Yesterday was so difficult to take in that a couple bloggers called it a day around noon and stayed in their rooms to process it all. It was a day of despair and little hope. We nearly drowned in the statistics alone:
But today we saw nothing but hope.
I visited a young mother and father and their boy Moses at home. Someone from the Compassion project meets with every family every month to make sure everyone is being cared for economically, socially, academically, physically and spiritually and I got to tag along. Goals were set: For instance, Moses’ mother pledged to serve her church by singing in the choir – a spiritual goal set. Progress was demonstrated: Moses’ mother showed us a doll she made out of a plant, and a ball she made out of scrap material just the way the implentor had taught her last month – a parenting goal met. That’s hope.
Mose’s mother believes he could be a doctor and make a difference in Uganda when he’s their age. His father’s dream is simply that Moses would grow up and be a man with a job who obeys and loves God. That’s hope.
We went to a project where mothers and fathers are learning trades that will end the cycle of poverty. I met a mother who figured out how to make a coffee substitute out of avocado seeds. Compassion helped her discover the need for such a thing, develop the product, manufacture it in her home and bring it to market. Brilliant. I met a man who learned to garden and a woman who sews and launders clothes. They won’t need Compassion’s help soon. That’s hope.
I must have held twenty healthy happy preschool kids today. Little girls in new dresses, braids in their hair, blinding smiles stretched across their dark faces, cups of porridge in their hands. That’s hope.
Hope is everywhere here. What Compassion and its sponsors do together is working! Poverty is being beaten back. And today more than ever I just don’t get why so many Christians in America, so many of you reading this blog, haven’t sponsored a child yet. What are you waiting for? Everyone can give up caffeine, or golf, or cable or McDonald’s to come up with $32 every month. Everyone can see from Compassion International’s ratings from experts on non-profits that they can be trusted. Everyone can imagine what it’s like to be a mother or father who can’t feed their child, can’t afford life-saving medicine, can’t clothe them. Everyone. I’m through softening the “ask.” I’ve seen too much this week and I’m too tired (It’s 2 AM) to be subtle. There’s a need. You can meet it. It really is that simple.
Keep the hope coming. Save a life. Sponsor a child today.
Cindi says:
Thank you for all you are doing – we sponsored a child today (through Carlos’ site), but are reading your inspiration as well. Our son can’t wait to send his first letter to his new brother. Thank you for doing this – you have all changed our lives.
P.D. Ross says:
Shaun,
Keep running the race!
Bush says:
Amen…
Sarah says:
Hi. We sponsored a child in Uganda yesterday after reading your post about stars. It’s something we’ve been meaning to do for a while. Your words were what I needed to finally do it. Thank you.
Deidre says:
Thank you for posting about the ‘hope’ and saying progress is being made. I think we all need to hear that.
Sponsoring….
Tracy says:
I am so proud of all that you and the other bloggers are doing. I know you guys are being changed, but I am too. It is a blessing!
The Bargain Shopper Lady says:
God is our hope! God is using you guys as hope! I pray that thousands of children are sponsored through this trip!
mimi2six says:
You are changing lives…not just lives of families in Uganda but lives here in America…..my life. Thank you for your direct and powerful words. We can hardly wait to get the information about our newly sponsored kids. (I’m Shannon’s mom. I’m praying for all of you.)
Shawn says:
I’m praying for all that you are doing over there. Like I said in previous posts, I have made that move to sponsor a child (when you were at our church a few weeks back). I agree that it’s easy to cut something out of your life and to give that $32.00 a month to sponsor a child. Mine was buying breakfast out every morning and staying home to eat breakfast instead. That money is now being well spent to give HOPE to the child that we are sponsoring and his family too! God bless you Shaun!
John Ireland says:
shaun, the whole “hope” deal is so true; at least, as i remember similar sentiments while in india last summer.
i saw it all over the faces of the beautiful children in madhupur, jharkhand.
so important not to get bogged down in the negatives; hard, but important.
RevJeff says:
You don’t need to soften the ask. Just sharing what you are seeing should motivate anybody with a heart.
bendavy says:
Last night my wife and I new it was time to sponsor, period.
Jess says:
I just got from a Compassion Sponsorship tour with my family in the Dominican Republic last month.
WOW, i’ve never seen so many miracles crammed into one week!
when i left my home to visit my families sponsored children, I left as a teenager with little purpose.
But when i came home, I wasn’t just a teenage girl anymore, i was a warrior for God, with many new friends and brothers and sisters!
i have a lot more confidence, and i even sponsor a girl with my two younger sisters.
everyone around me can see how much this trip has impacted me, and i cant wait to go back.
Ray says:
I agree that it’s easy to cut something out of your life and to give that $32.00 a month to sponsor a child. Mine was buying breakfast out every morning and staying home to eat breakfast instead.
So important not to get bogged down in the negatives. Hard but important.
Rose says:
Hmmm, it is funny how the process (wrestling match/internal political-candidate-level debate) starts over every time I consider sponsoring another child. The first was a debate, then great joy. The second was just as difficult a decision and just as great a joy. Now considering a third has me back at the drawing board, reevaluating every aspect of life. I understand the process, but why can I not trust the joy too? A question (if you still read comments on very old blog posts) – how do you know when to stop? Do you just eventually sponsor 20 kids? When do you decide what to do when you think the money cannot stretch any further, or whether you should consider other things/places instead?