Years ago we signed up to sponsor our first
Compassion International child...a girl. Aida and Elka are her primary contacts.
Their name is on her account. They write the letters and send the gifts, pray for her. It's beautiful.
"All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
Galatians 2:10
At some point after, we signed up for our second sponsored child...a boy. Brodie (Jr.) became his primary contact.
His name is on his account. He writes the letters and sends the gifts, prays for him. And, it's beautiful.
"If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:3
This year as I read Brodie's tenderhearted birthday card letter to his sponsored friend in Ethiopia, I had to hold back tears as I realized the compassion this opportunity has grown in my son...and my daughters. They are involved in the lives of these kids.
They've watched them grow up over the years and prayed for them through the seasons. Their letters and donations
make a difference and they're learning eternal things through their correspondence.
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example
for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12
(The kids keep their letters in folders.)
Last year we attended a
Compassion International Change the Story event and it was awesome! All of us were enthralled and captivated to take a walk through real life stories of children just like the ones we get to invest in. As the kids saw the keepsake letters written from sponsors just like them, they were able to see with their eyes and touch with their hands the tangibility of the opportunity they have to influence a life for God's glory through their letter writing and contributions.
The whole experience that day further encouraged our children in their Compassion International friendships across the globe and they all dream of the day they will get to take a trip to meet them in person. What a special day that will be!
Compassion International is an excellent ministry, giving adults and children alike the privilege to participate in kingdom work.
We're thankful for what it adds to our homeschool and lives. I'm sure there will be more sponsored children joining our extended family as younger siblings observe and become ready to begin their own correspondence as well...thanks to Compassion.
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good,
to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share."
1 Timothy 6:17-18
"And the King will answer them,
‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"
Matthew 25:40
