A Journey into Compassion

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This week, I took my children to India, Uganda, and Bolivia. We only visited each country for 30 minutes each, but we were impacted in a powerful way through the lives and conditions that we encountered.

How is this possible? The Compassion Experience, run by Compassion International, offers the opportunity to witness poverty firsthand without ever leaving the country.

“Change the Story” as an “interactive, immersive display allows you to step into the life of a child who has suffered under the crippling weight of poverty.” Thank God, it doesn’t end there.

In each thirty minute journey with a child, we had the chance to hear their stories – how they moved from deep poverty, fear, and pain to a place of provision, care, and love.

Stories of Great Impact

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As we followed each child’s journey, we were taken into rooms designed to look as similar to their real homes as possible, with authentic pieces of furniture, decorations, and memories. We saw how one child’s family huddled together at night in a room that is 1/4 the size of my kitchen.

They had no beds. No carpet. Only a dirt floor and two chairs – one chair they took turns sleeping in each night and the other they used to prop against the door to keep drunken and drug-induced men from breaking in.

A young boy – the same age as one of my daughters – shined shoes at the market all day just to make enough money to have one meal per day. Alas, often the money he did make was stolen by others. This meant that many days, he didn’t eat at all.

But then something happened to change his circumstances.

Or rather, someone did.

A couple from the United States decided to sponsor this child through Compassion International and he was able to find a place of peace and provision – and most importantly, to learn about the love that Jesus has for him and for all children.

He experienced what it was to be truly loved – through the director of the Center and his sponsors in the States, who wrote him letters regularly in addition to supplying him with monthly support.

He began to believe that he could have a better life and has gone on to walk out of a life of poverty and into the great plan of God’s provision for him. He is just one story of thousands that need to be told.

Why You Should Sponsor an Orphan

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Throughout the last several years, we have sponsored orphans in the countries of Sudan, India, and the Philippines. We placed their pictures on our refrigerator to remind us to pray for them.

While supplying what they need for food and education, I wish we would have written those children more letters to tell them that God loves them. That He has a plan for their lives. That they can overcome great challenges and odds and make a difference in this world.

For any children that we sponsor in the future, this is what I will do differently.

There are many different organizations that have sponsorship programs for children. We personally have sponsored children through Love-n-Care Ministries in India and Harvesters Reaching the Nations in Sudan, to name a few.

Today I will highlight Compassion International since they are the ones who sponsor the Compassion Experience we walked through this week.

For only $38/month, you can sponsor one of 100,000 children from all over the world who are waiting for a sponsor through this organization.

$38 a month in our area is less than the cost of a dinner out for two adults, but this small amount of money can change a child’s life forever.

To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required

You may have heard this line several times, I know. “For only $X/month, you can make a difference in a child’s life.” But after walking through the Compassion Experience this week, I am reminded that this is not just a sales pitch. This is the TRUTH.

And there are thousands of lives waiting –

waiting to be “pulled out of the ash heap” and into a place of safety and provision.

waiting to have the love of Christ demonstrated to them in a tangible way.

waiting to believe that someone could love them.

waiting to be told and shown that they are children of God -children of great worth.

Each thirty minute story in our journey through the Compassion Experience ended with the same scripture: “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

I know I have been given much and therefore much will be required of me. What will I do with what is in my hand to give? What will you do with what is in yours?

A Call to Adventurous Faith

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When God called missionaries Heidi and Rolland Baker to serve the poorest of the poor in Mozambique, they had no idea the challenges that they would face. They simply said “yes” to God and followed Him there.

Heidi started outreaches in Maputo and began to take in street children. Soon they had 160 of them. The children kept coming until they had 300 of them staying in their dorms.

Where He Leads, He Will Provide

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The Bakers were hungry, tired, and overwhelmed. They didn’t know how they could continue on. Heidi shares in their book, “Always Enough,” a powerful story of God’s provision in the midst of their great need:

I thought I was going to snap…we weren’t prepared in any way to feed all those children. A precious woman from the U.S. embassy came over with food. “I brought you chili and rice for your family!” she said sweetly, with just enough for the four of us. We hadn’t eaten in days. I opened the door and showed her all our children. “I have a big family!” I pointed out tiredly but in complete and desperate earnest. My friend got serious, “There’s not enough! I need to go home and cook some more!” But I just asked her to pray over the food…..

We began serving, and right from the start I gave everyone a full bowl. I was dazed and overwhelmed. I barely understood at the time what a wonderful thing was happening. But all our children ate, the staff ate, my friend ate, and even our family of four ate. Everyone had enough.

Since then we have never said no to an orphaned, abandoned or dying child. Now we feed and take care of more than one thousand children. They eat and drink all they want of the Lord’s goodness. Because He died, there is always enough.”

Stepping Out in Faith

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This is just one of the many miracles the Bakers have witnessed in their work among the children of Mozambique.

When we sense that God is calling us to take a risk for Him, to step out of the boat of our own comfort, security, and convenience for the sake of His Kingdom, we may hesitate and ask like Peter, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water“(Matthew 14:28).

It’s important to note that Jesus did not chastise him for asking first. As my pastor Stuart McAlpine has said, “Asking precedes acting.

Jesus loves it when we ask Him to confirm His direction to us before we act. Instead of presumptuously jumping out of the boat, Peter hesitates and asks Jesus to invite Him forward. And then Jesus responds with just one word – “Come.” (verse 29).

Do you sense Christ beckoning you to step out in faith and follow Him in a new direction this year? Perhaps He is calling you to take a great leap of faith and follow Him into uncharted territory.

One thing is certain, if He’s the one calling you, He will sustain you. You can be certain of that!

The wind and waves will look different for each of us, but they always have the same purpose: to take our eyes off Christ and onto our circumstances and challenges.

Even if we find ourselves sinking, we can have great hope. Like Peter (and Heidi Baker) we can cry out to God, “Lord, save me!” He will give us His hand and pull us up so that we can follow Him once more.

One commentary of this beautiful story in Scripture says, “Jesus invites adventurous faith.” What adventure is He inviting you on this year?

When it’s clear He’s calling, take the plunge. Because it’s always better to walk on water with Jesus than to stay in the boat without Him.

Missionary Mama

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From the ages of 19-25, I traveled to 20 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East just to share the love of Christ with the nations of the world. I never felt more in my element than when my feet were on foreign soil, traveling to tribal villages for outreach, and holding African babies.

But then our lives changed courses, which landed my husband and me in the D.C. area where we still are today – 10 years and 3 kids later. I will be completely honest with you – my heart wrestled against the will of God. I wanted to be there – not here. I wanted to do that – not this. But then I realized the problem – my “I” had to die.

Glorifying God in the Mundane

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

In this season of my life, God has called me to be a stay at home mom to three beautiful girls. Two years ago, He opened my heart to the joys of homeschooling and I am committed to this journey for the long haul.

I have learned over the last six years that I can glorify Christ just as much when I bandage my daughter’s knee as when I bandaged the wounds of an orphan in Sudan. What matters most to Christ is not the activity or work I do, but the heart and attitude I put behind that work.

Please read the rest of this post over here at Sacred Mundane – thanks!

 

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