Perspective

At the church we have attended the past few weeks the pastor has been focusing on Christmas.  He has been reminding the congregation of the importance what Christmas is really about - Christ's birth - and challenging people not to get distracted by the secular aspect of Christmas (spending, spending, spending).

Today I got a letter from one of the kids we sponsor through Compassion International.  Compassion is an organization that provides financial support for needy kids all around the world.  It costs about $40 a month to sponsor a child but this often provides enough money to keep the kids in school, clothed, and fed.  Compassion also offers other extra curricular activities for the kids to keep them off of the streets. It is a Christian based organization with a goal to teach kids about Jesus but while doing that they manage to save a lot of them from poverty and illiteracy.  There is very little overhead so you know almost all of your money goes directly to the kids and their families.

We sponsor 2 kids - a boy named Luis who shares Erik's birthday and a girl named Judith who shares Lainey's birthday.  Once baby boy is born I will pick a 3rd child that shares a birthday with him.  We sponsor the kids until they turn 18.  It is my hope that as our kids grow they will develop a heart to help those in need as well.

One neat aspect of Compassion is that you can write letters to your sponsored kids.  I have tried to send one letter a month and almost always get a letter and picture/drawing in return from the kids.  I love hearing from them!

We sent each child an extra $20 for Christmas presents.  Here is the thank you note from Luis (he is eight years old)....

" Dear Ann,

I greet you with much care wishing that when you receive this letter you will be very well.  I want to thank you for the gift you have sent me of 20 dollars.  I was able to buy a pack of cookies ($1), a bag of coffee ($1.55), a bag of milk ($2.50), a box of cereal ($2.50), 7 pounds of sugar ($2.75), mayonnaise ($1.25), cooking oil ($1.30), 2 pounds of salt (0.24), 2 packs of spaghetti ($0.70), 2 pounds of rice ($1.30), a bottle of spices ($1.40), detergent ($1.35), a toy car ($1.75), 2 cans of soup ($ 0.41).  Thank you very much.  My mother also thanks you very much.  I say good bye and I send you a strong hug.  

Love, Luis  "

I am sufficiently humbled.

If you are interested in sponsoring a Compassion child go here.  They take one time donations and have a special Christmas program available now.