Compassion International - Christian Blog on Child Poverty

The Happiest Day of a Sponsored Child’s Life

Web Team — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:14:24 PST

For a while now, we’ve — well, more like you have — been discussing “Should I visit my sponsored child?”

Here’s one thing you need to consider when you ask yourself that question. It’s courtesy of Whittaker Woman and the blog trip to El Salvador.

Keep in mind, the girls speaking aren’t even her sponsored children.

You can also view The Happiest Day in My Life video on YouTube.

If you can’t visit your children, and we understand that it’s not always possible, you need to know this. It’s an absolute truth. Your sponsored children want to hear from you!

Heather’s got it all down on her blog. You should see for yourself.

The thing they desired most for you to know is how important being a sponsor is.

You are important. You are their angels, you make a difference.

There was one thing that they pleaded with me to share, THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

I asked them if they cared if it was written on a card or an email, their answer was ANYTHING.

They just want to hear from you. Every word you say to them is one of the most important things they ever hear. They treasure it, they soak it up, they read it over and over.

So from Gabriella, Jennifer, Beronica, Cindy, Claudia, Clara, Rosio, Carolina, Karan, please write your sponsor child.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

What Happens After a Hurricane Hits My Child’s Country?

Web Team — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:01:21 PST

Many of you have asked about the impact Hurricane Ida had on your children as it moved through El Salvador. As we receive specific details from the El Salvador office about they’ve been affected we will contact you.

The good news is that no children were physically hurt. But we understand that you want more information.

Here’s an “on the ground” perspective from Shaun Groves and the Compassion Bloggers.

What happens when a hurricane hits the U.S.?

Telethons. Thousands donated.

FEMA. Thousands housed.

Hospitals. Thousands healed.

Insurance. Thousands rebuild.

What happens when a hurricane hits a house made of mud?

When earth by the ton gives way and slides through a neighborhood?

When beds, clothes, and families are swallowed up by flood waters and mud?

What happens when all this happens in a small village in the smallest nation in Central America? With almost no government resources? Without insurance and a hospital nearby or a car to visit it? What happens then?

The Church happens.

Read what that means on Shaun’s blog. And watch the video he included in the post.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Living in Two Worlds

Web Team — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:44:40 PST

How difficult is it for the Moody scholars to transition between the poverty of their homes and life in the U.S.?

You can also view the Living in Two Worlds video on YouTube.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

HIV Infections in Children

Web Team — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:46:33 PST

Here’s question four in our lead-up to World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

Remember when you answer each day’s HIV/AIDS question correctly, you are eligible to win a free CD – your choice of either Portable Sounds by tobyMac or Beyond Measure by Jeremy Camp. We’ll randomly choose a winner each day from the correct answers.

The answer to Wednesday’s question is yes; a person with AIDS always has HIV.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

A person may have HIV for many years without developing AIDS. An HIV-positive person is considered to have AIDS only when his or her white blood cell (CD4) count drops below the 200-350 range. In fact, until then, a person with HIV may not show symptoms of the infection.

However, an HIV-infected person is still able to transmit the disease to others and may develop AIDS at any time.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Sponsor a Singing Bunny!

Web Team — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:49:37 PST

Apparently, a singing bunny has made its way into our child sponsorship program in El Salvador. The Compassion Bloggers saw it.

Sponsor a singing bunny in El Salvador.

You can also view the singing bunny video in YouTube.

Thanks for the video Patricia.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

On Letter Writing: Would You Rather … ?

Becky Tschamler — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:46:20 PST

The topic of letter-writing always sparks lively discussions. It even seems to spontaneously come up in posts on other topics.

So seeing as we genuinely value your input (and OK … I admit … in an attempt to stimulate a discussion), I hereby pose the following question to you:

Would you rather receive more general letters from your sponsored child more often or more detailed letters on a less frequent basis?

Discuss.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

We Are Not Different

Web Team — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:29:07 PST

Straight from El Salvador, courtesy of Whittaker Woman.

Meet Maricella. She was in a gang, XVIII, the 18th Street Gang.

Our translator was asking her questions about her life: who she lives with, her children, how Compassion has changed their family. With each answer she had a modest smile and giggle. She was nervous. Then the translator asked about the elephant that was in the room. Her tattoo.

Read the entire post at whittakerwoman.com

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Does a Person With AIDS Always Have HIV?

Web Team — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:18:12 PST

Here’s question three in our lead-up to World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

The answer to yesterday’s question is 72 percent.

Of the more than 2 million deaths worldwide in 2007 caused by AIDS, 72 percent of those occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

That statistic shows the devastating toll AIDS is taking on the continent of Africa.

Source: 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic,Executive Summary, pp. 5, 18, http://www.unaids.org

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Compassion Bloggers: Live Video Chat From El Salvador

Web Team — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:17:43 PST

You’re invited to a live video chat from El Salvador with the Compassion Bloggers.

It’s taking place on Wed., Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. CST at www.livestream.com/compassion.

See you there.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Opportunity Knocking: Knockout the Poverty Bullies

Web Team — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:12:50 PST

Will you respond when calamity knocks? When a poor child has no defenses? When she’s cornered by the bullies of poverty?

You can also view the Opportunity Knocking video in YouTube.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates