Love Letters

Dan and I sponsor two girls through an organization called Compassion. Sorieth is 13 and lives in Honduras. We've sponsored her since 2007. Tina is 17 and lives in India, and we've sponsored her since 2009.

There are a lot of things I could say about how they have fewer possessions and opportunities than we do and less money. About how when we send them relatively small amounts of money through Compassion, they send back photos of themselves surrounded by all of the things they were able to buy with the money: a table and chairs, shoes, a new dress, food for the whole family, plates and bowls, sheets, personal hygiene products and an umbrella. I could tell you that for $38 a month - less than what you might pay for one dinner out with your family - you can pay for schooling, medical care and food for a child and make sure that they hear about Jesus. I could mention that Charity Navigator gives Compassion four out of four stars for financial health, accountability and transparency and that 84% of all the donations Compassion receives go directly towards their programs to help children in poverty (instead of towards, say, the electric bill or a CEO's multi-million dollar salary.)

But instead, I'd like to show you this:

These are just some of the letters we've received from "our" girls. (The binder on the left is filled with letters that I didn't feel like taking out, and there are more letters in a box that I have temporarily misplaced. Because I'm disorganized.) The letters tell us about their lives and ask about ours. They let us know that Sorieth and Tina were praying for Dan's medical school graduation, our move to Ohio, and a healthy pregnancy and a safe delivery for me and Lucas. They tell us that Tina got to ride a train for the first time and that she's enjoying her karate class, and that Sorieth's favorite song is "Little Duck Juan." And they tell us over and over again that something really simple like giving a few dollars and writing a few letters makes a huge difference in the lives of girls who were born into poverty. A recent letter written to us by Sorieth's mom ends with, "I thank you so much for being so special with my daughter, and I pray God to bless you abundantly. I love you very much. Until next letter, Mirian."

This month, Compassion is hosting "Blog Month," and they are hoping to find sponsors for 3,160 more children through blogs like mine. There are thousands of children who were born into poverty and who are waiting for help from someone like you. I'd encourage you to click the button below and help release a child from poverty in Jesus' name. (And I promise to return to my regularly scheduled randomness very soon.)