When you walk into a 7-11 or other convenience store, do you ever think about how you could spend your money more wisely? $1.69 for a 20 oz. Diet Coke (that’s my vice)? That’s more than many villages in Africa average in a month. An entire month. Think about that … .
Can we even imagine?
When you look at the Big Bites and the Breakfast Bites and … to be honest, I don’t even know what they sell back there because I stay away. But what I do know is that we have SO much, and SO many have SO little. Why? Why must wee keep it all to ourselves?
I cringe when I hear how much the people who are in line in front of me are spending on lottery tickets, cigarettes, alcohol, and horribly unhealthy food. What I could do with that money to help those who can’t even afford a $1.25 shot for malaria!
But I help a few. I help those I sponsor. I help those to whom I send money to Compassion for mosquito nets. I help those who are sponsored because of my testimony.
So why not jump on board? Why do we keep living in our small worlds, wishing, drooling over, hoping for the latest tech gadget (all Apple for me) when someone like my Francis finds it a treat just to have a glass of milk for breakfast?
I’m Marilu, and I’m 3 years old.I waited for about seven years between the time I first heard about Compassion at a newsboys’ concert to the time I sponsored my first child when I heard Michael Tait (now with newsboys) talk about how we should help our neighbors in Mexico. How many children needed me in those seven years that I thought I couldn’t sacrifice just $38 a month to help them go to school, get medical care for them, sometimes even save their lives?
I began sponsoring Leonardo shortly before his 8th birthday in April. I immediately sent a gift and a card.
I chose Leonardo because he and two siblings live only with their father, and he looked so poor in his picture. (I know they’re all living in poverty, but considering that the children usually wear their best clothes for picture day, and Leonardo looked soiled and disheveled, I thought he looked worse than most.) I sent more money than usual because I wanted him to get some new clothes.
Today, I received a letter to thank me for the gifts with a picture of what he bought, minus the cake. He purchased clothes, shoes (two pairs in the picture!), and a cake for his birthday. The item that made my heart smile the most is the cake. I’m SOOOOO happy that Leonardo had a cake for his birthday!
He says that he is happy to have a picture of me and that I am beautiful. (The translator left that part out, which I think is rather important! lol) I love when my children tell I’m beautiful. Not many people have done that in my life.
Leonardo’s tutor says he is a very happy and kind boy. Aw.
The picture was faded, so I enhanced it a bit in Aperture. Aquí él está con sus regalos.
This is what I’m sending María for her birthday. I made the card with one of my photos, of course. I thought pink flowers would be good for her. I know she likes pink, so I got pink stickers and pink cards.
María is my correspondent child, so I didn’t realize that her birthday is next month. I hope this package makes it to Honduras in time. Even if it doesn’t, I’m sure she won’t mind getting a late card. We all love that.
I received a letter from Isaac thanking me for his birthday gift. I sent him $25, and he received a pot. That makes me kind of sad because I want him to have something fun like the other children I sponsor. The children usually get to pick what they want, so I hope that’s what he wanted. I hope it made him happy.
My card and stickers for Annet. I took the picture that I put on the card. I think she will be excited with the stickers. She will be 5 years old on July 3rd. I doubt my card will get to Uganda by then, but it’s cool to get late birthday wishes.
I’m Marilu, and I’m 3 years old.
I waited for about seven years between the time I first heard about Compassion at a newsboys’ concert to the time I sponsored my first child when I heard Michael Tait (now with newsboys) talk about how we should help our neighbors in Mexico. How many children needed me in those seven years that I thought I couldn’t sacrifice just $38 a month to help them go to school, get medical care for them, sometimes even save their lives?
