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.

---

“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

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.