During my orientation with Compassion Indonesia, I was surprised to read a field memo on a sponsor’s concern toward his sponsored child. He asked, “Is my child sick? She looked thinner from the updated photo.”
My first question was how on earth the individual sponsor was able to express such very personal care from across the ocean.
I was more surprised when I was exposed to Compassion’s children-sponsor letters in the “processing kitchen.” I saw that staff can process thousands of letters within hours using bar-coded letterhead. I noticed that staff put their heart and love into their work, though they processed hundreds of thousands of letters in their years of ministry with Compassion.
Through that experience, I witnessed the “miracle” of love, which is personal even when separated by oceans and the mass production of letters. Through a “systematic mass approach,” a sponsored child’s individual condition, need, and hope for a better future connects across the ocean to a sponsor who has expressed God’s love for the poor through very personal care and love for a sponsored child.
It reminds us of our heavenly Father’s love — that He gave His only begotten Son, who died on the cross as a personal action of sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. The sacrificing love still touches personally the spirit, heart and soul of each one of us uniquely as God’s beloved creation.
It is always a challenge to find balance between serving the poor and exercising operational responsibilities. But even in this challenging environment, with God’s grace, we can share His personal love for children.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. — John 3:16, NIV
Prayer: Heavenly Father, touch the life of each sponsored child with your love through each Compassion staff member, sponsor and ministry.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Handoko Ngadiman is the Country Director of our Indonesian office.
Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.
5 Comments |Add a comment
How can I become sponsor? I want to.
Hi Diana! You can sponsor a child by clicking here.
When I first connect with a sponsored child, there is such a rush of immediate, God-given love. When I learned in a letter that my young boy had an appointment with a cardiologist, I was on the phone to Compassion asking for a field report on his condition. His tests were ok and all is fine. But this boy is like my own grandson. He is much loved.
Being a Compassion sponsor is all about a personal relationship with a child – God makes this unlikely connection possible. When I actually met my sponsored child in the flesh I had such a strong reaction – I can only liken it to greeting my own newborn babes.
This was so timely and beautiful. God really does care deeply for each one of us. I love the way that you worded this!