I dislike the phrase “every parent’s nightmare.” It’s been so overused that it has become a watered-down cliché. Truth is, there’s probably only one nightmare that every parent shares…and that is the fear of losing your child.

Last week, that nightmare became a reality for the family members, friends and loved ones of 20 precious little boys and girls and six adults (who were also someone’s children) in Connecticut.

I can’t imagine what those parents are going through right now. It’s horrific. And you find yourself wondering how the world continues around you when yours has stopped.

I thought I was going to lose my 5-year-old son, Morgan. Friday night, around 9:00 p.m., he woke up from his sleep and said he was sick. He went to the bathroom and tried to throw up.

Then, without warning, his face changed. His eyes rolled back into his head, his body went limp, and he was unresponsive. My wife and I tried to get him to snap out of it, shouting his name, tapping his face, trying to make eye contact.

Nothing.

We started to drive him to the hospital. On the way, he threw up. I’m not sure he even knew it.

His beautiful blue eyes stared off into space as the fluid poured out of his mouth. We called 911 while we were en route, and an ambulance met us halfway and took him to the ER from there.

He stayed in this “catatonic” state during the entire ambulance ride. Within seconds of arriving at the hospital, doctors had him lying on a bed, with wires and tubes connected everywhere.

“He’s barely breathing,” one doctor said. So they immediately shoved a tube down his throat, another up his nose. They turned on the respirator to get him breathing normally.

And I lost it.

I was helpless. Watching my baby boy’s limp body on that hospital bed, struggling to breathe, and not knowing what to do or how to do it.

I was…weak. Impotent. And absolutely horrified. I sobbed. I felt nauseous.

Images of life without my son popped into my head. My world was being torn apart right in front of me. My wife and I prayed. We started contacting friends asking them to pray as well. I have not cried so hard in years.

Then, after nearly two gut-wrenching hours, he sat up. He looked around the room. Fear covered his face. The horror in his eyes.

He looked at me and screamed — as best as he could scream with a tube down his throat. As awful as that scream was, it was progress.

Five days and several tests later, Morgan is back to being a normal, rambunctious little boy. Doctors discovered he had suffered an occipital lobe epileptic seizure. The good news is, he’ll likely outgrow it.

And in the meantime, anti-seizure medication will help prevent future episodes. I praise God for protecting my baby boy.

The right doctors, the right equipment, his decision to get up and alert us that he was sick just moments before he went into the seizure, the call to 911 at the right moment…God’s fingerprints were everywhere.

Then I think about the parents around the world who don’t have access to ambulances, emergency rooms, EEGs, MRIs, CT scans and the like.

As helpless as I felt watching my son surrounded by doctors and medics with machines hooked up to him, I can’t imagine how helpless a mother or father must feel in the developing world where this type of technology and help is too far out of reach.

What does a family do, when living in extreme poverty, if their child experiences what my Morgan did? The answer all too often is, sadly, nothing. And many children are lost every single day. Thousands of parents who live the nightmare that I prayed so desperately to avoid last Friday night.

That’s why I’m proud to be part of the Compassion family. We have a fund designed just for this purpose — to meet the emergency medical needs of our sponsored children. This holiday season, my family is making a donation to this fund.

If, God forbid, a child in one of the poorest parts of the world has a dire medical need, this fund makes sure that mommy and daddy can get their child the help he or she needs. Just this past year, the fund helped a little boy in Africa get a life-saving heart surgery.

If you sponsor a child, thank you. You could very well be saving a life. Please consider adding an extra donation this holiday season to the medical needs fund.

If you don’t currently sponsor a child, here’s your chance. Get involved.

Because no parent should have to face the nightmare of losing a child simply because they can’t afford help.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

There is no opportunity more beautiful than letting a child know the precious value our God gives them.

I have served the Lord by loving and teaching children since I was 17, believing strongly that children are fertile ground in which to sow love, values, and dreams.

However, I never imagined that the Lord would allow me to play the role of mother in the life of a child who had been injured emotionally and physically.

A child that has been affected to the point where he believes the statement, “I wish I hadn’t been born,” based on the words of his family, words that have destroyed his self-esteem.

With the Lord’s guidance, I’ve been able to show God’s love, teach His Word, and steer the boy to God’s will. Working for this ministry has helped me see how the power of Jesus works miracles on children at the child development centers.

Witnessing Jesus’ transforming power encourages me to defend the children He puts in my care. When we believe in what Jesus can do for children abandoned, neglected, and robbed of their God-given value, we can see Revelation 5:9–10 come true.

It inspires me every day knowing that there are people in our development centers in many countries giving this great news to children who believe they are worthless. We get to share with them that Jesus loves them and has made them kings and priests. Imagine this good news being shared all over the world at the same time!

What a beautiful picture!

May the Lord continue raising an army of sponsors, churches and employees to reach children who struggle against spiritual, physical, and emotional poverty.

Do you believe we are doing enough to achieve the goal? Together let us strive to spread this good news so that more children know they have a special calling and destiny—to be saved, to be kings and priests!

With your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. —Revelation 5:9b–10, NIV

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to be sensitive to the call to advocate for children. We want to be obedient to our mandate and to do it with love. Use us, Jesus. Give us one mind to reach children in need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Crissia de Monterrosa serves as a Ministry Services Assistant for Compassion El Salvador.

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My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

This past July, I had the honor of traveling to Guatemala to meet the little girl I sponsor there. Bilha was an impossibly adorable 6-year-old with braided pigtails, an infectious smile, and the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.

From the moment I met Bilha, her mother and grandmother, they felt like part of my family. So much so that when I left, the four of us stood in a tight little knot and sobbed.

I had just met my “family” and it was painful to leave so quickly!

That afternoon, at the end of a sweaty soccer game and lots of popcorn and soda, I sat with Bilha and her family on the grass and gave them gifts.

In a duffle bag there were sheets, towels and cooking utensils for the family.

And into a small purple backpack I had stuffed crayons, construction paper, toothbrushes, soap, clothes, bubbles and a Dora the Explorer doll that Bilha held tightly for the rest of the afternoon.

There is something about giving a gift to a child who rarely receives gifts. Most families in developing countries don’t have the extra funds to buy gifts like bubbles and Dora dolls.

Parents must spend their hard-earned money on food and clothes instead.

When I handed Bilha and her family these small gifts on that afternoon, it was as though I had bought them an entire store. They cried over each item I pulled out, even over some wooden spoons I got from the dollar bin at Target.

And I cried along with them. It was an honor to be able to bring them these few gifts — and I knew that this would probably be the only time I could lug a duffel bag through Guatemala to present to this precious family.

I was thinking of Bilha and her family while I worked on helping put together this year’s Compassion Christmas Gift Catalog.

On each page there were gifts that I knew would bring the same kind of joy to other families this ministry serves. I can send Bilha and her family gifts as her sponsor, but there were dozens of other gifts I can give to children I will never meet.

I can only imagine their reactions.

Will the family who receives livestock smile as they tug on the ropes tied to their goats and cows?

Will the mother whose malnourished child is provided with food cry tears of joy?

Will the injured child who receives surgery whisper a thank you as her body is healed?

Will the father who can finally provide safe water for his family bend his head in gratefulness?

Based on my sweet Bilha and her family, I know the gratitude will overflow. I won’t see it, but the Father will. And He will rejoice in their praise.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

As we walked into a child development center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, we were welcomed by hundreds of children worshiping.

One kid in particular caught our eye. He was wearing a green shirt and was praising God with all he had.

Later on I met Jorge. He turned out to be the older brother of the “kid in the green shirt,” who was called Richard, as I would find out years later.

Gradually, Jorge’s story started to emerge. He was the oldest of three brothers, and his two younger siblings were attending one of our child development centers. Jorge was desperate to be part of the development center—but couldn’t be.

The home of Jorge and Richard wasn’t safe. Their father, in particular, was very abusive, and the cigarette burn marks on the faces of the boys were the horrific evidence of that. Every day, Jorge made sure that his brothers could attend the center, a place where they would be safe.

As I came home, Jorge continued to stay on my mind. I made several attempts to sponsor him, but to no avail. I put a picture of him in my office; I wanted to have a constant reminder of children around the world who aren’t sponsored.

I returned to Cochabamba years later. We visited the same development center during Sunday service. As we were waiting to get in, I told our host, Maria, about Jorge and his brothers.

Fifteen minutes later, Maria stood next to me with a teenager—the “kid in the green shirt.” His name was Richard. I was thrilled to hear how he had given his life to Christ and how the abusive climate at home had made a turn for the better. Five minutes before we were leaving for our hotel, Jorge turned up at the center.

Never in my mind had I anticipated meeting him again. It was truly a God-given moment. Only He knew my concern for these boys. God sent me a very comforting message that day: I care.

“In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” —Matthew 18:14, NIV

Prayer: Father, thank you for your care. Let us care like you do.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jan Willem Vink serves as the Marketing Director for Compassion Netherlands.

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My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

It was a very cold November morning at the mission station located in the foothills of Jharkhand, North India.

Peering through the nets that protected me from the swarms of mosquitoes during the night, I saw a man sitting wrapped in a blanket on the stone bench. His arms cradled a young boy. They sat there hardly speaking, enjoying each other’s warmth and togetherness.

The soft rays of the early morning sun slowly began to break through the haze and shone on the faces of the two on the stone bench. Tears were running down the face of the man as he held the boy close to him.

I vividly remembered my first trip to the Malta hills, about a four-hour trek from this mission station. There I met many malnourished children with bulging tummies and frail bodies walking around with hardly any clothes on. Even the adults were undernourished.

Very few of them made it to their 40th birthdays. It was the desperate cry for help from this same man on the bench that began our sponsorship ministry, which now ministers to more than 3,000 Malto children.

This frail little boy and many other children like him have survived, thrived, and are well on their way to becoming fulfilled Christian adults.

God is indeed restoring this community to full health, and the darkness is being turned to the brightness of noon.

Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. —Isaiah 58:8, GNT

Prayer: Lord, cause each of us to plant a ray of hope in the hearts of parents for their children today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mathew George served as the Area Director for Compassion India.

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My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Think back to the moment when you heard the news that one of our formerly sponsored children and Leadership Development Program graduates, Margaret Makhoha, had been elected as a member of parliament for Namayingo District, Uganda.

Perhaps like me, you felt like a stake went in the ground. A sense of great possibility swelled within my heart.

At Compassion, we seek to equip children to be all that God intended them to be. I have always believed that one day a formerly sponsored child will rise up as a leader of his or her nation.

Today, I believe that even more than ever before. Leaders of integrity, honesty, wisdom, courage, and deep faith are rising up and taking their place. Now more than ever, our world needs them to step out of the shadows of obscurity.

Margaret campaigned for election with the slogan, “It is possible!”

It’s a sentiment we echo for each of the 1.2 million children currently registered in our child development centers throughout the world. It doesn’t matter what circumstances a child is born into, God has a plan and a purpose for all our lives. He values and loves each and every one of His children.

When this revelation dawns in someone’s eyes, heart, and mind, it becomes an unstoppable force. It allows them to believe that “It is possible!” Hopes and dreams really can become reality.

An awakening is taking place. More than 150,000 sponsored children put their faith in Jesus Christ in 2010. Tens of thousands of children are graduating each year and becoming a positive influence in their families and churches.

Whole communities are being transformed by the grace of God. Who knows what could happen to entire nations if we, by the grace of God, can enable more “Margarets” to fulfill their potential and find their voice. Just maybe, the cycle of poverty will be no more.

It is possible!

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” —Mark 10:27, NIV

Prayer: Lord, by your grace and strength we pray we will be a people who continue to work tirelessly to see your kingdom advance on the earth and see the children we serve become all they can be. We trust and believe that you are able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ian Hamilton serves as the Executive Director for Compassion UK.

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My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

There is nothing like visiting a Compassion child’s home. Nothing prepares you for the sights, sounds, smells. And nothing prepares you for the beating your heart takes.

It’s like you got in a fight with the Holy Spirit. And every time, the Spirit leaves you limping and bruised and better for the battle.

We arrived at Cesar’s house after winding our way through muddy Guatemalan cornfields. Sheets of plastic formed an inadequate barrier against the storm. Cesar’s mother welcomed us warmly, but her story was heartbreaking.

Her husband abandoned her, but not before beating her. What must it have been like for Cesar to watch his mother abused by the man who was supposed to be a protector? Then Cesar spoke.

He told us about having to drop out of school and having to go work in a factory hours from home.

I listened as every person in that room spoke words of encouragement to this brave young man: God has a plan for you. You can do anything. We love you.

Tears poured down his face. He was ready to give up. You could feel it in every fiber of his being. But somehow I know that he won’t.

I know because I watched a sponsor envelop Cesar in his arms. I watched that sponsor’s heart break. And in that brokenness, I saw determination.

Cesar knelt while our group circled around him. We prayed, words thick with tears. And the rain began to pour, thundering on the roof. What a beautiful sound.

After the last amen, Cesar’s mother ran into the yard. She grabbed a stick and began poking at their pear tree. Pears thumped to the ground. She picked them up and brought them to us.

“Muchas gracias,” she said. “Gracias,” we repeated. She wanted so badly to give us something back. Little did she know how full our hearts already were.

Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. —Psalm 82:3–4, NIV

Prayer: Father, help us be filled with your spirit—in the broken places, may joy grow.

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My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

It was a few minutes to midnight, and I was fast asleep when my phone rang. I sluggishly reached out for it, wondering to myself what intentions the caller had at such an hour.

It was a friend who lived a few kilometers from our residence. I could hardly hear the message because she was sobbing heavily. My husband and I quickly rushed to her house, and by the time we arrived, she was crying uncontrollably. Her one-month-old baby was lying limp on her lap.

We quickly picked up the baby and, together with the mother, rushed to the nearest hospital, which is run by missionaries. I remember holding the baby in my arms and pleading with God to preserve her life.

She was diagnosed with severe dehydration; quickly an intravenous fluid drip was fixed to rehydrate her. By God’s grace, she started regaining consciousness and eventually recovered in a week’s time. But suppose we ignored the phone call—the baby would have probably died, yet it was in our ability to help.

This baby constantly reminds me of the many children we serve in this ministry. Their lives, hopes, and dreams are quickly fading due to spiritual, physical, social, and economic poverty.

Our timely interventions serve to reverse their hopeless situations and place them on a path full of light and hope. Failure to promptly intervene for these needy children would probably mean the end of their destiny, yet we have what it takes to help.

We are a team focused on one goal: to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Let us therefore unite in spirit and purpose to accomplish this goal.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. —Proverbs 3:27, NLT

Prayer: Oh, God, let your love flow through each one of us, enabling us to unite and serve your children with diligence and promptness. For such a time as this you have appointed us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Catherine Wamiti works as a Health Specialist for Compassion Kenya.

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My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

It was a beautiful sunny morning when we started our trip to a very remote area of our country’s southern province to open a new Implementing Church Partner. We were a cheerful team of six staff, four men and two ladies.

As we drove south, we made jokes all the way, not knowing exactly what we would face at the child development center site.

When we arrived, a very quiet audience of about 400 people—children, their guardians, and some church members—were waiting for us. After a short introduction, we were presented with children for whom we were supposed to fill out the case studies and take photos.

At that moment, we could have been consumed by our tears had we not held them back just to keep our dignity.

Among the 200 children, 33 had obvious signs of severe malnutrition. Some had swollen bellies and cheeks, others had lost their hair, and many others had turned brown. Some had difficulties just standing for the photo. A few days later, one of them actually died as a result of malnutrition.

On our way back, all the jokes had faded away. Instead, we shared about what we had just witnessed. We made a decision to request quick intervention to rescue these children. The church acted upon this as a matter of urgency, and children were rescued from death.

You cannot imagine the joy I experienced when, two years later, I processed their updated images. I could hardly recognize any of them. They were completely transformed. They were smart, healthy, happy, and full of smiles! No doubt, God was smiling as well at this tremendous change!

This ministry is a real response to Paul’s call to the Ephesians. He urged them to find out what pleases God and do it. I feel privileged to serve in a ministry that touches God’s heart.

Find out what pleases the Lord. —Ephesians 5:10, NIV

Prayer: Dear God, help us find out what pleases you most in our daily activities, and give us the strength to do it. Amen!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Esperance Kandera works as a Senior Sponsor and Donor Services Associate for Compassion Rwanda.

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My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

I have been working for Compassion for many years, and during this time I have seen our ministry bear much fruit. Each time I meet with Leadership Development Program students, I feel renewed and inspired.

In the beginning of the program, they wrote their dreams on a poster. Two years later, they said, “Many of our dreams have already come true, and now God has placed bigger dreams in our hearts.” Yes, they have learned to dream and to believe in a future of hope.

One dream of our ministry in Brazil is to impact the poorest children in our country, children who live a reality we could not imagine existing in our country. They need bread, but mainly they need the Bread of Life. They inspire us to give our best.

Of all the important moments I have lived in this ministry, the one that has most impacted my life was the celebration of 50 years of Compassion. I was amazed with the theme, “It is all about Jesus.”

I know this personally. My life is different because Christ is the center of everything. Nothing that I do is important if I don’t do it for the Lord’s glory and if it doesn’t change and save people’s lives.

The time-capsule ceremony was very touching. It was buried in front of Compassion, a document to be opened on the 100-year anniversary. This document represents the commitment of this generation to Jesus and to leave a legacy for future generations.

Again, nothing makes sense, everything is pointless, if it is not “all about Jesus.”

We can dream God’s dreams, because it is written, “What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!” (1 Corinthians 2:9, CEV). Everything belongs to Him and for Him. It is all about Jesus.

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. —Romans 11:36, NIV

Prayer: Lord, may we be sensitive to your voice every day. May our hearts be entirely yours, and may we remember that everything is yours. It is all about you, Jesus.
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Susete Cardoso serves as the Country Director for Compassion Brazil.

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My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates