International Day of the Girl

October 11 is International Day of the Girl

If I am mentioning this special day, set apart to honour, support and recognise the needs of girls, why post a picture of men?

Because men in Uganda  have stepped up to help!

Click HERE to read Compassion Canada's full story about an inspiring and unexpected program in Mulatsi, Uganda that is strengthening community, generating income and empowering young women.

Please give, share, pray and rejoice as girls are equipped to step into the future God has prepared for them.

when I see you - I see me

I can almost feel the tears wet on your cheeks.

Sticks and stones break bones, and you've been lucky to avoid that kind of pain. But unlike the old rhyme, names and words cut deeper than flesh, leaving wounds that may take a lifetime to heal. What was it this time?  Fatso?  Ugly?  Stupid?  You've heard the words often enough that you begin to believe them, and worse, you think you're the only one deserving of such teasing.

I can almost taste the salt of those tears.  And the sting of isolation.  You are certain that you are all by yourself. But know this, little me. You are not alone, have never been, alone.  God is beside you, holding you even as you shake with sorrow.  He is molding you, preparing you to become the me that writes these words.

Years will teach you that some of what was said was true. You are not like everyone else.  But you will grow to celebrate all the ways in which you are unique.  One day someone will speak words of pure truth over you that will bathe all of those scars:

You are not different, you are set apart.
By Him and for Him.
His design with which He is well pleased.
And loved, oh so very loved.

Want to help a little life know the love of both God and man?  Consider sponsoring a child today.

I can hardly believe that it has been a year since I joined in Compassion Blog Month 2012.  God moved hearts and many children found love and care through those who began new sponsorships. While it was a joy to see love in action the needs are still great.

The goal this year is to get 3,160 children sponsored online by 11:59 p.m. mountain time on September 30.

joining Emily and the imperfect redeemed

Compassion Sunday is almost here

April 21st is Compassion Sunday, but I don't want to wait until then to share with you the opportunity to get involved in the lives of those who need you.  As Compassion shares:

Research on the outcome of child sponsorship will be published in the April 2013 issue of the Journal of Political Economy. Research that was conducted by Dr. Bruce Wydick, professor for the Department of Economics at the University of San Francisco. 

This independent research shows that children who participated in Compassion's holistic child development through the sponsorship program stayed in school longer, were more likely to have salaried or white-collar employment and were more likely to be leaders in their communities and churches than their peers who did not participate in our program. 

What Does This Mean for You? No matter who you are – Advocate, sponsor, donor, non-sponsor — you now have independent, empirical research validating Compassion’s Christian, holistic, child-focused, one-to-one Child Sponsorship Program. You can now confidently say, "It Works!”

As I have written about before, Rick and I sponsor a young boy in Uganda named Arafat.  Now I am praying and pleading on behalf of another young African child, a Kenyan girl named Joybishel.  You can find more information by visiting My Compassion Sunday page.

  

Feeling His heartbeat

When I first met the Lord and surrendered my life into His hands I was overjoyed.  He loved me enough to give His life for me.  This was good news, good news indeed!  So began a honeymoon season with my new King.  It was a time of celebrating and thanking Him for all He had done for me and looking forward to the life He had waiting for me.

Are you noticing a theme here?  My relationship with God was all about me.  When the honeymoon ended I was able to move into a time of wanting to know Jesus for Who He Is and not only what He could do for me.  I prayed that I would feel His heartbeat.  It was a prayer He was more than willing to answer.

The following scriptures came alive, piercing through my selfish spirit.

Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40 The Message

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you James 1:27 NLT

The Voice, a song by Lianna Klassen combined Isaiah's words:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  Isaiah 6:8 NIV

with words spoken by missionary in Ecuador Jim Elliot:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose 

The melody echoed in my mind and the words quaked in my heart. The Lord had indeed listened to my prayer and continued to answer.  I had the following dream that I recorded in my journal:

The Lord, my Lord said “Walk with Me. Walk with Me” 

and I said “but Lord I’m tired” 

and He kept calling “walk with Me” 

“But I’m tired Lord” 

“Walk with Me – I’ll take your burden. My yoke is easy, My burden is light” 

and so we walked – through sewers - and starving people were everywhere and forever 

 but He said all they needed was to know Him 

He was there for them, He died for them. They only need to know Him. 

“Walk with me”

I was broken, yet somehow felt more whole than ever before.  The blood that was shed for me flows through my veins.  This life is not about me, but about what He might do through me to touch others.

Sponsor a Child

We chose Compassion as a sponsorship program because of their focus on not only providing help, but doing all in the name of Jesus!  I ask that you would take some time to inquire of the Lord, ask Him in what ways He may be calling you to get involved as His hands and feet in this world.

 

Journey to Peru

In just two days a team of Compassion Bloggers will travel to Peru to witness firsthand Compassion International’s ministry to children in the highlands near Lima.

Why not take a moment now to visit and bookmark their blogs so that they can take you along on the journey.

Angela Smith of Bring the Rain
Jennifer Schmidt of Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Kevin & Layla Palmer of The Lettered Cottage
will be lead as always by the ever faithful and often road weary Shaun Groves

 

Only one, but one

I blog for Compassion.  My husband and I sponsor a child in Uganda.  We sponsor a family of Canadian missionaries in Kenya. We have hopes, dreams and prayers to one day soon devote our lives to serve with Operation Mobilization wherever God sends us.  Through social networking I promote the ministries and mission trips of others, envious at times, I must confess.

Hunger and brokenness abound in places near and far.  The scope of needs can overwhelm, freeze my thoughts and leave me feeling totally impotent.  Sometimes I seethe, angry.  More often, my eyes fill with tears, my heart broken at my inability to "fix things".

I may be a single drop in the ocean, but I must not allow that truth to stop that drop from watering the seed God designed it for.

If, like me, you find yourself feeling like nothing you can do could possibly be enough, I encourage you to remember these words spoken by Helen Keller:

I am only one, but still I am one. 

I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;

and because I cannot do everything, 

I will not refuse to do something that I can do. 

May our drops spill out, one by one.  Living water to quench a thirsty world.


 

Now I know...

The last assignment for Compassion Blog month is to write from the perspective of a sponsored child:

Alone, frightened
cold climbed in deep
and would not let me go.
The blankets you gave
like arms wrapped close
whispering Jesus.

I had never heard that name
but now I know
it means warm.

Alone, frightened
hunger dug in deep
and would not let me go.
The food you sent
poured into all that empty space
whispering Jesus.

I had never heard that name
but now I know
it means full.

You didn't tell me.
You showed me.
Opening your own life
to touch mine.

And now I know
Jesus means love.

As of last Friday, we were at 2,006 sponsorships. We have one week to go! Let's give 1,102 more children the gift of being sponsored this month. 

To find out the most recent sponsorship number for every day this week, follow Compassion on Twitter

 

Feeling the God-Bumps with Jennifer

and walking with the broken but redeemed with Emily

 

Choosing to love...

I didn't want to pick a child just because the picture called to me.  When God made it clear to us that it was time to sponsor a child through Compassion we sat at the computer and pulled up the list of children who had been waiting the longest time.

This little one in Uganda, a country that had already claimed our hearts when we were there in 2007 waited on and on for someone to choose him.  We realized it likely had nothing to do with where he lived or what he looked like or his age but it was his name that hindered.  Surely in North America people had many emotions stirred up when thinking of the name Arafat.

"How can we hold that against him?" I asked my husband, and our decision was made.  Never a regret, never a look back.  We opened our wallets and our hearts.

With apologies for the blurry photo that Rick snapped in poor light I encourage you to dive into Compassion's Pinterest Contest.  As part of Compassion's blog month, I encourage you to check into this and get involved even if you've never pinned before.

Halfway into Blog Month and 1,515 children in poverty have been sponsored.  Just 1,593 more to go!

Pray.  Blog. Sponsor. Help.


 

Letter on a windy day...

This week's assignment for Compassion Bloggers was to write a letter to God about sponsorship.

One week into blog month and 837 children have been sponsored.  We still have at least 2,271 more to go in order to reach our goal.  Visit the sponsorship page here, pray, love these ones...

My precious Lord:

Today marks eleven years since the Twin Towers fell in New York City.

Eleven years since acts of violence forever changed the way we live life.

Security has taken top priority, risen up like a golden calf.

We seem to seek safety above all else.

Your life wasn't safe Lord, you lived each moment

knowing that one day you would pay the ultimate price

your blood, your life, given for us.

The winds are howling strong today

trees trembling in a frenzied dance

the wail like a cry in my spirit, a continuous prayer

let me be more like You

dead to myself and alive in You

living for grace, for love, for mercy and justice

There are so many children who have never known safety

they have never lived in what we would call a home

families are broken, shattered with need

help me to care more for them

then my own comfort

The wind howls still

as my prayers continue

help me be a mother to the motherless

a friend to the weak

let me be filled with Your passion, Lord.

I may be the only Jesus they see

may I reflect You, Lord as You are

not as I might imagine You

True light, true love.

The answer to every question, asked or silent.

Through the acts of my heart and hands

may they taste and see that You are good.

  

 

Not at all silly...

By modern North American standards we do not possess financial riches yet my husband and I are wealthy indeed.  We have a home on 20 beautiful acres of land, heat when the Canadian winds blow cold, food on the table and a reliable vehicle to drive.  The mortgage gets paid, as does the car loan, even though at times it seems that the money in the bank won't stretch that far. We place our trust in the God Who provides and He hasn't let us down yet.  Silly?  Maybe to some, but not to us.

And though we weren't really sure we would have enough funds to make monthly support payments, we still took the plunge to sponsor an African child through Compassion Canada.  Silly?  According to logic and balance sheets, yes, but we have learned that in the Kingdom of God, things defy man's logic.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,  and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverb 19:17 NIV

In our lack we have so much more than most of the world.  Reaching out with love to a child in need grounds us, excites us, and expands our hearts.  I know it can do the same for you.  I overflow with joy knowing that in some small way I am helping children learn about the love of Jesus.  All that Compassion does is in His name.

Please take a few moments and click over to Compassion's website.  Read about the children who need your loving support.  I pray that you will spend some time asking the Lord what He would have you do.

And if you think that prayer, talking to someone you can not see is silly, I dare you to jump into silliness head first!

Being quite serious today with Peter and the word silly

 

September draws near

September is Blog Month at Compassion, an opportunity for bloggers everywhere to let their voice ring loud with the heartbeat of Jesus as we strive to find sponsors for at least 3,108 children.

We will be given writing challenges to spark our posts, plus giveaways and prizes.  Read more about what next month will bring on Compassion's blog.

As for me, the greatest prize is knowing that in some small way I can help children know the love of our Lord through the hands and hearts of those who would choose to sponsor.

Stay tuned for more as September rolls in, and pray about how God would have you participate.

 

Compassion in Tanzania

 

Bloggers are once again out on a limb for our amazing and loving God. 

Amy Lupold Bair of Resourceful Mommy

Jolanthe of Homeschool Creations

Kelli Stuart of Minivans are Hot

Maggie Whitley of Gussy Sews

Scott Williams of Big is the New Small

and The Nester at The Nester

have joined trip leaders Keely Scott and Shaun Groves to explore what God is doing in Tanzania, seeking His heart and acting from the well of His great love.

You can follow each of their blogs at the links above and/or keep track of them all on the Compassion Blogger's Tanzania trip page here

As I read their stories I hear the voice of My Lord reminding me not to covet other people's mission experiences, particularly in Africa, where the red dirt claimed my heart.  I will try to eleaborate in another post the stirrings in my spirit, but for now, check on those in Tanzania and let your heart beat with His!

 

Healing a heart

Yesterday I received Bonnie’s email informing me that the topic for this week Faith Jam was to share a heart healing moment and before I had even a moment to ponder what I would write about I received another message in my inbox from Compassion International with the subject line Blogger assignment - 6 year old boy needs heart surgery

I don’t believe God could have spoken more clearly than this seeming coincidence.

There have been countless occasions when God has reached into my heart to touch exactly the spot that hurt most, healing in ways not possible for anyone but Him. These were places of raw emotion, aching areas in my mind and spirit. In all of my pain and distress, however, my physical heart remained sound.

In southwest Burkina Faso, Abdoul Fatao Kone is living a different story. Six year old Fatao has a ventricular septal defect, a hole in his heart. His parents have known about his condition since he was one year old but have never been able to afford the proper medical care. They attempted to heal little Fatao with traditional methods which left him with scars and small holes where healing herbs were placed in his body.

In December 2010 Fatao was registered with Compassion’s Sponsorship program and was seen by a physician and a cardiologist who confirmed that he requires surgery. For this surgery, Fatao needs to travel to India. The total cost of his surgery, including passport, visa, travel, the surgery itself and follow-up care, is $23,000.

Would you take a moment to pray and ask the Lord how He might want you to help.
You can read more about Fatao on Compassion’s blog and you can donate online as well.

Fatao’s parents will not be able to travel with him to India.  I can’t imagine how frightening this will be for such a young boy.  When you give online you will be able to write a letter to Fatao which will be read to him before his surgery. Your words can encourage and strengthen him and breathe the hope and love of Jesus into his spirit.

Together, as the body of Christ we can surely give this young life the heart healing moment he needs.


Jamming with Bonnie today as I pray... for Fatao and all other broken hearts


 

End the waiting

I have never known many things you know
what its like to go to school
or hold a book in my hand
how it would feel
to not have constant hunger
gnawing away inside
or wonder if today is the day that I will die

I have spent all of my days in poverty.
But God loves His children
so He sent Compassion to a church near my home

There are so many benefits Compassion provides:

educational opportunities
health care and health-related instruction
good nutrition
and life-skills training
all this wrapped up in the love of Jesus
and the chance to hear the Good News of His Kingdom.

My parents took me to this church.
They asked lots of questions about me and my family, they even took my picture.
Then they told me I was officially registered.

That was an exciting day, not only would I get to receive all of these blessings
but they told me I would be connected to a special person
a sponsor from far away who has so much love in their heart
that they would want to share it with someone like me.

I was registered, but I had to wait for someone to sponsor me.

So I waited
and I waited
and I waited...
wondering if there is something wrong with me
no sponsor has chosen me yet
so I wait still...

When you see a heart in the lower left-hand corner of a sponsor child's picture, it means that particular child has been waiting for a sponsor for nearly six months - at least 180 days.

You can be the answer to the questions of worthiness that haunt a child like the one I wrote about above.



Compassion International offers you the opportunity to sponsor a child who has been waiting for six months or longer. 
Visit Compassion's website by clicking here to explore this chance to share your heart and your help.

Sponsor a child today and receive a free Compassion scrapbook. This scrapbook will be a great way to organize all the letters and photos you receive from your sponsored child. Just make your first payment today with your credit or debit card to receive this free gift. This offer is only available to citizens of the United States.

But the greatest gift is what you will receive in return, the joy of knowing the impact you have made in the life of a hurting and waiting child.