Letter from A Sponsored Child (based on real events)

Dear Family,

Have I told you how my life has changed? How God has worked through you to give me hope? You see, I live in an area of the world where girls my age rarely receive an education. Often this happens because we older girls stay home to help our families, sometimes we even take the place of our mothers who have passed away due to illness or childbirth or hunger. Most often though...we're exploited. Given away to earn a living for our family. The ones who offer the jobs make grand promises to our parents about how we'll be cared for, how we'll make enough money to send back home, how they won't have to worry about anything anymore. But the dark, ugly truth is that we're sold, we're de-moralized, we're seen as nothing more than a reusable commodity...until finally there is no way out and now...this becomes our life, where everyday we wish for death.

Family...most times older girls like me are not sponsered. But because you chose me, God has done something absolutely transforming. I am receiving an education, my family has food and clean water and most of all I am learning about Christ. Thank you for giving me a chance....my life will never be the same.

Love, your sponsored child

"Bless the Lord...who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's"

Psalm 103:4

www.compassion.org

Child Sponsorship: Just a Little Does So Much!

So, I've joined up as a Compassion International blogger to help get 3, 000 needy children sponsored in 30 days. Will you help?! Just read the blog post below and visit their sponsorship page (link provided at the bottom of this page)...that's all!

Look at this cute little guy? You may not know it but he is a pretty special part of our family. That's right, we've been sponsoring him for a few years now and would you believe that it's totally changed our family?

Dinesh lives in a slum community in the southern part of India. He has 1 sister, 1 brother and, fortunately, both parents living. He loves cricket, learning about the Bible and going to class at the Compassion Center. He gets medical care, food and an education through their support. However, if Dinesh had not received this support through Compassion his life would have looked very different. Perhaps he would have been one of the 44 million destitute, Indian children who struggle to survive every day. They are not able to receive an education, many do not have access to enough food or clean water. Often they are from lower castes where they have no hope of ever making a better life for themselves...so the cycle continues. 

Yet, this was not God's plan for Dinesh. He had a better plan. But let me tell you something...God had a better plan for us too. He showed us His heart for the poor, the needy, the fatherless and the orphan. He opened our eyes to the millions of hopeless men, women and children around the globe and showed us how we could help. Really, He showed us that He has commanded us to help:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness[a] will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."

Isaiah 58: 6-9

Our prayer is that your heart is stirring for the needs of the poor. Those of us who live in the western world have more material wealth than we could ever need. We have been blessed so that we might bless others. Child sponsorship is a beautiful way to help. Not only does it allow you to bring aid to the needy but it allows you to form a relationship with these precious children. They will share their lives with you as you help to provide education, healthcare, food and water for them. I promise you though...you will gain far more than you could ever give to these children. Even if you feel like you may not be able to sponsor a child at this time, at least visit their page  (http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/sponsorship.htm), look at their pictures and choose one or more children to pray over. You might be surprised how God provides for you so that you might provide for them.