I got to volunteer at the Alive Festival again in the Compassion booth - it was just as much fun as last year, only this time it rained the whole time. :)
I love the Compassion program. I can not express how much I love it.
You know the classic little story of the little boy who won't eat his supper and the mommy who says "Eat up, Johnny. Some child in Africa would love to eat that!" and so little Johnny replies "Well let's send it to them then!" Well *that* is just not possible and so you go on with life, sad that little boys like him can't have supper in Africa, because, after all, what can we do?
This is something we can do. There are lots of organizations who you can sponsor children through, but I happen to love Compassion.
80% of your $38/month goes to the child. Actually it's often more like 87% but in order to keep their promise, Compassion only commits to 80%.
There was a graduate from the program who grew up in Kenya, in the worst of the worst region, who spoke on Friday night. He told how he went to prison for stealing at the age of nine and there he prayed that, if there was a God listening, that he would do two things for him: Take him out of prison, and take him out of poverty. He did get out of prison and his mother found out about Compassion and enrolled him in the program shortly thereafter.
He said that it gave him three things which could never be taken from him:
1) An education, which is so difficult to get in a third world country.
2) Love, because before his sponsor family came into his life, he had no idea what it really meant to be loved by someone.
3) God- Who He is and how he can change a life forever.
It's inspiring to hear stories of lives who are actually changed. I'm pretty sure that in heaven there are going to be a whole lot of people who were once trapped in poverty and who will find those people who loved them that much and they will say "thank you for loving the least, like me".
Lots of people feel that they can't afford the 38 bucks a month, but I heard lots of great stories of how creative some people are in supporting a child. One family lets their two little boys work to raise the money. They provide the boys with supplies and they make some sort of M&M/pretzel stuff that they bag up in small baggies and sell for a $1 a bag. They do odd jobs also and tell people that everything they make is going to sponsor their little friend and often people are generous and willing to donate. It gives the little boys a chance to learn the value of work and the value of giving to others.
Another teenage girl told how she and a friend sponsor a child together. Mostly they babysit to raise the money, but when it's split between two people, it's easier to get the money together.
Sometimes youth groups or sunday school classes sponsor a child as a group.
One older lady has a son who is a missionary in Uganda so she sponsors several children there and then she goes and visits them every year.
One older gentleman that was volunteering with me had a stack of pictures in his wallet of all the children who he has sponsored or that he currently sponsors. He is especially proud of the ones who've graduated the program and have moved on with their adult lives. He considers them all his grandchildren and many of them he and his wife have visited.
One older gentleman that was volunteering with me had a stack of pictures in his wallet of all the children who he has sponsored or that he currently sponsors. He is especially proud of the ones who've graduated the program and have moved on with their adult lives. He considers them all his grandchildren and many of them he and his wife have visited.
There was one little girl who totally stood out to me right from the beginning. Typically all the children stand tall, with their hands perfectly straight at their sides and often with no expression on their faces. This little girl wasn't and I am sure that she is going to do great things in life - she has spunk! So I made it my goal that she was going to have a sponsor by the end of the evening. I showed her picture to everyone and they said "Oh, she's cute!" and then they chose someone else. I started getting discouraged for her, until I started thinking that maybe, just maybe, she needed me.
And so, she came home with me.
Our little Yamilka.
I'm so proud of her and can't wait to see what her life will be!
