I sponsored my first child in college. A few months later I got a letter in the mail telling me that child was “no longer in the program” and asking me to sponsor another.
I was a cynical immature college student and that one letter gave my inner skeptic everything it needed to write Compassion off as a scam…for the next nine years.
In 2001, when I first started my “job” as a singer guy, Suzie from Compassion’s staff started talking to me about speaking for the organization at my concerts. I kept her at bay with antagonistic question after question for four years until I finally ran out of them and agreed to at least go see what Compassion’s ministry to children looked like for myself.
Seeing is believing.
Since that trip to El Salvador my family has simplified our life so that more can simply live – paid off debt, downsized the house, canceled the cable and more. And all I do these days is travel America and Canada, to 100 cities each year, speaking and singing on behalf of Compassion’s kids.
Believing is changing.
A couple years ago my friends and I had a simple idea: Take everyday people with lots of on-line friends on a trip like the one I took to El Salvador. Let them ask question after question – anything they want. Let them look in every file cabinet, behind every closed door, talk to anyone they want about anything they want. And let them write about it.
Let them see malnourished children nursed back to life.
Let them play.
Let them hear the sound of hope and joy coming from those once silenced by poverty.
Let them see the letters children receive from their sponsors – letters packed away in special hiding places like treasures.
Let them hear children recite the names of their sponsors as if they are old friends – as if they are family.
Let them see. Believe. Be changed. And tell the world about it.
Because change is contagious.
Have you caught it yet?
Marie says:
Thank you. Thank you. I sponsored my first child yesterday. My 4 kids loved picking a child and actually are begging to pick more. I can’t wait to start communicating and someday look forward to meeting him. Thank you again for bringing all this to us so we can see the truth to it all.
Marie
jd says:
Marie — you’ve made a life changing decision, not only for your new sponsored child, but for your family!!! You will not regret this, it’s an amazing experience!
We have had 5 children sponsored through Compassion, and they are family to us — I don’t know who has benefited more from this experience, them, or us. It’s that much of a blessing all around!!
Much love!!
jd says:
Just joined the Compassion Advocacy Network here in Canada, and registered for a Compassion trip to Honduras in June to do just that… to experience it first hand, to break my heart even further, and to come back home and share the experience through speaking, writing and photography.
Life will never be the same… and it shouldn’t be the same, ever again.
Linda Thomas says:
Moving. Very moving. I love the children’s singing. I especially love the face of the little boy pictured at the top of today’s post. Bless you for helping those dear people.
Brian Smith says:
thank you! not a skeptic myself but the blog posts and photos will be valuable in giving answers to those I talk to who may be
Courtney Raines says:
Wow. I read all of the blogs and I am so moved. I sit at my desk here at work and just cry. I have it so good and so does my husband and son. I want to talk to them this weekend about sponsoring a child. How rewarding it will be, for them, and for us too. I think that is what the Lord is wanting me to do… why I feel addicted to reading all of the blog updates about these children and their families. Thank you for all you do!
~Courtney
Barb Remer says:
How I wish I could have joined you. We sponsor a girl in Kenya, our 2nd after the first grew up ๐ Compassion’s one-on-one relationship makes it such a joy!! Have a great trip.
E-Jayjo says:
I have loved following each of the compassion bloggers’ trips. Thanks for continuing. We sponsored our child through one of these.
Janera says:
My 14-year old daughter and I sponsor two children and pray/write letters to a third, who is sponsored by Ree Drummond and her family.
I want to do something magnificent in this life, which I’ve decided is never going to happen. I’m sad to say I may never get to do mission work or write the great book I always wanted to write. Our hopes and dreams for our lives are not always God’s, it seems. However, sponsoring these children makes me feel closer to that dream, at least.
Johanna says:
Whew. Hearing those girls say their sponsor names=tears. Beautiful.
Stephanie says:
Shaun, I too sponsored a child that left the program after my first letter. I gave it another try but that one left the program too. So I walked away from Compassion for 9 years also (neat coincidence?). Then I was listening to my iPod last month and “Welcome Home” came on. I saw you in concert with Jars of Clay but wondered what you were up to these days so I checked out your website and saw your involvement with Compassion. So I headed over to the CI website and decided to try again. But this time, God really god a hold of my heart. I have signed up to sponsor 3 children (including 1 from Kenya). That’s all I can afford but I want do more so I have submitted my application to join the Advocates network. You are a talented singer/songwriter/musician but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making Compassion your priority! God bless you. – a fan