Today is a VERY special day! Today, four years ago, little Anette was born in Mexico. Most children who live in poverty do not live to see their fifth birthday. In fact, in Haiti, most parents do not even give their children a name until they turn five years old. The children are called, “Ti Chape.”

“It’s a term of endearment … but also a harsh reality that reminds everyone of how devastating each day can be for people living on the brink. Ti Chape means little survivor or one who has escaped death.”

~ Courtesy of Compassion International’s Blog

Celebrate with me today the life of this precious child, Anette. We are so proud to be her sponsor and are so excited to see God working to bring children out of poverty – to help them become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.

To read why we chose to sponsor through Compassion, click here.

To sponsor your own child click here.

To read more about the Child Survival Program (infants, mothers, and Ti Chape’s) and how you can get involved, click here.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions about sponsorship. I will do my best to answer them

But I have a good excuse reason!

For the past few months, I’ve been planning a trip with Compassion International to the Dominican Republic to visit one of our sponsored children, Francklice. Well, that time snuck up on me faster than the time it takes my CFCTHH to finish On The Border’s carne asada tacos…which is quite fast. I leave at 3:30am on Saturday morning and I still have to pack…which isn’t really a big deal considering I still have about 36 hours. But Apple Blossom is here!!! So I need to get a move on….(sorry, Mr. Kilmer, maybe next time… )

I’m so thankful that our group leader, Becca, has organized everything (including a “What To Pack” checklist) and that my good friend, Amy, is more precise than I am. This trip is going to run smoothly!

So far I have packed Francklice’s gifts as well as those of friends who have children whom they sponsor in the DR. I’m at the point where I feel as though my heart is going to burst with happiness – however, I know there is a flip side to that emotion. I have been praying that God prepares my heart for what He wants me to see, experience, and share. I pray that I don’t become numb to the reality of poverty when it will be all around us. I pray that God uses me how He sees fit. And I pray that God would surround us with a hedge of protection as our group travels abroad.

Will you pray for that too?

See you in about a week and a half!

Do you know how many references there are in the Bible about children and the poor? (Go ahead, take a guess!)

Over 2,000!

Do you know why? Because both children and the poor were so very dear to Jesus’ heart.

Children like Yosman from Columbia. He’s a typical eight year old boy: has a mom and dad, he likes sports – soccer. He does his chores and goes to school.

However, this little boy lives in poverty….What is poverty?

According to one definition, poverty is “the condition of not having the means to afford basic human needs such as clean water, nutrition, health care, clothing and shelter…” Another says, “The state of living on less than $2 a day, according to World Bank.”

If you are reading this, you are most likely NOT living in poverty. You are most likely able to afford little splurges here and there…a soda, candy bar, bouquet of flowers, an app for your cell phone, a dinner out. I’m sure you can think of a few on your own.

Are you willing to sacrifice a splurge or two each month so a child can grow?

Through Compassion International, you can sponsor Yosman and help him to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. Even better, you can help him learn and understand the deep love Jesus has for him. YOU can change the life of a child…who knows what God has planned for him, by using your generosity?!

I encourage you to pray about becoming a sponsor. If you choose to sponsor Yosman from Columbia, please feel free to email me at brittany (at) uncorrupted (dot) net and I will help you get started. If you have questions, I will do my best to answer them.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” ~1 John 3:17-18

But I was too tired…

So let’s try today then, shall we?

This past weekend was the Compassion International‘s Southeast Region Advocates retreat at Richmond Hill in Richmond, Virginia (Wow, try saying that five times fast!).

My first impression of Richmond Hill – I felt like I was back in high school. The smell, architecture, bells, all brought me back to that Catholic girls’ school over a decade ago (Go figure, both were run by sisters of the Visitation). Thankfully, I got over it and was able to focus on more important things…

It was there that some of the advocates across Virginia, DC, and North Carolina gathered to discuss, reflect, and brainstorm about how to help release children from poverty. I loved hearing the experiences shared by the advocates and really feeling God with us there. Honestly, sometimes I feel that the ministry can be overwhelming and unproductive. I tend to sometimes give into discouragement, “We only got one child sponsored at such an such event.” Satan has a way of feeding lies…

BUT – God is bigger and I am so thankful that He was able to bring us all together…especially together to hear Emmanuel speak.

What’s so great about Emmanuel?

Emmanuel is a formerly sponsored child through Compassion International, as well as former LDP (Leadership Development Program) student who was able to graduate from college. (He’s actually over at a prestigious university now assisting in research.) Hearing Emmanuel’s testimony about how his sponsor’s letters of encouragement helped him achieve his goals and get him out of poverty’s grasp, was something I will always remember. He was one child…and to see how God was with him…and is still with him….

How could I ever again say, “We only got one child sponsored….”

I won’t.

Will you? Yosman is still waiting for a sponsor…will you be this child’s encouragement…will you be his way out of poverty and possibly help develop him into a person like Emmanuel? Contact me at brittany (at) uncorrupted (dot) net with any questions

Do you know how many references there are in the Bible about children and the poor? (Go ahead, take a guess!)

Over 2,000!

Do you know why? Because both children and the poor were so very dear to Jesus’ heart.

Children like Yosman from Columbia. He’s a typical eight year old boy: has a mom and dad, he likes sports – soccer. He does his chores and goes to school.

However, this little boy lives in poverty….What is poverty?

According to one definition, poverty is “the condition of not having the means to afford basic human needs such as clean water, nutrition, health care, clothing and shelter…” Another says, “The state of living on less than $2 a day, according to World Bank.”

If you are reading this, you are most likely NOT living in poverty. You are most likely able to afford little splurges here and there…a soda, candy bar, bouquet of flowers, an app for your cell phone, a dinner out. I’m sure you can think of a few on your own.

Are you willing to sacrifice a splurge or two each month so a child can grow?
(Hear formerly sponsored child Tony Beltran explain how a family changed his life – he was sponsored by a teenager because of her sacrifice of a second phone line back in the 90′s…he’s now earning his Master’s at Moody Bible Institute.)

Through Compassion International, you can sponsor Yosman and help him to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. Even better, you can help him learn and understand the deep love Jesus has for him. YOU can change the life of a child…who knows what God has planned for him, by using your generosity?!

I encourage you to pray about becoming a sponsor. If you choose to sponsor Yosman from Columbia, please feel free to email me at brittany (at) uncorrupted (dot) net and I will help you get started. If you have questions, I will do my best to answer them.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” ~1 John 3:17-18

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.