Never Should've Said Adios

Someone asked me today about my status from last month on OurCompassion. So, I thought I'd respond by telling the story on a blog so more can hear. =]

Back in July last year I decided I wanted to sponsor my second child. I wanted a boy from Mexico. A boy, because my first child was a girl. And Mexico, because I wanted a child from a Spanish speaking country because I am learning Spanish. So I picked Jose. I'm not exactly sure what made me pick him...maybe it was because he is wearing Converse in his picture. (I had a Converse shoe fettish before I found Compassion as a much better use for my money.) Anyhow, I sponsored Jose from July to December of last year and then somehow got it in my head that it was foolish of me to be giving so much money away when I'm not sure how I will afford college. (Which is a topic for another blog, because I have some radically different views on the subject now, thanks be to Jesus.)

Around the end of January, I emailed Compassion and asked if Jose already had a new sponsor and if not, could I sponsor him again. I got an email back saying that at that time he would be up for sponsorship at an event soon. However, if no one decided to sponsor him at that event, I could. She told me to email back in a couple weeks to see what happened.

So I emailed back and no, Jose had not been sponsored. Now I am thrilled to say that I am his sponsor again, as I should have been all along. I sent him one of those Hallmark cards that has music in it for fun and told him I was going to be his sponsor again. I am so excited to hear from him again. His letters are my absolute favorites out of all that I've recieved. For some reason, he opened up to me so much more than my other kids and his letters were so sweet. Maybe he thought it was cool that I can speak his language. =]

"Your name is a shelter for the hurting,
Jesus Your name is a refuge for the weak.
Only Your name can redeem the undeserving,
Jesus Your name holds everything I need."

-my new favorite song by Lincoln Brewster, The Power of Your Name

This is my passion.

Sponsor a child today.

Pray for the Kenya missionaries!

Just wanted to give a quick shout out reminder for Compassion's Kenya bloggers who are there this week! Keep them in your prayers and follow the blogs here.

Oddly enough, I was on Compasion's website today working on a project that I needed some information from their website for, and I ended up sponsoring a girl from Kenya. At the time, it honestly didn't even register to me that Dorcas is from Kenya. Later on I remembered the trip to Kenya and how they are really advocating for sponsors for Kenya kids. Definitely a God thing that I found her.

Here's why she caught my attention, her name. Dorcas. Just learned about a woman named Dorcas in Acts 9:36. She was described as a woman who was always doing good and helping the poor. That is just one of the many reasons I was so excited about Dorcas. =]

Fire

I've spent most of my night filling out scholarship applications. Fun stuff.


At some point, I would like to go to William Jewell College to get a degree in Non-profit Leadership with a minor in Religion and Spanish (maybe majoring in Spanish as well). I want to study so many different things! Non-profit leadership is the most important one to me though for what I want to do. My goal is to work for Compassion International. I also want to live in another country on missions for a while though, so maybe I could teach English while I am there.



But here's my thing-- I have a hard time shelling out my hard earned cash on my COLLEGE education when there are kids all over the world who don't have the opportunity for an ELEMENTARY education.


This is Fire. She is 6 years old and lives in Ethiopia. I sponsor her through Compassion International. Before she was sponsored, she wasn't in school because her family couldn't afford to send her.


THAT is why I have a problem spending so much money on my college education when my brothers and sisters around the world are living in poverty.


I'm not really sure where I will end up next fall, but I can tell you one thing. I intend to fight for my sponsored children and do everything I can to ensure that they can continue their education as I continue mine.

Child Advocacy for Compassion International

Admitting is the first step.

So here it is: I'm a tad obsessed with the ministry of Compassion International. No, more than a tad. These kids have my heart. Especially my girl Sasa in Indonesia, and my little guy Jose from Mexico. Actually, I began sponsoring Jose in July of 2009 but late last year I got discouraged and stopped trusting God to provide me with the means to support him so I ended my sponsorship. With the help of Compassion's staff, I was able to begin sponsoring Jose again last week. I went straight to Price Chopper and bought one of the singing Hallmark cards with the Kung-Fu Fighting song. Of course, he doesn't speak English but I still have a feeling he'll get a kick out of a singing card! I am so happy to have him back, I missed getting letter starting off with, "Querida madria," which means "Dear godmother." =]

Anyhow, I am thinking of applying to be a Child Advocat. Which means I will be volunteering at concerts and marketing things, working to get at least 4 kids sponsored each year, putting posters up, and all kinds of other things.

I have a big heart for these kids. Mark 9:36-37 - "He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Let me know if you're interested in sponsoring a child through Compassion, and I'll be more than glad to help you out! Or answer any questions you might have. And if you already sponsor, leave me a comment and tell me about your beautiful child!