blah

There are days when I don’t feel like typing and only read the blog too. So I understand why not everyone writes and comments. I’m just glad the ones who do comment are there! I’ve been inspired and helped by many on here. Not sure how helpful or inspiring I’ll be… but I know this blog has made a difference for my life.

So THANK YOU Chris, and all who write/read this blog for being there!

Don’t hold back on your comments. They’re not annoying. In fact, it’s great to be able to share your excitement.

Your feedback is valuable and very much appreciated. It helps us choose what we publish now, among other things.

Hearing about how the blog has affected you has started this week off very nicely for me. You, and your desire to catch up on everything here, makes all the effort worthwhile. Thanks.

Plus, you never know how your comments may inspire, excite or help someone else.

As far as the number of people here, we have more than twice as many monthly visitors to the blog now as compared to March and April of 2008. It’s just that many of them aren’t chiming in.

Welcome to the blog!

I chalk it up to discovering this blog. Really, I don’t even know why I didn’t check out the blog before… But one day I saw the link on the homepage and got curious.

Until I checked this blog out, I had NO IDEA how important the letters and small gifts were to my little girl. I had no idea how Compassion operated and the travels my mail took on the way to her…

I’ve gotten a lot of new ideas on things to send her. I’ve had my heart broken while looking at photos and reading stories of children in need. I’ve had hope restored when I read the success stories and blog posts where it is evident we are making a difference.

In fact, I’ve taken to going back and reading the blog posts from the start. I’m currently three months in and I’m having to hold back my desire to comment on every post! (don’t want to be annoying..)

It seems like there aren’t that many people on here now versus when the blog first started… and that makes me sad. I agree with what someone said above: current sponsors CAN make a difference via this blog. We can steer family and friends here to see what they can do for children.

I’m not sure I’m making any sense. I’m home sick and my thoughts are muddled.

All I want to say is that this blog energizes me and makes me want to do SOMETHING, immediately, to help end the suffering. If that is due to “cheerleading,” then RAH RAH. )

I click on my favorite Mom blogs and read about mothering and toddler tantrums and which school to send my kids to. And then I come here and read about children living in poverty.

When I read these stories, something in my perspective changes. And it’s a good change.

My husband and I have been sponsoring compassion children for a long time now. Actually, my husband started as a single guy, and it’s been some twenty years now. Two of our compassion “children” have grown up in the program and moved on. It’s humbling that something as small as a check every month has any impact on this world at all — but for those kids? There’s no doubt in my mind that it has.

Reading this blog reminds me that our last few checks have gone into the “general fund” and we need to pick more kids to sponsor. Nothing wrong with the general fund, of course, but reading these blogs makes the whole thing personal. It makes me feel like I am contributing something important — more than just a check.

And I don’t want this to sound like I’m saying, “Oh, I’ll write a check and do my bit and not worry any more about global poverty.” Not at all.

I don’t know if I’m making any sense at all, but there you go!

I would imagine I am one “type” of individual this blog is trying to reach …a new sponsor who is trying to understand what Compassion is all about and trying to find out more about my role as a sponsor. A person with a lot of compassion in her heart but unsure of how best to turn that compassion into action. (perhaps beyond sponsorship..?)

A person who, at times, feels overwhelmed by international issues, like poverty. Where do you start, will it really make a difference, how much time can I commit, what can I really do …and on and on.

I was immediately drawn to the blog to help me sort through these issues. And, to get a feel for the organization, the sponsors and most importantly, to better understand the conditions and issues facing my sponsored children.

I’ll leave the debate to others, choosing to just share with you my hopes for this forum.

Thanks to all those sharing with an open heart and mind!

Thanks for your thoughts, but I’d appreciate you let me be my own editor. I’m an adult that can take responsibility for my own thoughts and expressions; I don’t take back my initial comments, nor did I write these later ones in an attempt to please you. As I stated before, despite your good intentions, these kinds of questions and comments are patronizing and hurtful.

If you would like to respond to the new questions/ideas I presented, feel free.

Thanks,
Ashleigh

Ahh, much better… hardly any political rhetoric this time.

Did you notice that your latest comment centered around _your_ own experiences, struggles, and challenges in reflecting Christ to the poor… whereas your earlier comment seemed to center around what _others_ were or were not doing? Do you see the fundemantal difference in the way it reads and the perceived attitude?

And while the US and the West definitely have their issues governmentally, open critique seems to be a bit beyond the scope of this blog (although any moderators are free at any time to tell me to go jump in a polluted third-world lake). Although, we can always write our elected officials and let them know our feelings regarding upcoming legislation, current events, and foreign policy. Perhaps a good blog post might be about about just that.

I actually like what Chris was saying the best with regard to the blog “having a blend of posts that run the gamut from promotional, to informational, to educational with some being silly, others being serious, some asking questions and others answering questions”.