Do Compassion Sponsors really make a personal difference? Do they touch lives in a real way? One Life Forever Changed

The following letter was written by Ruzamba Niyomwungeli, a 24 year old graduate of our Child Sponsorship Program. It was written in Kinyarwanda and translated into English at the Compassion Rwanda country office.

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“Life has meaning when someone touches it at tender age. Someone stood out and shaped my life. I believe in life of fullness. Thank you my sponsor where ever you are.”
- Ruzamba Niyomwungeli

I really do not know what I would be looking like if Compassion had not touched my life when I was at the age of four – sick, starved, almost naked and frustrated with no hope. Thanks God. 

God has been on my side since I was a child up to today. I really extend my sincere gratitude to my loved sponsor who stood by my side up to now, and I do promise that I will never disappoint him or God, who has been witnessing my daily life. Thank you my sponsor.

Presently, I am a mature adult, and above all it’s through your hands I grew up to become an adult with a mission to change my family, my community, my country and the world at large. My dear sponsor what can I give you and what can I say if it had not been your incomparable love you extended to me and my family. I believe in the next day, that I always count as a day of grace and new hope.

My sponsor, I do love you and wish you to see God’s grace day by day. My prayers rest in the hands of God. God of mercy bless my sponsor and Compassion. By God’s love I am who I am because of what you did for my life, where my parents were unable to support me in all the aspects of life.

I cried in my neighborhood, but no one listened to me. I called to my neighbors because of hunger, but there was no boon coming to me. I was sick in my bed, but no one could render a service. But not far from God’s hands, a sponsor, a parent, came to me from the far country that is beyond the sea where my eyes could not imagine a thought. What a blessing and love. God I am too special in your eyes. Thank you God.

My sponsor stretched out both his arms to bring me back to the foundation of hope where I stand right now – with all the courage to make a difference which is positive for my life, my family and my community. God of mercy, bless my sponsor and Compassion.

My sponsor, you became the spiritual, economic and intellectual garb I wear now. You became a friend where many people were not able to welcome me.

My sponsor, I believe that God will always be with you. I really want to assure you that what you did in my life has touched thousands of lives through me; for now I am grown up and am making a positive difference in my family, community, and more especially in my church where I was blessed from.

The God of mercy who brought me to your life is the same God who gave me this real time to say that I really thank you. My sponsor, you came into my life when I could not speak write or read, but now I do write and read. What a friend I do have!

My sponsor, you are my friend, and I do credit you most of my blessings. I believe God has heard my prayers for you, as you pray for me.

Blessings to you.
Ruzamba Niyomwungeli

Courtesy of Compassion International

Please pray for these children in Rwanda, who like this young man, Ruzamba, hope and pray for someone to reach out to them in love today to truly change their lives! See who they are! 

Take Action!

• Search for a child who touches your heart today that you will support and make a lasting impact of love on their lives 
• Please pray for this little boy who is in urgent need of help- he has the potential to be the next young leader and needs to see God's love through our hands!
• Help develop a future leader like this the young man who wrote this letter!
• Sign up to follow my blog to learn more about Compassion: go to the top right to get updates on the latest in your email or click to Follow me on Google Connect!
• Sign up to read other great Compassion blogs!
• Read my Intro post to learn more about the children that Compassion helps and how this is truly a way to show kids in poverty God's love and how to give them hope

Birthday Dreams and Tattered Clothes: One Child who needs Hope

Re-posted from  Stephanie Nunez

 I was looking through Compassion, and saw a sad face.  I typically do not have the reaction I experienced.  This picture literally made me cry.  Unfortunately, I can not sponsor a third child.  It's not financially possible, and my husband reconfirmed that for me.

This little boy, Demelash from Ethiopia, is most likely wearing pass-me-down clothes from an older sister.  A pink, torn up tracksuit.  His little face shows no hope, and his birthday is May 1st!  I'd love for prayers so we can find this child a sponsor.  Take one look at his face, and you can see how desperately in need he truly is.

Thank you for your prayers, and a million thanks to anyone who can help this precious boy, Demelash.

*Praise God for providing for Demelash! Please keep reading below to see other children who, like him, have been waiting for the support and love of someone like you! 



With Love and Prayers,
         Stephanie Nunez

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When we sponsor a child, we shout out our love with volumes, but also with a loving embrace.This is an act of love that any child of any country and any language understands and is immensely changed by.

Their whole life is changed, because you decided to love them from wherever you are in the world.

One choice, one click, one prayer, can change a child's life forever. One child is waiting for your help today!

Please pray for these other children, like Demelash in Ethiopia, who have been waiting a long time for a sponsor as well! 

Or look at the children who have been waiting the longest, regardless of country! 

These children below, from Ethiopia and other countries too, have been patiently waiting and hoping for a sponsor and for some light to shine in their dark world. 

Please pray for Sostenes who is only 4 years old and you can just see how great his need is from this picture and from his eyes.

Do you see his extended belly? This is a sign of malnutrition and a low protein state in the body- (read more on that here.)

Clearly a sign that he needs help and prayer and all the love and support he can get now- please start praying for him and don't stop until he gets a sponsor!

Pray that he gets a loving sponsor who will encourage him and that he come to know Christ soon!

Sostenes  is from Tanzania and has been waiting almost 250 days for a sponsor! Please pray for this precious child in need!

Sostenes' birthday is August 30th. He enjoys ball games and hide and seek.

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Shruit is an 8 year old girl from India who lives in an area with high risk of exploitation and abuse- it is possible to be sold into sexual slavery in this area, especially at her age.

Shruti enjoys art and reading and there are 4 children in her family. 

*Praise!

 God has come quickly to rescue Shruti!  

Pray for other girls like her waiting for a sponsor and in risk of being sold into sexual slavery. 

 

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Pray for 6 year old Genesis




Please pray for this precious daughter of God who needs support and love now

Pray for 7 year old Kalkidan from Ethiopia 
Her birthday is August 6th, 2005

  




Pray for 6 year old Bayulign from Ethiopia




Pray for 8 year old Dibora from Ethiopia







Please pray for 6 year old Bilal from Ethiopia who has been waiting 217 days and lives in an AIDS affected area




Please share below in the comments- I would like to hear from you! Have you considered sponsoring a child or do you have a sponsored child that you chose for their birthday or special day? Or what other ways have you chosen the child you sponsor? Or are you still considering your decision?

Have you decided to sponsor a child? Please share with me- I would love to hear this great news and pray for you and your child! Send me an email at jsilverman286 at gmail dot com.

Please pray for 6 year old Mebrat from Ethiopia- her birthday was just on May 2nd and she needs your love and support now! Pray that God comes quickly to her and shows she is not forgotten- that she is His child!

   

 Please pray for 6 year old Honey from Colombia!

Happy Birthday! Compassion Kids Spolight: Birthdays around the World!

Please pray for Niyotwizera- I had to stop for a moment to pray for this young and precious son of God who looks so scared and downtrodden from life- he is really one of the littlest ones or least of these that we are called to love and protect! Niyotwizera is from Rwanda and just turned 6 today. He also lives in an area affected by AIDS, which puts him even more at risk and in need of your support today.

Watch this powerful video of a music artist's visit to the country and what we can do to help! 

Please PRAY that God rushes in to pick up this little one and embrace him with His love and that he does powerful things with his life. My heart hurts for him- please consider sponsoring him- and please pray about it first! It is crucial to consider the benefits of long term sponsorship and to really be sure you can make a solid and long term commitment to this precious child who desperately needs stable love and consistency in his life.

Pray for Niyotwizera that he gets a loving sponsor soon and pray for other boys like him in Rwanda who also need a sponsor! 

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Pray for Uwamahoro who is only 5 years old and lives in the country of Rwanda.

Her birthday is August 8th. Please show your love and support for the littlest of these today!

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Antora needs your prayer today- she turned 6 today in Bangladesh and needs prayer, love and support!*

*Praise God that He has provided for her!

Young girls like her continue (unsuppored, no life line) to live in a high risk area for exploitation and abuse, which means that she is at risk of being sold into sexual slavery or taken advantage of. Having a Compassion sponsor would protect girls like her from this and allow a wall of defense to be put around her, as she would then have the means and support necessary to be protected against this.

She is waiting and hoping for someone like YOU to step up to defend her and show her she is worthy and loved! She is a precious child of God, please pray that God comes quickly to rescue and defend her and please consider sponsoring a girl like her if you feel led to give your love and support!

Pray for other girls like her in Bangladesh also waiting for a sponsor like you! 

There are also many girls similar to her living in a high risk area in India, that also face the horrifying reality of being sold into sexual slavery- please pray for these girls today!

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Meet Abdurkerim who just turned 11 today and lives in Ethiopia. He enjoys soccer and group games.

Please pray that he comes to know Christ and that God works in his life in a big way! Abdurkerim has been patiently waiting for a sponsor for a long time- for 225 days!

 Please give him a birthday present he will not soon forget! End his wait today! 

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Praise that Kamilajini has gotten a sponsor! She just turned 8 and lives in Sri Lanka. Pray she continues to get support and encouragement to survive and thrive in the dangerous environment she lives in!

Pray that she comes to know Christ and is surrounded by God's love and presence!

Pray for another girl like her in Sri Lanka who needs your prayers and love today!

Pray for a girl who has been waiting a long time for a sponsor in Bolivia!

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Mebrat's birthday is today! She is wearing a lovely pink dress, but is lacking much of the love and support she needs today to reach her full potential in Christ.

She is 6 years old today and from Ethiopia, where she lives in an area affected by AIDS.Though she lives a world away from many of us, she is still a child with many similarities to other children her age.  She likes to play with dolls and is is kindergarten.

Please pray for her that God shows her His amazing love. Her eyes speak the sadness that she has experienced.

Please show your love today and pray for a sponsor for her that will support her and provide what she needs most of all for her birthday- your love, Jesus.

Pray for Mebrat today! 

I challenge you to pray for the other girls in Ethiopia who, like Mebrat, desperately are waiting and hoping for YOU to lift them up in prayer to our Father!

~~~

Suporn is now 11 years old, a young girl  from Thailand. Her bright smiles and cheerful outlook show that with support, she will blossom and grow into a strong and beautiful young woman in the future.

Please pray for the other girls like her, also in Thailand who need a sponsor just like Suporn!

There are 4 children in her family. She enjoys singing, playing with dolls and playing house.She helps her family with gathering firewood, washing clothes and cleaning.Her parents, like many other adults in the area, are sometimes employed as farmers and make about the same as $53 US dollars a month.

Please continue to  pray for Suporn that God provides her a new sponsor with all she needs to be a long term and loving sponsor. Pray that those around her, along with her sponsor, will be a stable source of love and God's light in her life.

 

Pray that these birthday children (as well as many others around the world!) will see Christ's love today and that He provides for them in His perfect way. 

See which kids living in poverty share your birthday with the convenient search tool here!

Pray for these children and the other children in Thailand living in poverty who are patiently waiting for a loving sponsor like you to reach out and change their lives!

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*Praise God that Imanashimwe has received a sponsor! 

Please say a prayer for her! And please pray for these other girls who have also been waiting for a sponsor in Rwanda!

Imanashimwe makes her home with her stepfather and her mother. Carrying water, washing clothes and helping in the kitchen are her household duties. Her stepfather is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother is sometimes employed as a farmer. There are 5 children in the family.

For fun, Imanashimwe enjoys walking, playing ball games and running. She attends church activities regularly and is in high school where her performance is average.

Your love and support will help Imanashimwe to receive the assistance she needs to develop her potential. She also lives in an AIDS affected area.  Please pray for her protection and health and for her to come to know Christ! Pray for the other girls in Rwanda who have been waiting for a sponsor too! Pray for girls who have a birthday today to get a great gift of love on their special day!

Please also pray for the all of the children in Rwanda who have been waiting for a sponsor to guide them and protect them and show them light which is hard to see in the dark world where they live! Give them hope and light today!  

Watch this video of Rebecca St. James' visit to Rwanda that shares a powerful message and how we can help!

Pray for the young girls in Rwanda who have been waiting a long time for a sponsor like you to show them support- act in love today! 

Pray for these young ladies as well- who are growing into beautiful woman but who need your support today to thrive in love and reach their dreams. 

~~~

 Pray for all of these young people and children in Christ- that He won't give up on seeking them and that He will come quickly to rescue them and show them His amazing love!

I challenge you to pray for these kids and to consider finding a child to sponsor that you feel is just right for you to love and support as God leads you! 

How did you choose your child to sponsor? Do you think birthdays are a good way to choose a child- why or why not? 

 Do you have a sponsored child's birthday coming up? 

I want to hear from YOU! What do you want to read and learn about and what do you want to hear more about?

Have you considered sponsoring a child or do you have a sponsored child that you chose for their birthday or special day? Or what other ways have you chosen the child you sponsor? Or are you still considering your decision?

  Do you feel drawn to a certain country or group of children? I challenge you to search for the child that you feel is right for you to sponsor and support! You can search by country, age, special needs, children at high risk of exploitation and abuse, or children living in an AIDS affected area. This is a great way to reach out and touch a life- for eternity!

Support a child affected by the AIDS endemic 

I understand that not everyone is able to make this financial commitment of $38 a month, but please pray for these kids- if everyone committed to prayer for these children, more of them would find a loving sponsor!  Search here for a child who needs support and commit to pray for them!

Please pray for these precious children with special needs- physical or mental- that desperately and vitally need support and love from you today!

Have you decided to sponsor a child? Please share with me- I would love to hear this great news and pray for you and your child! Send me an email at jsilverman286 at gmail dot com. 

Compassion Kids Spotlight: Breath-taking Brisa from Mexico

Brisa is a 4 year old who caught my heart and stopped my breath when I saw her page.

She is so young and so in need of God to catch hold of her with His love.

My heart cries out to her, wishing I could sponsor yet another child! But I know I have made my commitment to several children and want to make sure I am able to sponsor them long term.

Brisa is from Mexico and has been waiting 180 days for a sponsor. Please pray for her and view her page to learn a little more about her life and how you can pray for her. Please consider sponsoring her and making this commitment that will have a powerful, far-reaching and eternal impact on this precious little girl's life.


Brisa has 6 children in her family and she loves art! Her birthday is in the summer- on August 26th!

View Brisa's page here and please pray for her that God wraps his arms around her and comes quickly to rescue her!

Do you feel drawn to a certain country or group of children? I challenge you to search for the child that you feel is right for you to sponsor and support! You can search by country, age, special needs, children at high risk of exploitation and abuse, or children living in an AIDS affected area. This is a great way to reach out and touch a life- for eternity!

I understand that not everyone is able to make this financial commitment of $38 a month, but please pray for these kids- if everyone committed to prayer for these children, more of them would find a loving sponsor!  Search here for a child who needs support and commit to pray for them!

Have you decided to sponsor a child? Please share with me- I would love to hear this great news and pray for you and your child! Send me an email at jsilverman286 at gmail dot com.


I would like to hear from you- have you had a personal immediate reaction to seeing the picture of a child in need?

Compassion Kids Spotlight: One Orphan

Please pray for this 6 year old girl from Rwanda who has been orphaned- Tuyishimire needs your love and support - say a prayer for her to be provided with a sponsor soon!


Tuyishimire  lives with her grandmother.  Laborers there are farmers who earn about the same as $12 USD a month.

She lives in an area affected by AIDS, so it is especially vital to pray that she gets support! 

 Tuyishimire  enjoys playing group games. Her performance in school is average. She  helps her grandmother with carrying water and gathering firewood. Her birthday is coming up soon on May 20th!

Please pray for Tuyishimire today that she will receive a loving sponsor soon, in God's perfect plan and that she will come to know Him!

Please show your support for those affected by the horrifying genocide in 1994- the effects from nearly 20 years ago linger today and these children truly need your love and support!


Learn more about the Rwanda 1994 genocide here and the effects it had on the people

Learn how to help those affected in other ways!

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Please pray for Dinberu, a 12 year old girl from Ethiopia who has been orphaned.*

Dinberu has lost one or both of her parents. 

 Please pray especially for Dinberu, as she is at a crucial age and needs your support especially at this vulnerable time in a young girl's life, who is made even more vulnerable by not having her parents with her, so she is not as protected as she could be and this puts her at risk of other dangers.

She also lives in an area affected by AIDS, putting her health and and very life at risk too.

*Thanks to God! God is faithful and had provided a loving sponsor who will greatly encourage and build this young girl up and share God's amazing love and grace with her. Please pray for Dinberu and her sponsor today!

~~~

 *Praise Update- please continue to pray for Mahlet: a 6 year old orphaned girl from Ethiopia as well. We prayed that she would not be kept waiting long- as we know, God is faithful and loving and cares for Mahlet very much! And He has answered, the next morning after this was posted the night before- Amen!

~~~

Please pray for the other orphaned children who are waiting and hoping to receive news of getting a sponsor like you to love them and support them and build them up! YOU can make a huge impact on one child's life for eternity!

Pray for other young girls in Ethiopia who need a sponsor like you today! 

Do you feel drawn to a certain country or group of children? I challenge you to search for the child that you feel is right for you to sponsor and support! You can search by country, age, special needs, children at high risk of exploitation and abuse, or children living in an AIDS affected area. This is a great way to reach out and touch a life- for eternity!

I understand that not everyone is able to make this financial commitment of $38 a month, but please pray for these kids- if everyone committed to prayer for these children, more of them would find a loving sponsor!  Search here for a child who needs support and commit to pray for them!

Have you decided to sponsor a child? Please share with me- I would love to hear this great news and pray for you and your child! Send me an email at jsilverman286 at gmail dot com.

Malaria Mafia? Or How to... Buzz Around and Cause Mayhem & Darkness

Buon giorno! (That’s hello in Italian.) My name is Massimo the Mosquito and yes, I am a member of the much-feared Malaria Mafia.

I am sure you have heard of us. 

Just a few years ago the World Health Organization said we were responsible for the deaths of 655,000 people. Although I cannot confirm or deny that, I do have a confession to make.

Lean closer. I don’t want the other mosquitoes to hear this…

I am the one who is in charge of recruiting young new mosquitoes to join us. We are known for buzzing around the country of Africa in our blood red convertibles. Otherwise known as our vehicles of death that we collect the blood in.

Why, you might ask? It is the largest country of course, and I had to make a name for myself somehow. I couldn’t just recruit a few buzz heads. No, I had to go for the big wigs. And I had go for THEM. The children of Africa.

I am not talking about ancient history here. I am talking about the quite recent epidemic. 

I am so big now that no one messes with me in the streets OR in the fields. They know my name. I’m one of the biggest bosses around.
 
I gotta keep killin’ though, can't get lazy. I gotta stay on top. That’s my game. And the easiest way to do this is to go to a place where it’s easy to roam unpunished, unchecked and with the most vulnerable kids.

They can’t even pay for the weapons that can destroy me. Thankfully.

If even one person reading this, (NO, NOT YOU, PLEASE DON’T DO ANYTHING!)

(A giant hand appears from the sky and swats the mosquito away.)

Whew. That was close.

As I was saying… if even one person reading this decided to see the weapons available against us… let me just say, one life (at least one, that is... I hope you don't see this...) could be saved quite easily. Then my numbers will start going down…





 Malaria Interventions? Mosquitoes PLEASE don't click here!You are NOT in any danger... (Click here to learn more on how to help those suffering from this preventable disease!)





Mosquito bites can KILL. And they are killing many children, as you read this. The scary (but hopeful) thing is, this is VERY preventable and it is simple to help.You can be a part of the answer to this and can save a life! 

There is a child now, waiting and praying that they will get the medicine they need to survive. That they will get a mosquito bed net to prevent this horrible life taking disease. You can make a difference for eternity by saving a child's life, a family's life and giving more people hope.

What would you say if you found out today that a child you know contracted a disease that could lead to death?

But you did some research and you found out this disease has a cure. And by cure I mean, this child does not have to die. There is medicine that would treat the disease. Life could still be lived.

I assume you would say, “Give the child the medicine. Now."

Poverty has a different response. Poverty makes sure the child is unable to stay protected from the disease. And once the child has contracted the disease, poverty makes sure the medicine is out of reach.

The disease I am referring to is Malaria.

Preventable. Treatable.

This Thursday, April 25 is World Malaria Day.

Compassion intervenes by:

• Providing households at risk with treated mosquito nets
• Educating family members on malaria prevention
• Treating those suffering from malaria, chagas disease and dengue fever

Take Action and Make a Difference!

• Watch the Video- Learn the truth the Malaria Mafia has been hiding!
• Learn doable steps to help prevent and treat those suffering from this disease
• Help a child who is living in an area highly affected by malaria- give them not only life, but hope, love and support!
• Spread the word- share this on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc!
• Be a part of the Mosquito Madness Creative Writing Fun
• Follow me to get the latest updates on how to help and more on what's going on around the world with kids in need who need some love and support! (What else is this blog for, you ask?) (Sign up for email updates at the top right or click to Join on Google Connect above!)
• Leave a comment below, I want to hear your thoughts! (Other Mosquitoes Bosses even welcome to comment as well!)

Courtesy of Compassion International

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Do you feel drawn to a certain country or group of children? I challenge you to search for the child that you feel is right for you to sponsor and support! You can search by country, age, special needs, children affected by malaria, children at high risk of exploitation and abuse, or children living in an AIDS affected area. This is a great way to reach out and touch a life- for eternity!

Pray for a child affected by malaria today! Prayer truly can change lives!

I understand that not everyone is able to make this financial commitment of $38 a month, but please pray for these kids- if everyone committed to prayer for these children, more of them would find a loving sponsor!  Search here for a child who needs support and commit to pray for them!

Compassion Kids Spotlight: A Day in the Life

A Day in the Life: Imagine If

Telling a Story from a Compassion Child's eyes

Using details from the child's information page, but creating a fictional story and perspective of events

 

Enjoy reading and please pray for this child! 

 

Victor Daniel Lulimache Velasquez is 5 years old from Peru. His birthday just passed on March 11th. He has been waiting 236 days for a sponsor as of this post.*Praise God that He has provided the perfect birthday gift in His perfect timing- please pray for the other children, like Victor Daniel, who have also been patiently waiting. Might one of these children be waiting for you to speak to God on their behalf?

"Hola! Victor Daniel! Wake up! Go get your father’s delivery from the market. Then you need to come back and get ready to walk with your sister to school. Don’t go playing in the water now! Hurry back!"

 

 He runs off, squinting his eyes against the morning sun peeking out at him that he is not ready for. When he gets back, his sister is waiting for him. They walk to school where he is greeted by a Compassion staff member. His eyes ask the question even before his lips form the words.

It will almost be a year now. He had wished and hoped and prayed that he could get a sponsor for his birthday this year, but March has come and gone. He had seen some of the kids get sponsored for their birthdays. 

But he still believes that God will answer his prayer soon. That he will get a loving sponsor who will stick with him. Someone whose smile he can imagine now, whose hands he can see holding his hands and leading him, whose embrace he will feel from the letters and encouraging words and pictures they share with him. 

 

He hopes it will happen soon. Today? He looks up. The sun is bright in the sky.

The staff member’s eyes widen and almost brim over, then they try to pass it off with a small hopeful smile.

Not Today. Again. His heart aches a little, but he keeps hoping. 

His sister hugs him good-bye and rushes off to her class. He stands still for a moment, then goes inside after his teacher urges him in. He feels the sun on his back and holds onto the warmth, turns toward it, reaching out. Willing it to embrace him tightly. Willing the warmth to stay with him. To be a rock solid sun. Not to set or disappear at the end of the day. 

  

He remembers his teacher’s lesson from the other day: God’s love is forever. He never stops loving you. He tries to understand. He will paint a sun today. A bright one that never stops shining. That chases away the night. He smiles and imagines showing it to his new sponsor. 

Please pray for Victor Daniel!

Please share your thoughts below! I would like to hear from YOU! What have you considered before sponsoring a child, if you are a sponsor? How do you choose which child to sponsor? 

Do you feel drawn to a certain country or group of children? I challenge you to search for the child that you feel is right for you to sponsor and support! You can search by country, age, special needs, children at high risk of exploitation and abuse, or children living in an AIDS affected area. This is a great way to reach out and touch a life- for eternity!

I understand that not everyone is able to make this financial commitment of $38 a month, but please pray for these kids- if everyone committed to prayer for these children, more of them would find a loving sponsor!  Search here for a child who needs support and commit to pray for them!

Have you decided to sponsor a child? Please share with me- I would love to hear this great news and pray for you and your child! Send me an email at jsilverman286 at gmail dot com.