Compassion Experience

Compassion Dave

Zach Younkin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:07:03 +0000

When I first got immersed in Compassion International, Tom recommended I join a group on Myspace and befriend a guy by the name of Compassion Dave.

After joining the group, I took notice that he has a few different blogs and pages that he upkeeps on a daily basis. After visiting them for a few weeks, I realized that Dave does have a heart for Compassion.

In a format similar to Compassion Juli, you can read more about Dave below.

Do you have any type of introduction that you can give on your history or the like?
I am a retired police officer and a stay at home dad. I have a son in college, a son in the US Navy, and a daughter in 3^rd grade. When my boys were 12 years old, my wife and I got them each a Compassion child to sponsor after they gave their hearts to Jesus. My wife and I have been ad ding Compassion children ever since. About 7 years later I became a volunteer advocate for Compassion International and serve in the ministry by going to churches and sharing about children living in poverty and the how Jesus is saving lives through child sponsorship
Over your time blogging, what has been your favorite topic to blog about? Why?

My blog is devoted to Jesus Chris and it written in a devotional style. I try to study a chapter of the Bible each day and from that I generally write about one particular thing that leapt off the page that day. I pray before, during, and after each lesson, so I believe the topic I choose has been inspired by the Holy Spirit.

3. If you could live any part of your life over20again, what would it be? Why?

I have done so many incredibly stupid things in my life, I cannot decide. I am tempted to ponder which things were the worst (with the notion of going back and undoing it), but I believe my time would be better served moving forward endeavoring to yield to God’s will.

4. How many children do you sponsor through Compassion?

We have 14 sponsorships and half of them (I think) are with Compassion International.

5. Could you tell me a little about yourself and the story behind your love for Compassion International?

I should make one thing clear—it is my love for Jesus Christ that drives me. A few years ago I traveled to India on a mission trip and while there, the Lord broke my heart for the least of these. To this day, when I get up in public to share about children living in poverty, 90% of the time I cry. It is hard to explain, and I am not consciously aware of it when I am doing it, but it is almost as if I imagine these children I am trying to get sponsored are my own flesh and blood.

6. Are there any specific posts on your site that you are particularly proud of?

I am blessed when someone writes and says a post touched them in some manner. I am kind of fond of a poem I wrote called ‘9/11 All Over Again’ and a post about the drowning of a police officer’s daughter (that I met on a mission trip during the Katrina relief effort).

7. If you could make a trip to any part of the world, where would it be and why?

I would like to visit some of our Compassion children in Indonesia, Thailand, or on the African continent.

8. Do you have any other blogs that you author?

I write in WordPress, MySpace, Facebook, and 5 or 6 other blogs (AOL Journal, blogspot, etc). It is pretty much the same exact blog in each, although the MySpace area is designed for Compassion sponsors and advocates to post and share about the experiences.

MySpace is: http://groups.myspace.com/Childsponsorship

9. Do you have any blogs that you recommend to others?

I enjoy yours very much! I would recommend it, Shaun Grove s, and the ‘Official Compassion International’ blog. Most of the folks who comment on the Compassion blog have wonderful blogs of their own and can be easily accessed by clicking on their avatars there. Juli Jarvis (sheep droppings) is another dedicated blogger and Compassion advocate.

10. If you could share one message with the world, what would it be?

I have two messages (please pardon my taking liberty), one for the church and one for the unsaved.

For those who don’t know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you really need to rethink that choice. For those of us who do know Jesus, we need to loosen our collective grips on the blessings He has provid ed—everything belongs to Him and in His grace he allows us to ‘hold it’ for awhile. However, when the Holy Spirits says, “Let go,” we need to obey more and complain less.

11. Any final words of advice/information that you would like to pass on?

I would be remiss if I didn’t ask all your readers to visit the Compassion Website and as you view the children waiting to be sponsored, ask the Lord, “Is this something you would like me to do.”

Compassion Juli

Zach Younkin — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:17:54 +0000

Hey there everyone,

This post was originally posted in Life of Younkin.

Tonight, I have the honor and privilege to feature Compassion Juli. I asked her some basic questions. Below my questions you will find her answers.

1. Do you have any type of introduction that you can give on your history or the like?

I’m the wife of Paul, a local Attorney and Judge. Our children are all grown — Jeremy, Masters in Music Composition; Chris, a Commercial Pilot; and Sarah, getting a degree in Aerospace Engineering. I’m a Piano Accompanist for our local High School, and play for choirs and vocal jazz groups. I also love playing with jazz/blues gospel combos. I grew up in Kansas City but have lived in Wyoming for 30 years, and love it here.

2. Over your time blogging, what has been your favorite topic to blog about? Why?

I love to share about God’s work and presence in my life — whether scriptural insights, devotions, experiences that have drawn me closer to Him, or visits to Compassion projects in third world countries. It is my goal to lower the dividing walls that separate us from the poor, so we can benefit from their lives and they can benefit from our support. I believe we truly need the poor as much as they need us — we need their joy, contentment, strong faith and prayer support.

3. If you could live any part of your life over again, what would it be? Why?

I would love to have my children at home again as toddlers or babies — to hold on my lap, read to, cuddle and encourage. I think I would do a lot of things differently; but at the same time, I think it was in raising children that I learned a lot about God and myself.

4. How many children do you sponsor through Compassion?

We have two — I sponsored a boy in Haiti in 1988 and finally got to meet him in person five years ago. We fell into each others’ arms, hugging, and shared easily with one another — for we had become close friends through letter-writing. When he left the project due to his age, I asked Compassion if he had a sibling that needed support (he did), and I still sponsor his brother–Enold–today. I found out, through the visit, that their father is a Pastor who walks 4 hours every Saturday to get to his church, and back home again on Sundays. There are several children in the family, and they are extremely needy.

When I heard that girls were being abused in Thailand and placed in prostitution rings instead of given actual (promised) jobs in the city, I asked for a girl from Thailand. I still sponsor her today, and she has been accepted to Compassion’s Leadership Development Program! She’s in University studies now and I’m very proud of her. She’s been a huge source of encouragement to me through the years, as well as a great role model. We write very lengthy letters to each other! I have a post on my blog about her called “Siriporn.”

5. Could you tell me a little about yourself and the story behind your love for Compassion International?

God had been talking to me about sponsoring a child in need, but I didn’t know which company I could trust, so I prayed about it for several months. One day, I was out for lunch with a missionary (Doctor) friend from Haiti. She was telling me about a recent hurricane and I said, “What do those people do? How do they get by? What do they eat?” She said, “Well, of course the children that were on Compassion didn’t miss a single meal.” I asked if she was talking about Compassion International, and she was. She told me Compassion’s ministry was authentic, effective and worked with integrity and Christian values. In fact, several of the nurses in her clinic were formerly sponsored children! I immediately called Compassion and asked to sponsor a child in Haiti. I became a volunteer Child Advocate in 1994 and an Area Coordinator for other volunteers in Wyoming, Montana, and parts of South Dakota in 2004.

On a side note, as it turns out — my missionary friend was also a personal friend of Dr. Wess Stafford, President of Compassion International [they became acquainted years before he was involved with Compassion's ministry, when he worked in Haiti]. Small world. Her parents lived in my town and attended my church, and when we had the conversation she had no idea I had been praying about sponsoring a child.

6. Are there any specific posts on your site that you are particularly proud of?

Please, Somebody Rescue the Baby!

A Baker’s Dozen for Compassion Dave

Horton Hears a Who — Wordle

We Know Where They Live — We Know Where They Sleep

We Found a Body Lying in a Field

A Wordle About Alaska and Perseverance

Neighbors in Crisis: Haiti and the Dominican Republic

7. If you could make a trip to any part of the world, where would it be and why?

To Thailand to visit my LDP student — Siriporn — especially at the time of her graduation, about two years from now.

8. Do you have any other blogs that you author?

No.

9. Do you have any blogs that you recommend to others?

Compassion International

Called and Chosen

Jesus + Compassion

I’m a Little Different

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

10. If you could share one message with the world, what would it be?

It’s all about Jesus, not about us. See my latest post for the full version of this answer!

11. Any final words of advice/information that you would like to pass on?

Please — sponsor a child today if you have not done so yet. You will be amazed how much it will change your life as well as the life of the child. We truly need them as much as they need us. We need them to get rid of our greed, materialism and selfishness. We need them to get our lives in the proper balance and perspective. For about a dollar/day you can totally change the future of a child in need, and you will be blessed as well.

We just got a letter! We just got a letter! We just got a letter! I wonder who it’s from?!?

Zach Younkin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:10:34 +0000

First off, listen to this!

Yep, I just went there!

Now, give this a listen!

You better have listened to those!!!

Anywho, I got a letter from Patric, my sponsored child!

I will put it up here on the blog in a few days, once I get everything back to how they were.

It’s sweet to see my kid write me! You need to sponsor a child as well, so you can have the joy of getting a letter as well!

It really is a blessing!

Look for the letter up in a few days…

Some More Links

Zach Younkin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:38:04 +0000

Hey there!

I have been focusing the past couple of weeks on my personal blog (Life of Younkin) and I am currently doing a Compassion Week.

I recently discovered some sites that I would appreciate if you visited.

Blog on Child Poverty – Check this out for some information on the blog

Londovor–>Blog on Child Poverty – Info on the Compassion blog

Blogville–>Blog on Child Poverty – Thoughts on the Child Poverty blog

CBD–>Compassion – Link to Compassion’s homepage

Compassion Forum – Check out this forum post on Compassion International

Podcastblaster–>Compassion Podcast – Speak Up with Compassion

Podcast–>Compassion Audio – Compassion Audio podcast

Podcast–>Compassion Video – Compassion Video podcast

Podcastblaster–>Compassion Audio – Compassion Audio podcast

Podcastblaster–>Compassion Video – Compassion Video podcast

AmigoFish–>Speak Up with Compassion – Speak Up With Compassion

AmigoFish–>Compassion Audio – Compassion’s Audio Podcast

PodNova–>Compassion Video – Compassion’s Video podcast

PodNova–>Compassion Audio – Check this out for Compassion Audio podcast

PodNova–>Child Advocacy – Child Advocacy podcast

Global Food Crisis – Read Asia & Chocolate’s blog on the Global Food Crisis

My Sponsored Child

Zach Younkin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:42:16 +0000

Hey everyone,

After a little hiasus (sorry about that. I was at Momentum last week. My experience there will be posted at my personal blog in the next few days) I am starting to knock items off my list.

Here is a picture of the child I sponsor, Patric Conceicao Rodrigues.

Here's my sponsored child

Here I am holding a picture of Patric in my hand. Hopefully, one day, I will be able to hold Patric in my arms when I go and visit him.

I urge you to go to Compassion’s site and take part in their Christian Child Sponsorship program.

Also, check out Compassion’s blog. It will give you an insider’s look at Compassion International and the work that they do.

Important Videos

Zach Younkin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:57:19 +0000

Hey there everyone!

Hope your Friday is going amazing!

Here are some videos that you may want to check out. In case you can’t see the videos, I did add the URL where you can see the video itself. It is the blue text directly below the video.

A Day of Fasting and Prayer

God’s Blessing

Blessings for Children

Christian Education

Make a Difference

Child Evangelism

Children Living in Poverty

Clean Water

Local Church

Child Survival Program

Child Sponsorship

Well, that’s all I have time for right now. Look for another set of videos tomorrow.

Zach

Social Bookmarking

Zach Younkin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:39:38 +0000

Hey guys!

You can find my social bookmarks at the following sites (be sure to check back often! They change pretty quickly)

A few more social bookmarking sites will

Important Links

Zach Younkin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:25:05 +0000

Hey there everyone,

I came across some websites that you may find worthwhile looking at. Many of them are based on Compassion’s website, but be sure to check all of them out for some information.

World Poverty has been an issue in the world that has been in and out of the news over the past few years. It seems like whenever there is no other news, the focus is turned on world poverty. Sadly, with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and rising food and gasoline costs, America has, I feel, lost its view of how poor so many people are.

Malaria Prevention is another issue that has been in and out of the news. It seems like an actor or actress finds a worthy cause and seemingly overnight that issue becomes THE organization or cause to give to (see The One Campaign, An Inconvenient Truth , Invisible Children, etc.). Sadly, the problems don’t go away once the press about the issues go away.

If you are aware of Myspace, and are tech-savy enough to have our own account, check out Compassion International’s Award winning Myspace page. Become their friend and add them to your top friends to show your support for the word that they do.

Another, malaria prevention page. This one gives you the opportunity to donate $10 to provide a net to protect a child from a mosquito bite.

Compassion International offers you an inside look to the awesome work that they are doing. You can gain this look through their blog on Child Poverty.

And, in my opinion, the most important of them all, the opportunity to sponsor a child through Compassion.

Thanks!

Have a wonderful day!

How I Chose my Child

Zach Younkin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:44:28 +0000

Hey there guys,

I imagine you are reading this because you got an invite from me to read my first post. If you haven’t read about it, be sure to read about how I got involved with Compassion. Thanks for coming back to read this post!

I hope that these posts will influence you into action.

While I was at Creation, I did sponsor a child. I was in the merch tent and I was amazed at the number of children that they had to sponsor. I looked at every single child and their birthdate. I wanted a child that was close to my birthday (Oct. 26) and I came across one in Patric Conceicao Rodrigues, born October 3, 2000.

Soon, I will be posting the information sheet about Patric. Be looking for that within the next week or so.

Here are some things to look forward to for the physical blog, as well as some topics for post to come…

1. Information page and picture

2. Once I send my first letter, I will be sure to let you know.

3. Once I receive my first letter, I will be sure to post it on here.

4. I will be adding a few widgets to the site. So, apparently, I can’t add widgets to the blog. However, check one of my upcoming post for either the link to the widgets or the widget itself.

5. Some links to Compassion’s websites and other important sites

6. Links to a few blogs that I have found.

7. Social bookmarking sites that I am apart of.

8. Links to other blogs I author.

9. Some videos that will (hopefully) change the way you view child sponsorship and the way you spend your time and money.

Be sure to subscribe to the feed or the email.

Thanks so much for reading this!