Comments on: In the Void of Poverty http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/ Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:27:59 +0000 hourly 1 By: Pam http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-18949 Pam Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:12:47 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-18949 Your article touched my heart. I feel the same way about Africa. I have been to Zimbabwe on mission 5 times. I have visited with 2 of my sponsored children. It is always so hard t leave the beautiful people there. I hope you get to return to Africa many times. Your article touched my heart. I feel the same way about Africa. I have been to Zimbabwe on mission 5 times. I have visited with 2 of my sponsored children. It is always so hard t leave the beautiful people there. I hope you get to return to Africa many times.

]]> By: Katy Balsis http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-12531 Katy Balsis Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:59:50 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-12531 @ Holly, Thank YOU for sharing. This comment came at a perfect time. I was recently have been struggling with missing my kids in Rwanda, and your heart for the kids in East Africa reminding me that there are others who feel the same! Thank you. :) @ Holly,

Thank YOU for sharing. This comment came at a perfect time. I was recently have been struggling with missing my kids in Rwanda, and your heart for the kids in East Africa reminding me that there are others who feel the same! Thank you. :)

]]> By: Holly http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-12303 Holly Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:17:45 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-12303 Hi, I went to Kigali, Rwanda and Moshi, Tanzania in June & July of 2008 on a missions trip. I had never been on a missions trip before, I had never been out of the country before and to top that I had never been on a plane before. The entire adventure was by far the wildest and best thing I have ever done in my life. I helped with mass kids crusades in both countries and saw first hand the poverty you speak of. I remember sitting in that reddish-orange dirt with those kids and just playing, laughing and learning. We couldn't speak the same language but some how we communicated just fine. The colorful dirt is still on my clothes and converse shoes! Leaving Africa was hard but I feel like I have it with me all the time, in my heart. And with this opportunity to sponsor a child in that country I love so much feels more like a gift to me. Thank you for sharing! Hi, I went to Kigali, Rwanda and Moshi, Tanzania in June & July of 2008 on a missions trip. I had never been on a missions trip before, I had never been out of the country before and to top that I had never been on a plane before. The entire adventure was by far the wildest and best thing I have ever done in my life. I helped with mass kids crusades in both countries and saw first hand the poverty you speak of. I remember sitting in that reddish-orange dirt with those kids and just playing, laughing and learning. We couldn’t speak the same language but some how we communicated just fine. The colorful dirt is still on my clothes and converse shoes! Leaving Africa was hard but I feel like I have it with me all the time, in my heart. And with this opportunity to sponsor a child in that country I love so much feels more like a gift to me. Thank you for sharing!

]]> By: Katy http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-9201 Katy Tue, 26 May 2009 20:02:38 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-9201 Tricia, Reading your story brings tears to my eyes. What a beautiful family you have and so few would chose to do what you're doing with the settlement money. I believe God will be so glorified through this situation. You inspire me- instead of shrinking back in deep sorrow, you're chosing to show deep love to Tuyishimire. Wow. Please let us know how that trip goes. I will pray that even now the Lord prepares your heart for Rwanda and continues to stay close to your broken heart with the loss of your daughter. Tricia,

Reading your story brings tears to my eyes. What a beautiful family you have and so few would chose to do what you’re doing with the settlement money. I believe God will be so glorified through this situation. You inspire me- instead of shrinking back in deep sorrow, you’re chosing to show deep love to Tuyishimire. Wow. Please let us know how that trip goes. I will pray that even now the Lord prepares your heart for Rwanda and continues to stay close to your broken heart with the loss of your daughter.

]]> By: Vicki Small http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-9141 Vicki Small Mon, 25 May 2009 23:32:35 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-9141 <a href='#comment-9124' rel="nofollow">@Tricia</a> - Tricia, as inadequate as these words are, I am so, so sorry about the tragic loss of your daughter! I can think of nothing more fitting and, I hope, satisfying to do with some of the settlement money than to go visit Tuyishimire. Yes, it will be very emotional, but I expect it will bring another measure of healing to the two of you and to your son. God bless you greatly! @Tricia – Tricia, as inadequate as these words are, I am so, so sorry about the tragic loss of your daughter! I can think of nothing more fitting and, I hope, satisfying to do with some of the settlement money than to go visit Tuyishimire. Yes, it will be very emotional, but I expect it will bring another measure of healing to the two of you and to your son. God bless you greatly!

]]> By: Tricia http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-9124 Tricia Sun, 24 May 2009 16:42:53 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-9124 Kathy, Your post excites and scares me! I have been a Compassion sponser for my girl Tuyishimire in Rwanda for nine years and have dreamed of meeting her face to face for so long! I never had the funds. However the heart breaking, shattering loss of one child has opened the doors for me to go and meet Tuyishimire this fall. My daugher Emily was in a one car fatal roll-over accident in a Ford Explorer. She was coming home for Thanksgiving from her very first semester in college, Nov.19,2007. I received a settlement from Ford and my son (who also sponsers a child in Rwanda)and I are using some of this money to go on the sponser trip to Rwanda in Sept. We both feel very convicted that it's exactly what Emily would want us to do! She and Tuyishimire's birthdays were only 6 days apart and considered each other sisters. My heart beats so fast and I become so emotional thinking of holding her in my arms and actually getting to really hug her. She's been with me for so long! I know it's going to be very emotional for me, and I'm sure it will be hard to adjust once I return home. Thank you for sharing these thoughts; it helps prepare me! Kathy,
Your post excites and scares me! I have been a Compassion sponser for my girl Tuyishimire in Rwanda for nine years and have dreamed of meeting her face to face for so long! I never had the funds.
However the heart breaking, shattering loss of one child has opened the doors for me to go and meet Tuyishimire this fall.
My daugher Emily was in a one car fatal roll-over accident in a Ford Explorer. She was coming home for Thanksgiving from her very first semester in college, Nov.19,2007.
I received a settlement from Ford and my son (who also sponsers a child in Rwanda)and I are using some of this money to go on the sponser trip to Rwanda in Sept. We both feel very convicted that it’s exactly what Emily would want us to do! She and Tuyishimire’s birthdays were only 6 days apart and considered each other sisters.
My heart beats so fast and I become so emotional thinking of holding her in my arms and actually getting to really hug her. She’s been with me for so long!
I know it’s going to be very emotional for me, and I’m sure it will be hard to adjust once I return home. Thank you for sharing these thoughts; it helps prepare me!

]]> By: Whitney Jean http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-8411 Whitney Jean Mon, 11 May 2009 15:37:19 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-8411 Dear Katy, I can empathize with your pained heart. Thank you for your transparency. I have a child in Rwanda, and I am so thankful that you were able to go and encourage the children there. They will remember your visit for the rest of their lives, and cherish those memories. Seeing poverty makes me grateful and want to cry for my unthankfulness and my often-cold heart. Praise God for what we have; we must share as much as we can. Dear Katy,
I can empathize with your pained heart. Thank you for your transparency. I have a child in Rwanda, and I am so thankful that you were able to go and encourage the children there. They will remember your visit for the rest of their lives, and cherish those memories. Seeing poverty makes me grateful and want to cry for my unthankfulness and my often-cold heart. Praise God for what we have; we must share as much as we can.

]]> By: Katy http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-8246 Katy Wed, 06 May 2009 13:45:56 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-8246 Hello Everyone, Thank you for such a great discussion on this post. I appreciate each of you and your encouragement. Isn't it a wonderful thing to know that we're not alone in our struggles? I agree that it can be so frustrating when it feels like some people don't understand or when you feel guilty for having so much. Somedays, I struggle with this more than others. But these days are also great days to educate others on the reality of poverty! On the really hard days, I have to remind myself to fight harder. Who am I fighting? Mostly myself! I have to remember that Christ has me here in the US at this time and has given me possessions and that I do have the ability to simplify my life and use the abundance of resources to help others in need. For instance, through our sponsorships! What are other ways you chose to simplify? Hello Everyone,

Thank you for such a great discussion on this post. I appreciate each of you and your encouragement. Isn’t it a wonderful thing to know that we’re not alone in our struggles?

I agree that it can be so frustrating when it feels like some people don’t understand or when you feel guilty for having so much. Somedays, I struggle with this more than others. But these days are also great days to educate others on the reality of poverty! On the really hard days, I have to remind myself to fight harder.

Who am I fighting?

Mostly myself! I have to remember that Christ has me here in the US at this time and has given me possessions and that I do have the ability to simplify my life and use the abundance of resources to help others in need. For instance, through our sponsorships!

What are other ways you chose to simplify?

]]> By: Mike Stephens http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-8229 Mike Stephens Wed, 06 May 2009 04:42:12 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-8229 Katy, Another thing I thought of why maybe you having the "aching" feeling is b/c you saw so much need and know that it is not out of your and our reach to help meet the need!!! I agree with you Katy that even by you praying for Africa that can easily have a more positive effect than you being there, but as you already realized the reality of being there helps you see the reality, feel, smell, touch, and live it!!! And helps you pray as well. I think there is immense satisfaction and growth in "doing" like you going to Africa. Like David throwing that rock into Goliath's forehead. David didn't just pray that the Philistines would lose or that they would march home. David went to the King of Israel Saul and killed Goliath!!! David trusted God, just as he had trusted God when he killed lions and bears. Katy,

Another thing I thought of why maybe you having the “aching” feeling is b/c you saw so much need and know that it is not out of your and our reach to help meet the need!!! I agree with you Katy that even by you praying for Africa that can easily have a more positive effect than you being there, but as you already realized the reality of being there helps you see the reality, feel, smell, touch, and live it!!! And helps you pray as well. I think there is immense satisfaction and growth in “doing” like you going to Africa. Like David throwing that rock into Goliath’s forehead. David didn’t just pray that the Philistines would lose or that they would march home. David went to the King of Israel Saul and killed Goliath!!! David trusted God, just as he had trusted God when he killed lions and bears.

]]> By: Mike Stephens http://blog.compassion.com/in-the-void-of-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-8228 Mike Stephens Wed, 06 May 2009 04:23:36 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=4964#comment-8228 I am learning that God is a lot bigger than I realized or even imagined. I have only been to a handful of countries out of nearly 200 and I think I understand how everything is basically!!! I have no idea and realize that I have so much to learn and discover and see etc. I Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for YOU!!!" I am learning that God is a lot bigger than I realized or even imagined. I have only been to a handful of countries out of nearly 200 and I think I understand how everything is basically!!! I have no idea and realize that I have so much to learn and discover and see etc.

I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for YOU!!!”

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