He leaped into my arms and my heart was gone.
We hadn’t been at the Haiti child development center more than five minutes when this child chose me. His thin body felt light in my arms. I’ve had the privilege of meeting children in many of our Compassion countries, but this one? There was something about this boy that I just couldn’t shake.
How could you connect with a child when you didn’t even know his name?
We soon discovered his name was Rochener. We asked to look at his child file. I couldn’t believe what I saw. We shared the same birthday! How is that possible?! My next question was obvious: Does he have a sponsor?
My patient husband knew that I could not be convinced otherwise – we would have to sponsor this child if he didn’t have a sponsor. Unfortunately for us, he did have a sponsor. I was sad to hear that, but happy that he was sponsored.
On Sponsor Visit Day, we asked Rochener to join us, to give him a reprieve from his daily life. We took him to the ocean and watched the waves.
We also took him into his first-ever pool. He ran around the hotel grounds, touching everything he saw. Drinking soda and juice. Playing with balls in the pool and wearing our sunglasses. Doing all the things little boys should do!
We ended the day giving him some small gifts, including fuzzy stuffed animals. Their softness made him squeal with delight.
After the day was over I felt a loss and sadness. I told my husband later that evening,
“I don’t understand why this little boy was placed in our lives this week. We won’t be able to write to him or see how he’s doing in the future because he’s not our sponsored child.”
My wise husband responded,
“For one reason or another, the Lord has brought Rochener into our lives so we can pray for him. We can intercede along with his sponsor. In heaven, we will be together and talk about that great day we shared.”
A week passed at home and my heart still longed to care for little Rochener. I called a friend at the Compassion office and gave her Rochener’s child number. I wanted to write a letter to his sponsors, pass along some photos and tell them about their precious sponsored child. Then a miracle happened for our family. My friend informed me,
“Katy, his sponsor canceled. His sponsor canceled about two weeks ago. There’s no way the Haiti office could have known that when you were there, but Rochener no longer has a sponsor.”
Tears of joy streamed down my face as I knew this little boy now needed a sponsor. He needed us.
So today, I’ve introduced you to the child who chose us. God knew exactly what he needed and exactly what we needed. We will continue to intercede on his behalf … but now as his very grateful sponsors.
Happy tears! What a joy! Thanks for sharing.
That is such an amazingly wonderful story!!!
So glad that you had the chance to really spend time with him – and now be his sponsor!!
What a touching event! Praise God for you, your husband and Rochener! Praise God!!
Beautiful story! Thanks for reaching out to this boy.
Wow, wow, wow!!!!
Beautiful! God is wonderful.
We serve an awesome God.
Your story gave me goosebumps! So amazing.
Beautiful! God is so wonderful.
I love this story! God is so good.
We went to Haiti in March last year. We sponsor, but not in Haiti and I had no intention of getting another child. First day, first stop we met Little Carl. We looked in the packets that were available along on the trip and there he was waiting for a sponsor. Well, that was awesome, and we knew what we had to do.
uh! sweet! God is good!
There are no accidents! God is at work at every moment.
Great story Katy! Everything happens for a reason… Glad you found the kid that God wanted you to sponsor!
I love hearing stuff like this! What an incredible story. God is in the details.
Thanks for sharing your story, Katy. I felt like I was there!
What a beautiful and uplifting story! Thanks for sharing it.
What a great love story for Valentine’s Day!!
I was a sponsored child, I think sponsors are very special and God have a great reward for them… Sponsors are a gift of God.
That is amazingly beautiful…….. God knew he needed you as sponsors!
That is so beautiful, I’m crying, what a beautiful Valentine’s story
Beautiful!!!! Your story made me tear up! I love how God works!
I love love love this story! I couldn’t stop smiling after I read it. Just beautiful and perfect like our Lord!
I am reminded daily of what a wonderful and powerful and all-knowing, compassionate, loving Father we have. Father knows best! Thanks for sharing such a personal story. Katy, you have such a loving, caring spirit that is sure to draw others to you. I’m not surprised he chose you. And what a blessing for you all!
Hi Penny,
That is so kind of you to say! Thank you. Yes… our Father does indeed know! I hope you and Mike are doing well.
Oh, gosh, tearing up! Yay, God!
I’m expecting many more stories like this one to come out in heaven when we finally understand that God Himself connects children and sponsors and often there are reasons we don’t/can’t understand here on earth.
Thanks for sharing your story! What an amazing gift from God!
Wow! What an amazing story! This is so beautiful!. God is SO good! It’s amazing how He places people in our lives at the right time, He had it planned all along. What a beautiful & touching story. I am so happy for you all.
~As much as you want to plan your life, it has a way of surprising you with unexpected things that will make you happier than you originally planned. That’s what you call, God’s will.
I read your story and I wept at the greatness of God! Yes it is great our God, God has answered the prayer that you had secretly address in the silence of your hearts!