I haven't written in so long, but I feel compelled to write tonight.
Reading Kelly's Korner and Angie Smith's latest blog post opened up a part of my heart tonight. As I read about Kelly's journey to El Salvador with Compassion, I felt a tug. It led me to Compassions website, where I was immediately greeted with faces of young children, children whose lives are steeped in poverty thousands of miles away. I knew that I would be chosing a child to sponsor tonight.
But how, how do you choose when there are so many in need?
I want to sponsor them all. In fact, I want to bring all of them and their families home with me and love them and teach them about Jesus and feed them and let them know that I care.
But the truth is, I'm just one person. And as it turns out, I'm a pretty selfish one at that. As I read about the conditions of some of these countries, I wept. I haven't cried so hard in months, years maybe. These were shameless, heavy tears. Here I am in my centrally air-conditioned apartment, with a career and a new car and more clothes than I could know what to do with. And here were these children, living in mud huts, some with no shoes and no schooling and no parents. And you know what? They smile. They love. They play as wars are going on around them, as gangs raid their villages, as they survive on just one meal a day.
How can I complain about anything, ever, when this is going on right here in the very world I am living in?
Today, I made a difference. And though I'm not changing the world, there is one thing I know. I'm changing a life. I'm giving a little boy in Ethiopia the chance to have medical care, to go to school, to know the Lord. He will probably never meet me. But he will feel my love through letters and prayers. He will know that there is someone in this world who cares about him and wants to help him succeed. To help him change his life. I am both crying and dizzy with anticipation knowing that he will be told that he has a sponsor. I pray that I can do the job well.
And now, meet Kalkidan. He is five years old and, as I said, he is living in Ethiopia. He lives with his parents and two siblings. I'll know much more about him when I receive my sponsorship packet in a few weeks, but here is what I do know now.
In his home, Kalkidan helps by carrying water, helping in the kitchen and running errands. His father is sometimes employed as a seller in the market and his mother maintains the home.
Kalkidan is not presently attending school. Singing, telling stories and playing with marbles are his favorite activities. I already know what will be included in his first package! He also attends church activities regularly.
I also know that he is the most precious little boy I have ever seen. I wish I could bring him home with me, listen to his songs and stories, and tell him that I love him.
If you feel compelled to sponsor a child, donate to Compassion, or just see what it is all about, please visit their site. I already know that it is so, so much more than giving $38 a month. So much more.
