With each letter, she has drawn us a picture and we love to see them!

As time goes on, I feel more led to become more actively involved with the Compassion ministry. While we're only sponsoring one child right now, we're thinking and praying about sponsoring another one. I also would like to blog more about Compassion, which is why I'm writing this post. This is a new adventure for me and for us, and I don't know where it will lead, but I'm excited about the possibilities, about the journey we're on now, and look forward to seeing what God will do with this.

In His grace,

Sharon

What a blessing!

Our church has had Compassion tables in the lobby every so often in past years, and I've always just sort of walked by them without really thinking about it much. Last year, I felt led to stop at the table and find out what it was all about. Here is what the Compassion website says about this ministry/organization:

Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.

Founded by the Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training.

Today, Compassion helps more than 1.2 million children in 26 countries.

So, it's all about sponsoring a child by giving financially, emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes physically. Sponsors can write to their child and send them small paper gifts (such as coloring pages, postcards, pictures, bookmarks, and so on).

While I didn't do anything about sponsoring a child that first time I stopped at the Compassion table, it stayed on my heart. I felt a tug every so often, so in April 2011, we talked about it and decided to sponsor a little girl in Brazil. We've been so blessed by doing this, and I wish that we could sponsor 100 more! Not only have we been blessed by obeying the Lord's will that we sponsor a child, but the blessings also come in the form of letters from our sponsored child. Her name is Beatriz and she is just precious. We've only heard from her a few times, but every time we've gotten a letter from her, our heart melts. I get so excited every time the mail comes and there is one of those Compassion envelopes that says on the outside "A letter from your child"! This is a wonderful organization, and I'm glad that we were led to do this. Maybe next year, the Lord will bless us financially and we'll be able to add another child to our sponsorship!

In His grace,

Sharon