My favorite Filipino is Michelle Tolentino.

I want my little girls to grow into the kind of woman she is. The story she tells around the world, of how she was released from poverty, inspires me again and again.

I hate to admit it but there are days I just don’t want to board another plane and play another concert and ask another crowd to sponsor a child. And sometimes, on those days, I sit at my computer and watch Michelle tell her story.

And then I get on that plane.

Well, there’s more where Michelle came from. Here in the Philippines I’ve met so many inspiring young people. So much motivation to carry home with me. So much proof that my God is good, that child sponsorship is a powerful tool to free a child from the grip of hopelessness and want. I’ve got some more videos to watch back home on those less-than-motivated days.

Meet Maan, a college student in Manila who told us her story today.

And here’s our trip to Maan’s house underground, where she pulled out her “treasures”, a stack of letters from her sponsors. She read to us the very first letter she ever received…when she was only five and her sponsor was just seventeen.

I’m ready to get on a plane now, play another concert, ask another crowd to sponsor children. Well, after I sleep this jet lag off, of course.

Have you sponsored a child because of our trip to the Philippines this week? If so, tell me about it in the comments of this post. I’d love to know!