This week my kiddos took their turn to write to Rajendra (in India) and Alvaro (in Colombia) the children our family sponsors through Compassion International.  We love getting letters from “the boys,” as we call them.  They write every so often.  We write every so often.  I am sure that we should write them more often than every so often.

I am a terrible correspondent.  I am not a “phone person.”  I am late with birthday cards and gifts.  I mean to call or text friends, but I think of it when I am in the shower (where all my best thinking occurs!) or while driving or homeschooling.  And when I have a free minute?  I get on Facebook, check email, go to Instagram or Pinterest.  Here is an area I would like to be more intentional with…it is called good manners, people!

I would love to hear from you all out there and here is what I need to know: do you have these troubles? If not, what do you do to make sure you don’t forget the important things, that you follow through?  If you sponsor a child through Compassion International, how often do you write?  If you don’t yet sponsor a child, would you like to?  You can do this through the link in my sidebar (look to the right).  I love knowing that the gifts we give are well used.  A small amount makes a huge impact!  Here is what Compassion’s website says about meeting needs of the children:

Compassion’s ministry is focused on the individual child and his or her development. By working holistically with individual children to address their spiritual, economic, social and physical needs, we present every child with an opportunity to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.

Although entire communities may feel the positive impact of Compassion’s presence, our goal is to release children one-by-one from poverty in Jesus’ name. What happens in the life of a child ripples throughout their environment now and in the future.

We believe that changed environments may assist children, but transformed children will inevitably change their environments.

I love that!  I do believe that Christianity is a grassroots movement!  Reaching one child can impact an entire family, a church, a village.  That means that YOU can play an important role in impacting an impoverished community from waaayyyyy over here!  Your donation is important and your letter is important.  Sponsoring a child says to them, “I see you.  You aren’t lost.  You do matter.”  This is what the Lord has told us.  And we should pass it on, to the least of these.

If you, like me, need to do a better job of writing your sponsored child (or children) or a better job of communicating with anyone for that matter, this information from Compassion International could be helpful:

I love “the boys,” Rajendra and Alvaro.  I am thankful for Compassion, that they connected us to them.  I would love to hear about the children you sponsor and your letter writing faithfulness.  Or are you reaching out in your local community?  Tell me, are you finding #aSimplerJoy today by sharing the love of Christ with a needy child?