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A day of listening to James

Yesterday was a tough day for Dana and I as we were so devastated by having to shred James' file. But it was actually a scripture in James that Dana felt told us what to do about that...

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them?

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; Keep warm and well fed" but does nothing about their physical needs , what good is it?

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

James 2:14-17.

And so James Bwire for Uganda is now a member of the Smith clan and we couldn't be more excited!

We can and so we did.

I think we all need to consider this closely in our daily lives, and as my husband says, be "Yes Men (And Women!)" for God!

A Sad Day

Well, as much as I love being an advocate, today is not one that I will remember fondly. Despite our efforts, James is still unsponsored and we will have to shred his file today.

While it is an amazing feeling to help find sponsors for kids, I must admit, it's more than a little devastating when you fail.

But I have to believe that God has a plan for little James. We're just not going to be the ones to see it come to be.

I have come to think of him as James with the too-big-shoes, as in his photo he is obviously wearing man-sized shoes because he has none. There are six kids in his family and his parents hearn about $3 a month. These are all great reasons to sponsor James, but there's something else about him that moves me. I think it's the expression on his face. Whatever the reason, I care a whole lot about James and I am going to keep praying for him long after I destroy his file. I hope you will too.

Where God guides, He provides!

We had an absolutely incredible time at the Compassion conference in Regina! We can say with complete confidence now more than ever that the lives of little children are being forever changed! We were also encouraged to pray through Isaiah 58 and we would encourage everyone else to do too. See what God wants to do through you!

So, right now we have a couple of prayer requests. We're trying to see if it's God's will that Compassion has a presence at the Manitou Lake Gospel Jamboree this weekend, and doors are certainly opening, but we there are a few obstacles yet to overcome. Please pray that the organizers hearts will be softened towards Compassion!

And also, beautiful little Mukandayambaje does not yet have a sponsor and we have to return her file at the end of the month which can cause further delays in sponsorship. We have someone praying about taking her right now, so we would ask for others to pray too, so that if Mukandayambaje is meant to be hers, that she will know it.

MUKANDAYAMBAJE HAS BEEN SPONSORED! What an incredible blessing. Whew!

Eight kids sponsored at the North East Christian Fellowship!

We are so thrilled that Leul and Addis from Ethiopia, Vesithra from India, Solomon from Kenya and little Antonio from Mexico have wonderful new sponsor families! The congregation had just returned from a mission to Mexico, and it was awesome to hear about their experiences. We were so moved to learn about the cardboard church they visited where Sunday worship was led by an 11-year-old blind boy who was able to play the drums by feel. Our God is so awesome, and I know that church family will be blessed beyond measure -- if not here then in the mansion prepared just for them in heaven.

And now, we are waiting for 11 the profiles and photos of 11 more children to arrive in time for our presentation Mother's Day weekend at the Park Avenue Bible Church in Melfort. We are so grateful they are having us. We'll keep you posted!

You need them as much as they need you. They will bless you above and beyond! (by Shannon)

So here I am at 11:13 p.m. and I just can't hit that pillow, because I need to share more of these children with you. Please email me at suth@telusplanet.net if there is a particular child who you just cannot seem to chase out of your thoughts and your heart. If you do, I will tell you everything I know. From left to right, Vesithra is from India, Ritta is from Uganda, James is from Uganda and Addis is from Ethiopia. Each child is so compelling to me.

Vesithra lives in a country where two women are raped every 60 minutes and where girls as young as nine are forced into arranged marriages. Vesithra will be nine next year. Ritta has no parents to comfort her at night when she has nightmares and no mother to hold her when she is sick. James is so handsome. He lives in a community where the average wage is $3 per month. That means half the people earn less than that. And the lovely little Addis lives in a community where people routinely die from AIDS, the flu, diarrhea and malnutrition.

Well, that is that for tonight. But please pray about these children. Look at them, think about them. And if you want to help one of them, let me know. And they will be yours.

UPDATE: ADDIS AND VESITHRA HAVE BEEN SPONSORED!

On Whispers and KABLAMMOS! (by Dana)

God will speak to us through whispers, but it is often the hit-you-over-the-head “kablammo!” moments that move us in decisions.
Let me explain.
When my wife and I decided to take on the task of helping to find sponsors for these wonderful kids around the world through Compassion we had a slightly different view as to how we would approach this feat.
Anyone who knows my wife knows that she is, well, enthusiastic when she finds something she believes in. Don’t believe me? Scroll down to From Skeptics to Sponsors and Mountains of Beans. I, like most men, wear my enthusiasm a bit more on the inside.
But make no mistake, this is a program that has me enthusiastic.
Frankly, if we didn’t really, really, believe in what the folks in Compassion are trying to do, we wouldn’t have thrown our time into this effort. As we all know, time is often as precious as money these days.
But as differently as we may approach our efforts with Compassion, we agreed to two things: We would follow God’s lead, and we would not use guilt to find sponsors for kids.
Unless God tells us to use guilt. Then all bets are off.
Rather, we want little more than for would-be sponsors, skeptics, and those already who have taken this step to simply listen for the whispers and watch for the “kablammos!”
This is something that I experienced recently, prior to the decision to sponsor our fourth child, Frank, from Tanzania -- the beautiful little boy who reminded us so much of our son, Samuel, who’s the same age.
I’d like to say that there’s never been any hesitation in our decisions to sponsor. As Shan said in an earlier post, it wasn’t something we considered until we were directly asked, if not challenged. I’d like to say that wasn't the case, but I can’t.
And I’m not especially proud of that.
In the days following us first coming across Frank’s profile we both quickly felt that tug. If you haven’t felt that “tug” yet, you will if you consider sponsorship.
But then our “common sense” kicks in, and dogs us with questions like “Are we getting too carried away with this? Can we afford it in this economy?"
All those questions were answered by a man wearing a visor at a drive-through window, as I was rushing home with supper one night for our family of six.
“That will be $32.27,” he said, quickly ducking back into his drive-thru shelter with a bank card that I had handed over with no hesitation.
With no hesitation. For a bag full of miscellaneous meat bits, grease and an inevitable stomach ache later.
And all that for about $3 less than monthly sponsorship for Frank.
And there it was. The “kablammo!” moment that made it clear to me that not only can we afford to do this, we should. And we did.
Don't feel guilty, but do take the time this month to allow yourself to see those kablammo moments – and to hear the whispers as well – which might reveal just how possible sponsorship may be for you.

These are some of the children we are trying to connect with sponsors

From left to right Jeimy from the Dominican Republic, Solomon from Kenya, Mukandayambaje from Rwanda and Makena from Kenya. If you are interested in sponsoring any of these children, please just email me at suth@telusplanet.net and I can give you more information on the child, their family, their community and sponsorship in general. I really believe that where Compassion excels is in encouraging relationships between children and their sponsors -- regular letters, emails and small gifts can bring a child so much joy. And if you travel, consider sponsoring a child in a country where you may visit as Compassion is eager to help connect sponsors with their children arranging home visits, project visits and advice.

UPDATE: JEIMY HAS BEEN SPONSORED! Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Hill! Jeimy is in wonderful hands.

UPDATE: SOLOMON HAS BEEN SPONSORED!

Some upcoming events

Our first presentation in our hometown will be at the Northeast Christian Fellowship in Melfort Saskatchewan on April 26th, which is national Sharing Compassion Day. Please pray for us that we will be able to effectively share the message of Compassion, help people learn a little bit more about the impoverished children in the world who need our help and maybe create some new friendships along the way.

From Skeptics to Sponsors and Mountains of Beans

Well, that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.

My grandma used to say that. But it was a literal hill of beans that transformed our hearts one afternoon in a Christian book store.

My husband, my oldest son and I were browsing through the store to pass some time, when out of the corner of my eye near the devotional section, I spotted a well-dressed woman about my age standing next to a small table with some pamphlets in her hand.

Next to her was what appeared to be a rather large bucket of beans.

I made a mental note to drop by the devotional department another day as the woman was obviously trying to sell stuff or sign people up for something – either way, I was having none of it.

The bean barrel had left me mildly intrigued, but not curious enough to come within striking distance of a well-rehearsed sales pitch.

My husband and son, on the other hand, were not as apt at the art of avoidance.

I cringed as I watched her approach them. Oh no. She was handing them pamphlets. And they were taking them. And nodding. This gal was good.

“Mom!” said my then-four-year-old bounding across the book store oblivious to my annoyance. “Do you see that bucket over there?! That’s how many kids die every single day! But we can help them! Look, there’s pictures of kids we can help! Can I pick one to help, mom?”

What do you say to that? “No son, we can’t help an impoverished child. Now come along and hop into our new (but not-so-gently used) min-van or we’ll be late for your $800-a-year piano lessons.”

So Gage chose Juniar from Indonesia because he was the same age and because, “he looks kind of mad and not happy.” As I looked at the boy in the mismatched short set with his stern little face and stiff stance, I never dreamed we would soon love this little boy.

But we do. And we love Edwin from Mexico and Hannah from Ghana and Frank from Tanzania too.

I could write volumes about how we love these children, about how my kids get down on their knees every single night and pray for each child and their families. I could tell all sorts of wonderful tales about how much joy writing to these precious children brings us or how their letters and photos are among our most prized family possessions. I could tell you about how they shine like the most brilliant lights I have ever seen reflecting the boundless glory of God and the humble love of Christ.

But it’s the bean lady who deserves mention as well -- the brave bean lady who was likely rejected, avoided and ignored dozens of times that day before my son came along about 15 minutes before the store was due to close.

I thank God she didn’t give up, that she didn’t pack up her beans and head home before we arrived.

I don’t know who she was or what inspired her to bring a bucket of beans to a book store, but I hope somehow that she will know what she has done for my family, and consequently, for many others as we have shared Compassion with others.

Since that day in the book store, we have not only sponsored four children, but we have enjoyed the unparalleled privilege of introducing friends and family members to the joy of sponsorship as well.

As child advocates, we pray that we can unite many other children with the sponsors who need them. Please make no mistake that we need these children every inch as much as they need us.

May God bless the bean lady and all those like her.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” NLT Galations 6:9

This sweetheart is Mileidis

Mileidis Cecilia Rodriguez Vidales lives in Columbia with her parents and three siblings. She likes to jump rope and play house when she isn't helping her family. There are 1,200 people in her village, and the houses there are constructed of cement and brick with tin roofs. The average family in Mileidis' village earns just $43 per month.

Compassion offers one-to-one sponsorship, and believe me, you will be a very special person in Mileidis' life if you become her sponsor. You can write Mileidis as often as you wish and can send small paper gifts like stickers and tattoos. Compassion will even translate email messages and give them to Mileidis. The $35 per month that Mileidis will receive will provide her with Bible teaching, food, medical check-ups, first aid training, sports, celebrations, tutoring and academic support. Compassion will also offer support to Mileidis' family.

UPDATE: MILEIDIS HAS A SPONSOR! Thank you so much, Allison. Our son had been praying hard that Mileidis would find a sponsor "by the end of the month." And on March 31st at 9 p.m., Allison called to tell us she wanted to be Mileidis' sponsor. Wow!

Well, here we are in blogdom!

This is where we will share photos and information about the children in our care who need sponsors and will tell you a bit about our upcoming presentations and schedules. Thank you for visiting!