Risk, Care, Dream, Expect

10 posted on March 10, 2010

POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Compassion, Kenya Trip

In the weeks leading up to this trip I was pretty busy so my wife graciously helped me do most of the prepping and packing. She even gave me a cue-card explaining exactly what I had and where it was in each bag and suitcase compartment (yeah, I think she’s pretty amazing too).

When I arrived I found that she had written me several cards to be opened on certain days of my trip. This was the card I opened today:

Those words really resonated with me.

This has been quite a trip. I’ve seen some things I just can’t comprehend and will probably spend weeks processing. Reading this card helped remind me why I’m here.

It also is a challenge that I would like to pose to you.

RISK more than others think is safe

Sure, I know that sponsoring a child is a risk for some of you. You’re committing to send $38 a month when your finances may already be tight. I get that. But these children are worth the risk….their future is at stake. You have the ability to change their life and offer them hope and a brighter future. The simple fact is that nearly all of us can manage to set aside $38 a month…that’s less than the cost of one dinner out.

CARE more than others think is wise

Sponsoring a child will open your heart up to a love you didn’t know you could have for someone you’ve never met. The first time you receive that letter from your sponsored child your heart will melt. I’m warning you, if you sponsor a child, you will never be the same. And neither will they.

DREAM more than others think is practical

How much of a difference can just one sponsor make? Until you’ve seen what I’ve seen this week you have no idea. I’ve visited homes and talked to families whose lives have been radically changed because of the generosity of a Compassion sponsor.

I met a Compassion graduate this week who grew up in Kwangware slum in Kenya. He entered the program at the age of 6 then went on to graduate, go to college and start his own business. This same graduate is now sponsoring 3 Compassion children of his own and volunteering at the Compassion project in the slums he grew up in.

All because someone dared to dream for him.

EXPECT more than others think is possible

I wasn’t sure quite what to expect when I agreed to this adventure to travel 8,000 miles around the globe. I knew this trip would change my life but I had no idea how much. Seeing the work Compassion is doing here in Kenya and around the world has inspired and challenged me.

I’m excited when I think about the 1 million plus children who have been given a brighter future because of Compassion sponsors. But I also know that there are over 900 children awaiting sponsors right now in Kenya alone and many more worldwide.

I have no idea how many children we can release from poverty this week because of this trip but I am dreaming big and expecting the impossible for these children.

I’m asking you to take the leap.

Sponsor a child in need.

Don’t wait a minute longer…this is your moment to change a life.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 7:02 am and is filed under Blog Posts, Compassion, Kenya Trip. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

11 Comments

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March 10, 2010

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1 Becky said:

I love that card… its one I send out to my friends. I know that there are going to be many kids sponsored through your trip with the other bloggers!
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March 10, 2010

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2 nader latif said:

I visited the compassion website but just one question are you sure this money will go for the right cause.
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March 10, 2010

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3 Lindsay @ Not2Us said:

Nader – You can visit Charity Naviagtor (a non-profit rating organization) to see their report on Compassion International:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3555

Also, Compassion International has an open door policy. If you become a sponsor, they welcome you to visit their offices and look through the paperwork.
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March 10, 2010

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4 Juli Jarvis said:

I’ve read every single post of all the Kenya Bloggers this week — thank you so much for sharing so honestly with us!
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March 10, 2010

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5 Rebekah said:

We took the leap and I haven’t stopped thinking of sweet Baraka ever since. I wake up and go to bed thinking of him, every day. Wondering about where he is…what he’s thinking…how full his belly is…

Thank you for giving us this opportunity. We are forever changed.
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6 Mike Hailey said:

Brad, you are absolutely correct when you state that when you receive that first letter from your sponsored child, “your heart will melt.” It certainly has changed my life. After traveling to Bolivia, I was so glad that I had the next week off work because I needed to process what all I had seen and experienced. It would have been difficult to step back in to my normal routine after such a life-changing journey.

THANK YOU for sharing. Have a safe trip home.
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7 Michelle said:

I cannot thank you enough for all of these amazing posts. I have been sharing them on Facebook and I know they are making an impact. May God bless you for all you’ve shared.
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March 10, 2010

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8 Jody said:

Love it and have LOVED following y’alls journey-and love seeing what it is doing to open the eyes of so many to what/who Compassion is! praying for a safe return, but thank you for not being “safe” in your love and advocacy for these children and their families!!!
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March 11, 2010

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9 Tricia said:

Hello Brad. I’m a fellow Hoosier heading to the Mathare Valley for 10 days in Sept with FAME. Thanks to this Compassion International trip, I sponsored my first child yesterday – and I requested one from the Mathare Valley! Thank you for opening my eyes to the difference I can make.
By the way, I gave up cokes two months ago – that more than makes up the $38.00 a month for this child – God is now calling on my heart to actually adjust my budget to make room for more. To truly sacrifice…
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10 Amy said:

My family and I chose to sponsor a child last Friday. He shares the same birthday with our only son. So many times since then I have heard “I wish we had the money to do that”. Internally I laugh, externally I say “So do I”. I blogged about this a couple days ago.Anyone who has followed my blog knows that for the last year, we have been in a challenging financial position. The phrase “God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called” applies to EVERYTHING. Even sponsoring a child. We are certainly not qualified financially to take on another financial obligations, but God chose us to sponsor Maxwell. He will provide for us. We are only his vessel.
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11 Kathy Pride said:

It is in giving, and sharing with these children that we receive so, so much. It makes a tremendous difference, we have sponsored kids with birthdays that match our own kids and have also brought more into our family over the years, and it is a real joy to receive their mail and photos.

Go for it!