A few people have asked me this question: “Why Compassion?” I wrote this post Christmas ’08 and thought it might answer the question 
“In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.”
~Compassion International Mission Statement
For the past two years, our family has been involved with Compassion International, a Christian child sponsorship & development program. Joan, a six year old girl who lives in Uganda, has been our sponsored child this entire time. Since we have had such a wonderful experience with Compassion, we felt led to sponsor another child last year – seven year old Musee, who lives in neighboring Kenya – and two older children this year – Salamata from Burkina Faso and Francklice from the Dominican Republic.
“Wonderful experience.” Let me share what that means for me exactly.
Even thought I cannot physically be in Africa or the Caribbean to help my children, I have faith that with my sponsorship, Compassion International is:
· Providing Joan, Musee, Salamata, & Franklice with an opportunity to receive an education, whether it means that money goes to help pay school related costs, tutoring, or other educational materials…
· Helping Joan, Musee, Salamata, & Franklice to stay healthy. Their health is watched and medical care is provided when necessary. There are many children who also receive additional food…
· Allowing Joan, Musee, Salamata, & Franklice to attend a Christian church, where they will learn about God’s love for them, make friends, have loving support, and gain self-confidence…
…and that gives me the most indescribable feeling in the world!
There are many, many other features that I admire about Compassion International. Here are just a few:
· I am able to write to Joan, Musee, Salamata, & Franklice, send pictures, coloring pages, or stickers.
· I receive letters and pictures from Joan, Musee, Salamata, & Franklice, as well. In her latest letter, Joan told me that she is learning how to greet friends into her home. In Musee’s latest letter, he told me that he wants to be a doctor when he grows up (he even drew a picture of a doctor with a shot…hey I’m an adult and I still associate going to the doctor with getting a vaccination! It cracked me up!) Salamata told me that she helps her grandmother carry the water to her home (Note: we recently sponsored Franklice and therefore have not yet received a letter).
· In addition to the Child Sponsorship Program, Compassion International provides the Child Survival Program, where mothers are educated about how to care for their infants and toddlers, and the Leadership Developmental Program, where select sponsored students are given the chance to receive an undergrad degree (can you imagine being raised in poverty and coming out with a college degree?!)
*** Note my default picture – I am with Tony Beltran, an LDP student! ***
· Not only can you sponsor a child, but Compassion International also provides various giving opportunities, such as the unsponsored children’s fund, earthquake relief, or the global food crisis.
· Compassion International is financially responsible. You are even able to download their annual financial reports.
· The website of Compassion International is incredibly easy to navigate. But, if there was ever a time when I needed to actually talk to a live person at Compassion, I would be able to call their toll free number and speak to a representative directly (1-800-336-7676, M-F, 7am-5pm MT)
I encourage you to prayerfully consider becoming involved with Compassion International in order to not only help children overcome poverty, but to change their lives…forever.
