Compassion {The Delivery}

Last month we began sponsoring our first child through Compassion International.  

Why it took us so long I have no idea.

Maybe because there are so many people hurting.

Where do I start?  

And since I can't help them all....

How do I choose?

That's a decision that keeps me up at night.  One that I realize I would still be making even if I had Oprah's wallet.  A decision made even harder because I have my wallet.  

With exactly 72 cents in the zippered change pouch.  

Compassion has been on my heart for several years most of my life.  I can remember as a little girl watching infomercials about poverty; seeing the children on my TV screen and wishing we could be friends.  As I got older the desire never went away but I got busy and life got in the way and....

I kept making excuses.

Several months ago I came across one of my most favorite quotes ever:

"I avoided coming to visit the poor for a long time. I was afraid my heart would be broken by their condition. Instead, today, I found my heart broken by my condition."

Wes Stafford / President of Compassion International

I began praying.  

And a few weeks ago logged into Compassion's website and went immediately to the list of children in Haiti--since participating in a relief offering and praying for them in Sunday school, Haiti has been on the heart of my sweet boy and he continues to pray for them almost daily.  I looked for children who had been waiting the longest which narrowed it down to three beautiful girls.

How I EVER would have made the decision if not for the little bit of information that followed the photos...I. have. no. idea.  

That day we welcomed sweet Judelande (whose birthday is January 3rd...just five days after my little guy's) as our Compassion Sponsor Child.  

We welcomed her into our hearts.

Here's a picture of our girl:

I have one last thing to share.

I knew when we made the decision to sponsor Judelande that we would write to her.  I knew that Compassion really encouraged their sponsors to correspond with the children.

But I never knew this.

The Delivery will break your heart.  (That's a link...go read it.  Please.)

And hopefully it will move you to action.

If you currently sponsor a child...my hope is that it will encourage you to offer more than just your financial support.

If you don't currently sponsor a child...my hope is that you will.  

Sponsor as a family.  Sponsor as a group of friends.  Sponsor as a business.

If finances are tight and what you can offer is your heart....pleeeeaaase contact Compassion and ask to be put on their waiting list for a Compassion Correspondence Child.  They will match you with a child whose financial needs have been met but who desperately needs a friend/mentor.

||  I am not a Compassion Advocate.  Compassion International has no idea who I am or that I am writing this.  Promise.  Just sharing my heart--which I tend to do a lot lately.  Maybe I need a "read at your own risk" disclaimer for my blog.  ||

-Cassi