Just because

Right click and open this post in a different window. It is about someone else who has sponsored through compassion and it's an amazing story that touched my heart. I am sure it will touch yours too!

I know I have posted a lot on Compassion International but I have really been impressed by them. I first saw information about them on Rebecca's web site and have wanted to sponsor a child for sometime now. From what I have seen and heard about this group, I have been very impressed. I know when we left Ethiopia it was hard to leave. I had seen so many people who COULDN'T get jobs, who were starving, who had NOTHING, and then to come back to somewhere that has so much, I knew I wanted to do more. I have also been bothered that families will give their children up for adoption because they can't afford them. To me it breaks my heart and is so unfair. I felt very happy we chose Gladney because I know that they do everything they can for the family so they won't have to put their child up for adoption, if they can't afford them. They offer to provide shelter, food, and whatever services they can to help the family.

Yesterday I got a call from Compassion telling me about the child we are sponsoring, what all he will receive, what else (if we want to) that we can do for him and his family, etc. The lady who called was so sweet and took a lot of time with me. It was neat hearing about everything compassion does, and nice to have someone answer all the questions I had. I was not expecting them to call and she THANKED me several times and stressed how much it helped families, communities, etc. Through compassion you can buy a mosquito net for your child and his/her family. They are $10 and someone will go out to instruct the family how to put the net up and care for it. One net is good for an entire family. Also you have the option to buy nets for the entire village. I thought that was neat. She told me that we can write letters to our child, and we will get letters back. I have a section where I can see updated pictures and read what is going on in his life. That if our child or his family had AIDS they would provide medicine, that he would be able to go to school because he would have a uniform (they can't go to school if they can't afford the uniform), and life necessities. His family has certain guidelines that they follow being in this program and they receive counseling as needed, have a church family to belong to, and also the family as a whole gets specific education. If the child you sponsor has other siblings your $38 dollars helps everyone, the whole family. They have one child per family sponsored so that there are more children and families who are reached. I thought that was a good idea. In the Ethiopia program you can sponsor your child until they are 20 years old. If your financial status changes you can cancel support at any time. You have the ability to meet your child and his/her family if you plan on visiting the country they are from. Also when you support one child another child, a new child, can be added to the program. I did ask about the children that currently don't have a sponsor. She said they still are in the program so they receive most of the services. They just don't have a specific family that they write to, don't go to school (if they are not already in school) b/c they can't afford the uniforms, but that they do take care of medical needs, and provide almost all of the services. She said they are able to do this from the donations they receive. I was glad to hear it. Anyway check it out for yourself. I feel blessed to be able to do this and have enjoyed the program SO much in this short period of time.