The Power Of One
POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Compassion, Kenya Trip
One of the things I love is Compassion’s one-to-one focus. What that means is that every child sponsored through Compassion is linked to just one sponsor. Through the sponsor-child relationship, a deep bond is developed as letters and photos are exchanged.
I could tell you about it…or I could introduce you to Samuel…
and his brother Paul…
Samuel is 8 years old. He is what is known in Compassion Sponsor sites as a Highly Vulnerable Child (HVC). 3 years ago when Samuel entered the Compassion sponsorship program he was so malnourished that he couldn’t walk or talk. The Compassion workers began providing Samuel’s family with vitamins and well-balanced nutrition. Today, Samuel is completely healthy.
We also met Samuel & Paul’s mother, Martha.
Prior to Compassion’s help Martha wasn’t able to provide for her family. She didn’t have a job and consequently wasn’t able to feed her family of five.
That was then.
Today, because of Compassion’s Complementary Intervention assistance, Martha was trained and given resources to start her own business. She now is able to raise vegetables and sell them in the market to provide for her family.
All of this happened because of one sponsor.
We asked them if they ever received letters from their sponsor. Martha stepped out of the room and returned with several letters from Maggie & Cassie Goff, Samuel’s sponsor.
These letters from their sponsor were a treasured possession to this family because they were from someone who invested into them from around the world. Because of Maggie & Cassie, their family can support themselves and Samuel can now walk and talk.
As we left their home and walked back to the project, Samuel fell in beside me and slipped his hand into mine.
I was privileged to come to Kenya and visit Samuel and his family in their home but I’m not the hero here. Maggie & Cassie are.
I looked down at that precious hand in mine, the hand of a child who just three years ago couldn’t walk or talk, and I realized that I am simply standing in for Maggie and Cassie. They are the ones who deserve to hold Samuel’s hand.
They have invested in his life and their investment has paid off. Samuel walks and talks because of them.
So Maggie & Cassie, if you ever read this, thank you. I caught a little glimpse into the world of your sponsored child today. I read your letters. I saw the difference you made in their lives. I am so thankful that you made the decision to step up and break the chains of poverty.
Be inspired by this story. Who is your “Samuel?” Who will you sponsor? There are so many more just waiting for you to be a part of their story.
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Visit My Website
March 5, 2010
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Seriously, I have to stop reading yours and all the other bloggers while at work! I’m in tears yet again! But its a good thing!
Love the post!
Visit My Website
March 5, 2010
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Brad, I twittered you and let you know that my wife and I sponsored a child last night. We’ve talked about it for a while, but, these blog posts pushed us over the edge. This is what we needed!
And what an awesome post! This helps us that much more to know what we’re doing and how we can help even more. Keep ‘em coming!!!
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March 5, 2010
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What a great post! I feel like I am on an emotional roller-coaster with all of you. Lots of tears. “I am simply standing in..” I have felt that so many times and you described it SO well. It’s a ‘holy ground’ kind of moment that is hard to explain. Well done.
Visit My Website
March 5, 2010
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Daniel, I’m so happy that you and your wife decided to invest in the life of a child. The difference you make will be HUGE…I can say that with certainty after my time here in Kenya.
Write your child often. As you can see, the letters are treasured possessions.
Visit My Website
March 5, 2010
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great pics!!!
Visit My Website
March 5, 2010
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Bless you, Brad, for sharing what the Gospel is all about.
112 days until my Compassion Trip to Honduras… The Kenya posts are swaying me to sponsor yet another child. We already have some in Honduras, Bolivia and Thailand, why not go for every Compassion continent, eh??! What we give up of ourselves, gives hope, life, and an answer to prayers to a child out there…
Visit My Website
March 5, 2010
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That is so powerful, thank you.
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March 5, 2010
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Incredible. I work in the call center at Compassion Interational in Colorado Springs and had the pleasure of calling Maggie and Cassie today. They were in school so I talked to mom and gave her the link to these blogs. What a wonderful connection you have made and so beautifully have shown us. Thank you
Visit My Website
March 5, 2010
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Honey, if you keep writing these stories we may have 10 more sponsored children when you get home. Seriously.
I love you and miss you!
Visit My Website
March 5, 2010
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Lisa — that’s one of the things my husband was afraid of when I signed up to take a Compassion trip!
) Bring it on!
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March 5, 2010
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At OurCompassion blog, some of us are talking about how you Kenya bloggers are giving us “Compassion-itis.” It’s highly contagious, this desire to help the countless precious children around the world. You make this place very real for us.
Our family signed up today to sponsor a 2nd child from Kenya, and now I can’t get a third girl out of my mind who is tugging at my heart.
Keep up the good work, and please, come home soon…before I have to take a second job.
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March 6, 2010
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Incredible post. Writing my sponsor children this weekend.
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March 6, 2010
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We sponsered little Kanze! Mati must have already found a sponser, but we are so thrilled
Visit My Website
March 6, 2010
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Which child development center was this? I am really enjoying your blog and photos. Praying that many children get sponsored through this trip. We have one in Uganda and one in Tanzania for now. I have two correspondent children also. One of them is in Kenya at All Saints Anglican KE 555
Visit My Website
March 6, 2010
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Wonderful post! Thank you for sharing!
Visit My Website
March 6, 2010
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THANK YOU for allowing all of ‘us’ the opportunity to ‘travel’ alongside you on this remarkable journey. Your words, and the beautiful pictures, convey your heart for Compassion and allow us to see God’s hands at work in the lives of those you meet.
Keep up the good work! What you are doing on this trip will most assuredly make a difference in countless lives around the world.
God bless you all!
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March 6, 2010
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Thank you for your posts and keeping us informed on the children. You have me in tears over Samuel and his family. Thank you for being there for us that can’t be there. I’m writing my little girl, Leah Nyumbera, this weekend.
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March 6, 2010
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love how you put that … standing in for them – indeed, you are and shining a light on the need for more people to step up and step out … bless your trip
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March 7, 2010
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i LOVE the pictures of you and samuel and his hand in yours!
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March 11, 2010
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Brad! i just want to say thank you for sharing this amazing story, i am one of the kids that sponsors Samuel and to hear about him gives me hope. It blows me away that i get to experience things like this at the age of 15.I cant explain how GOD works but i think this story gives all of us a little guess. He truly can save lives…and thats exactly what he did for Samuel. Thank you for loving Samuel and thank you for sharing this story with me.
Love always, Cassie
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March 12, 2010
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My heart is so full to see you get the vision! So happy you were able to go! H
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July 21, 2010
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Good on you for wanting to help alleviate suffering in the world, but having just read about “Compassion” I must say I don’t support linking religious messages with charity. Why do Christians feel the need to find the poorest people, give them a tiny bit of charity, and then preach to them until they succumb (since, according to the Compassion page I just read, sharing the gospel is the most important thing)?
It’s probably obvious that I’m an atheist, but don’t dismiss my comment because of that. I support charity in all forms, just not in places where people are too poor, uneducated and unable to prevent western religion from wiping out their local beliefs and modifying their culture. Your belief system tells you to spread it, but please just consider what that spreading costs. I know you think your message brings profound good, but just think about the costs – thousands of years of their own history and culture is modified because some well-meaning white guys show up with bags full of hope and money.
Besides this, I must say your blog design is absolutely gorgeous. I can’t stop looking at it! Nicely done!