More Compassion

Be careful what you wish for?  No, be careful what you pray for! 

God has turned my heart inside out for the needs of this world, locally and globally.  I asked Him to.  And He has, in a big way! 

My heart has just exploded for the children of Compassion, and after much prayer, Jeff and I decided to step out in faith and sponsor a second child.  (My husband is such an amazing man with a huge heart for God.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed at the depth of his faith.  We are so blessed to have a him as the spiritual leader of our family).

I talked to my cousin Amy and she currently sponsors two children and that inspired and encouraged me that it wasn't such a reckless idea.  We will need to make some changes in the way we live--mainly lifestyle changes.  Things like asking myself if I "need" this right now, or do I really just "want" it?  I'm excited to face that challenge head on and allow God to do some work in me. 

This is Miderline.

I'm sorry for the poor quality of the scanned image.  Believe me, she is absolutely gorgeous.  She has piercing eyes that drew both Jeff and I in.  She is four years old and lives in Haiti.  Just like my girls, she likes to play with dolls.  She is doing above average work in preschool.

Since sponsoring Miderline, I have had moments (or sometimes hours...) of fear.  But I just need to allow Jesus' words to wash over me.  1 John 3:17-18 says If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

I don't want to read the bible and shake my head in a meaningful way and then go about my business "in my own little world" of "population me".  I want to take God's commands as seriously as His promises.  I want to love with actions.  I pray that God continues to bless us with a steady income so that we can continue our sponsorships for as long as Digina and Miderline need us.  My own children are a bit young and my faith is yet a bit small to go on an actual mission trip, so for now, this can be our long-distance mission trip to Tanzania and Haiti.

It's amazing how Grace, and even Tristan and Sophie, have responded to Digina and Miderline.  Their photos and maps of their contries are up in our kitchen.  Daily they want to know what Digina or Miderline is doing at any given moment.  (Usually I have to tell them that Digina is sleeping as Tanzania is 11 hours ahead of us!  But in Haiti, Miderline is only 3 hours ahead of us and they get a kick out of hearing she is probably preparing to eat lunch as we are sitting down to breakfast). 

Whenever they draw pictures or play with play dough, they tell me they are making it for Digina or Miderline.  The twins call Digina "Gina" as they can't yet say her full name.  "Gina" doesn't know it but she has had at least 7 or 8 play dough burritos made for her. 

We talk about the conditions the girls live in and the huge differences in material possessions.  Sweet Grace wants to use her piggy bank money to buy them furniture and clean water, or some stickers.  Luckily, the customs in both countries allows Compassion shipments to include paper products measuring up to 1/4" thickness, so we will most certainly send them stickers.  (smile)  I love watching Grace think beyond her own needs and circumstances (hard for a 4 year old.  Well.  Hard for a 34 year old too.)