Written by: Becky Tschamler
I sponsor a child in Haiti named Youvens. In the seven years I’ve sponsored him, I’ve never, ever seen him smile.
Even when I visited Haiti and brought him a soccer ball. No smile. He played soccer with me, ate lunch with me and never let go of the ball. But he never smiled.
It’s understandable. He lives in one of the most poverty-stricken places on earth. I’ve seen the devastation in that country, and I can’t imagine what he’s been through in his short life.
As I’m sure you can see, Youvens is a very sad, serious child.
This past January my friend Mark was going to Haiti and so I asked him to take a birthday present to Youvens.
A couple weeks later I got this photo.
That smile is all the proof I need that my sponsorship makes a difference.
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April 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 am
Wow this brings a tear to my eye, great pictures.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:49 am
Wow. Now that’s a testimony of God’s grace and love.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
I actually cried when I got that last picture, Laurel.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Man-oh-man. You brought a tear to my. Thanx for sharing the story and photo.
cd
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
*eye
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
The first two pictures that I got of my first girl in DR also were very serious. Then I met her…and a happier, more expressive child I had never seen! She smiled in nearly all of the pic’s I took of her, and in the recent photo I got, her smile is nothing short of dazzling. Now, I’m praying that God will protect her AND grab her heart, which I’m not at all sure He’s done, yet.
And I’m really happy for you, that you get to see that change in Youven!
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Thanks for sharing Becky! I have had the exact same experience with my Selamawit from Ethiopia. When a picture comes that finally shows a beautiful smile on your sponsored child’s face you know it is the illumination of love! Nothing tops that!
April 26th, 2008 at 11:20 am
He makes the impossible possible! Let Youvens know that his smile is infectious and it is spreading all over America and the rest of the world. I caught it just now and I plan to pass it on!
April 26th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Thank you-What a heartwarming
story.
April 26th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I have a little girl from Bolivia that I have been sponsoring for 3 years and I STILL have not seen her smile. You have given me hope, and also blessed me.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Thank you for your note. I also sponsor a child from Haiti and I so want to go visit her but it is too dangerous to go right now. I hope to meet her face to face and give her one of my smiles!
April 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
What a great smile! We really need to pray for the unrest in Haiti and for the government there. Hopefully one day, we will be able to visit our children in Haiti somewhat safely… we have four children in different parts of Haiti and my family and I can’t wait to see them one day. Keep praying!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I agree, Jill! I’ll join you in that prayer.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Awesome proof of Compassion working and our $$$ is not being wasted. God bless you and your family and sponsored children.
April 28th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Thank you for sharing your story! We have seen this same thing with our little girl we sponsor in Sao Paulo Brazil. She was very shy at first and she is growing into a young confident young lady and she is all smiles now!! We have been fortunate to visit her 3 years in a row. The Sponsor visits truly make a difference in the children’s lives!!
May 1st, 2008 at 8:58 am
Wow! what a wonderful thing God is doing through his people and through Compassion International.
I recently signed up to sponsor a child in my country Haiti.
Thank you for sharing your stories. Thank you for your prayer and for your giving heart. God will not fail to bless you and yours. Please pray for spiritual revival and repentance in Haiti.
Glory to God!
July 20th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Becky. This really encouraged me. A couple of weeks ago, I was in Bolivia and a friend of mine had just sponsored a little 4 year old girl a few weeks before there. I was so privileged to meet her, but her father was paralized and her mother had a very hard time making ends meet. The little 4 year old girl was so sad. She never smiled. I gave her a little doll and she just held on to that little doll, but never smiled. I pray for her regularly. You can pray too. Her name is Carla. She was very sweet though. Reading this story really gave me hope for her, because I was kind of concerned for her. I’m glad that she does have a sponsor though that will write and will be really kind to her.
Kees
November 14th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:25 am
you made me cry..it’s so beautiful. I’t reminds me the day I visit my sponsor boy.He brought tears to my eyes as I gave him gifts, it’s so full of love and grace.