My birthday falls during the Christmas season. It seems fairly common for those of us with December birthdays to grumble a bit about our birthdays being overshadowed by the holidays.

December is when everyone is buying presents and our resources get stretched with purchases and preparations and food and travel. So we grumble about birthday presents being wrapped in Christmas paper or being designated “for birthday AND Christmas.”

And, being a twin, I always threw in the jab of one gift being labeled for birthday and Christmas — to share!

When I was growing up, my birthday presents were dolls and games and toys, with some occasional article of clothing thrown in. They were usually somewhat frivolous things; there was nothing I absolutely needed.

While I didn’t expect the same would be true for Kayirangwa, the child I sponsor in Rwanda, given her circumstances, I still expected that the birthday money I designated for her would go toward one or two small “just for fun” items.

A month or two after her 9th birthday, Kayirangwa wrote that the birthday money I sent her had gone to buy a chicken to provide eggs for her family. She was so excited about that chicken!

The following year I sent birthday money again, and received a picture of my sweet Kayirangwa with a goat intended to provide milk for her and her family.

At this time I was also supporting Ambar. She wrote that my birthday gift had been used to buy socks and shoes for her and her brother — and how happy they both were to have them.

No dolls. No games. No toys. Instead, these children cheerfully received items they needed and things they could share with their families. I had never considered myself particularly selfish, but their thankfulness at receiving these necessities for themselves and their families has humbled me.

Recently, the timing of birthdays came up again and a friend asked if I felt slighted by having a birthday so close to Christmas. I confessed,

“I used to think so. But then I sponsored Kayirangwa. I have always had a thousand times more than needed. I have never been slighted.”

My Compassion children humble me and teach me the meaning of thankfulness — and the right way to think of birthdays.

Now I tell family and friends that if they have an inkling to get me something for my birthday, an email will suffice. Give the money to a child in poverty and bless an entire family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amy Brooke has been a Compassion sponsor since 2007. She currently sponsors Kayirangwa in Rwanda and Litzy in Ecuador, and corresponds with Jose in the Dominican Republic. She has a personal blog at www.amylbrooke.blogspot.com

If you’re interested in writing a guest blog post, we are happy to consider publishing it. Read our guest blog post guidelines.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

I met Bill in November and we started dating almost right away. I was 38 and Bill was just a few years older.

One day the next April, he was getting ready for work. Something just felt off to him physically, and he dialed 911. He had an aortic aneurysm.

After surgery, he lingered a few days, hooked up to machines and heavily sedated because he instinctively fought the machines and tubes and because the pain was excruciating. I talked to him, but he was never aware enough to respond.

Then just like that, in his early 40s, he was gone.

It’s been a few years since Bill’s death, and I am still shocked that someone so young could be gone so quickly. But it happens. I am now very aware of this fact.

A number of years ago, I took Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace class through my local church. Being single, I had never thought much about additional life insurance. But the class talked about the possibility of giving to the church through life insurance.

As a sponsor of two girls, Kayirangwa in Rwanda and Litzy in Ecuador, that class made me think:

What happens to sponsored children when the sponsor passes? Do they go back on the waiting list?

Kayirangwa will be 13 in a few months. My perception is that it is harder to find sponsors for older children.

Group of children in Rwanda

When my employer had a sign up for extra life insurance I learned that for $9 a pay period, I qualified for a $150,000 policy.

Most people estimate the amount of life insurance they need based on their family situation. Will their spouse and children be taken care of? I don’t currently have those concerns. But what about two children I love as my own. Could having this policy provide for them?

I checked out Compassion’s website and learned that, yes, planned future giving is a possibility.

No, the money won’t go directly to my girls, but it can pay up their sponsorships until they leave the program and who knows what other countless good that money might do with very little extra cost to me each month.

I know I am in a unique situation without anyone else to think about once I am gone. Spouses and children do need to be taken care of. But can you set aside a portion for that child halfway around the world that you have come to love?

For now, I am healthy, and while I don’t want to dwell on the end, I like knowing that I have made Compassion International one of my beneficiaries.

My children often call me their Godmother. I suppose in that way, God has granted me children. And I love the idea that I am able to plan for their future in the same way so many of you plan for your biological children.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amy Brooke has been a sponsor since 2007 – sponsoring a child in Rwanda and one in Ecuador. In addition, she corresponds with a boy in the Dominican Republic. She has a personal blog at www.amylbrooke.blogspot.com

If you’re interested in writing a guest blog post, we are happy to consider publishing it. Read our guest blog post guidelines.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

When I reached the lady at Compassion, she told me the startling news. Our sponsored child, Mutuyimana Valentine, had just died. They did not yet have any details to share as they had just received the report from the field.

I went into my old paramedic mode and stoically asked a bunch of questions. There were no answers as to WHY at this point. That response might come in a week or so. But it almost did not matter.

The precious girl whom I had hugged in Rwanda last October was dead. Her mother and father had lost her, and she was only 11.

After five minutes of conversation, I hung up, and I became “un-stoic,” if that is a word.

Sad, sad, SAD.

The little shy girl who we had exchanged letters with and had “adopted” was dead, and I felt extremely sad. I wondered about her parents and her siblings and her funeral. I wondered why she had to die so early.

Compassion had completed health screenings on her, and she had no major health issues.

I began to question … why had I not written her more? I was thankful we had met in person.

I was grateful our church provided the Bible on an MP3 player that I gave to her during our personal visit. I had asked the Compassion worker to make sure she got into the Word and to remind her how to use the machine we gave her.

How many kids in the world die because there are not enough antibiotics? Or no doctors available for them? Or because their families lack clean water or the knowledge to treat illnesses? In Roanoke, if our kids have an infection we just go to the doctor and get medicine. ”All better.”

In Rwanda, especially in rural areas, that is not always the case.

I am so grateful that in her young life, she met the Lord and was trusting in Him. I am so glad God let people halfway around the world know this special little girl.

Write to and pray for your sponsored child.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Quigg Lawrence is a Compassion sponsor from Roanoke, VA, where he currently lives with his wife, Annette. Quigg is the senior pastor of the Church of the Holy Spirit and enjoys photography and any sport where you get to hit something.

If you’re interested in writing a guest blog post, we are happy to consider publishing it. Read our guest blog post guidelines.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

It’s all over the news, the Web and social media. The images are showing up everywhere. The statistics are unbelievable, but they’re real and that’s why we keep hearing about it.

I’m talking about the drought in East Africa.

East Africa is currently facing its worst drought in 60 years; high food prices and failed crops have left millions of people at risk.

Dozens of relief organizations have rushed to the scene. They’re hard at work calculating the need, raising funds and bringing in lifesaving aid.

You’ve watched as this crisis has unfolded, you’ve been praying and now you’re ready to respond.

But wait — we have some questions from the audience:

“Where is Compassion?”

“What is Compassion doing amid this crisis?”

“How can I give to Compassion concerning the drought in East Africa?”

Inserting a donation link to our disaster relief fund and asking you to give, right now, is a timely thing to do. But before you click on the link, let me explain how this crisis is affecting our programs.

Our child development centers operate in five countries near the areas affected by the drought:

• Kenya
• Ethiopia
• Rwanda
• Tanzania
• Uganda

We do not work in Somalia, the hardest-hit country. But where we do work, our local church partners are seeing higher food prices due to poor crop yields caused by the drought. And our church partners are experiencing an influx of refugees into the areas they serve.

Because we are a holistic child development organization working through the local church our program model often protects our beneficiaries against the potentially crippling impact of famine and drought.

Our Child Survival, Child Sponsorship, and Leadership Development Programs are each designed to help meet the ongoing needs of the families, children and students we serve. The programs help our beneficiaries become self-sufficient and better able to weather disasters, such as droughts.

However, when a crisis does arise, the local churches where our child development centers are located identify the immediate and specific needs of the children, families and students we serve.

The churches have access, through our programs, to critical assistance, such as disaster relief, clean water, medical assistance, etc.

Our ministry focus is on long-term development of children from their time in the womb until an age where they’re self-sufficient. While we focus on prevention and responding to the needs of our program beneficiaries, we applaud other organizations that do widespread disaster relief.

One of these organizations is the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), one of our partners in 58:.
In addition to its major drought-response projects already underway in Kenya and Ethiopia, CRWRC is expanding its aid to Somalia.

You can learn more about CRWRC, how they are responding to the drought, and ways you can help at crcna.org.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

 To finish well in life, it makes an enormous difference if you are given opportunities that allow you to begin well. Our Child Survival Program and Leadership Development Program help children living in extreme poverty to begin and finish well.

The Beginning – Rwanda

Recently, 35 mothers and their babies, and a group of church partners, pastors, representatives from other child development organizations, government officials from throughout East Africa, and ministry staff in Rwanda gathered to launch the Child Survival Program. This event created increased awareness of the need to honor unborn children and highlighted the work of our ministry.

At this special event, Uwingeneye shared her testimony. The 29-year-old mother of four explained how her own mother wanted to abort her and later almost died while delivering her. As a result, she was named ‘Uwingeneye’ which means “the one whom God gave me,” since her mother did not want her.

Uwingeneye’s first two children are 5-year-old twins; her third child is a 3-year-old boy whom she picked up from the roadside and cared for as her very own.

Her second pregnancy, bringing her fourth child, was totally undesired.

She had no job except washing clothes for her neighbors to earn 1,000 Rwandan francs [$1.67] once in a while. Her husband left her. She could not afford rent. She too wanted to abort her child.

“I knew what it meant to have a baby without means. When I was desperate and had tried to abort and failed, the Lord spoke to me in a dream. From Revelation 2:5 God told me to remember the height from which I had fallen, to repent and do the works I did at first, and that if I did not repent, He would remove my lampstand from its place.

God told me the child I was carrying would save my life, but I did not understand how.”

When we came to take her picture for registration into the Child Survival Program, Uwingeneye first thought we were the kind of people who take advantage of the poor and vulnerable by pretending to be an organization that offers aid while using their photos to make money.

Uwingeneye soon discovered she was wrong when our ministry became a blessing to her.

“After the Child Survival Program staff discovered how I was always sent out of houses because I could not afford rent, they paid my rent for a whole year. Because of my sickness, I thought I would deliver from home, but a Child Survival Program worker came and picked me up from home with much respect in a special hired vehicle.

The ministry paid all my medical bills. I would have never gotten money to pay them myself. I may have died had Compassion not been there for me. The ministry gave me all the necessary things for my baby.

The Child Survival Program staff also brought me congratulatory gifts (a custom in the Rwandese culture when a woman gives birth). I thank them because, in the three months after giving birth, I did not lack any foods such as sugar, porridge and other foods husbands give to their wives when they’ve given birth. My husband was not there, but God was there, and the Child Survival Program did it for me.”

 Uwingeneye went on to explain how she was helped to start an income-generating activity of plaiting hair. She also considered the scarcity of water in her home area and bought enough jerry cans and buckets to fetch a lot of water and collect rain water to sell at a profit in the days of scarcity. She testified how she got enough profit to return borrowed items and buy her own, to feed her children, send them to school, and dress her family.

The launching of the Child Survival Program in Rwanda was a celebration of hope. A hope that allows more women like Uwingeneye the opportunity to leave extreme poverty behind. A hope that allows moms to offer their children necessities like clean water, food and an education.

Halfway around the world we had a different kind of celebration. One that launched four young men from our Leadership Development Program into finishing their degrees and entering the world as educated adults.

The Finish and a New Beginning – Guatemala

The most recent Leadership Development Program graduation took place in Guatemala City where family members, ministry staff and special guests were able to share this important moment with four outstanding students who completed the Leadership Development Program and made a new life transition.

The Leadership Development Program graduation ceremony is a special event prepared for the students. Ivonne, Leadership Development Program Team Lead, explains,

“It is a ceremony where we want to celebrate their accomplishment and show them how much they have achieved.”

The ceremony is a celebration of the beginning of a new life season, and planning for the graduation begins a year in advance. Plans include finding an appropriate location, choosing a guest speaker, sending invitations, and preparing awards.

This year’s guest speaker was Julie Weller, a member of our ministry’s board. Julie also sponsored one of the graduating Leadership Development Program students, Florencio. In her speech, she encouraged graduates to use their gifts and experiences for God’s kingdom and glory. She advised them to stay close to the Lord.

Julie encouraged and challenged the Leadership Development Program graduates as she read Ephesians 3:16-20,

“As you commit your lives to him, his mighty power is at work within you to make a difference.”

In the midst of this celebration there was a bittersweet feeling because four of the best students, Jonathan, Dujardin, Florencio and Alvaro, were concluding the program.

Jonathan

Jonathan, a theology major, was given special recognition for his outstanding academic performance. He was also involved in the Leadership Development Academy. The Academy is a two-week program where semifinalists for the Leadership Development Program learn about and prepare for college. During this program, the Leadership Development Program students choose new students for the Leadership Development Program.

Jonathan later participated as an Academy group leader, influencing the lives of the next Leadership Development Program generation.

Dujardin

Dujardin pursued a civil engineering degree. Ivonne shares,

“Dujardin is a very determined young man. He has a very humble spirit and works really hard to achieve his goals. He acknowledges all the hard work his parents, sponsors and Leadership Development Program specialists have done to support him.”

Florencio

Florencio decided to go to law school. He likes to be involved in church and has a heart of service for God. He is currently working as Program Coordinator at the Compassion student center he once attended.

His plans for the future include running a law office, so he can earn profits and still have time to donate his services to people who cannot afford to pay him.

Florencio was blessed with the visit of his sponsors for graduation. They have been his sponsors since he was in the Child Sponsorship Program, and they flew to Guatemala especially to share this important day.

“Having a sponsor has been really special, a special blessing. It has impacted my life.”

For Florencio his sponsors are like his second family.

“In them I found the support of another family. Even from far away they always asked me how I was doing in school, in church and in life. They asked about my needs.”

Florencio’s sponsor had visited him three times before, and this time she came with her husband and two children. The support of Florencio’s sponsors has transformed him and helped him achieve this major milestone.

Alvaro

Alvaro majored in industrial engineering. Ivonne expresses about Alvaro,

“He is an extraordinary young man. He has a very noble heart. One of the characteristics that make Alvaro so outstanding is that he looks for opportunities to grow in the Lord and serve Him.”

Alvaro entered the Child Sponsorship Program when he was 9 and has been a part of our ministry for 16 years now. Through his time with us, he has come to know the Lord in a more personal way. The application process for the Leadership Development Program program made him depend completely on God. Every person on our staff who knows Alvaro mentions his relationship with God as one of his greatest characteristics.

Alvaro has also contributed in the Leadership Development Academy as a tutor for students who attend the program.

“Being asked to help with The Academy is the best memory I have from the Leadership Development Program. I was honored to be included in the selection process of the new students.”

Alvaro’s plan for the future is to start his own business in few years.

“The university gave me the tools that will help me achieve my goals.”

In the meantime, Alvaro will work to provide for his family and save money to start his business. He is interested in projects like recycling, exporting vegetables and food processing. He is an entrepreneur, thanks to his college education and to the Leadership Development Program.

All four students are beginning new journeys in their lives, which is why the Leadership Development specialists make sure graduation is an encouragement to them.

Higher education in Guatemala is different from higher education in other countries. The process of graduation begins when students finish all required courses. Completing course work can take five to six years. Once they have completed their courses, students are authorized to take a private exam or general test. If they pass that test, they can present their dissertation.

Next, an internship may be required, which could take an additional six to eight months. The students take a year and a half to three years to finally graduate after they have finished all their courses.

Dujardin, Florencio and Alvaro celebrated the Leadership Development Program graduation and are now working hard on  their university graduation. Jonathan has already obtained his theology degree.

Thanks to the support of the Leadership Development Program, these four students will be able to achieve their dreams of higher education very soon. And thanks to the Child Survival Program, Uwingeneye is no longer homeless and is able to provide a future for her children, one that may even include attending the Leadership Development Program someday.

Photos and content for this post were provided by Rosette Mutoni, Field Communications Specialist, Rwanda and Nadia Soberanis, Field Communications Specialist, Guatemala.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

We cannot live without water. It cleanses and nourishes our bodies. Every living creature needs water to survive.

In Matthew 10:42 (NIV) Jesus recognizes how precious and life-giving water is:

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Today, thousands of little ones around the world are severely ill and many will die due to the lack of safe drinking water. But that doesn’t have to continue.

Our Water of Life filtration system will provide at least one million gallons of clean drinking water – more than enough to last the lifetime of a child. This new filtration system is simple for anyone to use and can be set up in under five minutes.

How Does the Water of Life Filter Provide Safe Drinking Water?

A Water of Life filter is based on the same technology developed for kidney dialysis.

Each filter is made up of tiny microtubes with pores hundreds of times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. These pores remove deadly bacteria and allow only clean water to pass through for drinking. The Water of Life system effectively eliminates parasites and bacterial contaminants that cause cholera, typhoid, E. coli, amoebic dysentery and many other devastating diseases.

Dirty water from sources such as lakes, rivers, ponds or puddles is poured into the system’s bucket. As the water flows through the filter, it comes out completely safe to drink.

When the flow rate begins to slow after multiple uses, the user simply disconnects the primary filter unit and rinses it with clear water. Depending on the level of contaminants in the dirty water, some systems may require more-frequent rinsing. Unlike typical water filters, the Water of Life filter will remain highly effective over time while purifying at least one million gallons.

One of the greatest gifts you can give to a child is safe, healthy drinking water. Will you give a child a “cup of cold water”?

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

As a proud sponsor of Josiane from Rwanda and Emmanuel from Uganda, I’m comforted knowing they are in loving and capable hands. The well-being of Josiane, Emmanuel and your sponsored child is front and center in the minds of the local church staff and our country staff.

The man leading these staff members in Africa is Sidney Muisyo. Sidney began with Compassion in 2002 and five years later became the Kenya Country Director. In April 2010, he became our Vice President of the Africa Region.

Africa has completely stolen my heart. God has given me, as He has so many of you, a tiny piece of His heart for Africa.

For as much as we love Africa, God loves her and her people infinitely more!

Sidney seems to have been entrusted with an especially huge heart and vision for his home. His mind constantly analyzes how current events in Africa relate to the everyday reality of our sponsored children. He is well-educated and well-read. When I need a good book recommendation on the future of Africa, Sidney is my go-to guy.

Emerging Africa is an influential book in this regard. Author Steven Radelet highlights 17 nations changing the face of Africa. No longer can we look at the continent as a constant war-torn area. Countries are rising from the ashes and emerging into their beautiful potential.

Radelet introduces a concept from Ghanaian scholar George Ayittey regarding the new youth of Africa. Ayittey refers to these youth as “the Cheetah Generation.” These are young people who have decided Africa needs to be redefined, restructured and reemerged.

These are young people who offer hope for Africa.

These are young leaders who will invest, care for others, and love passionately. We fervently believe our young babies, sponsored children, and leadership students are cheetahs.

As a sponsor, I’m grateful that the man overseeing our work in Africa believes in my little Emmanuel and little Josiane. I’m thankful that the church staff will continue to breathe life into them and help them run with the speed of cheetahs.

And as my sponsored children grow into all that God has for them, I’m ever so grateful that a man like Sidney will be there to lead the pack.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

At night when no one was watching and the guard had been bribed, Rose, her four children and her husband would huddle together in one of the stalls of the local market to sleep. Rose and her husband were HIV-positive, and their health was getting worse and worse.

With no jobs and no rent money, they spent a year homeless in the chilly Rwandan nights.

“We lived in the market for a year while bribing the market guard not to send us out until a friend of my husband rented a tiny house for us. The house was so tiny that later my husband’s coffin could not fit.”

Rose’s husband passed away in 2004 from HIV-related illnesses, leaving her and her children in an even more desperate situation.

“I did not have even 100 Rwandan francs (U.S. $0.17) with children to feed and no source of income. My biggest concern was where we would leave our children as I watched my and my husband’s health waste away.”

But at this lowest point in their lives, a local church, a Compassion partner, intervened. The church was sponsoring children in need, and Aliane, one of Rose’s four children, was sponsored.

According to center staff member Sebazima, Aliane’s health was in critical condition when she was first registered.

“She was very weak and sick. She had a big swelling on her face, which was later diagnosed as tuberculosis of the jaw. Almost all of her teeth were decayed.”

The child development center helped Aliane get medical attention, including a test to find out if she was suffering from the same virus that killed her father. She was.

“It is from such biting poverty and nakedness that Compassion gathered my life and restored hope, not only for Aliane, but for my entire family,” says Rose.

Aliane and her mother were able to receive antiretroviral drugs, along with nutritional supplements such as milk, fish and rice to keep them strong while taking the medicine.

Once Rose’s health had improved, she received money to start a small business. She had experience in embroidering, so she bought an embroidering machine to start a sewing business.

Rose was skilled, and she received many requests to make school sweaters for children, including a contract to make sweaters for Compassion-sponsored children.

Since that time, Rose’s business has blossomed. With her profits, she has bought four more sewing machines and employs workers to meet the increasing demand for her sweaters.

Rose has also been able to buy a four-room house for her family and business, along with a piece of land where she is planning to plant a vegetable garden.

Young Aliane is now 15 years old and in her first year of secondary school. She is one of the brightest students in her class and likes chemistry and math.

“Compassion got me when I was very, very poor. They registered me and took me to school. They paid my fees, gave me shoes, and blessed me with a wonderful sponsor. We didn’t have a house but now we are in our own home. My mum had one sewing machine, but now we have many. I used to be very sick, but now I am okay. I know I shall live long like everyone else who is not HIV-positive.”

Aliane’s siblings also now have hope for their future. Rose has managed to send her other three children to school with the profits from her sewing business.

With tears, Rose says, “Compassion added days to my life and enabled me to have a home for my children. They have stood by me, comforted me, and given me spiritual and moral support. I can only pray a blessing to the entire family of Compassion.”

Rose, who once slept in a cold market stall with no hope other than death, is now able to provide for her family, bring jobs to her community, and a message of hope to all she encounters.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Sponsored children are very grateful and consider themselves blessed to have sponsors who love them and write to them. The children are touched by the affection you express to them in your letters and the prayers you share with them.

They like when you pray for them and ask them to pray for you in return.

They love when you express your love for them and declare a blessing on their lives. And when you encourage them to study hard.

Most of the children are curious to know more about your lives, families and studies, if you are pursuing any, and also hope to one day meet you face to face. General topics the children like to know about also include religion and the general lifestyle of the western world.

The children of Rwanda are filled with glee when they share about the letters they receive from you.

“I like that my sponsor is still writing to me and that he and everybody else is fine. I always hear terrible international news and I am so relieved to hear from my sponsor and to know that he is OK.” — Kwizera

“I like how my sponsor sees me, his attitude and feelings towards me, his encouraging comments all the time. I like that he receives my letters, responds to my questions, and prays for my prayer requests. I really appreciate my sponsor and his family.” — Dieudonne

“I love when she writes ‘God be with you and your family’ and when she tells me she is praying for me. I thank her so much for this!” — Uwambajimana

“I like it when my sponsor wishes me the best in my studies and when she prays for me.” — Umurerwa

“I like it when my sponsor tells me how her children are doing in school; it encourages me to work hard not to let her down.” — Irabizi

“I love how my sponsor feels about me. I like that he loves me.” — Bagambiki

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Continued growth in this area depends on the maintenance of international aid levels, the strengthening of world prices of coffee and tea, and on having strong future leaders with good character — something Compassion Rwanda is in the forefront of helping develop.

In a recent interview, Pastor Matthias, parish priest of Gahanga Anglican Church, expressed his views on how sponsorship can influence the political arena of his country.

Pastor Matthias is the head teacher of Gahanga primary school, which is a church-owned school, and his church also runs a Compassion-assisted child development center, Gahanga Student Center.

“Sponsorship has a vital role not only in changing the lives, standards and status of our children, but in developing future Rwandans who will be able to change and develop the country in different spheres such as: political, spiritual, economic and social.

“Spending most of my time with children has helped me to discover their different ambitions and talents. I can testify that I have ministers and prominent future leaders who will be raised from this student center.”

When Pastor Matthias first arrived in Gahanga, he said that residents were hurting and helpless without hope for the future.

“As a Christian, I felt so convicted by scripture that I had to look for all possible means on how the community could gain hope for the future. And finally partnering with Compassion was the great opportunity the community could have.”

Pastor Matthias believes that mentoring children in the Christian aspect will help them to live an exemplary life, serving as God-fearing role models to society.

“I guarantee you that these children are to be tomorrow’s evangelists who will have good morals and will be of great value to our nation.

“In order to have a country with zero tolerance for corruption, with proper management of public resources, we need a big number of God-fearing citizens.”

Such children will be good participants in promoting the government’s strategies of good governance, social welfare and leadership with integrity.

“We are expecting a great change in our political organization as a country; our sponsored children have learned about stewardship and project management. This will make them good Christian leaders.

“There is absolutely no doubt that through sponsorship we have a number of stable decision-makers who have a great vision for the nation.”

Spiritually, the children are brought up as Christians who are to contribute to the improvement and development of their churches.

“I have observed the characters of these children in their communities; they are admired by many because of their behavior. This has increased the number of parents who have come to me asking how their children can be enrolled in our student center so as to attain good moral standards.”

Socially, solidarity through youth camps and youth forums such as peace and reconciliation help the children to live in harmony without any elements of ethnicity that lead to division.

“We expect our children to be responsible parents and citizens who will serve diligently both in their home and nation portraying Christian values.

“I have no doubt that our sponsored children will not only be catalysts for Rwanda’s development, but peacemakers to the entire world.”

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates