Something for Them

Okay, so I know I just posted about a couple contests going on that I would love to win. But you know what? I don't really need that stuff. I have everything I really need already. I have family and friends and food and freedom. And apparently I also have a lot of F's in my vocabulary!

I digress.

Maybe you remember when I posted about my Compassion child. Well, since then some pretty cool stuff has been going on. There was a trip to Africa (Uganda actually) where some influential bloggers wrote about their trip and the kids and basically got a bunch of kids sponsored. Then last month there was a Bite Back campaign where they raised money to buy mosquito nets for as many kids as they could. At $10 a net I think they were able to buy like 1,000 nets. That's a lot of money from the blogging community!

Now there is a Compassion blog and there will be other monthly focuses on things we can do to help kids in other countries. Lest you think this is going to turn into a Compassion blog, it isn't. Well, maybe!

Right now though I just want to tell you what I'm thinking.

There are so many problems in our world. I get depressed sometimes trying to think about it. If any of you know my hubby you know he likes to talk about all the world problems. Me, I just want to stick my head in a hole and hope they all go away. It's too big for me to handle and I feel overwhelmed. I can't solve anything and it feels hopeless to even try.

However, I do know that there are a few things I can do to make a difference. Sponsoring a child through Compassion is one of them. The cool part about Compassion is that when you sign up you get a child. You are their only sponsor and they are dependent on you. You write them and they write you (see note below on writing). You can give one child food, medical care, an education, and most importantly, HOPE!

I've mentioned before that I've sponsored a child since I was in high school. I'm on to my second child now as the first one graduated!!! (how crazy is it for me at 28 to say I've had a child graduate from high school already? :) I believe with all my heart that what Compassion is doing is having an effect in our world. Maybe we won't see it for awhile, but it could be like the butterfly effect. One child's life changed may change a country, a continent, the world. You just never know!

So please, won't you consider sponsoring a child. It's $32 a month and it is SO worth it. You can click here or on that big blue button on my sidebar -->
Think about it, won't you? You can make a difference in the world!


Note: I had the opportunity to visit the Compassion headquarters in Colorado Springs back in 2000. I saw all the people working there because they believed in this mission. It was like a big family! One of the saddest things I heard while I was there though was that 80% of sponsors never write their children. Think for a second how much it means to get a personal letter in the mail. Now imagine you may only get a few in your entire life and how special those would be? You can make that difference in a child's life as well.
They do all the translating for you and you get regular letters from your child as well. Beyond the money, you can have a relationship with your child. It's awesome!