While I'm still searching for my lost cup of (mo)joe, it seemed like a good time to ask you to chime in with your thoughts, questions, observations or experience with Compassion International. Are you a sponsor? Supporter? Detractor? Skeptic? What were your impressions after reading my account so far of our India trip? Others?
Regardless of your perspective, I'd love to hear from you (and your readers, too, if you'd ask them for me and either link their responses in comments or direct them here). Depending on response, I'll go to my trip bosses and Compassion experts if I don't know the answer myself.
Thanks!
I am a sponsor to a little girl named Deborah in Uganda. It has been a wonderful experience for myself and my husband. We love getting her letters and seeing the difference that can be made with so little.
I was first introduced to Compassion in college when my sorority sponsored several children and we took turns writing to them. I’ve seen several presentations on Compassion in different churches and other venues and am completely convinced that this organization is amazing.
My only question is: Where do I sign up for the next trip? 😉
We adopted our daughter from China, so our hearts firmly remain committed to helping children within China, whether orphans or not.
Compassion does not have any programs within China, so we’ve had to look elsewhere to sponsor. If and when Compassion is able to begin working within China, we will run to sponsor a Compassion child. I realize this is a tall order though… the few NGOs we know working within China have been through a lot to get where they are.
As of right now, we send a yearly donation to our daughter’s former orphanage and also co-sponsor (monthly) a Chinese orphan who was born with double cleft lip/cleft palate.
My question would be how to convince a skeptical spouse to sponsor a child with Compassion? He doesn’t feel that he can trust any of “those” organizations.
Last summer I found three big blogs – Sophie’s, Shannon’s and Melanie’s. I was intrigued to read about Sophie and Shannon’s trip to Uganda, but it was reading about Melanie’s trip to the Dominican Republic that really rocked my world.
Reading those blogs changed my life. Changed my heart. Changed me.
So I was very excited to read along as you and the rest of the group headed to India. I loved hearing and seeing and reading all about it, and I’m so very thankful that you were willing to go, willing to share.
Thank you, Robin.
You know, I think the fact that you have lost your mojo speaks a bit about the effect this trip has had on you. God had you witness poverty in its purest form, and see joy in the midst. I can’t imagine coming away from that unaffected. I suspect you are still processing the effects of your trip deep in your soul. Your mojo will come. And, when it does, I can’t wait to hear what you have to tell us, and see what God does with your words.
No question, just a hug for you.
I have been a sponsor of Patricia from El Salvador for just under two months. I have her picture on my kitchen desk and on my blog sidebar, so that she’s never far from my mind. I pray for her, her three siblings, and her parents and look forward to receiving the first letter from her.
I learned about Compassion from Bloggers like Sophie, Melanie, Chanon, Carlos & Heather, and then from Pete, Spence, and the others. From their stories, I was convinced of Compassion’s commitment to honesty and felt they would be good stewards of my money.
I read every word that all of you wrote from India and the pictures, OH MY! The precious girl with the tiniest blue house…the joy in her eyes…that was God shining through.
I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for your willingness to go so that we might see. I don’t know that I could ever be that brave or strong. (but I’d like to some day!) Our family has been blessed with the opportunity to sponsor two beautiful young ladies, one from Rwanda and one from India. It was wonderful to see how Compassion works in unimaginable circumstances.
We love Compassion. We’ve been sponsors since 1992–five children total, currently sponsoring two. My husband is big on looking into how ministries handle their finances, and Compassion is at the top of his list for doing it right. He even served as a volunteer for a while, presenting the ministry at concerts and events.
I loved your photos and reports, Robin. It may take a while before you’ve fully processed what God did in your heart there. Please don’t feel pressured to rush the process. Your readers aren’t going anywhere.
Love, Jeanne
P.S. Did you get my message on facebook? If not, please check your inbox. Thanks.
One of my regular readers sponsored a child while you guys were in India. I blogged about your trip and linked up to all of your blogs. It was such a blessing to think that what I do counts even without leaving home.
Blessings
I had been considering sponsoring a child for a while (we have one through World Vision, another group – a little boy in Africa)….
I was deeply moved by all your posts, Robin….and since I felt like I’ve known you for a while (3 years now? wow) I knew everything you were writing was for real.
After seeing the picture of the child bathing in the street gutters – my heart just broke and I knew I had to sponsor another child in India.
Her name in Nirupama and she is lovely.
We started sponsoring two little girls from Honduras through Compassion, and my mother started sponsoring a girl from Honduras too, after attending a Mark Schultz concert with a presentation on the work that Compassion does.
The trip you’ve taken has confirmed even further that being a sponsor with Compassion is where we need to be.
In fact, after seeing the Compassion bloggers posts on their trip, the photos, the stories, the gut-wrenching truth, I have cancelled my plans for a once-in-a-lifetime trip next January, so that I can focus my finances and efforts on a Compassion trip to Honduras. My heart longs to raise funds and resources to build a clean water well for a Compassion center and community in Honduras. Living water, until their cups overflow.
Seeing the words you all wrote from India, the photos, seeing your reactions since (take your time, we were affected too, and we weren’t even there!!!!), has made me realize that sponsorship is great, but it’s not enough from me personally, I feel God calling on me to do more.
And for that priceless gift… I thank you.
What an amazing experience, Robin. My dream in life has always been to go to India. My grandma visited there when I was 8 years old and I have wanted to go there ever since.
I love reading through your posts, seeing your pictures, and reading the other blogger’s posts as well. What an amazing experience to have and participate in and blog about. I don’t know anything quite like serving those that literally can’t help themselves that can bring us so quickly out of our own worlds and worries and into a realm of appreciation and gratitude for what we have as well as a love for those we get to know half way across the world.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us! You are amazing!!!