My swim team sponsored a girl from Peru. My family supported a girl from the Philippians. My junior church class sponsored kids too. I’ve always been familiar with it. Send in $38 a month and make a kid’s life better. I pictured them getting brand new neatly folded clothes, being served hot meals, learning “Father Abraham”, and getting a coloring book full of Bible stories. It turns out, I had a very basic understanding.
I spent a day with Compassion Int’l myself. It turns out I now have my own Compassion child.
In Togo, Compassion has about 4,000 kids. On Saturdays the kids gather at 20 different sites around Lomé, the capital city. The kids receive meals and education at the sites. The education is well rounded. They learn about Jesus, hygiene, social skills, and vocational skills to help them out of poverty. They also learn what Christian community looks like.
Togo is our 7th country, and we’ve spent plenty of time with kids. Many of the kids we’ve seen are usually pushing, shoving, stealing, teasing, fighting for your full attention, etc. Don’t put it past them to snicker and laugh at the white people either. However, there is something VERY different about the kids with Compassion. They have such peace and joy!
In a world where millions of kids are affected daily by AIDS, starvation, sex trade, neglect, or life on the streets, Compassion is sharing such peace, hope, love, and joy. It’s not something the kids just feel on Saturdays either. It’s something that is part of them, something that’s on them. It was so evident to us as we played with them, served them, and loved on them. Even as we stood watching them in classes, we felt the peace and hope that radiated from the kids. Incredible!
We helped serve breakfast to the kids. As we watched them eat, we held back tears. We knew these kids were getting something millions of kids around the world are in need of…a hot and filling meal and the love of Christ. We also felt the pleasure of God as he watched his children enjoy His provision. What an incredible moment.
Compassion kids are being filled with wonderful things that actually satisfy, both physically and spiritually. This was the most joyful group of kids I’ve been with the entire trip. They have the biggest smiles. They have the best laughs. They know and practice honesty, sharing, serving, and love one another.
There’s much more compassion does as well.
http://www.compassion.com/about/programs/default.htm
Before I even left the Compassion project I was determined to get my own Compassion child and allow them the chance to be educated and brought up knowing the hope and joy we know – knowing the deep deep love we know in Christ.
I’m not asking everyone to get a Compassion child. I just want to support and validate an organization that is giving kids more than a few hot meals and VBS songs. They’re raising up kids who know the benefits of the kingdom and who know their Daddy. They’re actively fulfilling Jesus’ example of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc… I think it’s incredible. Absolutely incredible.
**Photos to come when internet improves.
