What would you say to someone if you knew it was the last time you’d have a chance to say anything to them?
I wrote that on Facebook the day I learned that I would no longer be able to write one of my “kids”. I sponsor two children through Compassion International, and I’ve been writing to two others through the correspondence program—where one person/group pays for the sponsorship, but asks that someone else writes to the child. Every once in a while a sponsor has to discontinue the sponsorship. If there is a correspondent linked to the child, they’re given the option to pick up the financial aspect of sponsorship, but it’s not required. That’s what happened with Luis. He had a sponsor, I wrote to him. Since I’m not able to pay for a third child, I had to say goodbye to him. And I’m glad that Compassion is allowing me to send him a farewell letter.
But what would you say to a child that you’ve been writing to; praying for; for several months, but this will be the last letter they receive from you? I chose to focus more on the future. The last thing I wanted him to hear from me is how precious he is to God, and there’s hope for his future. There’s a reason for his existence; God has a special purpose for him to fulfill, and God’s given him just the right set of skills and abilities to be able to complete it. I encouraged him to work hard in school, to honor his parents and be kind to those in his community.
In a way, I consider it a blessing that I knew this would be the last thing I would say to him this side of heaven—unless God provides an earthly meeting. But what if I didn’t know it would be my last letter? What about the other three kids? Doesn’t each letter mean just as much? It should. I write them about once a month. So, even if it isn’t my last letter to them, it still has to carry them until they receive the next one. And—at any day, I could get a call saying that Nells’s sponsor is discontinuing, or that Gabriel and Yuni are moving away from the area. Each letter needs to count.
But, thinking back to my Facebook posting—at the time, I put a disclaimer at the end: (not to worry anyone, no one’s dying). I had no idea that within a few days I would get a call saying that my aunt had died suddenly. Now, distance separates my immediate family and my extended family on both sides. We don’t communicate back and forth much. Sadly, I write my sponsored kids more than anyone I’m actually related to.
Probably because I got two notices within a few days of each other, I paid more attention, and started looking for a common thread. It got me thinking about everyday encounters—family members, coworkers, people we meet at the bus stop or the grocery store. In some instances, chances are we’ll never see them again anyway; it was just a “chance” meeting in passing. Other people we see more frequently. But just as a funeral is a time when many people reflect on their own mortality, life actually is fleeting. What if we treat each encounter like it was the last time we’d see that person? What would you say?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
First letter from Yuni
These kids never cease to amaze me. And not just my kids--all the stories I read on Compassion's website.
It's a bit hard to tell, but I think that Yuni may have written this letter herself. She turned 8 on Sunday; I'd have to check the website to see whether she just finished 1st and is entering 2nd grade, or whether she's finished 2nd and is going into 3rd grade. But it's hard to tell whether moderately messy handwriting (compared to that of the translator) is a sign of a child's handwriting, or just someone who just has somewhat messy handwriting (which I personally do at times). However, there's no note that someone else wrote the letter; when Gabriel's father writes on Gabe's behalf, there's something stating that.
It's a short letter, but wow what a letter!
In addition to giving me a bit of information about herself and her project (attends in the afternoon after helping her parents in the market; she enjoys singing), she said that she and her family will pray "for sponsors who are in crisis because most of our sponsors are in America." Yes, we're told that the children pray for their sponsors. But to hear it from the kids themselves is amazing.
Dear Father, thank you for the letters from these children. May I continue to be encouraged by them to pray more effectively.
It's a bit hard to tell, but I think that Yuni may have written this letter herself. She turned 8 on Sunday; I'd have to check the website to see whether she just finished 1st and is entering 2nd grade, or whether she's finished 2nd and is going into 3rd grade. But it's hard to tell whether moderately messy handwriting (compared to that of the translator) is a sign of a child's handwriting, or just someone who just has somewhat messy handwriting (which I personally do at times). However, there's no note that someone else wrote the letter; when Gabriel's father writes on Gabe's behalf, there's something stating that.
It's a short letter, but wow what a letter!
In addition to giving me a bit of information about herself and her project (attends in the afternoon after helping her parents in the market; she enjoys singing), she said that she and her family will pray "for sponsors who are in crisis because most of our sponsors are in America." Yes, we're told that the children pray for their sponsors. But to hear it from the kids themselves is amazing.
Dear Father, thank you for the letters from these children. May I continue to be encouraged by them to pray more effectively.
Friday, June 12, 2009
We've been lied to...
This is the video I showed at my Compassion presentation in April. Just ran across it on YouTube, thanks to a recent post on Compassion's blog.
"The Lie of Poverty" gives a good overview of Compassion's ministry in the countries where it works.
"The Lie of Poverty" gives a good overview of Compassion's ministry in the countries where it works.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Praying for my kids
I haven't yet gotten a letter from Yuni, although I should be getting a "new child" letter in a month or so. I realize it'll take a while since it's coming from Indonesia. However, I did talk to a Compassion phone rep who was able to look up her story on the computer, and I found out that I'm this little girl's third sponsor since the project opened about a year prior to my signing up to sponsor her. I sincerely pray that I am able to stick around for her for more than 6 months. Prepaying through the summer will help--that covers the first 4 months--but it'll be through God's continued provision with employment for me that I'll be able to continue as her sponsor (along with Gabriel).
As for my correspondence child in Peru (my other girl, Nells), it was so funny! I got a letter from her on Tuesday, and then I got another one on Thursday. The second one appears to have been written a month after the first one, but they probably save the letters up to send out in stacks, like they do on our end in Colorado--I figure the letters were sent in the same box. What's odd though, is that both of these letters are dated by Nells as July 2 and July 28, 2008. Weird. We're definitely on the same calendar, even if the seasons are swapped. She wrote about starting school soon (school starts in March in Peru), and about what she had gotten for Christmas. It would make sense for both of those to be written about in February, rather than July. Ok, so you and I might think it's a bit late for a thank-you letter for Christmas gifts, but I understand that it takes a lot of organization to get letters written by all the kids serviced by each individual project, let alone a country. So I'm not going to impose American standards on her--I can't anyway--and besides, I'm not always prompt with writing thank-you letters myself! Ha!
But it's still weird that she would date the letters as she did. Her first letter of introduction was written--and dated--in December of last year.
Oh, well. I'm extatic to be getting letters from her at all! She's older than my other kids, so she's writing her own letters, sharing her own ideas, etc. rather than having her parents write for her (as has been the case with Gabriel; he's still learning how to write in general, let alone be able to write a letter. I expect that his first "all by myself" letter will probably be a form letter, fill-in-the-blank style.)
Now, on to the prayer requests from Nells.
As of February, her mom was out of work. Since mom isn't married, there's no other income--unless Nells's older sister is old enough to have a job of some sort. I don't know Jessica's age, but based on the picture Nells drew, she's likely a teenager. Please pray that Mama Nells gets a job soon, if she hasn't already over the past three months. (Yes, mom and daughter have the same name. Whenever I refer to the mother, I'll try to put either "mom" or "Mama Nells", to help keep it straight.)
Also, Nells asked for prayer that she can improve her "qualifications"--I checked with the Spanish teacher at my school; she said this word isn't common, but is likely a formal way to refer to grades. Nells has written using the more formal way of referring to me (usted, rather than tu'), so it would make sense that if there's a formal way to refer to something, she'd use that, rather than the informal (in the instance of referring to grades, the more common/informal word would be "notas", I've been told).
So, to sum it up, I'm praying for:
1) steady employment for myself, to be able to continue as sponsor for my kids
2) employment for Mama Nells to be able to support her four kids
3) improved grades for Nells as she starts 6th grade.
As for my correspondence child in Peru (my other girl, Nells), it was so funny! I got a letter from her on Tuesday, and then I got another one on Thursday. The second one appears to have been written a month after the first one, but they probably save the letters up to send out in stacks, like they do on our end in Colorado--I figure the letters were sent in the same box. What's odd though, is that both of these letters are dated by Nells as July 2 and July 28, 2008. Weird. We're definitely on the same calendar, even if the seasons are swapped. She wrote about starting school soon (school starts in March in Peru), and about what she had gotten for Christmas. It would make sense for both of those to be written about in February, rather than July. Ok, so you and I might think it's a bit late for a thank-you letter for Christmas gifts, but I understand that it takes a lot of organization to get letters written by all the kids serviced by each individual project, let alone a country. So I'm not going to impose American standards on her--I can't anyway--and besides, I'm not always prompt with writing thank-you letters myself! Ha!
But it's still weird that she would date the letters as she did. Her first letter of introduction was written--and dated--in December of last year.
Oh, well. I'm extatic to be getting letters from her at all! She's older than my other kids, so she's writing her own letters, sharing her own ideas, etc. rather than having her parents write for her (as has been the case with Gabriel; he's still learning how to write in general, let alone be able to write a letter. I expect that his first "all by myself" letter will probably be a form letter, fill-in-the-blank style.)
Now, on to the prayer requests from Nells.
As of February, her mom was out of work. Since mom isn't married, there's no other income--unless Nells's older sister is old enough to have a job of some sort. I don't know Jessica's age, but based on the picture Nells drew, she's likely a teenager. Please pray that Mama Nells gets a job soon, if she hasn't already over the past three months. (Yes, mom and daughter have the same name. Whenever I refer to the mother, I'll try to put either "mom" or "Mama Nells", to help keep it straight.)
Also, Nells asked for prayer that she can improve her "qualifications"--I checked with the Spanish teacher at my school; she said this word isn't common, but is likely a formal way to refer to grades. Nells has written using the more formal way of referring to me (usted, rather than tu'), so it would make sense that if there's a formal way to refer to something, she'd use that, rather than the informal (in the instance of referring to grades, the more common/informal word would be "notas", I've been told).
So, to sum it up, I'm praying for:
1) steady employment for myself, to be able to continue as sponsor for my kids
2) employment for Mama Nells to be able to support her four kids
3) improved grades for Nells as she starts 6th grade.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Alexander needs heart surgery
A while ago, compassionate folks from across the country/around the world pitched in to donate a cycle van for a sponsored girl's father in Bangladesh.
Now, we're at it again, raising money for heart surgery for Alexander in Kenya. Because the cost of the surgery exceeds what would normally be spent through the Medical Relief Fund, Chris G. posted a request on Compassion's blog.
I am amazed by the response--this was posted early Monday morning, and already (Tuesday lunchtime) they've raised about 25% of the needed funds!
Can you help us raise the remaining 75%? Let's see if we can get this knocked out before the weekend rolls around!
-------
Update, Wednesday evening. At some point this afternoon (morning? I wan't keeping up with what time I saw this comment from Compassion), the needed funds had been raised.
Wow. Just looked back up at the earlier part of my post. If approximately 25% had been raised in the first 36 hours (likely less), then the remaining 75% was raised in the final 24 hours!! This is amazing!!!
Now, we're at it again, raising money for heart surgery for Alexander in Kenya. Because the cost of the surgery exceeds what would normally be spent through the Medical Relief Fund, Chris G. posted a request on Compassion's blog.
I am amazed by the response--this was posted early Monday morning, and already (Tuesday lunchtime) they've raised about 25% of the needed funds!
Can you help us raise the remaining 75%? Let's see if we can get this knocked out before the weekend rolls around!
-------
Update, Wednesday evening. At some point this afternoon (morning? I wan't keeping up with what time I saw this comment from Compassion), the needed funds had been raised.
Wow. Just looked back up at the earlier part of my post. If approximately 25% had been raised in the first 36 hours (likely less), then the remaining 75% was raised in the final 24 hours!! This is amazing!!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Finding my place in the world
I got back a couple of days ago from a long weekend trip to Columbus, OH to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and their 4 month old son. This was the first time my parents and I had gotten a chance to see him since he was born. Not that Riley will remember anything about the visit...but we took pictures, so we can prove it to him later if need be. :)
I'm glad we went; he is such an adorable baby! I've always enjoyed being around young children--at least in small doses. I would work in the church nursery off and on as needed; I recently started teaching the primary grades Sunday School. Heck, I even work at a school, with kids all day! And let me tell ya--dismissal time is anticipated by all, children and adults alike! There's nothing like sending kids back to their parents.
No matter how much I enjoy being around kids, I've thought for a while that I don't want kids of my own. Looking after other kids for a period of time has its definite benefits--there's less of the discipline to worry about; if they're getting unruly, or if I'm just tired of their company, I get to send them home to their parents.
But while I was visiting my brother and his family, I had to start dealing with the facts that my YOUNGER brother is married (and I'm not), and he has a child (and I don't). Why was it that I didn't want kids? A good portion of why I didn't want kids was that I was scared that I couldn't hack it...that I wouldn't be able to handle the day-to-day parenting, particularly the discipline when necessary. I've even left the "traditional" (20+ kids) classroom, because consistent discipline was never a strong point. I'm more of a grandma or auntie personality than drill sargent. But I got to see that, for the most part, parents get time to figure things out as they go. For many months, it's mainly figuring out whether the baby is hungry or needs a new diaper, or just tired. Crawling and walking come in time, and the progression to solid food, then school...
But to be consistent in sticking to the "rules"...that would take some strength on my part that doesn't come naturally.
God reminded me a couple of things on this trip, the first of which is that when my strength fails, His is sufficient. If/when He gives me a child to raise, I can (and must!) rely on His strength for the day to day issues. Also, I don't have a child of my own, at least not yet.
So, since I am still in the single/childless camp, even though my brother--and practically all of the people I went to school with--are married with kids, what does God want me to do with this time in my life? It may last for only another few years (my boyfriend and I have talked about getting married, but nothing's official yet), or it may be for many more years. And even if I get married soon, I may not have kids for a while, if ever (Mike has decided he doesn't want kids).
I mentioned these thoughts/worries at the ladies' Bible study Tuesday night, after I got back from the trip. There was one other in attendance that didn't have kids. Everyone else was in various stages of motherhood (a couple of grandmothers), and the general consensus is that they are grateful to have people involved in their children's lives who aren't parents. (Make sense?) People who aren't tired from dealing with their own kids during the week teaching Sunday school and working in the nursery. Spending time with one of the kids on a group canoe trip. Just enjoying being around the kids. It was mentioned that, for a particular child, the people this child enjoyed being around the most (Sunday school teachers, etc) were all people who didn't have their own kids.
What does this mean for me? I'm going to try to not focus on the fact that I don't have children (when "everyone" my age has at least one, if not several), and open my eyes--with God's help--to what I can do in the place and time that God has placed me. I can't always be looking ahead to a time where I'll have kids--especially since there's a 50/50 chance that it may not even happen. I need to make the most of every day God has given me, living as God's servant who is not "tied down" by children, or even a husband (for now). Yes, I'm already committed to a Sunday School class, and an occasional slot in the nursery. But I can take the time to learn about the kids I don't normally see--the toddlers/kindergarteners, or those older than the ones in my class. Having children is not a prerequisite for being involved in Children's Ministry at church (thankfully!), and then there's the other kids with whom I come in contact. As a Compassion Advocate, I have a heart for kids. And why should it be limited to those I sponsor/correspond with?
Dear Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to the opportunities You're giving me on a daily basis to encourage children, and to help them grow into strong, mature adults. Thank you for giving me a heart to help their parents in raising their children, even in a small way. May I continue in what I'm already doing, and to see other ways where I can help out, giving the parents a break for an afternoon, etc. Amen.
I'm glad we went; he is such an adorable baby! I've always enjoyed being around young children--at least in small doses. I would work in the church nursery off and on as needed; I recently started teaching the primary grades Sunday School. Heck, I even work at a school, with kids all day! And let me tell ya--dismissal time is anticipated by all, children and adults alike! There's nothing like sending kids back to their parents.
No matter how much I enjoy being around kids, I've thought for a while that I don't want kids of my own. Looking after other kids for a period of time has its definite benefits--there's less of the discipline to worry about; if they're getting unruly, or if I'm just tired of their company, I get to send them home to their parents.
But while I was visiting my brother and his family, I had to start dealing with the facts that my YOUNGER brother is married (and I'm not), and he has a child (and I don't). Why was it that I didn't want kids? A good portion of why I didn't want kids was that I was scared that I couldn't hack it...that I wouldn't be able to handle the day-to-day parenting, particularly the discipline when necessary. I've even left the "traditional" (20+ kids) classroom, because consistent discipline was never a strong point. I'm more of a grandma or auntie personality than drill sargent. But I got to see that, for the most part, parents get time to figure things out as they go. For many months, it's mainly figuring out whether the baby is hungry or needs a new diaper, or just tired. Crawling and walking come in time, and the progression to solid food, then school...
But to be consistent in sticking to the "rules"...that would take some strength on my part that doesn't come naturally.
God reminded me a couple of things on this trip, the first of which is that when my strength fails, His is sufficient. If/when He gives me a child to raise, I can (and must!) rely on His strength for the day to day issues. Also, I don't have a child of my own, at least not yet.
So, since I am still in the single/childless camp, even though my brother--and practically all of the people I went to school with--are married with kids, what does God want me to do with this time in my life? It may last for only another few years (my boyfriend and I have talked about getting married, but nothing's official yet), or it may be for many more years. And even if I get married soon, I may not have kids for a while, if ever (Mike has decided he doesn't want kids).
I mentioned these thoughts/worries at the ladies' Bible study Tuesday night, after I got back from the trip. There was one other in attendance that didn't have kids. Everyone else was in various stages of motherhood (a couple of grandmothers), and the general consensus is that they are grateful to have people involved in their children's lives who aren't parents. (Make sense?) People who aren't tired from dealing with their own kids during the week teaching Sunday school and working in the nursery. Spending time with one of the kids on a group canoe trip. Just enjoying being around the kids. It was mentioned that, for a particular child, the people this child enjoyed being around the most (Sunday school teachers, etc) were all people who didn't have their own kids.
What does this mean for me? I'm going to try to not focus on the fact that I don't have children (when "everyone" my age has at least one, if not several), and open my eyes--with God's help--to what I can do in the place and time that God has placed me. I can't always be looking ahead to a time where I'll have kids--especially since there's a 50/50 chance that it may not even happen. I need to make the most of every day God has given me, living as God's servant who is not "tied down" by children, or even a husband (for now). Yes, I'm already committed to a Sunday School class, and an occasional slot in the nursery. But I can take the time to learn about the kids I don't normally see--the toddlers/kindergarteners, or those older than the ones in my class. Having children is not a prerequisite for being involved in Children's Ministry at church (thankfully!), and then there's the other kids with whom I come in contact. As a Compassion Advocate, I have a heart for kids. And why should it be limited to those I sponsor/correspond with?
Dear Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to the opportunities You're giving me on a daily basis to encourage children, and to help them grow into strong, mature adults. Thank you for giving me a heart to help their parents in raising their children, even in a small way. May I continue in what I'm already doing, and to see other ways where I can help out, giving the parents a break for an afternoon, etc. Amen.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
26,000 children under 5 die each day
That's the statistic provided by Compassion to introduce their Child Survival Program. 26,000 children--every day--dying mostly from preventable diseases. CSP provides prenatal care, health screenings, nutritious food to the mothers and babies, training on how to care for a developing young one: both physically and mentally.
How about another statistic? In Uganda, out of every 1000 live births, 76 babies will die before their first birthday. 137 more will die within the next four years (before their fifth birthday). The first five years are so critical that parents will sometimes not give their children names until they are 5, and are more certain to survive.
But these babies are not merely statistics--the are people, whether they live to grow up or whether they die early. I don't have children of my own, so I can only imagine what it must be like to lose a child. And I admit I have no real idea.
But what can I do about these statistics--once I think of them as children, families; not just impersonal numbers that don't affect me personally? What can be done?
Well, I mentioned Compassion's Child Survival Program. They may be the ones actually doing the work, but their support isn't free. They need to purchase the food and other supplies. We can partner with Compassion to provide the money needed to purchase these items (see the link above).
But if you're looking for a more tangible way to help, consider sending a care package to a mother in Uganda, through the Future Hope Project. Click on the "Give Hope" link to see what is needed. Everything should be able to fit in a gallon-sized ziploc bag, so don't think you'll need to go on a large spending spree--although if you want to, perhaps you can send multiple care packages! :)
How about another statistic? In Uganda, out of every 1000 live births, 76 babies will die before their first birthday. 137 more will die within the next four years (before their fifth birthday). The first five years are so critical that parents will sometimes not give their children names until they are 5, and are more certain to survive.
But these babies are not merely statistics--the are people, whether they live to grow up or whether they die early. I don't have children of my own, so I can only imagine what it must be like to lose a child. And I admit I have no real idea.
But what can I do about these statistics--once I think of them as children, families; not just impersonal numbers that don't affect me personally? What can be done?
Well, I mentioned Compassion's Child Survival Program. They may be the ones actually doing the work, but their support isn't free. They need to purchase the food and other supplies. We can partner with Compassion to provide the money needed to purchase these items (see the link above).
But if you're looking for a more tangible way to help, consider sending a care package to a mother in Uganda, through the Future Hope Project. Click on the "Give Hope" link to see what is needed. Everything should be able to fit in a gallon-sized ziploc bag, so don't think you'll need to go on a large spending spree--although if you want to, perhaps you can send multiple care packages! :)
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