Sponsored Child Update

Towards the end of the year last year I decided to sponsor a child through Compassion International with the funds I receive through my business.  Thus, she doesn't only become my sponsored child, but anyone who purchases my work sponsors her as well. 

I recently received a letter from her, my first letter!  It filled my heart with pure joy and excitement as I read some of her favorite things and admired the small drawings she included.  What a gift!  I got drawings!  So that she may be in your thoughts and prayers, as in mine, I would love to share some of things she shared with me.

She has a mom, dad, and younger brother (she is 7).  She drew a flag, maple leaf, and what looks like a purse.  Her favorite color is red, and her favorite game is skipping.  She wants to be a doctor when she grows up, and with the love of Christ it's incredible how she wants to make her life about helping others.  Her favorite song is "Jesus is my Savior" and her favorite bible story is when Jesus turns water into wine.  That is a pretty spectacular story I might add.  :)  On her worksheet it asks if she could go anywhere, where would she go.  Her answer, the local forest because she would see nature.  How beautiful!

I am totally looking forward to writing her back, and I think this time I am going to send her a drawing or painting.  It's so affirming when I get to share similar interests with her.  When and if you choose to pick the child you sponsor it's incredibly difficult because you see that each child needs and wants your love.  Knowing that this could be a great relationship and that God's hands are involved, is just pure beauty.

I'm wanting to design a project for her, something we as a collective could create to send to her.  I can only send things that would fit in the envelope, so it will take some brainstorming, but stay tuned if you're interested.  Actually, let me know in the comment area if you are!  It'd be great to see how many people would be willing to contribute a sketch, a word (i.e. love, compassion, joy, etc.) on a card, postcard, anything.  Imagine being 7, living in poverty, and receiving such a gift from complete strangers.  What a testimony to God's love for her and her family!

God bless!

So Grateful

Today I started my first correspondence to Bristi, a seven year old girl living in Bangladesh. I decided at the beginning of this month to sponsor a child with the funds I receive through my business. A journey I hope many of us can take together.

I had no idea how blessed I would feel just printing out a couple of photos and writing her a five sentence note! I am excited to hear back from her, tho I have learned that will take lots of patience. Bristi will write me three times a year. That's not a lot. I'm anxious to see that frown turn into a smile and learn about her.

This decision came after a long desire to sponsor plus a great service at church that discussed faith with finances and doing more for others. I believe the timing couldn't be any better since this is the time of year that we are to give thanks (in our country). I am grateful that God brought this upon my heart, I can't see my money doing any thing better than supporting this girl. I look around at what I have then read about what she has. I am living like a queen compared to her and her family. My apartment is small and I don't have much in way of money, but that is according to our country's standards...which are high if you compare to the rest of the world. By doing this I know I will die knowing I helped at least her with what I have been given.

It is my hope and desire to sponsor more than one child, but this is a great start. The foundation I'm working with is Compassion International. Brian suggested it when I said I was thinking of going through Child Fund. He has worked with youth groups that have used Compassion and I liked learning that almost 100% of the money I send goes directly to Bristi and her family.

About Bristi
She lives with her mother, father, and one sibling. She enjoys playing with dolls and reading, and attends Bible class regularly. Her responsibilities at home are carrying water and cleaning. Her dad sometimes works as a laborer and mom maintains the home. She lives on the plains of Ophapur, where the houses are constructed of dirt floors, mud walls, and corrugated iron roofs. They eat fish, rice and lentils and the common health problems are malnutrition, viral hepatitis, diarrhea, and skin diseases.

Please pray for Bristi and her family this holiday season, and remember the hundreds of thousands, upon millions of people on this planet that need help from us, the rich.