The following video captures the emotion and thoughts I often have. My youngest had a tremendous struggle her first year of life, and I am so thankful for the medical care that is available to us.
One of the many reasons we are sponsors through Compassion International is to be able to bring medical care to other children, and to partner with their parents to raise a healthy child.
I hope that after watching the video you will take a moment to visit Compassion International on the web and learn a little more about the organization.
Last month I read the book In the Presence of my Enemies by Gracia Burnham and Dean Merrill. This book spoke so deeply to some of my unspoken fears, and answered an unspoken question about my childhood.
Gracia and Martin Burnham were hostages of the Abu Sayyaf.
I was held hostage to the effects of long term abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) throughout my childhood.
The following quote from In the Presence of My Enemies holds an answer to one of my questions;
He (GOD) had neither inspired the Abu Sayyaf to abduct us nor would he force them against their will to release us. Instead, he would sustain us day by day, night by night, mile by mile, for as long as it took
The further along the road of life that I get, the more that I can see this is true, God sustains day by day, night by night, for as long as it takes. Looking back on those years of abuse I am amazed that God has not let me be consumed by the evil, but in the midst of the evil He sustained me until the day of my healing and release from the chains of that bondage.
The following verse from Deuteronomy doesn’t speak specifically to this subject matter, yet it does. Despite the circumstances, as I look back, He has been with me.
7 “For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.”’ Deuteronomy 2:7
Two years ago, when we sponsored Lesbia and Bryan Marcello through Compassion International, we were just starting to really understand the opportunity to impact lives and sow hope where there might not be any hope.
Two months ago, when Builder and I made the decision to become Child Advocates and to strengthen our family’s ministry efforts, I had a tiny idea how it might impact our children.
But here were are in the hot middle of summer and my heart is bursting with joy as I see just glimmers of what God is doing in this family and through this family.
When my children asked me what I wanted for my birthday recently, I just couldn’t think of anything. And then as I prayed I started seeing faces and upside down symbols and there was the answer. Sponsor a child from the areas at risk for exploitation and abuse. Let God rescue one of this young ones through our commitment, love and letters.
And here she is, the gift my Beloved Builder granted for my 44th birthday…
Neema, Tanzania
What a beauty she is and what a blessed woman I am.
And in the same week, surpise another child, unexpected, this one from Indonesia, joined our international family.
Niki Agusta, Indonesia
What joy swells in my heart as I look at this faces, sense the pain and maybe fear in those beautiful eyes, yet I also see the potential. There is a song that is sometimes on the radio. Just this week I bought it from iTunes because the lyrics are a prayer I occasionally pray for my daughters, and now plan to write to these children.
The Words I Would Say
by Sidewalk Prophets
From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,
Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope
,
You’re going to do great things,
I already know,
God’s got His hand on you so,
Don’t live life in fear,Forgive and forget,
But don’t forget why you’re here,
Take your time and pray, Thank God for each day.
His love will find a way
And today while I am hoping what I share encourages someone else to begin singing hope over a child through sponsorship, I also want to leave you with these words, dear reader friend
Be strong in the Lord
Never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things,
I already know,
God’s got His hand on you so,
Don’t live life in fear
Don’t forget why you are here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day.
This gratitude journey is growing, and showing up in places all around me. It is contagious and I see it passing from one person to the next within the walls of my home, and at the dojo and across the miles. It makes me more thankful, feeling that though I am small and frail and stumbling along, I can be a part of this magnificent happening.
Recently as we were winding down for the night I read this post by Katie Davis of Amazima. and my family gathers around, wanting to know what it is that has caught my breath.
“Remember,” she mumbles sleepily, “I just want to remember. Some people don’t have a bed, mom. I didn’t have a bed, mom. God gave me a bed. And I wanted to remember what it was like to not have one.”
My heart wept, remembering, that I have always had a bed. And I have complained about my bed. Have I ever even said thanks for a bed? But I have offered up complaints that it is too soft, or too big. And I only have slept on the floor or cold earth in fun. Honestly I can’t even imagine not having a bed.
We had the sweetest of prayer times that night, as each one of us could only think of the things for which we are thankful, around and around the prayer circle.
May we continue have our eyes opened, our senses awakened to the bountiful graces that surround us on every side, in every place.
#673-690 A warm cozy bed perfect pillows his warm feet snuggling my cold feet blankets Pink mountain in the morning Antibiotics Sweet words of affection in the morning
In the summer we received word that the boy we sponsored through Compassion International since 1996 was graduating out of the program. In September we sponsored two new kids! This past week when we prayed for those precious children, I also began asking the Father if we could receive a letter soon.
And SATURDAY’s mail held not one, but two letters! What excitement as we opened them over dinner, read the sweet words and looked at the wonderful drawings.
Dinner was finished quickly and the girls went right to work in writing replies. Well, Mae is writing a reply, Chica and Petal Rose broke out the markers, colored pencils and glitter glue and went to work creating some art love.
We are excited to be starting this sponsorship adventure again. We’ve seen 3 kids go through the program and grow up already. I know that this is a wonderful opportunity to share with our 3 girls!
By Quiet Waters 