Shaun Groves
At the end of every Compassion blogging trip I lead the bloggers in a time of “debriefing.” It helps us process what we’ve experienced, get some of the nasty destructive thoughts and emotions out and begin thinking about how we’ll re-enter a society that hasn’t been where we’ve been.
Last night I started the debrief by telling the story of John 9: Jesus and his disciples saw a man born into physical poverty. He was blind from birth. The disciples asked Jesus whose sin the man was being punished for. Did God smite him with darkness because of his own mistakes? Or his parents? Who’s fault was it?
Jesus didn’t point fingers at human errors. He pointed to God.
…this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
The bloggers and I have walked this week through the worst poverty I’ve ever seen. And we’ve wondered at times why it exists. Political corruption and apathy plays a role. Complexities of world markets, educational systems, and the environment factor in as well. But then there’s God’s glory to consider.
The “glory” of God is the “full measure” of God – his total character and ability. The complete image of the Creator. Parts of that image don’t show up well against the gray backdrop of an affluent culture. To see some parts of God some of us need to see him against the darkness of poverty.
In such bleakness we see the full extent and efficacy of God’s physical, economic, physical and spiritual provision. Only among the hungry can some of us see daily bread as the miracle it is. Only among the dying can some of us see breath as the gift it is. Only among the hopeless can some of us see Jesus as the Rescuer he us.
In the dark slums of Kenya we’ve all seen God moving from house to house, child to child. His image is a little more complete than it was before Kenya.
Last night I asked the bloggers to share what they saw of God this week. They were encouraged to tell the stories they couldn’t blog. I asked them what snapshot from the week would stay with them even in the old folks home. They did. We cried. We laughed. We made promises to each other and God, talked through the difficulties of going home, and prayed for God’s help. Then laughed some more.
Now it’s your turn.
I don’t usually allow anonymous comments but I will this once. What did you see of God this week through our blogs? What snapshot will stay with you for the rest of your life? What promises do you need to make to yourself and God going forward?
Please share. For the glory of God.
Robert James says:
Not just snapshots but video as well. Owen, Kent Shaffer’s sponsored child, pointing and saying “merry go-round”.
Lindsay @ Not2Us says:
I’ve blogged twice since you’ve all been in Africa. I think the biggest thing that God has been re-teaching me is that my life can make a far bigger impact than my blog ever will.
kari says:
I wrote about it here, (http://wp.me/pdOBH-ld) but God has shown me this week that I consume, spend and desire selfishly–He has given so much, and I need to reconsider my priorities.
Thank you for your honesty and your compassion. All of your photos (all of them…) will be in my heart and head forever.
Thank you ,and God bless.
k
Elaina says:
The other Compassion blogging trips were completely out of my view because, well, I was being a Jonah so I avoided anything that might give me a glimpse of what God wanted me doing. But this one wasn’t because I had finally decided to stop running. This trip has reawakened in me a burden for the poor and fatherless. This trip, through the beautiful and the heart wrenching photos and the stories, has softened my heart in ways that were so needed.
I needed to see Jesus’ heart for the world again. I have been thankful for the extravagant love and grace He has bestowed on me. But I was missing this piece. I needed to see His heart for the world again. I’ve seen it. I am so thankful to all of you for sharing that. I believe He has used this trip and your experiences, to help form how He wants me to serve and share what I have to give.
Things have been really challenging this year. I’ve been out of work since Jan 09. I’ve done a lot of whining. So in addition, to God reawakening this desire to serve and give, I’ve also had a lot of things put in perspective. In spite of being out of work for so long, I’m wealthy in comparison. ALL of my needs are being met. I have a responsibility to share what I’ve been given.
This is quite long but I’ve just been really overwhelmed, blessed and challenged by reading through all of the blog posts about this trip. So I’m really thankful.
Sara says:
“God loves me enough to feed me, bless me, and give me hope for the future. Amen.”
I prayed several weeks ago that our God would open my eyes to the things He see’s daily…to know His heart more and the Heart of His people. I never imagined the world my eyes would start to see. Not only of His people, but of myself…the things I have…the way I can bless. I think sometimes we’re so ready to receive the blessing, we forget to bless. At some point in time we have to know that we’ve been prepared for His kingdom work and it’s time to start doing it. We … I … need to be saying ‘Yes Lord’ and doing what He put me here to do.
So…Yes Lord…
Thank you Shaun. We are so humbled by the message and we are gearing up to go serve.
Shaun Groves says:
Incredible! SO encouraging! Thank you for bravely sharing here. Keep ’em coming!
Bethany says:
For me it was the story of the zebra and being beautiful! It was a brilliant way to take something the little girls understood and could apply to the truth of themselves. I always follow along with the blogging trips as they are compelling and inspiring. They present bigger pictures in a world where we get caught up in our own small ones. I just wish I could do more.
Juli says:
I sponsored a child through Compassion last year after reading the Living Proof blog. A few months later the grandparents of my sponsored child pulled her out of the program. I didn’t immediately sponsor another child because it shook me up a bit. I’m not sure I can explain exactly why. I felt connected to her and wanted to help and then, that opportunity was taken from me.
I’ve been reading your posts and Anne Jackson’s posts from this trip, and I’m happy to say that the Lord led me to choose a new child to sponsor.
For me, I think it’s the photos. I have a 19-month-old son, and I see him in the eyes of the children in the photos.
Thank you for what you do for Compassion and the children of the world.
Vicki Small says:
We’ve been blessed beyond measure, pressed down and running over. We have been sharing a lot, out of our blessings, but…even in the economic downturn, when our business has all but died, we still have to admit that we are rich, by the world’s measure. So I need to stop asking God to bless us more so that we can share more. We just need to share more.
Tania @ Larger Family Life says:
I’ve followed all the Compassion Blogger Trips and it was actually after the Uganda one that we sponsored our first child through Compassion. My husband and I are now a Compassion Advocates here in the UK, so thank you for introducing us!
I have to say that the conditions of the slum are by far the most shocking, the most awful, the most heartbreaking I have seen. And of course, Eliud and the prayer above his door. It just put my life in perspective, and then I felt ashamed at all my “woes”.
Cheri says:
Many of the posts were moving and touching and I loved the way Patricia tied shoes into all of her posts. The posts that helped me encounter Jeses to a new level were the ones from the Mathre Slums. “God loves me enough to feed me, bless me, and give me hope for the future. Amen.”
I haven’t been to many places but I have been to Haiti and Honduras and have been changed for life by these experience to start with. As a Compassion Advocate I have read and processed material to help bring it to others. But this is a whole new level. It reminds me and convicts in my soul why I sponsor and the mission that Jesus is leading me on by being an advocate for Compassion. I had resisted his calling me for some time because I could accept sponsoring children myself but was afraid to ask others to spend their money to sponsor a child. I walked with the Lord and he opened tiny doors. These doors have let me have small glimpses of our amazing God which have been overwhelming at times. This trip and the posts give us strength to carry on when we get weak and tired and face rejection in this busy world as we ask people to sponsor.
I was working with a group of high school students recently and we were talking about the story of the “Rich Young Ruler” who was told by Jesus that if he wanted eternal life he had to give up everything. It would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. We explored others stories where Jesus encoutered people and he always told them how they needed to correct their lives if they wanted to go to heaven and how it wasn’t always about giving everything away. But to ask the question what in my life is keeping me from God and eternal life. Listen and Jesus will give you the answer. These sponsored children in Kenya with hope and passion have really listened to the Lord and are helping me to keep asking the question so I may be released from my worldly wealth and have a chance to pass through the eye of that needle. Who knows maybe on the back of a camel from Kenya!
Praying for all of you for a safe trip home and a God filled re-entry.
Hoping to meet you this summer at Lifest in Oshkosh.
Thomas says:
I wish that I could put down in words in how this trip has affected me. The one thing I hope that I never will forget is when I broke down and cried while reading last weekends Compassion blogger post.
Thomas
Meredith says:
I asked a friend last night if he ever felt like he was meant for something great; if he ever felt that he was made, not for a moment, but a lifetime of influence and impact. Not because of who he was, but because of what the Lord would do through him, through his simple obedience. “You ever feel like you are on the cusp of greatness?” I asked.
It dawned on me this morning– we all are. We were created by a glorious God, in His image, to reflect His glory. We are made for greatness because He is great. We were made to do great and glorious things because He did, and we have been called to imitate Him and His ways.
What I have seen in and through the lives of the children you met and the testimonies you gave is that glory has a whole new meaning. A glorious life is not a product of much fame, wealth, recognition, or notoriety. A glorious life is a life that is is surrendered to and spent for the glory of God. I saw it in each child’s face. A love and faith in God that is glorious because they so completely reflect His being glorified in their lives, not in spite of their poverty, but in the midst of it.
Sherry says:
Each morning this week I have gotten up to see what has been posted by the bloggers (and sometimes snuck a peak during the workday, too). I loved seeing the
kaleidoscope of Compassion’s outreach Kenya through the many perspectives of the bloggers. The colors and patterns of Kenya would turn and click as we read about this journey from many so points of view. How wonderful.
What stands out to me are the individual narratives that were shared, like the story and video of Eliud. Or the woman tending her kitchen garden with such skill. Or the girls who now wear sturdy shoes to school. As well as the impact of these stories on the bloggers. The stories (and the incredible photos) brought Kenya alive for me. I realized how many amazing kids there are in Compassion projects, and how many more are waiting their chance at a better future, around the world.
This trip has called our family back to simple living, to remember that the opposite of poverty is not wealth; it’s “enough”. (Stole that off a t-shirt I saw at the Compassion store.) Our family has enough, and it’s time to share our more than enough. We’re answering that call.
We sponsored 2 additional kiddoes from Kenya this week, but I believe the impact on our family will go beyond that. Though they have already given so much, I hope the bloggers will continue to reflect about this trip when they return, so that we can continue the journey together. In some ways, it feels like it just starts with this trip to Kenya, and this reminder of what’s really important.
You created a powerful portal here into a world of Compassion’s work, and I’m so grateful to have been invited in. Thank you.
Juli Jarvis says:
Just really touched by all the posts this week. Thank you so much for taking Bloggers to the projects so we can read about their experiences. I was really touched by the Mathare slum & by those kids who survived being orphans in that place. What an inspiration they are to me! I should never think I have any trials in life again…
Cool Springs Todd says:
I have never been to Africa but am intrigued by your posts sharing the experience. Such a beautiful WP theme you have too!
Jennifer Johnson says:
I must say that what has struck a chord with me was Eliad’s prayer. I have been reciting it with my four year old, because it is one that we should ALL remember!
Ashley Gilbert says:
What I have been blessed to learn from reading all of the bloggers who were in Kenya on this trip, is that these children truly know and trust and love Jesus Christ. It has been refreshing to my soul and a beautiful reminder of the savior that I sometimes overlook in the rush of my culture. These beautiful people see reality and thank God for every blessing, even in the darkest and most poverty stricken homes. We could all learn from them and maybe stop being ungrateful. I’m a single momma who knows that I can give up a few lattes a week to help sponser a darling child and show my own daughter how we can follow Jesus and share what we have with others (a very good lesson for me as well!).
Thank you all for sharing and blessing my life all the way in Kansas!
Rebekah says:
I was wrecked this week. I read every post, watched every video, stared through every picture….on every Kenyan blogger’s site.
There were times I literally sobbed. On the ground.
I thought I knew what poverty was…what 3rd world existence meant. But, I didn’t.
My heart was stirred violently. In a way that marked me different. My husband, Ben, and I decided to sponsor a 9-year-old boy, Baraka. And I haven’t stopped thinking of him, since.
We were cleaning up dinner leftovers, last night, and I went to throw some beans away, but stopped when Ben said, “I bet Baraka would give anything for those.” We’re decided to eat them again, tonight.
I feel more than pity. I feel a gut-wrenching compassion to do more. I’ve found myself evaluating all our expenses. I want to do more. I’ve found myself telling others (friends, co-workers, family). I want to do more. I’ve been spreading the word on my blog – I’m allowing Brad to do a guest post. I want to do more.
I submitted my name to Compassion in hopes of becoming a Compassion Blogger. I just want to do more.
Thank you for helping start a revolution in my heart and family.
Shaun Groves says:
Rebekah, did you know “Baraka” means “blessing.” Thank you for being a blessing to him. So good to hear how he’s already blessing you.
Thank you for sharing here.
Shelley says:
I was really struck by the prayer Eliud had written above his door.
I was moved to see that they keep the letters the sponsors write to them. We have a big bulletin board wall in our basement where we have every letter, every photo, every picture our sponsored child has drawn for us. I took a picture of it this week to send to him so that he knows that what he sends us is just as treasured as what we send him.
Shelley
Mike says:
The images of Mathare overwhelmed my senses, my comprehension. Even more overwhelming, the smiles of the little children, looking up at the camera, with beautiful smiles on their faces, standing in mud and filth. I’ve never seen such graphic depictions of poverty intertwined with such beautiful stories of hope. Eliud’s story was both crushing and uplifting. What is my faith built upon….my personal comfort? Have I allowed the ‘stuff of life’ to hinder my walk with Christ?
Christy says:
I almost did this anonymously but this is my heart….
This is the first Compassion trip that after one day I stopped reading the posts. My heart could not handle it. I have never ever seen such poverty. My heart literally hurt after seeing the photos Keely shared and the words you and Brad Ruggles shared So I started bookmarking the posts and started praying that this would not be about me and my heart but those who live there and deal with this every. single. day.
And I have spent the last few days reading the posts and crying and asking God to be with each of those children and for them to know they are loved. So loved.
This trip touched my heart so deeply that I am moved to do something. The compassion in my heart is overwhelming. I don’t feel sorry for them… after reading those posts there is no way I could pity them because they showed such strength. More strength than I have.
And I take my sponsorship of my Catherine a lot more seriously now. I understand how very important my letters are and my prayers are.
Thank You for showing us the truth of what the life of our sponsor kids is like. I think so many of us really don’t think about it…maybe because we don’t want to….or like me….I was fearful. And really did not want to know…..but now I can no longer turn a blind eye to it. I must do something.
And more importantly I think I learned I need my Catherine just as much (or more) than she needs me.
Rhonda says:
I think it was you that stated (and I paraphrase) Compassion is rescuing them from poverty, and us from our wealth. That resonated with me, and I sponsored my second compassion child right after that (selfishly, I chose Tazania since my first child is there…maybe someday, some how I might get to meet them in my wildest dreams?!)
I consider myself solidly middle class. I moan and groan to God that I “only” got to spend 4 1/2 years at home with my kiddos before I had to go back to work. I realize after this week, how Satan must have laughed at how easily he has entrapped me with my wealth.
I also took the time to write to my first child. While I pray and think of her often, I allow the hectic pace of my life to crowd out writing her a note. Seeing how much the children treasure the letters reminded me that I needed to do that. Thank you.
Michelle says:
Another person who was deeply touched by Eliud. Not only his prayer, but the video of him talking to his sponsor. As I watched that, I broke into sobs. His Faith, in a place that seems incomprehensible, touches my heart in a way I cannot even put into words. Praying for him daily.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Christine says:
This post practically jumped off the screen at me when you referenced John 9. I’ve been in that chapter a lot over the last few weeks. When I began to read Kristen’s post on Monday about visiting hell, John 9 just kept coming into my head, that somehow God’s glory and redemption were in the story. And sure enough, there were Vincent and the rest of the children in the Compassion project in Mathare Valley. The week has truly expanded my definition of poverty and how we are called to respond to it. This trip to Kenya pointed out that poverty is a more complex problem than simply the “haves” giving to the “have nots” in hopes alleviating their immediate misery. The story Brad told about Caroline and your story about grandmother were so illustrative of what kind of help people in the situation of crushing poverty really need in order to have hope of ever moving beyond where they are. You and your group of bloggers put names and faces on the old proverb about teaching a man to fish instead of just giving him a fish.
Gloria says:
I have a World Vision child in Mozembique and I have not sent nearly enough letters or prayed for her a fraction of the amount I should be praying for her and her family and her village. I now see how important that aspect of the sponsorship is! I wrote to her this week and I have tried to set up reminders for myself around home and work to go to the throne on behalf of our sweet sponsor girl MANY times in a day. Thank you for prying open my eyes through words and pictures this week.
Debbie says:
I cried too much this week, that’s for sure! I think I learned to value my possessions. I don’t think it’s wrong to have them, but to not spend needlessly. To think before I spend money on anything, so that extra money can go to my sponsored kids.
I hope we never get those slum pictures out of our minds. They need to remain there forever, so that we don’t forget.
jd says:
The ground in the Mathre slum composed of… garbage…. heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking. It reminded me of the song “Heal The Wounds (But Leave The Scars)” where it says “I’ll build an altar from the rubble that you found me in, and every stone will sing, of what You can redeem…!” These kids glow with the glory of God’s redemption.
Even as a Compassion Advocate & Blogger (Canada) and sponsor to a total of five children through Compassion, I have never witnessed such unthinkable living conditions. It has fueled my passion for Compassion’s work. Brad inspired me to sign up for the next Compassion Canada trip, 107 days, and I will be in Honduras, hands on, reporting daily through writing and photography, but most of all, having my heart broken even further. I have a feeling that I’m on the verge of adding one more child to our sponsorships. I’m praying for my husband not to refuse — he hasn’t yet had his heart broken. Pray for him, please.
Eliud’s quote above his door, and his video, touched my soul… I would love for someone to get in touch with him and let him know that he has inspired HUNDREDS of people around the world… so often, I wonder if it is not us that benefit most from the sponsorship… “And a little child shall lead them…”
Renee says:
A new perspective of what is enough through the eyes of the children that the bloggers shared (I’ve read them all).
Time, energy, money, etc… what do I have to share and give? Those have been reevaluated, I found room in my life for Bretta (She’s 5)! And, I’m so excited to have an opportunity to help financially, sure, but since I completed the sponsorship, her and her family have been in my thoughts and prayers.
The world has become a lot smaller and my opportunity to share a lot bigger.
Kris says:
Following all of your blogs this week has given me the push to step out in faith to sponsor a child. I had been hesitatant to before because I wasn’t 100% certain that I would be able to commit financially with things unstable. I am now 100% certain that I can’t afford not to. These children are the face of God. How can you not see that in their bright shiny thoughtful eyes and beaming smiles. So, I’m not just dipping a toe and testing the water -because of you all, I’m doing a cannon ball. I’m all in baby!!
Liz says:
Reading these blogs this week has really opened my eyes and my heart. I’m not sure how, yet, but I feel a change inside from reading all of these stories and seeing these pictures. I am proud to be a compassion sponsor. Thank you.
Vonda Henthorne says:
hmm, where do I start? I have been changed for eternity by your journy into Kenya. I am not sure what to do about it. It has influenced my world view. It has started an internal dialogue about American politics. My heart was broken by you all and for you all. I retweeted, reposted blogs, wrote blogs using the bloggers pics and blogs, and tweets. My local newspaper featured one of them. I joined Our Compassion. How was I affected? the better question is, How was I NOT affected? My world has been spun upside down. I am filling out that Advocate application that has been lying around here for a few months. I WILL sponsor another child in KE506. but above all my Lord is closer than ever. Tears do help to cleanse a weary soul. I am once again deeply touched as the waves of the memories of this past week sweep over me.
My devotion to Kambi, my sponsored child in Kenya, was already a deep one. Kenya has been through so much. Some of the stuff you disclosed was not a secret to me. The politcal corruption that endangered Kambi’s life and took the life of many others was a nightmare for me as a sponsor. But thanks to this trip I now have actual photographs and tangible, indelable faces and views of Kambi’s world.
I am speechless when it comes to the gratitude I have for this priceless gift. Thank you does not seem adequate.
Vonda Henthorne says:
Shaun thank you for this opportunity to allow us to debrief too. You are wise.
Stephanie says:
The fact that the children in the slums don’t know how lavish of a lifestyle the bloggers really live in back home. Just like we Christians have no concept of the paradise where Jesus is waiting for us. I think not knowing helps us cope with what we’ve got. If the slum-dwellers could see our nice cozy homes with clean carpet, fresh water, green grass and refrigerators full of food, they would hate their world more. And if we Christians saw the world God created before Adam sinned, our misery would grow tenfold. Thankfully, we ALL have God to hold our hand while we are where we are. And because of that, it doesn’t seem as bad as it really is.
Shaun Groves says:
The sad thing is that over the last two decades television has crept into third world neighborhoods and sometimes even their homes. We didn’t see TVs in any homes in Kenya but we did see places people could pay to see TV. With the spread of TV, more and more third world residents are having their faces pressed up against the glass of our first world lifestyles. Sowing greater discontent, anger, envy…
And there are plenty of magazines lying around.
Stephanie says:
Darn! 🙁
Thanks for setting me straight. Another layer for me to process.
Stephanie says:
In this font, my “d a r n” looks like something else when the letters are squished together. But I promise it’s not! 🙂
Stephanie says:
P.S. Like Vonda, I have submitted an application to become an Advocate and I have also joined the “Our Compassion” website. For those who are unaware, it’s a social networking website run by Compassion International and it’s a great place to meet and talk to other sponsors. I hope others will considering joining. Be be warned! You will be tempted to want to sponsor more children because you will fall even more in love with them and what Compassion is doing! http://www.ourcompassion.org
Denise Carter says:
Shaun,
I have learned over the past couple of months that God has been speaking to me…NO.. really dealing with me about material needs/ desires. I met with my accountant this week and was shocked at how much less I make now than in the past. However, I have never been happier!! ( I sponsored my first child in Nov.) I was miserable in my corporate life thinking is this all that there is to my life? But the golden handcuffs kept me there until what I believe was a blessing from God. A simple outpatient surgery on my shoulder led to three more surgeries and now I am not able to physically do what I was doing. Now I am in Grad School to become a nurse practitioner.
I share this because Eliud’s story was an answer to prayer. The night before you posted the story my 11 year old son was asking ” mom are we poor”? He was saying that he wants me to “promise” that I will buy another house in the neighborhood that we sold our house in August. I tried to explain to him why that would not happen and how blessed we are to have all of our needs met comfortably. But he did not understand. I asked God “how am I going to teach my son that we are not poor, and that we are so richly blessed” ? Your post about Eliud and your conversation with him was the answer to my prayer as it gives me a way to share with my son what it really means to be “poor” and “rich”. I pray that he has the ears to hear and that his heart will be open.
Friends, or who I thought were friends do not understand why I am so much happier even though I am not “living” the lifestyle I once was. I have gotten many “that’s nice” when I try to explain what sponsoring a child is about. Before this past year I did not know what Compassion was or who you were. Sorry 🙁
Hosea 4:6 …..my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…. (NIV)
I am learning so much about how to live and share.
Thank you!
thegypsymama says:
The verse in John 1:5 took on a tangible meaning for me. I looked up all the various translations. They speak so powerfully to where you all have been and what we have seen with you:
NIV
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
New Living Translation (©2007)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
English Standard Version (©2001)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
International Standard Version (©2008)
And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.
King James Bible
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
American King James Version
And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
American Standard Version
And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
Bible in Basic English
And the light goes on shining in the dark; it is not overcome by the dark.
Amy says:
I decided to sponsor a child after reading Ryan Detzel’s blog. When trying to select a child I was very overwhelmed so I said this quick prayer: “Lord, help me find the right child for me.” I had been coming back to a child named Kayoo, but the next child I clicked on after saying that prayer had the same birthday as my husband, so I selected him. He is 6 andhis name is Derick. I felt awful for not selecting little kayoo, so I aksed God to find a loving sponsor for Kayoo. Then ext day, I read Ryan’s blog again, and he talked about sponsoring a child after seeing everyone else meet thier sponsored children at the amusement park. His new child was Kayoo. God works in mysterious ways.
Sheila says:
I was moved to tears so many times this week; ashamed of my indulgent life style, even though my husband has been out of work for the past four months and I only work 3 days a week, we are so very blessed here in the USA! Once my hubby gets back to work I plan on sponsoring one or more children through Compassion. Thank you for all that you shared from your trip to Kenya. Also I am feeling God tugging at my heart to become involved someway in foreign missions…..this is coming from a 54 year old grandma. God bless you, praying for safe travels for the team traveling back home.
Stacie says:
Eliud’s words on the wall of his home stuck with me all week…
What an amazing young man and his explanantion on the rich and the poor shook me.
I should be so wise…
Thank you for blogging the “dictionary” of Kenyan words. My children loved seeing them and thinking about what each item really was.
The Lord is hopefully awakening some souls to the plight of poverty through your blogs!
My husband has served in Haiti and when he comes home we are all shook by how much we have and then again we get blinded by the consumption and materialism of our culture.
Many tears were shed while reading your blog and many prayers whispered.
Thank you!
Kelli says:
MY husband and I have been feeling pressed to do more with what God has given us andreading all of your accounts this week has only furthered that calling. Beyond sponsorship, which we love doing, we are praying about missions (short term) and how we can make that a part of our lifestyle as a family. Our children are young, so it’s probably not time to take them on a mission trip just yet, but my husband and I would like to go on one, and we’ve felt an urging to reach out to the people in our own backyard, which we absolutely can do right now with our kids.
We want to teach them the sacrifice of serving others and we want them to learn these amazing truths that you all have so beautifully shared with us. Our oldest has a tender heart toward those who are less fortunate. I want to develop that while he’s still young! Thanks for the encouragement that you have provided so many of us. And thanks for your example of servanthood!
Shea says:
I have never considered myself rich, but I have always considered myself blessed. I have never considered myself a good Christian but God has always been in my heart. This week I have learned I am rich, beyone beleif and it’s not too late to completely give my heart to Him. I sponsored a child. My first time, and not my last. My heart is overflowing with sadness and joy at the same time. It’s an unbelievable, rollercoaster of emotions. I am blessed. Thank you.
rhonda says:
The impact of what my monthly support can do. The full realization that it is the difference between life and death.
Jen says:
The Glory of God. The need of His people. The Hope of Jesus. The ignorance in me. The Pride in me. The Selfishness in me. The conviction of me. The Blessing of God that I can now share with the 2 children we have now sponsored. A new brother and a new sister for my 2 eldest children. A new way to show Jesus to my children and to Ken and Angelina in Kenya.
Ebe says:
I haven’t read all the blog posts by all the Compassion bloggers, but what I did read reminded me all the more that this world is broken and dying more each day. We live in a transitory place where we mistakenly set up camp and strive for better and more stuff.
The images of extreme poverty that you relayed back to us in the US made the breath catch in my throat. Those living in such horrible conditions who do know the Lord must long for Heaven in ways we can’t understand. Though I ache for Heaven because my baby boy is there with Jesus, I can forget that this comfortable ‘home’ I’ve made for myself is not where I belong.
I think we (those living in privileged circumstances) can forget what is important, what is vital for life and what will last and not decay.
We are commanded by Jesus to look after the poor and the orphans and the widows. By his Spirit, we must do what we can to help them in the here and now and we must point them to a Savior who can give them everlasting life.
But, I’m not sure what you mean by making promises to ourselves and to God. I think it’s really important to understand that God is the only one who can make and keep his promises. We fail everyday in doing what we say we will do and what we want to do, we do not do because of the struggles of our flesh.
I think we should keep our focus on the God who made a Covenant with his hopeless sheep, and remember that when our resolve to help fades, he holds us to himself and by his sacrifice, we have immense freedom.
This freedom frees us up to serve with love, taking the focus off ourselves and our desire to do good and putting it back on Jesus.
Thanks for sharing what you’ve seen and learned in Kenya.
Kristy K says:
It was the boy Eliud that struck me the most this week. When he talked about the rich and the poor, my heart sank because I felt he was talking about me. I’ve been following Compassion’s blogging trips for a year or so, but I never felt moved to do something until this one. Seeing these kids not just surviving but THRIVING in these situations is just mind-blowing. I want every single child in this world to have that opportunity.
Kristen says:
I’ve been touched by all of your posts this week, but one that really stuck with me was Kristen’s post about your visit to the slums, and her reaction to walking through the filth and depravity. Her description of then finding a spirit-filled respite in the midst of this was very moving, and spoke volumes for what Compassion is doing.
Kristy says:
Following all the bloggers over the past week was an incredible gift and blessing! I’m an Advocate with Compassion and reading along really refueled my passion for international orphan care. The dual post of Eliud’s story had me in tears! Such a beautiful child of God and and such God breathed writing! The Lord used Kristen’s post “touched by an angel” to speak to my heart that I need to seek out a child with special needs as my next sponsored child! So excited to see where God leads!!
E-Jayjo says:
Eliud’s video will stay with me. When he said to his sponsor that he was like his mother and father….wow. I just keep thinking, man I hope his sponsor gets to see that video!! It made me also realize that I need to write to my sponsored child more often…that I can’t underestimate the impact of our letters to him.
Iva says:
Hello Shawn.
I was born in South Africa and have travelled my entire life, yet I also learned a lot from this week.
I was completely taken by surprise that most blog readers had never seen this level of poverty and were therefore called to action.
I found that beautiful and terrible at the same time. Beautiful in that so many additional children were sponsored. But terrible in how isolated most blog readers are from the realities of the world. This level of poverty is present, to some extent in most cities of the world and even if you have never travelled there, isn’t it shown on certain TV channels, at schools, university, exhibitions, conferences?
For that reason alone, education and information, I found your efforts beautifully valuable and most definitely worth it.
But I remember that one of your purposes in inviting bloggers on these trips was to ask all the questions they wanted, and in that, I found they fell short of the mark. Well, no. I was left with most of my questions unanswered. Or so I feel.
I wanted to know how does Compassion deal with the issues of tribal identity? How do they allow a teenager not to go through painful and dangerous circumcisions without alienating them from their tribe? Is it easy for them to have a family at all if they refuse the family the tribe had planned for them? How do their parents feel about the sponsorship programme? What about tribal leaders? Was that Maasai village you were welcome to an exception or a rule? The Maasai are so proud, their customs are so ingrained, beautiful, strong, how do they accept a Christian charity in their midst? How do they deal with some of the differences between Christian and Maasai traditions? Why do some children get pulled out of the program at all? How is Compassion fighting/helping with the enormous issues of cheap drugs and AIDS?
There was no mention at all of the upper class in Kenya. How is their relationship with Compassion?
I felt like the bloggers were so taken aback by the conditions that they did not go into any of the issues? Or is there a blog I am not reading? And I wonder – what were they expecting to see? How could they not have expected this?
There was intense debate about ‘free holidays’ for the bloggers, and ‘expensive hotels’. Why not be completely upfront and transparent about the exact cost of everything and who paid what? Why not? After all, you are asking your readers to pour their money into the organization, why not make it 100% transparent? And why not suggest to the bloggers to donate all advertising monies generated during the trip to more sponsoring? Surely that will take care of most of the criticism?
I’m afraid I saw a lot of naivety this week. But people with generous hearts who gave, too. It is wonderful how much was generated through this trip. I’m just deeply saddened that there is still so much ignorance, or rather ‘choice to ignore’ amongst the more fortunate of this world.
Shaun Groves says:
Iva, these would have been good questions to ask here: http://shaungroves.com/2010/03/debrief-its-your-turn/
I wrote in the comments of a post about the tribal issues. Can’t find it now so it’s no wonder you haven’t either ; )
25% of Massai in Kenya are Christian. They no longer practice female genital mutilation (fgm) or polygamy. Compassion makes no demand that a tribe change their traditions. That change comes about as individual hearts and minds are changed by God.
Regardless of whether a family practices polygamy or fgm, their child can be enrolled in Compassion’s program.
There are Massai villages in which some are Christian and some are not. We were told that this does not cause problems among the younger Maasai but that older Maasai do not like Christian/Western influence over the years on their traditions. They want things to stay as they were when they were children.
Parents CHOOSE to enroll their Maasai children in the Compassion program – seeing the difference it’s made in other children’s lives. And they know a child can continue to be Maasai and still be a Compassion child.
Drugs…
Our bloggers wrote about a skit they watched at the Mathare slum project. That skit was about drugs. Children performing and watching this skit got a strong message about the dangers of drugs to family, body and finances and exactly how to avoid becoming a drug user. It is indicative of Compassion drug education messages.
HIV/AIDS…
Families and children receive HIV education and testing. If tested positive, they receive drugs and nutritional supplements to prolong life. Pregnant mothers with HIV receive drugs to lessen the chance of transmission to the fetus.
Our bloggers DID ask any and all questions about Compassion’s ministry. I do not control which answers they choose to share with their readers. They shared what was most important to them.
Finances…
I have stated publicly more than once that the investment made in these trips is tiny compared with the return for Compassion’s children. MUCH better ratio of investment to return than traditional marketing like print, radio and web ads. I’ve also stated repeatedly that Compassion pays ALL travel, food and lodging for the bloggers but spouses must cover their own travel. I’ve also stated that hotel and travel expenses are greatly discounted for Compassion – our hotel in Nairobi, for instance, was less than I spend at a Hampton Inn in the US – and it included meals!
Our financial ratings are details here: http://shaungroves.com/2010/03/debrief-its-your-turn/
As of yesterday the Kenya trip had generated a projected $1.3 million in child sponsorships with children still being sponsored. We will likely reach no less than $1.64 million in sponsorships. This is calculated using $38/month and the very worst average sponsor commitment level of 4 years (that’s what I’m told youth conferences yield).
That that help, Iva?
Hope says:
Eliud’s video. The message above his door, and the true joy and peace in Jesus those beautiful children have in the midst of such depravity. It has given me new eyes and a whole new appreciation for Paul’s statement about learning to be content no matter his circumstances..
Beth Herring says:
I can remember reading about 3rd world countries and not truly understanding the deep poverty that exists.
THen, I went to Nicaragua for a mission trip and experienced it firsthand. I actually witnessed the raw sewage in the streets. The primative kitchens where the very large pigs wander in and out while the women are cooking. I even had to play chicken with one to get to the outhouse!
The children there were so happy and so precious. They had no idea that they were poor. As we ministered to the people that week and shared Jesus with them, we were so blessed. We left there changed forever and determined to continue doing what God commissioned us to do – spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for the awesome work of CI. We sponsor a little girl from Bolivia where my daughter does mission work.
jen says:
Thank you to all of you who went on this trip and for pouring out your hearts and tears! All of the amazing photos and words have opened my eyes even more and I feel like reading all of these blogs came at the perfect time for me as God has already been working on me in the area of helping others.
I will especially remember Kristen’s post about the girl who wanted to braid her hair, the royal blue and yellow uniforms, and Eluid’s prayer above the door.
Your whole trip reminds me of the song “Albertine” by Brooke Fraser which is about Rwanda, but the main idea still applies. The chorus says “Now that I have seen, I am responsible…Now that I have held you in my own arms…” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGx-xU6TnU8
Now that I have seen, I cannot claim ignorance and must do something.
Shaun says:
Hi Shaun,
First, the photos WOW! Breathtaking! Wrecking! Priceless and soul touching!
I was just in Ethiopia to one of the poorest areas and totally unknown to most of Ethiopia itself! I understand many of the emotions each of you experienced. I have also traveled to Guatemala into the villages where most don’t go – we have adopted 7 times internationally in the last 5 years. 5 from Guatemala and 2 from Ethiopia. Our 12 yr old daughter just home from Ethiopia traveled with me to the town I visited Korah and she had never seen such poverty either. She was broken and said to me with the most precious look on her face with tears streaming down, “Mommy, this is so hard!”
I am praying to hear back from Compassion about going on the next blogger trip. We sponsor children around the world and have for almost 5 yrs now. Our oldest daughter and husband met 4 of our sponsor children on a trip to Guatemala through Compassion 3 yrs ago. That was a huge blessing to our family – especially the two of them.
I pray that many will open their hearts to sponsor children with Compassion now that they have seen the videos and heard straight from the children what this means to them.
Blessings and hope to hear from you personally soon!
God bless – Jill
Jill says:
Ooops I put your name instead of mine. Sorry 🙂
Jill
Kristie says:
Between Haiti and this….I’m pretty charged up…and now I’ve gotten word that I’m probably working Bebo’s Compassion table tomorrow night…I’m praying that I can still seem like a sane individual to these people who have NO CLUE as they walk up to the table! Wish everyone could see these blog posts.
Krissy says:
I think it may be worth pointing out one thing in response to your opening. I’m not a Greek scholar, but I’ve read where others who are Greek scholars say that the “so that” in the passage of John you quoted does not exist in the original Greek text. So in the original it reads, from what I understand: “But this happened. Let God be glorified.” To me this is incredibly significant in that Jesus is not pointing to God as the cause of the man’s suffering, which it may seem like he’s saying with the translators’ “so that” in there. My take on it is that Jesus is basically saying “This stuff happens in a fallen world. Now it’s up to us to do something for him so that God may be glorified.” Then he heals the man. THIS, to me, is the significance of what Compassion does. I most see God when I see people loving other people, sometimes in the simplest ways, like when you told those young Kenyan girls that they were beautiful. Because, of course, that’s how God sees them.
Mike says:
I found this in Richard Stearns (President, World Vision USA) book, “The Hole in Our Gospel”. It’s short, but says a great deal.
“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”
“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”
“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”
(Anonymous)
My prayer is that we would spend less time criticizing the efforts of others, and more time making ourselves a part of the solution. Why don’t more people know about the deplorable conditions in which the poor exist in developing countries? Because we don’t think about it enough to even notice it’s absence from the news channels and newspaper headlines. We also mistakenly think that our ‘little contribution’ won’t even make a ‘dent’ in such a huge global problem.
Amy says:
The video that Eliud made for his sponsor, Nick, touched me. Reading that Eliud walks one and one half hours to school and one and one half hours home, and sometimes I don’t want to walk 5 steps to the kitchen, to the laundry room, etc. Eliud could certainly be making other choices, it would be easy to do. It would be easy for the despair to swallow him whole, but he doesn’t allow it. He has hope. He KNOWS that there is something bigger and better than what he is seeing.
For the past year, we have not been in great financial shape. We have almost lost our house twice, there are times we didn’t have money for gas to get to work, but I felt God calling us to sponsor a child. With our financial situation, I didn’t feel like we could do it, but then I remember. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. God gave us Maxwell, and I know that he is going to qualify us to send that $38 per month. His plans are infinitely better and my human mind will never comprehend it. I am only his vessel. He will do the rest.
Sohbet says:
Eliud’s video. The message above his door, and the true joy and peace in Jesus those beautiful children have in the midst of such depravity. It has given me new eyes and a whole new appreciation for Paul’s statement about learning to be content no matter his circumstances
Dianne says:
Shaun,
Only on the other side of eternity will the significance of this trip be realized. I went to poverty stricken areas of Brazil once and it took me 2 weeks after getting back home to get used to living like we do in America. I could have used a good “debriefing” like you guys did.
I wrote a post (that I am not proud of) that you can access at http://www.everythingelsethrownin.net/2010/03/i-failed-him.html
It basically tells the story of a young man I was sponsoring (ten years ago) through Compassion and let my sponsorship lapse–you guys helped me decide to put that failure behind me and try again.
Thank you seems so small,
Dianne
Nikki B. says:
Hi Shaun,
it was the pictures in your Sight For The Blind blog that froze time for me. I literally just stared at each picture for about a minute and went back and would look at them again. Aside from the numerous pictures of Haiti that completely tore my insides apart, these pictures in this blog did the same thing but differently. They felt real, almost as if I had been there myself and had been standing there when the picture was taken. It’s hard to explain…
About 2 years ago I was going to sponser a child through Compassion but I got a rare spinal disorder that made me have to leave my job. Needless to say I ran out of money & my parents & sister are supporting at this time.
So, when Haiti happened and now after reading your blogs I’ve just been praying like crazy since that’s all that I can do.
God has been teaching me compassion. I really didn’t have any. So thank you for letting God use you. You’re blessing so many people including me.
Love,
Nikki
Cool Springs Todd says:
I’m still inspired days after I read a blog post here. No one realizes how good they really have it.
Diane says:
I saw dignity in the midst of dehumanizing poverty. It was a picture of the dignity that Christ gives to all of us when we entrust our lives to him and he frees us from the dehumanizing spiritual poverty that Satan relishes in.
Satan would love nothing more than to strip us of the image of God that is indelibly stamped on us and poverty is a great tool in his arsenal. But God is greater and through his immeasurable grace toward us, He lifts us out of the pit of despair and hopelessness and shines his light of freedom and hope and triumph through us.
This trip is a reminder to all of us to soberly manage whatever God has entrusted us with to maximize the glory He receives through our lives and our resources.
Thank you to all of the bloggers for making this trip and allowing your lives (and ours) to be forever changed.
Heather says:
I have so much more than I need.
In recent weeks that message has come to me over and over again in so many subtle, and some not-so-subtle, ways. I knew that there was something I was supposed to do, but I could not pinpoint what that was. The conviction that there was something was so forceful that I manically purged belongings for charity and made Lenten commitments to service. Regardless of the actions I took, it did not feel right. Until…
I stumbled upon this blog through a series of links in other blogs. I read the first entry. I cried. I closed the link. I refused to return for days.
My husband works in the international humanitarian community in disaster response. We have seen extreme poverty and suffering. We have lived in separate countries continuously for almost a year and spent much time before that separated for months at a time. At some point, I became desensitized to the plight of many in this world. Not because I no longer cared, but because the worry and the hurt became overwhelming at times. I felt that we were giving enough. We committed our entire marriage, the comfort of being together, and the stability of being a “normal” family to the aide of others. I convinced myself that “there will always be poor people” and continued with my overindulgent life.
Days later, I returned to this blog. Not so much willingly, but more so because I felt I had no other choice. Like a spoiled child, I basically whined “I don’t want to.” But I did. I am glad I did.
I would like to say I decided, but that really isn’t the appropriate word, it had been decided long before I threw my childish tantrum. I finally realized that I was going to sponsor a child.
Ledama Kipkuro broke my heart with his precious face and his mischievous eyes. This is what I had been directed to do with the message I had received. This is why I had it placed on my heart that I have so much more than I need.
Kaisa says:
While reading the blogs I felt my heart so drawn to the people of Kenya that I decided I am going to go there in September for four months and hopefully move there permanently as a missionary.
I cannot imagine staying here and living life as normal. I have to go. I want so badly to go. I can’t wait! I know that God has called me for this and I am so excited!