The first time I ever saw this picture of Jesus laughing, I was transfixed.
There’s life in it.
And even now, I still respond to His expressive joy. I laugh. He laughs. He knows how I feel!
This idea that Jesus knows us isn’t just a concept; it’s actually for real (Whoa!), which isn’t quite how I feel when I see a “typical” portrait of Jesus, the kind that defines the image I carry with me when I imagine or speak with Christ.
But now, after two years @compassion (Happy anniversary to me today.), I see Jesus a lot differently. And I see poverty differently.
This is poverty transformed. Do you see the similarities?
It’s been eight months since my last sponsor letter photos post, so I felt it was high time to raid our digital library again and round up another batch of photos showing sponsored children reading letters from their sponsors. Hope you like ‘em.
If you have trouble viewing the slideshow above, you can view the photos on Flickr.
I was in the midst of my self-absorbed teenage years – a time in my life when nothing seemed as important as what kind of clothes I was wearing, and my daily mood was dictated by whether my current crush had said “Hi” to me in the hallway between classes that day. I was the center of my attention.
I distinctly remember the moment that God took my focus off of me.
Throughout my childhood, my mom subscribed to Time Magazine. There were always a few copies lying somewhere near the couch and occasionally I would pick one up and casually leaf through it.
One day, in May, I picked up a magazine with this cover …
I proceeded to read the article, both fascinated and horrified by the words I was reading. As I looked at the gruesome pictures, God did a major work on my heart.
My focus suddenly shifted from myself to those living through the nightmare happening in Rwanda. I was at once both distraught about what was happening in Rwanda and heartbroken for my own self-centered worldview. My world – my concerns, my interests, my dreams, my prayers – suddenly seemed so trivial in comparison.
That was the first time I remember thinking about people outside of the world I knew. I didn’t realize that God was using that moment to plant seeds in my heart – seeds that would eventually bear fruit in my choice of career, where I give my money, and how I live my life.
Fifteen years later I still haven’t forgotten that day or those images.
Elie Weisel, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, said: “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”
Even though the genocide happened 15 years ago, we must never allow ourselves to fall into indifference. The images can still have a profound impact on many lives.
Pictures tell stories in ways that words never can. So here is the story, 15 years later…
How did the genocide affect your life? Did it alter your view of God? Did it change your perspective on injustice? Have you explained to your children what happened?
Photos and slideshow by Chuck Bigger, one of God’s biggest blessings to Compassion.
If you have difficulty viewing the slideshow in this post, you can also check it out in Flickr.
Upload your photos to our Flickr group. Show us how you see poverty.
Luz is going to the farmers market today. She is taking her 3-year-old daughter, Vanesa, with her, to search for food. Thousands of mothers for many years have come here daily to find food for their families.
Join Luz and Vanesa as they look for food by clicking on the image below to a view a slideshow of their search.
Select “Show Info” in the upper right hand corner of the slideshow to read each photo’s caption.
Upload your photos to our Flickr group. Show us how you see poverty.
Right before Thanksgiving, I was rootin’ around in our digital asset management library and saw some child photos I absolutely had to share. Photos of children reading letters from their sponsors.
The photos helped me picture my sponsored child, Lerionga, reading letters I’ve sent him. They drew me closer to him.
Some of these photos are old – five or six years. Others were taken just last year.
Some of these children have left our program, and some have sponsors from countries other than the U.S.
The exciting thing is that we were able to contact several sponsors and let them know about this post, so they could download the photo.
Any time I can do that for you, I will.
Here is what I speak of – the sponsor letter photos.
which month the calendar begins with (e.g., January for the New Year, September for the new school year, or any month just because you want to),
which photos you want to include, and
the photo associated with each month
Professional photographer Chuck Bigger is responsible for much of the visual imagery associated with Compassion, and he donated 24 of his photos for you to choose from.
Additionally, we would like to thank QOOP for partnering with us and for waiving all fees, which allowed us to make this opportunity available to you. However, no portion of the calendar sales will be donated to Compassion.
The calendar is about keeping the needs of children in poverty in the forefront of your minds each day of the upcoming year.
Calendars start as low as $11.99. That’s after the 20 percent discount taken at checkout. This is a permanent discount.
The first time I ever saw this picture of Jesus laughing, I was transfixed. 
It’s been eight months since my last 
In 1994 I was 16.
Luz is going to the farmers market today. She is taking her 3-year-old daughter, Vanesa, with her, to search for food. Thousands of mothers for many years have come here daily to find food for their families. 
We said we’d do it again. And we’re doing it. It’s time for a new blog banner.
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