Yesterday, we had the BLESSED opportunity to visit Compassion International's Change the Story exhibit.
This is a walk through our journey over seas and into lives. I don't want to forget. And I pray they don't forget...
Upon entering the event mobile structure, we were warmly greeted by volunteers who of course asked how many of our group were "actually our children". :) We were ALL given iPods with headsets to experience the sounds, voice, story of 3 unique REAL stories of Compassion International sponsored children as their lives have unfolded and been changed by this incredible, God-honoring ministry we love! Compassion International cares for each ONE.
Compassion is close to our hearts. We sponsor a boy and girl. Our children do the ministry. They are the ones who write the letters and send the photos. They are the ones who correspond because we are firm believers that children can do ministry. With right perspective, we see that handwriting letters to an impoverished friend across the ocean is not only handwriting or computer skills acquired, but something SO much more! It's an education of the heart. Our field trip yesterday falls into the same category...and nothing matters more to us through our homeschooling. THIS is why we do what we do...to see our kids gleam and watch their hearts and minds develop out of the box...what an opportunity!
It was quite the thrill for each child to have their own devise to listen and learn and even the little ones clearly understood.
As a parent, it was both exhilarating and heart-wrenching to see the expressions on their faces as they took in the bitter realities of SO many/too many innocent little children (just like them) around our world.
And God cares.
And they care.
As we would enter the opening room at the outset of each story, there were doors leading into the 3 life stories shared.
Each child was from a different country with a unique testimony of God's grace as He brought Compassion International into their dreadful circumstances and gave them hope and a future.
The stories began in the children's earlier childhood years with desperate situations, all real.
It walked us through recreated rooms with actual photos of the children in their younger years.
The child's voice in our ears told of things no child should ever see or live. The child told of their fears, how they had to support their families (one at the age of 6), how it felt to live in their lives back then, the dangers all around, the adult decisions they had to make at an age when our children are playing with toys.
BUT...by God's grace, each of these stories had a turn around when Compassion came in.
We saw real letters and photos of the sponsors of each of the children. We heard of the hope these sponsors spoke into the children's lives over the course of years. One even had saved a birthday card her whole life which her sponsor had sent.
She was so proud of her card. She spoke of how she had shown everyone and kept it all this time.
Our children were INSPIRED to see how their words to their sponsored pen pal friends
across the globe can speak God's truth into their lives and create CHANGE.
In a main and central room where all 3 stories land, we saw video of the areas where the children lived and photos of their sponsors in a recreated classroom like the ones our Compassion children experience.
We were enamored.
Boden was hilarious...his headphones on his cheeks half the time, but he listened and observed and soaked it all in.
Our active little guy was such a good listener. He will change lives in Jesus' name someday.
In the last room of each story, a video of the real now-adult child came on our iPod. They shared how they are now giving back in their communities and living successful and healthy lives for God's glory! Praise the Lord!!
It was extremely touching to see! Brodie's heart is so tender for the least of these. It was a privilege to watch him swell yet further to serve the Lord in desperate places, a passion that drives his heart! I LOVE this about my dear husband.
Once each story was complete, we walked into a room full of children's photos waiting to be sponsored, lives worthy and precious, each one...waiting to be CHANGED. I couldn't help but marvel as my son took it all in with care and concern,
he himself less than 2 years removed from the same type of circumstances we had been listening to. It's heartbreaking.
he himself less than 2 years removed from the same type of circumstances we had been listening to. It's heartbreaking.
And yet, so joyous and full of redemption that God chose Noble, set LOVE upon him, and brought him into family.
Noble is LOVED. Noble is cared for. He knows this grace in the depths of him, though maybe not in full reality yet.
But, his thoughtful heart sheds light on what God has done for good in his life story already, even at such a young age.
Our big 4 year old now...his eyes once vacant, now shine with JOY!
Again, we praise the Lord!!
As we left the tents and headed back out to our privileged life here in America...so far, so distant from those we'd just experienced...we knew we had all been changed. Our perspective had widened once more. Our hearts had expanded.
It was fitting that the sign next to us as we took a family photo said:
It was indeed life-changing, especially for our older children. They saw and heard and felt the change that a Compassion sponsor (just like them!) can make in the life of a child, a person, an eternal soul loved by God.
Each of us were handed a bracelet after our encounter to remember...
...and we will...
Thank you, Compassion International for the work you do and the lives you change in Jesus' name.
Both recipients and sponsors alike are influenced for God's glory because you and He care for the ONE.
"As you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me."
Matthew 25:40