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I chose my sponsored child . . .
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October 25th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Most of the children I sponsor were chosen for me by Compassion, but recently I have chosen some children to sponsor from the website… I chose them because of their names, e.g. Grace in Burkina Faso and Mercy in Ghana.
October 25th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Whe our daughter was quite young, she had done chores around the house and for neighbors in order to be able to sponsor a girl named Naiga through Compassion. As children will do, both our daugher and Naiga grew up. Through watching our daugher’s friendship by mail with her Naiga, who was such a sweet child, we came to love her, too. We missed her so much after she was grown, that when a young girl named Naiga popped up on the Compassion website, my husband and I chose to sponsor her. She is a great joy and blessing to us!
October 25th, 2008 at 6:35 am
because she was the the child in the packet my husband was given by friends at a concert
October 25th, 2008 at 6:45 am
The first two were chosen for me by Compassion.
The third I chose on behalf of my niece (waited six months for her too!) because they have the same birthdate.
The fourth and fifth, it’s hard to say… God just drew me to them somehow and convinced me that I was supposed to choose them.
October 25th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I was drawn to the picture of my first sponsored child on the website because she had the same birthday as me.
As soon as I clicked on her picture, I knew she was the child God wanted me to sponsor. My second sponsored child was from Kenya, and I happened to be reading news stories in one tab of my browser and looking through the pictures of children waiting for sponsors in the other tab. I came across a story of a pastor who was shot in Kenya during the post-election violence while trying to protect a group of children, and I noticed that the incident had happened in the same city as the child whose picture I was looking at lived. For all I knew, she could have been one of the children with that pastor. I signed up to sponsor her that day, but unfortunately she didn’t return to the Compassion project after the post-election violence, and Compassion ended up discontinuing her sponsorship after a few months. My third sponsored child is the child Compassion picked out for me after my second child left the program.
October 25th, 2008 at 7:23 am
…because he and my preschool-aged son shared a birthday.
I had received some Christmas money that I was able to put toward Peter’s sponsorship, but I also wanted our young son to learn about showing Jesus’ love to others, and I thought it would help him feel connected to Peter if they had the same birthday.
October 25th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I chose my children because they are from Brazil. Brazil has one of my favorite cultures because of the mixing of Portuguese, African and Indian cultures.
One child’s birthday was the same day as mine and he had speech difficulties which I could relate to since I stutter. Some of them had no father in the household. I could relate to that, too. Another child had a beautiful smile.
A few times I had no intentions of sponsoring another child but then something inside of me would say “You’re supposed to sponsor him”. Then I would tell myself I can’t afford another one. After a few days of prayer and seeing that no one signed to sponsor him I’d sign up to sponsor.
October 25th, 2008 at 8:43 am
I learned of Compassion Internatonal at Compassion Sunday at our church last spring. I have five grown children and eleven grandchildren and have always loved children. Isn’t it wonderful that God’s love for us is limitless and He teaches us that our love for others need have no limits?
I am 70 years old and chose my first sponsored child from the web site—a 14-year-old girl from Ecuador. My husband and I had a good friend who was an exchange student from Ecuador at his college and we have two 14-year-old granddaughters who I thought might also join my correspondence with this child. I also did not want her to be dropped from sponsorship if something happened to me and hoped they could continue it.
As I learned more about the Compassion program, I continued to visit the website and looked particularly at older children who for whatever reason had lost their sponsors. Some would particularly touch my heart and I would pray especially for them. When I was able to sponsor again, I found they had been chosen by someone else. I had a mixed feeling of loss for me and joy that they had been sponsored. I continued this process and visited the blog often to learn more about Compassion. My next sponsored child is a lovely 18-year-old young lady in India. I also have an 18-year-old granddaughter in her first year of college. My latest sponsored child is a 7-year-old girl from El Salvadore who just captured my heart and turned out to have the same birthday of a granddaughter. I am sure her Mom will keep the sponsorship if something happens to me. I will continue with special prayers for particular children as well as all the children and sponsor again when I can.
October 25th, 2008 at 9:31 am
We visited South America last winter and just before we went, I followed the African bloggers tour. I knew we had to sponsor a child and so we chose a country that we’d soon be in. When I went to the website and typed in Brazil, Thayane’s picture was flagged because she’d been waiting a long time for a sponsor. So now she’s our special child, covered with prayers and some support!!
October 25th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I chose my (latest) sponsored child because she lives in Ethiopia and we are adopting from Ethopia. Lord willing, we will be able to see Marta when we travel there to pick up our newest addition to our family.
Emanuel was our first sponsored child and he was chosen for us by Compassion.
Marisol was chosen online and she had been on the waiting list for longer than 6 months. She had something about her that reminded me of my niece. In her photo, she had her hands on her hips. When I saw her, I thought–that girl is on a mission.
Gacheri was chosen online and she had been on the waiting list longer than 6 months and was in an AIDS area. Her torn dress was falling off her small frame. Unlike Marisol, she looked reserved and sad.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know all 4 of them and their personalities.
October 25th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I chose Joan because she is the same age as my daughter (they’re only about 2 months apart). Similar to Amy (#5 comment), we want our children to understand that we have a lot to be thankful for…people have different lives and we are to reach out to them, help them, etc. I figured she would understand more if they were the same age.
Our second sponsored child has a more meaningful story (well, to me)- and I tear up as I think about it!! I have a Compassion widget on my blog and as I checked my blog one night, I happened to glance at the widget: Musee’s picture was featured and I immediately got a knot in my stomach…I had this need to just want to reach out to him and hug him. I firmly believe the Holy Spirit was moving my heart to sponsor him. I ran downstairs and basically talked (or what felt like) a billion words a second describing him to my husband. We decided that there was no way we could NOT sponsor him.
I find it to be a wonderfully amazing thing that there are others who just *felt* the need to sponsor a specific child…isn’t God great?!!!
October 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
… because he was from a Spanish-speaking country, was near the age of my boys, and was on a wait-list for more than 6 months. He dropped out of the program after 2 1/2 months, and then I was given another child by Compassion that was a little younger, different program, but in the same country.
October 25th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
because she was in a country that was not too far away for us to be able to afford a visit. We are forever changed by the experience of meeting the children we sponsor. We now been to visit them multiple times.
October 25th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Because he was “below average” in school and I think with some encouragement and prayer he could improve in school. And there was something about his picture that drew me to him.
October 25th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Our first three children were waiting on our seats at a Rebecca St. James concert in 2001. We immediately fell in love with the packets of two little girls and a little boy, all from different parts of the world but only a few years apart in age. We had not heard of Compassion before, but we committed during the concert to becoming their sponsors.
Two years ago I felt a pull on my heart to sponsor another child, specifically an older boy from a large family affected by the AIDS crisis in Africa. Searching the website almost daily, my heart broke for the many children but I did not feel “it”, the sign that I was meant to sponsor that child. At a Jars of Clay concert in Denver that summer my family and I stopped at the Compassion booth and my eyes immediately fell on a packet of a beautiful older boy in Africa, from a large family, who had been orphaned from AIDS. My heart recognized him immediately, and our “family of four” was complete.
Sponsoring them is the joy of our lives, and every month we look forward to writing them letters, sending cards, notes, stickers and bookmarks, and receiving their letters in return. It gives our lives meaning, and helps us to feel connected in our (sometimes) very disconnected world.
October 25th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
One of my first two, Denisse, was pictured at age 5 yrs. with one hand on her hip and a look in her eyes that said, “Don’t mess with me!” At least, that was my first impression. Both she and the other girl were on a table outside of church during “Christmas with Compassion.” I looked and looked at all of the girls’ packets, and none jumped out at me. I finally asked myself, “Does it really matter? They all need the help.” That girl is such a joy–and two years later, a project-staff member discovered an error in Tausi’s records: She shares my birthday!
The third was (and is) Maria. I had visited her project on a sponsor tour and knew on arrival that my next child would be in that project. I requested a girl in her age bracket from that project, as soon as I got home. She’s such a sweetheart!
Uwizera came to me after I returned a plea from Compassion to sponsor an older child. She is 15, now, and I’ve been amazed and blessed at how she and her family have used my occasional gifts.
Rebecca, our LDP student was included in a mailing from Compassion, containing around 10 pictures and bio’s. She is now in her junior year at university in Kenya.
October 25th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I my first sponsored child when I was 16. I had wanted to sponsor for a long time and would keep track of kids on the website who I wished I could sponsor (that was before the no right click rule).
When I was finally making enough money babysitting to sponsor a child, I chose 5 year old Uli because of her adorable smile and the joy that exuded from her picture.
When I chose my second child I looked for an older child because I knew that I could afford to keep up the second sponsorship for at least 2-3 years. When I saw Careen I knew she was the one. The website said she was crippled in both hands, blind in one eye, and had asthma, yet despite all of the challenges, she was also above average in school. It has been an amazing relationship. Little did I know however, my plan to sponsor for a short time was not God’s. Careen was accepted into the Leadership Development Program and is now studying in the University.
I still look through pictures on the website and wait excitedly for the day when I can sponsor another child. God draws my heart to the older children, large families, and those who have special needs.
October 26th, 2008 at 7:27 am
I have this strong sense that God made the choice long before any of us were ever born.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
“When I was finally making enough money babysitting to sponsor a child….”
I loved this statement Sara.
You have given a very special message about giving to others in one sentence alone.
Thank you for that today!
October 26th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
We chose our young man from Bolivia, Juan, because was an angry looking toddler with a very bad haircut. I said, “Who will sponsor this baby, who looks so unapproachable?” My husband laughed and said, “When I saw that picture, I KNEW you would choose him!”
Three years have passed. Juan’s pictures now portray a big, healthy boy with an enormous smile. He writes and sends drawings more often than any other child we have sponsored. The angry-looking child has become a joy to us. Thanks, Compassion!
October 26th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I chose my sponsored child’s country because it’s where my cousin went on a mission trip.
I chose my child because 1)he is the age of many of the students I work with at my school, 2) he had been waiting for 6 months or longer, and 3) his father is a teacher.
I’ve only been sponsoring him for two months, and this precious 7-year-old has been the catalyst for my eyes being opened to how so many people in the world are living–both around the world, and in my own “backyard”. There are poor in our cities, and rural/agricultural areas.
I have been on the Compassion site almost constantly learning all I can about my child’s country, and how Compassion is working around the world to help release children from poverty.
I can’t personally save every child in Compassion’s program, but I can do what I can to change the world of my one child.
I forget where I came across this, regarding the parable of the Good Samaritan. The priest and the Levite–who passed by the man in need–were likely thinking “What will happen to me if I help this man?” The Samaritan had a different attitude: “What will happen to this man if I don’t?”
October 27th, 2008 at 5:24 am
My story is a lot like the others here. I chose my first child, John , while at a Christian concert where I first heard about compassion. My youth group soon started sponsoring two children also and even took a trip to visit them. My second child, Laura, I found on the Compassion wesite and just felt drawn to her. My third child, Sarai, I chose because of her name being so similar to mine, and also because she was born in December like me! I also have a correspondence child in India named B C and I enjoy writing back and forth with him as well.
For anyone who thinks they can’t afford to sponsor, I am a “poor college student” but God provides! Sponsoring these children and reading their letters full of hope and joy brings such a blessing to my life. God has used this to open my eyes and my heart to the world outside of myself and my desires. I hope someday to visit my kids
October 27th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Our first child was chosen 10 years ago to remember Jim Elliot, et.al. who were killed in Ecuador in the 50’s. We picked the specific young girl because of the sterness of her little face in the photo.
8 year later, we added a 2nd child from Honduras, a 10 year old boy this time, because he looked so sad in his photo, truly looking like he had no hope! We are blessed to receive photo after photo from him now smiling and thankful for us being his sponsors. Little does he know that he blesses us more.
Next, we picked an older girl (17) because I was looking for a short-term committment due to retirement plans. This one was from the Dominican Republic and we were able to meet her this month at the Advocate Conference. I’ll leave the long story for my wife to share some day, but learning her story from her project facilator and project manager, we have decided that God must guided my decision to select her.
Our 4th and newest (Angie) was just picked and totally for selfish reasons. We plan on going on a Sponsor tour to Honduras in May to meet our boy there, so I picked a little girl from the same country so we could meet her also.
So many children. If only I could afford to sponsor them all!
Number 4 is newly selected from Honduras and
October 27th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I could tell stories about how “I” selected each of my kids. But, they truly were all gifts from God. God knew who my children were, long before I did and He guided my mouse clicks to the right kid!
God bless.
October 27th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
My first girl, Haleluya from Ethiopia, was a present from my parents for Christmas. I picked her from the website because I thought she had a beautiful name. For my birthday my parents gave me Emebet also from Ethiopia. I picked her because her packet was at our church and I wanted another girl from the same country. I choose my third girl, Vanesa from El Salvadore, because she was thirteen. Compassion was advocating older children sponsorship at the time and since I was paying for her (and I’m in high school and don’t really have a job) I thought an older child would be better since the commitment wasn’t as long.
Compassion picked both of my correspondence children for me. Hollanda from Haiti was the first. I’m glad they picked her for me because I never would have because she is a year older than me (She’s 18), but I think I’m learning a lot from her. The second was Angel, a ten year old boy from El Salvadore. Again, Compassion picked him, and I was glad to be able have another child from El Salvadore.
I would have agree with Misty though, God definitely planned that I would get those five kids.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I chose my two sponsered girls because they lived in Ethiopia and I have a great passion for Africa. The one girl is 6 years old an an absolute African princess and named Kalkidan. I love her name! I partially chose her because she could be my own daughter. I’m only 27 here..:) The other lovely girl is 18 years old. I can’t remember how to spell her name right now and I’ve only started sponsering her last month. She’s already sent me a letter! They are both in AIDS stricken areas..another cause I care deeply about!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I chose my sponsored girls because they are from Africa and I have a great passion for that continent. Both of my sponsored girls are from Ethiopia.One is 6 years old and an absolute african princess..:) The other girl is 18 years old and I just started sponsoring her around a month ago. I just recieved a letter from her!
That was so quick!! Normally it takes awhile but this time I was so happy and surprised..:) Both also are in AIDS affected areas-another cause I feel strongly about!! 
October 28th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Over the last few years we have selected 3 children online. 1 we had a left over packets from Compassion Sunday. 3 have been selected for us 2 as sponsored children and 1 as a correspondace child.
When I talked to the rep as 2 of our kids left and they wanted to transfer our sponsorship to 2 other children. I told him that we would take whom ever they sent us. We had just prayed about adding a 3rd dog to our home, if that prayer was answered, then the prayer of a child wanting a sponsor should also be answered.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I’d heard about Compassion thought friends from new Zealand who have two sponsor children. I have sponsor children with a couple of other organizations, but like what I’d read about Compassion and decided to sponsor with them. I’ve chosen all of my children though the website. I have three girls and one boy.
Hector’s picture jumped out at me and I knew I had to sponsor him. He’s from Ecuador and is too little to write, so his Mom writes on his behalf. In her first letter she shared that Hector suffers from severe allergies that require daily medication and could I please pray for him. Her most recent letter said that Hector had spend five says in the hospital as a result of his allergies but that he’s better now.
My second child, Karina, is a little girl from Brazil. I was drawn to her because she lives with her grandparents, though her Dad is still alive. He’s just not able to care for her.
My third child is a little girl from Indonesia – Lita. I’m a huge fan of Steven Curtis Chapman’s music and when he tragically lost his youngest daughter in a car accident, I wanted to do something in honour of Maria. I was going to donate to Maria’s Miracle Fund, which helps families who are adopting, but then I saw Lita’s picture and there was something about her that made me think of Maria and I felt that I was supposed to reach out to her.
My newest child was chosen because I wanted a child from Africa. I love Tanzania and one profile caught my attention – a little girl named Ana, who lived with her sister and another sibling. She was wearing a pretty, but worn and dirty dress, and she had old, very worn shoes on that looked like they were more suited to wearing in the military – you know those bulky lace-up kinds? She looked so sad and serious in her picture. I prayed for awhile but really felt God leading me to sponsor her, so I did. I’m assuming she’s lost her parents to either Malaria or AIDS and I wanted to reach out and touch her life, let hew know that someone out there was praying for her and loving her.
So those are my little angels – each one so precious and such a wonderful gift from God.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
My children were chosen in different ways. The first two I chose were from Rwanda, because I had heard of the country and its troubles. The original plan was to choose children close to my own children’s ages. However, one was chosen who was younger, because she was obviously ill and very small for her age. I chose several specifically because they were not attending school. One boy was so sweet/cute. His family could not afford to send all their children so they chose to send each child on a rotating basis. He believed it was finally his turn. He was so excited about the opportunity. He did not yet understand he would now be able to attend school every year. One child was chosen for me by compassion as a longest waiting child. And finally, my last child was chosen because his face called to my heart. One night I was suddenly filled with the desire to sponsor another child. I knew I wanted an older child in Africa. I kept coming back to his photograph and finally accepted he was who the spirit was leading me to support. I know some people might find choosing just one child daunting because it can feel like rejecting others. Just try to remember, God has already selected you as the perfect match for his child. He just might send the notice differently. So, whether you are drawn to a photo, you are timed to move just when your child has been waiting the longest, or you are handed the packet; you always end up with the “right one.”
October 28th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I choose my children all in the same country to be able to go visit them, which I did.
Then just 15 minutes ago, I sponsored another child. Can you guess where??? In Bolivia, LOL. It’s kind of interesting, because I might have met her before, when I was at her project. I was actually wondering whether to sponsor her or another child. So, just 1/2 hour ago, I had to run to the store and the checkout lady had the same name as her, so I choose her and I had also been thinking about sponsoring her for the last 4 weeks.
Kees
October 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
…because their genders AND birthdays matched my own children’s. (Well, two birthdays match exactly and one is only three days off.) I wanted my three children to “grow up with” our Compassion kids, get to know them, and through that understand more of what it means to have need. I also thought that, as my own children developed and matured, it would remind me of the development of my “other three” around the world.
I also chose our Compassion kids from different areas of the world so we would gain more understanding of, and appreciation for, various cultures.
So even though I didn’t pick them for the look on their face or some intangible reason, it hasn’t prevented me from growing to love Antony (12, India), Yadira (10, Ecuador), and Otimong (5, Uganda) like my own kids!
PS: this approach also really helps me with remembering to arrange birthday gifts for my sponsored children.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Ok. So now I actually have to share one of my stories, since it is bringing me to tears this morning.
Sometimes I look at children using the longest waiting search and 99% of the time none of the children “say” I am your child. Monday, I searched, and two photos were jumping out. Kaio and Juan. I thought, wow, I can’t sponsor 2 more kids! So, I left it overnight and looked again on Tuesday. Both were still there. I decided to pick Juan and opened up his picture which gives the link to sponsor. But I paused and asked God which child? And the answer was clear, BOTH! But I hestitated, and asked again. And got the same answer. I went to click on the link to sponsor Juan, and the website said sorry, another sponsor has chosen this child. His photo was gone from the site. I was very sad, I knew I had lost something precious. I did go ahead and sign up Kaio. And prayed for the sponsor Juan had gotten.
Today, I felt the need to search longest waiting again. (and here come the tears) and Juan’s photo was back!! I don’t know what happened to the other sponsor, but I am grateful that I had another opportunity to sponsor my child and welcome him into my family. And guess what? Today, the actual day I sponsored Juan is is Birthday. He turned 6 years old today.
Isn’t God truly amazing?
God bless.
October 29th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Misty,
I love how God works things out. God meant for you to sponsor Juan and put his hand in the situation. Now he’s your child the way God had planned from the beginning.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Because my daughter, now in her twenties, was adopted from Guatemala, I looked for a girl from Guatemala to sponsor. Like other sponsors, I chose (was led to) Yakeyli because of something special in her photo – she’d also been waiting a long time for a sponsor. She is a bright girl and I’m looking forward to a long and special relationship!
November 12th, 2008 at 7:41 am
I learned about Compassion at a Hillsong United concert. I have always had a huge heart for children and a strong desire to adopt and make a difference in their lives. After the concert, I went home and researched Compassion International online. I knew this was it! After weeks and weeks of looking at these children online and praying, I have now sponsored Amanuel, Johley, Fern, Stephano, and Henry. I love them so much and plan to visit each of them someday. Compassion has made such an amazing impact on my family. It’s funny how God provides for us…I knew we couldn’t afford to sponsor these children with my husband being laid off work this year but yet the money is there to give. God works in mysterious ways. I look forward to sponsoring more children in the future…If you have any doubt financially but your heart says YES…Go for it! With God all things are possible!
March 14th, 2009 at 5:46 am
I didn’t choose my sponsored children – God did. He put them in my life for a reason.
March 14th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I chose my sponsored child when I saw she had the same birthday. But the main reason was when I saw she was in an AIDS country, I knew I just wanted to be able to help her out as much as I could. I had just lost my child before (who happened to be born in Guatemala where I was born – the reason I picked HIM) because he stopped participating in the Compassion Program – and I had finally gone back to Guatemala to see the country I hadn’t been in since I was born. But at least I got to meet him and I can still pray for him.
March 14th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I give Dave a 56/10 for his answer!!! I “think” I know the reason I sponsored but I am going to relinquish “the reason” I came up with in my mind when I was sponsoring and the REAL reason I sponsored is because God pre-ordained it before I was born!!!!!!! Thank you Jesus!!!
March 15th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I chose my child in Rwanda because I had read about the genocide there. Even though she hadn’t been born yet, I’m sure that people she knows were. I wanted to encourage her and her family and be a bit of a peace maker there.
My other child was chosen for me by Compassion. I had been sponsoring Delia in Ecuador because she spoke Spanish and I took that in high school and a bit in college. I probably couldn’t really talk to her in her language, but I liked the idea of knowing some words. When Delia’s parents took her out of the program, Compassion assigned me another little girl, Ambar, in Ecuador.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I saw one of those programs on tv about sponsoring children (like I had many times before…) and on that particular day I decided to surf the net and typed in “sponsor children” in the search bar.
Luckily I found Compassion, because I LOVE this program and the close relationship it allows with the children.
The picture of my little girl, Ludis, drew my attention first. She looked so solemn. Then I read that she lived with her grandparents and was nine years old and NOT attending school!?!? As a teacher, that horrified me. Especially as she was one of the longest waiting kids….
So. Now I have a little girl named Ludis and I am forever grateful.
Someday I’ll add to the family…
)