Last year, I read the blogs of several bloggers who were visiting the Dominican Republic. They were sent by Compassion International to visit different projects and to blog about their visits in hopes of encouraging fellow bloggers to sponsor a child.
That's where I got the idea for Bob's Christmas present.
This past week Compassion International has sent a group of bloggers to India.
This trip reminds me of one of my favorite birthdays....
About ten years ago Bob and the boys sponsored a girl from India for my birthday present.
I remember the excitement over my gift. Bob had sworn the boys to secrecy and they were so excited about my present.
Everyday when the mail would arrive, the guys would want to know if my present was in the mail. I kept trying to pry the secret out of them but there was no prying this secret out of the boys.... which is really admirable when you consider they were only 2, 5 and 7.
However, after several days I finally got a little information out of Zach. He said that my present was from Indiana. What? Indiana? I was completely confused....until the package finally arrived. They had sponsored a little girl from India. I was so touched.
To this day that has been my favorite gift.
Here are a few links to give you an idea of the impact Compassion International makes on the lives of children.
We live in a country where a pair of shoes or a meal costs more than a monthly sponsorship.
We live in a country where we fret and worry about the silliest things.
Reading stories like the ones above snap me out of my complacency and force me out of my comfort zone.
It is really easy to ignore poverty and/or cast blame.
It isn't so easy to do something about it.
Maybe that's why we don't try. The problem is just too big or it's too complex.
Somehow I don't think God buys those excuses.
And just in case you missed this in the Revelation link, here it is again....
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Proverbs 31:8,9
3 comments:
The little girl I sponsor is named Ruth and she lives in Tanzania. She is adorable.
Leah
Our little boy is from Bangladesh. His name is Tapon and he is 9 years old . The monthly income of their household is $30. It is hard to fathom how many people in the world live in such poverty.
We would like to sponsor other children. I would love to find an organization that helps children in the U.S. as well. I know that there are many who live in poverty here as well as abroad. I'm sure there are many right here in our county as well.
Thanks Leah and Cindy for sharing.
Cindy- I too have a HUGE burden about the poverty in our own backyard/community. God is pushing and prodding me right now in that direction. For the past couple years He has been opening my eyes and heart. He is forcing me to own up to preconceived notions and prejudices about poverty, and lay them down as His feet. Needless to say....I've been humbled more than once in this area of my life.
People just want to be loved and accepted. People want to know that they matter. I think that if we love and accept them for who they are, they'll be more receptive to hear the gospel.
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