Compassion Letter Writing #9: Faith-Filled Friends

Compassion International is an unashamedly Christian organization. There is no compromise on this. They work through local churches in 26 countries and if they took the word "Jesus" out of their tagline they would be eligible for millions of dollars of government funding. But that is unthinkable, because Jesus is what Compassion is all about.

The children and families who are supported by Compassion are not forced to convert or believe in Christianity to receive the support. However, many churches have reported growth as a result of their involvement with Compassion because when the love of God is expressed freely through providing children with food, medical care, education support and the help of a loving sponsor, people are bound to ask questions. "Why are you doing this for me and my child?"

Not all of my sponsored kids have been Christian. That is ultimately their choice, and I have made that clear to them. However, the incredible faith often expressed through their letters has continually been a source of wonder for me, and has challenged me. After all, I have seen where many of them live and what their life is like.

Here are some highlights from my "Faith-Filled Friends":

I thank God for the power and knowledge. I think nothing will separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ.

When we go to our project they preach us the word of God and I put it into my mind. The word of God built me from young up to twelve years. I thank God for that.

Christmas is very near and we thank God that even if we didn’t have money to celebrate, God gave  us good health. I am also thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to join MCDC because it is our only hope for me to finish my education and in God’s grace there’s a big improvement in my grades this second grading period.

There is nothing in my life that I am worried about because I always believe that God will provide everything for me and will shower His blessings to my family.

I know the Lord will heal my dad very soon and that is why I ask you to pray for him a lot.

My dad has been sick but I know God will help us.

I want you to know that God will always be with you and He will never leave you alone, He is the one who gives us strength to you and to all your family!

I always pray for God to heal your knee completely. God is a supernatural God. Do you believe it? God is the one who strengths us. Do you believe God can heal you? If you do, I will send that word in the Jesus of Nazareth’s name.

In my free time I read a book or the Bible because sometimes I get scared. It’s like living as you read it. I like to read inspirational thoughts and I like visiting home. I wrote something: “Dreams come true asking God for wisdom because to Him, nothing is impossible; we have to open our heart and ask with faith.” This pushes me to go on when I am in trouble my family or in my life.

There is nothing that worries me. I am always trusting God every time

God is everything to us. I have a hero, and it is our God because He takes care of us and loves us. He is our best friend.

They also tell us Bible stories, that’s why I have learned about Christian characters like Jonah, Moses and Joseph. All of them have taught me that we must be obedient and humble, and we have to dream and trust that Jesus will fulfil her dreams. My tutor says that I have to share with my family and school classmates about the things I learn from Jesus, because that pleases God.

I want to tell you that right now there is nothing for me to worry about

My tutor says that God is my heavenly Father and He is almighty, great in love and no one can compare to Him. The time I’ve been part of the project, I learned that Jesus is faithful and loving, and He is a friend who answers and is always with us.

The hero I look up to in life is God because He helps me in difficult times and is with me in happy times.

Your prayer? We feel it. Because I can’t imagine lots of problems I’d already encountered, but thanks God we easily find a way to solve it, in spite of poverty. That’s why I can say prayer is so powerful. He is there whenever we call him, to answer and protect us, thanks be to God.

I want you to know about my Christian learning. I have learned things that have helped me to have a better lifestyle and to have a little bit more of experience and that also teaches me to valuate other people’s life and my family because I’ve taken what Pastor’s and Bible say. The God’s word is sacred and is an incomparable book filled with real Bible stories.

God is everything to us. I have a hero, and it is our God because He takes care of us and loves us. He is our best friend

According to the Bible in Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”, so for me as a mother of John Dave just always trust in the Lord, because everything comes from him, our knowledge and wisdom.

I always go to church and I never forget to trust in the Lord because I love Him so much. I always go to church and have my sins forgiven and learn Bible verses and listen to the Word of God. I learn a lot about Him. I love God all my life.

For your prayer support to me in living my life, for spare your time and energy to help and teach the children here even though we are apart. It’s not because of your own strength, but it’s because of the Lord’s might. Everything we do, it’s all for the Lord God, as the Bible told me so. He creates everything in this world so we can raise up praise and glory to His name. You spend your time with God, it’s more than to this world. 

Formerly L thought that she couldn’t study at school, but now God has given the way so that she now can attend the school. Formerly L has never taken a bath and wiping her nasal mucus, but now she is studying at school so that her health has changed to good. It’s all because of the Lord. L gives thanks to the Lord. 

Right now I am in good health. That’s all because of the Lord who always guides me so I am still alive and be able to go to school with my friends. I go to school every day with my friends and also with Lord Jesus who leads us. I am thankful to the Lord who has power. Because of the Lord so I can be close with sponsor and handsome brothers and beautiful sisters in Compassion.

There is always opportunity for us to talk through letter. This is great and only from Lord Jesus. He makes L and you able to take communication. She’s very happy when she knows that you receive her in your family. Hopefully Lord Jesus continues to give His abundant blessing in your live. L wants to say thanks a lot because you continue to give her attention although you have 45 sponsored children.

My mother, father and I are well at home and wherever we are, because God always be with us all so we are so grateful to our Almighty God.

Compassion Letter Writing #10: Little Prayer Warriors

Over the last ten years, there have been times where I have felt like I was in what I describe as a 'bubble of blessing.' I've just had this incredible peace and contentment, despite life being seemingly ordinary. I have been free of sickness and illness, God has provided for me in amazing ways and I have been able to impact many lives on His behalf through sponsorship and advocacy. I have no doubt this is because I have been lifted up by the prayers of my sponsored kids, their families and Project workers. It is real and it works!

After reading through nearly 10 years/67 kids worth of letters and picking out the highlights, there is one fact that staggers me: these kids, who are needy and living in abject poverty, pray for me far more than they request prayer from me.

I want to thank my selfless and generous little prayer warriors.

I will always pray for you that God will give you more wisdom, good health, long life.

My prayer for you is that you may be happy and your pupils will always behave in the class always.

May the Lord God bless you and give you more strength in your work and more love from our God.

May the Lord give you life and lots of love to give us. I want that our Lord keeps you safe always.

We are praying for you and all your beautiful family a lot.

I am also praying a lot for you so that God always takes care of you and gives you strength to continue ahead and you also have a great and humble heart.

We hope God keeps providing you so that you can help many children.

May God prosper and bless you and help you succeed in every single thing that you do!

Friend, I wish that God blesses you and uses you as a blessing for others, as you are for J.

May God pour out much prosperity on you and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you wherever you go.

I pray that God is always with you.

May the Lord Jesus make all your dreams come true, in the name of Jesus.

I greet you with affection. I wish you countless blessings over your life and daily work.

May God bless your life always and may you be happy.

I pray to God for him to help you at work and in your ministry. May God bless you.

I pray for you and ask God to guard you wherever you go.

I pray that you enjoy God’s blessing every day, and that you be an angel of God.

God bless you and your family always.

God bless you and give you more years of life.

My mother and my father always pray for your job and for the most important to your family.

I want to tell you that I always pray for you and your family so that the Lord continues to bless you.

I always pray for you and your family and I ask the Lord to light your path and take control of every one of your activities and may the Lord bless you all the time.

I don’t forget to pray for you so that our Lord blesses and protects you from all evil in every moment.

I pray for you and your family, also for Ms Dani, have a good health guide from God’s angel, and more blessings to come.

I always pray for you so God can keep blessing you.

I pray for you so nothing bad happens and we do not separate from God, also you continue enjoying of the blessings that God gives us.

I always pray God so you can be happy and healthy and also that you can achieve your purposes so that people can follow you as a model man.

I pray for your family and for you every night to be well, dear sponsor.

They are asking and wishing you the blessings of God and the protection for his daily life.

Every day I ask God that he blesses you and prospers you in everything.

My family and I pray for you that God protects you from any evil.

I greet you in the precious name of our Lord Jesus, asking God from heaven that he may protect you and bless you and your family.

I’ll be praying for you and for all your family since I love you very much and I wish that you do well in everything you do.

She will pray so that God bless you and prosper you always.

I always pray that our Father Jesus gives you strength.

I’m still praying for you and your family. This time I can do it because I have learned a lot during my classes at the project.

May the Lord pour his blessings on all your family (on every one of you) and may you have a new year better than this.

I pray for you that God has you in well health near all people surround you. I also pray for your nephew and nieces and your country.

The girl and her family have been praying for you, and family. She wants to let you know that.

Also she sends blessings from God, may God multiply all what he gives you.

She wants God to bless you always and that you know she prays every day for you and your family.

I am still praying for your life. God take care of you and bless you that is my sincere wish.

I pray that God will give you long life so that you can keep on sponsoring other kids like me.

I always pray for your good health so that you can support the needs of the children you’ve sponsored, I know that God provide you strength, knowledge, blessing and everything you received come from Him.

I hope that God provide you more strength, knowledge and everything. We pray for your good health and to your family. God bless you.

I hope and pray that God blessed you abundantly because of many children you have supported.

I hope and pray that you are always doing fine wherever you go and whatever your plans, God is always there to guide and help you.

He pray that anything you touch should be a blessing to you and your family.

I am remembering you and your family in my daily prayers.

I always pray for you, that God may continue blessing you for supporting me and showing me great love.

He says that God will bless you so much because of sponsoring so many children.

He always pray for you daily and that will add you more.

I have prayed for you so that God may strengthen you for remembering me through a letter.

I will be praying for you to Almighty God heals you completely.

I thank you for your support and I pray so that God multiplies your capacities.

He always pray for the blessings upon your lives.

I wish you all the best. Hope more blessings to come. May God bless you with all your needs, guided and protected with God’s angels.

God bless you and your family, wishing you lots of success in everything you do.

She asks God to keep your life and bless you.

She loves and blesses you in the glorious name of Jesus.

She is happy to know you have God in your life. She makes a commitment with God to pray for your nephews.

She wishes you lots of success and that God watches over you and your family.

My teacher teaches me to pray for you and your family.

I am praying for God to keep on blessing you.

I want to let you know that I love you and I remember you all the time in my prayers.

I will be praying for you and Patricia (one of my former sponsored kids who became pregnant) and her family. May the Lord light His face upon her and give her strength for the way to move forward.

I pray for you and your kids.

I will keep praying for all of you. Stay strong and trust in the Lord always.

I know God is with you in every step you give, I know He will help you in the new job you have.

I was so glad to read your letter. I pray for the love of the Lord to overflow your life Mr David.

Never forget that I love you very much and that you are present in my prayers. Receive many hugs and kisses.

I also thank God for the life that he gives you. I love you very much and I ask God to always bless you and bless all your family.

He says sorry for the death of Uncle Keith and prays that God saves him till we meet with him in heaven. He thanks you for your generosity and promises to continue praying for you every day. He longs to hear from you soon and requests you to say hi to Zoe, Archie, Flynn and Kristy.

I know you are sponsoring many children and I will always pray for you God to strengthen you and bless you abundantly.

The child says “May God shower a lot of blessings on your life!”

He feels so sad to hear about your Compassion children who have moved to a different (area). He prays that Compassion establish a project in their area so that they can be re-instated. He also prays that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of those children in your class so that they will hear and listen to whatever teaching and training you giving to them.

Her family admires and thanks you for your great heart. They wish God multiplies your economy like God says in the Bible, He multiplies the granaries. She leaves you wishing God guards and cares your life.

In our family they are all happy about you and they are all praying for you.

Receive greetings from your sponsor child S. He is very happy you being his sponsor and always praying for you.

He would like you to know that you are always in his prayers. Be blessed.

C says thank you so much for your support. She even said that God will bless you including your family.

C is hoping that God will use you more to helpthe other children.

L always prays for others. She believes that God is working in her life so she keeps praying for other people and walks in God’s plan. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Compassion Sponsorship Journey - Saying Goodbye to Josefa

Four years ago, I made the decision to sponsor Josefa from Guatemala with Compassion. She is just about to turn 18 and two weeks ago I received a letter saying she had graduated from the program. Normally this would be cause for rejoicing and eagerly anticipating the next stage on the journey away from poverty, but instead I am grieving.

I want to share the journey we have been on over the last four years as sponsor and sponsored child.





Josefa was 13 when I first sponsored her and one of the first things that struck me about her was her letters were always so detailed, raw and honest. Many people take years to form any sort of connection or relationship with their sponsored kids because it seems like they get the same scant template letters a couple of times a year with minimal detail, but this girl did not hold back.

One of the first things I found out was that her father was an alcoholic and, as the oldest child, Josefa was forced to work just to put food on the table for her mother and four siblings. Thankfully, she said her employers treated her well and she loved them. However, this seriously derailed her dream of being a doctor, since she was unable to go to school.

Josefa’s letters painted a clear picture of the hardships she and her family faced, but I was continually staggered by her spiritual maturity and rock-solid faith in Jesus. Here is a sample of the words I was treated to every time I opened a letter from Josefa:

Life is not very happy here because there is a lot of crime, child abuse and in Guatemala life is very hard, because we work in the field and as the sun is very strong, then we get sick. After that we see the hard work fruit and of the time we spent at work

I was very happy because my dreams would come true, I am so eager, that will be an unforgettable day for me and my family, it’s the first time the sponsor will come to visit. I know it was your decision, our dream would come true. Thank you for the time you give me. Every time I write to you I get courage to go on, I feel so proud to have you

I pray for you every day because now I know that dreams can come true asking God with all the heart. Thank you for all the time you gave me and for giving me your love and attention.

Thank you for the letters you have sent to me and for the time you dedicate to write to me. When I read the letters you send me I am so happy to know more about you and I know every day you enjoy lots of things with your family, students and friends and other sponsors.

I have the honor of having a sponsor like you; you are one of my best examples to follow because it is wonderful to read the letters you sent to me. It is as if I were close to you; I am happy, like with your presence in my humble home. It was so great when you were with me. I will never forget that day. If I lived with you it would be a great life, sad-happy, full of blessings and joy. When I write letters to you I get inspired because I imagine you with me. I don’t know how, but it is like magic writing these words because I do not say them, my heart says them, and with lots of love. I pray that you enjoy God’s blessing every day, and that you be an angel of God. I ask God for the day that you would come to my humble home.

In my free time I read a book or the Bible because sometimes I get scared. It’s like living as you read it. I like to read inspirational thoughts and I like visiting home. I wrote something: “Dreams come true asking God for wisdom because to Him, nothing is impossible; we have to open our heart and ask with faith.” This pushes me to go on when I am in trouble my family or in my life.

Thank you for the letter that you sent me, I missed communicating with you and I am happy and proud that you continue sponsoring me. I prayed God so you would communicate with me again because you have my love and my trust. I feel proud to have you as my sponsor again

I always pray God so you can be happy and healthy and also that you can achieve your purposes so that people can follow you as a model man. I expect your visit with joy, I’m so excited and I felt the most blessed person by God, since He gave me a sponsor like you

In 2014 I was living in the Philippines, so Josefa was sponsored by a friend of a friend I did not know personally. Late in the year when I knew I was coming back to Australia I checked in with my friend how Josefa’s sponsorship was going, and it turned out the sponsor had let her go after only a few months. I was devastated, and immediately contacted Compassion to see if I could resume sponsoring Josefa. Even though I was still a volunteer in the Philippines at that point, God provided for me financially so I was able to resume straight away.

Her profile picture broke my heart.



This was a face bereft of any hope or joy and I immediately sent a letter off, desperate to speak words of life and joy back into her soul.

God gave me the incredible opportunity to visit Josefa’s family twice, first in January 2013 and most recently in July 2015. They live in a remote Mayan (indigenous) community in the mountains about three hours from Guatemala City.



They were both incredibly impacting days I will never forget. While I thought I had some grasp of what the family’s life is like from Josefa’s letters, the harsh reality of their daily life was only fully evident when I made the decision to actually step into their lives for a day and be with them. I left both times feeling like I’d been kicked in the guts, but also thankful that God was allowing me to make a tangible difference to this family’s life through sponsorship.

Many sponsors are happy for their sponsored child to be nothing more than a monthly cheque and a face on the fridge. I can understand that to a point: maybe they’re afraid of what they’ll find out about their child’s reality if they go deeper. I made the decision early on that if I wanted to love these kids and families like God loves them, I had to make the choice to invest in them fully, first by writing regularly and then by visiting. God has used the visits to the homes and communities to wreck my heart, but also solidify my life’s mission, purpose and vision to use what I’ve been given to help others.





On the visits to Josefa I was able to meet the whole family and I was blessed by their hospitality and generosity. Out of the little they had, they gave much.





We got out the letters I had written to Josefa and looked at the pictures. I was given proof that when you write letters to your sponsored child it’s the whole family that’s impacted, as her mother enthusiastically rattled off things she knew about me from the letters.









I was able to see the Project (church) and meet many of the kids in their intricate colourful Mayan clothing. The church is Josefa’s safe space, an atmosphere filled with the love and peace of God, where she can learn, grow and thrive into the beautiful woman God has created her to be.





I was able to take the family shopping for groceries and out to a meal at Pollo Campero (think KFC). As simple as it seems, this was always one of the profound parts of the visits I’ve done, since most if not all the families cannot afford to eat out together and I was able to provide them with this memorable family time.

I met Josefa’s father in 2013 but when I visited in 2015 the family had not seen him for three days. It was so obvious that Josefa was starved of any sort of affection and she clung to me all day. As a sponsor, it has never been my intention to be any sort of “replacement father.” I believe that part of a sponsor’s role is to work WITH the parents to support their children and give them a hope and a future free from poverty. However it is clear from this video that Josefa sees my four years of investment in her life as being like a father to her.



Her father turned up as we were leaving the Project, clearly drunk and soaking wet. I wondered what would happen, but thankfully he was full of nothing but gratitude to God and to me for caring for his daughter when he was unable to.

The reason I am not full joy and excitement at the news that Josefa is graduating is because when I left that family six months ago, I did not get the sense that they were anywhere close to being “released from poverty,” at least in the material sense. Josefa and her brother were both working just to put food on the table and Josefa was not at school.

Unless things have changed drastically in the last six months and her father has turned his life around and is providing for his family, I don’t see how stopping the sponsorship at this point is beneficial to the family.

Please understand: I'm not questioning the decision to graduate her. I fully trust Compassion to make the right decision for the family and not just stop the support and leave them to fend for themselves just because Josefa has turned 18. However, based on what I saw after being in the family’s lives for a day, I do feel a sense of “Surely it can’t end like this?” and “What’s next for this family?” I am feeling a sense of loss and grief after investing in their lives for four years.

I do take solace in the fact that the family are committed Christians, and they have the church community to help and support them. I know that as much as I love this family, God loves them even more and He will take care of them. That’s all I can hold on to.

This was my final letter to Josefa:

Dear Josefa,

I received a letter from Compassion saying that you have graduated the program and I won’t be your sponsor anymore, so I guess this will be my last letter to you.

I hope you know that you and your family are very special to me. I will always remember the two days we had together when I came to visit you. Thank you for having me in your home and in your life. Seeing up close how hard your life is made me sad and I thought about you often. I am thankful to God that He enabled me to help and provide for your family, and as you get older I hope you hold onto God’s love for you.

I will be praying for your father, that he will make good decisions and come back and support you and your family. I pray that he will give his addiction to Jesus, because Jesus is the only one who can help him. I will also be praying for your brother, that God will help him in his work, and that he is able to resist going down the same path that your father has.

When I was with you I noticed you were very affectionate. I could tell that you are desperate for someone to love you because you haven’t always had that love when you were growing up. I know that God will provide you with a wonderful man in the future and I pray that you make wise choices regarding your friends and the things you do with them.

I need you to know how proud I am of you and your family. You are very brave and you inspire me. Despite the difficulties of your life, you continue to help each other and trust in God for your needs. That is amazing to me and I love you so much. Please know that even though I am not your sponsor anymore, I will always remember you and pray for you. God has given me His love for you, and you will never be forgotten.

I need to tell you again how much God loves you. The Bible teaches us that we are separated from God because of sin but when Jesus came down to earth from heaven, died on the cross and rose again, we can now be friends with God again and live with Him forever in Heaven. It is amazing that God would come down to earth to be with us. That is how much He loves us!

I want to share with you from the book of Psalms chapter 36, verses 5-12:
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice is like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love O God.
All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your rivers of delight.
For you are the fountain of life, the light by which they see.
Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.

I pray these words are true for you and that God helps these words of Life and encouragement sink deep in your heart. I am so proud of who you are now and who you will become. Keep working hard and dreaming big because with God, all things are possible. I love you with the love of God.

Your friend, David.

Compassion Trip #8 (Philippines 2016) - Visiting Aljane (PH268)

Today I completed my 32^nd Compassion sponsor child visit when I visited 8-year-old Aljane and her family in the Philippines. It was a little bit different to all the other visits I’ve done, because I lived in her community for ten months in 2014 when I served at Ruel Foundation orphanage, and attended the church which runs her Compassion Project, PH268. Because of this church connection, I formed friendships with the incredible people who work at the Project. When I returned to Australia I sponsored Aljane so I would have an on-going link to the church, and have an excuse to come back and visit!



In August 2015 I made the decision to return to Ruel Foundation for a three week stint in late December/January, so of course I had to organise to meet Aljane. She is 8 years old, in second grade and dreams of being a teacher. Because of Compassion, she has the opportunity to achieve that dream. In 2015 Aljane wrote me the most letters out of all my 22 sponsored kids (6). I made sure to tell her that today, and hope it made her feel good and encouraged her to keep writing. As important as it is to write to our sponsored kids, sponsors like receiving letters as well.

I caught a motorized tricycle from Ruel and arrived at the church at 9.30am. Project activities were in full swing. I met my host AM and we quickly went around to all the classes. It was fun because many of the kids remembered me from when I briefly helped out at the Project in 2014. The oldest kids at PH268 are now 14 years old, and they were suitably awkward and shy.















Aljane’s class was the last we visited, then I met the rest of the family and we headed to their house nearby.







Aljane is the fourth of five children; she has one sister (14) and three brothers (13, 11 and 8 months). The names of her and her three brothers all start with “Alj-“, an amalgamation of her father and mother’s names. I was very happy to meet the whole family today, because in the past it hasn’t always happened. As much as my ego would like to imagine it, the lives of people in the developing world do not stop just because their child’s sponsor visits. I am thankful for each visit I am able to meet the whole family.

Aljane’s father works two jobs to provide for his family. He is a hairdresser for both men and women and is also the Barangay (neighbourhood) security guard, and roams around making sure everything is okay. As part of this job he is able to drive a motorized tricycle, which helps the family get around. Her mother was smiley and friendly, and also spoke some English which helped our interaction.

I asked the four children who could talk (obviously the eight-month-old was excluded from this conversation) what their dreams were and got four very different responses: chef (Miss 14), doctor (Mr 11), policeman (Mr 13) and teacher (Aljane). Later on I asked Mama about the nature of her children’s relationship and she said they fight sometimes and love each other sometimes, much like any sibling group I guess. They each have allocated jobs around the house, whether it is cooking, washing the dishes, feeding the pets or sweeping the floor.

I learned that the family had been living in their current neighbourhood for three years. They had previously been squatters but were then given the materials for a house by the government, which they had to build from scratch with the help of friends. The five children all sleep in one room. There is also a living room, a CR (toilet/bathroom), small kitchen and the parents bedroom. Although the neighbourhood is not well-developed from a building point of view, the family said they feel safe and it is better than their last neighbourhood, where they were living close to the river and would often get flooded.

The conversation was largely driven by me, so pretty soon it petered out. I whipped out a photo book I had made, containing 18 A4-sized collages of family and childhood pictures. I went through them and then revealed a set of Uno cards I had brought as a gift.





None of them had played Uno before, so I explained the game with the help of my translator AM and we played a few rounds. Everyone including Mama got involved, while my friend Kuya Ace sat outside talking to Aljane’s father. One thing I love about Compassion staff is that they truly invest in and get to know the families. This enables them to serve the families effectively and make sure the sponsors money is put to good use by providing for their needs.

After a few rounds of Uno it was time to go to lunch. When asked where we should go, Aljane had no hesitation in saying “Jollibee!” so we piled into the van driven by a local church member and headed for Robinson’s Mall. Once again I opted to take the whole family rather than just Aljane and one parent which is standard Compassion policy. I have come to believe that providing an opportunity for families to eat out together, regardless of how many members, is worth any expense and over my many visits we have had some pretty large and excited groups.



We forgot to pack the Uno cards, so the time spent waiting for the food was quite silent and awkward. Pretty soon it arrived and we all tucked in. We were treated to a visit from the Jollibee mascot (funnily enough, a giant bee) and there was much excitement in the air. Aljane’s eyes were dancing and her mouth was wide open. We managed to get a couple of pics with the ‘Bee, which I’d say will definitely be a life highlight in the Calooy household.



After lunch we headed to the mall for a stroll. We found a children’s playhouse out the back of the mall and I paid for Aljane and the two older brothers to have a play. It had a small trampoline, ball pit, slide, swing, tunnel etc. It was actually meant for children aged 2-6 but this did nothing to dampen the incredible excitement all three children displayed and they ran themselves ragged while I talked to Mama, AM and Kuya Ace.

Everyone who is a parent or who cares for children in other roles would agree that, in general, we do anything to give our children moments of joy. This is what I experienced on this afternoon. It was so good to hear the squeals of excitement, the running, jumping and exuberance of these kids. Giving them the opportunity to be kids and just have fun. Worth every dollar.



Aljane is the only one of her siblings to be registered and sponsored with Compassion, as the others are too old. I am her first and only sponsor. Mama was honest when I asked if this had created any jealousy with her siblings, and she said yes. There may be an opportunity for her baby brother to be sponsored when he is a bit older. I asked Mama how Compassion had helped her family and she said mainly with school fees, school supplies and medical check-ups. It’s great to know that my money is being genuinely used to help with the material needs of this family and specifically Aljane so she can achieve her full potential.

I was able to have a great conversation with Project workers AM and Ace, and I explained my motivation for sponsoring and visiting so many kids. I also talked about my perspective on the importance of letter writing (received the kick up the bum on my first visit in 2009 after only writing one or two letters a year and now write once a month) and talked about my experience with encouraging and praying for the Project workers any opportunity I got, since they often feel forgotten and discouraged while engaging in the messy work of investing in and loving families in the grip of poverty. It is incredibly difficult work and they need to know that the work they do is valued, appreciated and important.

I got a big laugh when I asked Miss 14 about what she liked to cook. When we were at the family's house I noticed a large stack of about 15 cans of sardines. They had stocked up just before the recent typhoon and while the typhoon has gone, the sardines remain. So after asking what she liked to cook, I immediately added "Sardines?" which produced much laughter and a definite answer of "No!"

After having a play, we left the mall and headed back to the Project. I had a kick of my Australian football with a few of the kids, prayed with the family in the middle of the church’s basketball court which I helped to fund back in 2014 and said goodbye.



Overall it was a positive and special day and I was thankful to Aljane’s family for inviting me into their home and treating me with friendliness and generosity. I feel blessed to be able to use what God has given me to contribute something positive to this family and I look forward to seeing what happens in their future.

What I Wish I Had Said {Looking back at Guatemala}

As a male sponsor, I have often wondered what it would be like to be a father in the developing world. I know gender roles are changing, but in most countries a father is still seen as the provider and protector of his family. But what if you were unable to fulfill these roles due to lack of education, resources or opportunities? What if you had to rely on help from some stranger on the other side of the world just to put food on your family’s table?

I am not yet a father myself, in the biological sense, so I can never really put myself in their shoes, but at a guess I think that resentment, jealousy, anger and helplessness might play a part.

Over the last nine years I have sponsored over 60 kids with Compassion, many of whom didn’t have a father in their life, or he was absent or often working in another city. The idea that I would be considered some sort of ‘replacement father’ was never my intention and, to be honest, makes me feel uncomfortable. I believe that part of the role of a sponsor is to partner WITH the child’s parents and provide them with access to education and skills to be able to get themselves out of material poverty. However I am aware that God has placed me in their lives for a reason and if they need a father-figure or male role model in their lives, then I am happy to bear that honour/privilege/responsibility.

In July I visited Guatemala and Nicaragua on another of my Compassion trips. One of my sponsored kids is Josefa, who lives in a Mayan (indigenous) community in the mountains. She’s 17 and the oldest of five children. Instead of going to school and working toward her dream of being a doctor, Josefa and her brother are forced to work for a pittance because her father has chosen to deal with his family’s poverty by drinking alcohol, often leaving them without anything to eat. I met him when I visited in 2013 and he was a nice enough man, he was just making a lifestyle choice that negatively affected his family.

To partly explain (but not excuse) her father’s choice, this is an excerpt from a book called “Fast Living” by Dr. Scott C. Todd which goes into detail about the realities of living in extreme poverty and what the solution is:

"Hopelessness is the deepest trench of poverty. It cuts through the heart and mind and is very difficult to climb out of. It whispers “It won’t get any better. Just give up. This is the disempowered state – a fatalistic outlook and condition. When you are disempowered you shrug in defeat. You don’t soldier on. You just sit down and wait for a rescue you don’t expect to come. It’s a condition in which you no longer hope for a better future and you don’t see yourself capable of making positive changes. Instead, you see yourself as a victim of unchangeable circumstances. The voices of fatalism burrow deeper into your mind: “You can’t. You’re worthless.” To get out of the pit of hopelessness you must climb, yet the very strength to climb requires the hope you’ve lost. You must believe a better future is possible in order to strive for it. Everyone knows that a better future requires getting and keeping a job. For this, you to strive and take risks, you need determination and hope. But when you’re disempowered, your hope is beaten down, so you have no energy with which to strive. You have no faith, so you don’t take risks.

The “rescue” strategy requires Truth to combat the lie. Poverty whispers “You can’t.” But God says “With me, you can. You matter. You are loved. You’re made in my image. I hear you and I will walk with you on the difficult road. I have a plan, so don’t give up. It can get better.” The good news of Jesus Christ is a matchless, unrivalled rescue strategy in multiple dimensions. If there is anything that exposes the lies of poverty, it is the gospel. But the proclaimed gospel is not enough. Disempowered people need Jesus’ spoken truth and they need His disciples to live it. They need to see the muscles of the gospel flex, expressing love in gritty, persevering, intelligent, effective action.

The good news of Jesus, proclaimed and demonstrated, is the most powerful anti-poverty strategy. Jesus offers the restoration of hope, a new supportive and caring community in the church and a strong foundation from which to try, to risk and to succeed or fail, knowing you’ll be loved either way. The gospel leads us to love others and forgive, to see the image of God in our enemies as well as ourselves, and to discover a genuine basis for dignity and integrity. The gospel can raise a generation of men and women of integrity – servant leaders – to displace corruption and restore social trust upon which a nation can rise. The gospel creates people who work for the Lord in the humble service of causes much bigger than themselves. Sharing the gospel is anti-poverty work. It is more profound than any other effort because it penetrates layers of the human condition that cannot be reached with a vaccinating needle. The gospel brings healing and hope. It ignites new initiatives by bringing hurting people from all economic levels into relationship with God. His Holy Spirit fills us with vision and we can see that anything, absolutely anything, is possible! Even the end of extreme poverty."

On the day I visited Josefa and her family, they hadn’t seen their father for three days. From the way she interacted with me, it was so obvious she missed his love and attention, and had never really had it. We visited the Project at the church and as we were leaving to go to the family’s house, her father showed up. He was soaking wet and clearly affected by alcohol.

I was well aware of the family’s situation, as Josefa mentioned her father in nearly every letter she wrote. I had rehearsed what I would say to him should I meet him, but when he turned up I was completely taken by surprise and you know what they say about the best laid plans…

I waited breathlessly to see what would happen and as he approached I breathed a prayer that there wouldn’t be some sort of confrontation. He reached out his hand and, thankfully, he was full of nothing but gratitude to me and to God for taking care of his daughter through sponsorship when he knew he couldn’t.

We were in front of all the Project workers as well as Josefa, her mother and her four siblings, sitting in the car waiting to go. I felt so sad they had to witness their father in this state. He was rambling and swaying from side to side, tearful with gratitude but wrestling with his wretched state and the knowledge of the impact his choices were having on his family. My translator had a brief conversation with him, saying the only solution to his predicament is to give his life to Jesus. He seemed to understand this and nodded along, but it was clear that the alcoholism had him in its grasp.

We then drove to the family’s house nearby, leaving Josefa’s father behind. When we arrived we had a lovely conversation with lots of laughs, threw my Australian football around a bit and exchanged gifts. At one point there was a knock at the door. It was Josefa’s father. Begging to be let into his own house. The youngest sibling went toward the door but his mother stopped him. She was a strong and feisty woman and was adamant that her husband was not going to spoil this occasion.

Aware that the man was alcohol-affected and being locked out of his own house, I waited to see what would happen. I felt uncomfortable at the awkwardness of the situation. Fortunately he only tried knocking one more time, then sat down outside and started to sing. My translator said he was singing a Christian song he had learned at church.

In a sad twist, the father’s lifestyle choice ostracized the family even further because as an openly Christian family they are a minority in the community. The other families, many of whom are going through the same thing with their husbands and fathers, look at Josefa’s family and say “Well, what’s different about them? What difference is God making in their lives?” and they are criticized and judged.

This day has impacted me, even six months on, and I often think about what I would say to Josefa’s father if I met him again. I have settled on something like this:

"I know your life is hard and you are dealing with it the best way you know how. But God has given you six precious gifts - a wife and five children - and He wants you to provide and care for them. Jesus wants to help you and to heal you. No matter who you are or what bad things you've done, He wants to forgive you and have a relationship with you. You just need to give your addiction to Him and trust Him to provide your needs. And He's already doing that. He has provided a sponsor for two of your kids, as well as a family of people at the church. They are there to support and care for you."

Whatever you think of Jesus, He is the only reason that I, or any of the people involved in Compassion (office staff, Pastors, volunteers, tutors) do what we do. His love is real, transforming and relentless and we want to share it. Ultimately, what people do with it is up to them, and I'm praying that Josefa's father comes to know that Love and it transforms the lives of him and his family. 

You Are Never Too Young To Make a Difference...

I spent 2015 working in a local Christian school. I was part-time and did a lot of gap filling, so during the year I was able to take many of the Year 5 to 8 students for morning devotions. More often than not I would share one of many stories from my travels with Compassion with this overriding message:

"Never think that you are too young to make a difference to the world of another person." That is just not true.

Just last week, something happened that proved my point. Earlier in the year I shared about Compassion at a Grade 5/6 Assembly. The idea was to give these 10-12 year olds a glimpse of what life is like for many children around the world, and to remind them that God wants us to use what we've been given to help others.

Overall, I will never find out what happened as a result of that talk. I was hopefully sowing seeds of generosity and maybe down the track they will be inspired to make a difference.

Last week, I accompanied the Grade 5 students on their annual camp. One of them, Charli, told me that she had made the decision to sponsor a child, a 5-year-old girl from Togo. To do this, she uses ALL her pocket money, money she could be using on things for herself, to help this little girl.

I was amazed and inspired by Charli's generous heart and her sacrifice. I made sure to encourage her that even though she will probably never meet her sponsored child, I had seen the difference sponsorship makes, and she has already literally changed the little girl's life because she knows there is someone on the other side of the world who loves her and cares about her enough to be a friend and provide her material needs. This little girl has a future now because of Charli's generosity.

However, the story doesn't end there.

Charli's teacher, Mrs Hernandez, had been considering sponsorship for a while with her husband and when she saw Charli's example, giving so much from the little she received, she knew they could not put it off any longer and made the decision to sponsor a child.

Even though Charli is only 11 years old, her decision to think of others ahead of herself has now positively impacted the lives of many people, and the story is just beginning...

It's stories like this that make me continue to tell young people: "You are never too young to make a difference..."