Filipino Adventures with God
Our week in the Philippines with our 5 Compassion children was incredible. Emotions gripped Bruce and me from every direction—as it did everyone around us. Extreme joy and excitement…coupled with the reality that our time together would be far to short. The impact a sponsor visit makes on the life of a child, their family and community is something our affluent culture finds hard to grasp. For many years Bruce and I wrestled with the stewardship value of visiting our children or sponsoring additional children. In a world where the majority go to bed hungry, and without hope—how do we reconcile a few hours or days of enjoyment for a few? We spoke with World Vision, Compassion Canada and several other sponsoring agencies. Without a blink of an eye, everyone said: “Visit your child.” Though it did not make sense to us, it made undeniable sense to them!
Children who receive letters from sponsors are greatly changed: spiritually, emotionally and academically. School grades move up remarkably. However, this past week we were told that a sponsor visit changes everything ….for many people. God takes our efforts and multiplies them beyond imagination. Here are a few of God stories:
~Four years ago Bruce and I sent enough money through Compassion family gift ($1,000) for Ronilyn and Roniely to have a home of their own. Their father built a cozy one bedroom home with a veranda—a place out of the elements! Because of God, we discovered that their home has been moved four times in the last four years. Unable to secure the money for a permanent lot, they have been at the mercy of landlords. Bruce’s paternal instincts took over—he would not have his girls and their parents uprooted repeatedly! Soon we were out looking at real estate! Lots were priced out—we pledged the appropriate amount—and our girls will have a permanent piece of land within two months! We spent 2 days with this family. Bruce and Ronnie (the dad) had some great conversations. Ronnie has committed to attending church with his family. We have committed to college education for Ronilyn and Roniely in their local community. God allowed us the joy of answering many prayers those days!
~MaeAnne has been our daughter for 6 years now. She is graduating from Grade 6 this week. We added her brother Johndel several months ago, and will add her 2 year old sister, when she turns 3 years old—the minimum age for joining Compassion. Their father works as a labourer—8 long hours of back breaking work—but not enough to support his large family. Our time with the children was a riot. We went to a swimming pool with a water slide, packing along a dinner menu that they had never imagined! Bruce and Clint (our sponsor son) played with the 4 younger children for hours. All of this was new to them: a father who plays…a pool…and all the food they could want! I visited with Mom and the Compassion Director. How they longed for the children’s father to come to church and be involved with his children—I told them how Christ had changed Bruce and God was more than able to change Sally’s husband! Sure enough…Sunday morning we were able to greet MaeAnne’s father in church—and a beaming Sally reported that he also had committed to church attendance because of what our visit had demonstrated to him.
~Clint is our oldest sponsored son and our first to graduate from college! For reasons we didn’t understand, Clint’s graduation date was moved from March 26 to March 28 and finally to March 31! Clint was very disappointed that we would not be there to walk with him in the Processional, but I responded that God was up to something! I listed off all the benefits I could imagine and we promised him we’d do something special—like a party with his friends. What ever he wanted! In my wildest dreams I wouldn’t have dreamed the event he planned. Clint, and the project director, invited those who shared Clint’s bloodline to meet us. Grandma, Aunties, Uncles, birth mom and step-dad, plus a few cousins and friends. None of them Christians—and Clint took the opportunity to share his life story and the impact Christ had made in his life. It was powerful! There were so many tears—from being abandoned and passed from home to home, “like an unwanted dog” to his journey of wholeness because of God and sponsors who had responded to God’s command to care for the poor, the broken and the abandoned. Wholeness that comes only through Christ! Clint had his family all sing “Give Thanks with a Grateful heart” as a special number for Bruce and me! Then we feasted! Clint enjoyed his first ever birthday cake and birthday/ graduation party! Clint’s formal graduation is on March 31. The party costs were substantially reduced…like by 75% because the venue owner said Bruce and I had made such an impact in their community, they wanted to return the favour. Again, these pre-Christians were moved by God to help us with the costs! God was all over that evening!
~Clint’s final grades at college were all over 90%! We met some of his teachers and his classmates. We were able to watch him teach and interact with many children. It was such a blessing for us! His testimony is strong and solid. He will be working with Compassion, at the project as a full-time child development worker. Yes, we had maxed out every possible avenue to make his education possible, but it was an investment that will be storing treasure in eternity! Released from poverty—to serve our LORD!
~Another God prompting resulted in us providing Clint with transportation for his ministry. Everyone in Asia knows that serious mission work begins with a scooter on a motorbike! I am so excited about what God is going to do with our young man!
~Another aspect of a sponsor visit that I had not considered was the hope and encouragement we brought to the pastors and compassion staff. These people serve God numerous hours. I asked about days off and vacation time for them…like most ministry people they strive for a day off weekly. As for vacation time…well that doesn’t happen … ever! For them seeing sponsors love the children of their church, and bring them up out of the grasp of poverty was the fuel they needed to continue in the work of the LORD. The church we worshipped with on Sunday is a vibrant growing community! In a few weeks their second baptism of 2011 will be held: 3 elementary children and 11 parents of Compassion children!! That is exciting! God used Bruce and I to provide some answers to prayers. Last week I found individually wrapped toothbrushes with little tubes of toothpaste…packages of 50 for about $10, so I bought 100 toothbrushes. Also last week the director of the project prayed a “whispered prayer” for toothbrushes for the kids at her project! On Saturday we shared the joy of God’s surprise provision of toothbrushes for everyone!
I could go on….but that is enough for today!
