What is the moment like when a child learns they have a sponsor? Where are they when they receive the good news? Who is there with them? Are they excited? Emotional? Nervous?
If you are curious about these questions, we’re excited to give you some answers!
Many children receive the news at their Compassion Child Development Center. “You have a sponsor!” a staff member tells Diana. Celebration ensues. Diana quickly learns her sponsor’s name and where they are from. She asks questions and begins writing her first letter.
Staff comes to Paul’s house to tell him he has a sponsor. Paul is only 1 year old, so his family hears the news together. They have the opportunity to ask questions like “Where is our child’s sponsor from? What is their family like? Will they come visit us some day?” Even though Paul may be too young to fully understand, his family celebrates because they know his life will change now that he has a sponsor.
It is a joyous moment, especially for children who have patiently waited for a sponsor. Children smile and families cheer. They laugh and ask questions. Some even cry.
Take a look at Keylin’s story to get a glimpse of the moment when a child learns they have a sponsor!
Keylin’s Story
Keylin and her family at their home in Tipitapa, Nicaragua.
Keylin is 9 years old, living in Tipitapa, Nicaragua. She shares a small home with her mom, dad and two sisters.
Life is challenging for Keylin’s family. They often do not have enough money for food and her mom is almost always sick. Keylin cries for her mother. Her mom worries too. She wonders what would happen to her children if she got really ill.
The family desperately needs hope.
Keylin goes to the Compassion center near her home at a local church. She receives meals, attends lessons and learns about Jesus.
But Keylin notices that she is different from many of the other kids at the center. They have something that she doesn’t have; something she desperately wants. They have a sponsor, and Keylin doesn’t.
Children like Keylin, who are waiting for sponsors, are supported by our Unsponsored Child Fund. The Unsponsored Child Fund helps provide support for the development center and the child during that waiting period.
Keylin receives the same care the children with sponsors do. But there are two significant differences: she does not receive letters and she does not have the hope of someone thousands of miles away praying for her and her family.
She sees other children receiving letters from their sponsors. Letters filled with love and encouragement and empowerment. Keylin watches on, hoping for letters of her own and fervently praying that God would provide a sponsor.
Watch this video of Keylin at her development center to see what happens next.
The moment a child learns they have a sponsor changes everything. They now have someone thousands of miles away praying for them. They have someone who will write to them. They have someone who will love them, encourage them and believe in them.
The child you sponsor experienced that very moment. Their joy probably looked a whole lot like Keylin’s joy. And now, they are waiting to hear from you.
If you sponsor a child, write him or her today!
Remind the child you sponsor of how loved they are. Even if he or she is too young to understand your letters, your words can make their entire family feel cared for and encouraged!
Write words of love today! ›››
Note from Editor: While this post was originally published in 2014, it has been updated with a current story and information.
125 Comments |Add a comment
tell him i wish him well and may gods blessings and love be with him and his family
I am very thrilled to be part of this amazing organization. I was sitting in church in Phoenix, when they introduced the need to sponsor a child. I was so excited when I picked my child’s picture. I am grateful that we are building churches in their community, I will be visiting my child next year. Life is so good, now that I feel I can give back. God is good.
We are finally doing this! And the two children We are sponsoring will be placed in the hands of our two grandchildren at Christmas. We want them to learn what it means to step into the shoes of those who need us most. So we will be asking them to correspond and befriend the two newest members of our family across the world. Just to think, we have doubled our chances at helping God change the world! Lookout Arpon and Francine, you are about to become members of the Blackwood family!
My wife and I attended a Casting Crowns concert for the first time when we learned of Compassion International. I looked at my wife and both of us knew that it was something we had to do. We have four children of our own and struggle each day to keep food on the table and clean clothes on our backs but God spoke to us that night and we were given a little girl that is just a few months older than our daughter. We have three boys and one little girl so this was a blessing to get another little girl to join our family in our hearts.
My daughter passed away 6 years ago and I have never been the same. I heard of Compassion when I had taken her to DCFest (her first and only concert). God kept pressing it on my heart to become a sponsor & I finally decided it was time. I found a child with the same birthday as her and I found one that was born the day she passed. I thought it would be great to find joy on both these days and to be able to pray for these children on these days rather than think about my loss. I want to bless these girls the way I’m sure my daughter would have wanted. God is great.
I love the way you took something that was so tragic and turned it around for God’s glory! Praying His blessings on you!
That is so cool what you did to remember your daughter while helping two other children of God. May God bless you and keep you, and make His face shine down on you and give you peace…..<
God is faithful!!
Prayers…..Mike and Judy
What a beautiful way to honor your daughter and bring healing for your loss. May God give you “joy in the morning” with sponsorship of these children.
I am a single mom with a nine year old son on a very limited income. I splurged this past November and took him to a Rend Collective concert, my favorite band. I thought it would be a wonderful bonding experience for us, and it was. He loved it. At the concert we were told about Compassion International and the work that they do. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. And although we have very little money and most of time can not make ends meet, we have far more than most of the rest of the world. I decided right then and there that my son needed to learn how truly blessed he is and that no matter hard life may “seem” God wants us to be a blessing to others. So when the Compassion workers came around we held up our hand and accepted the card for the child that they handed us. It was a small boy, a toddler. It tuned out that his birthday was the day before my son’s and his heart immediately went out to him. We pray for this child every night and we write letters to him. And we will remember him on his birthday. I cried when I watched the video of the child learning that he has a sponsor. I love knowing that my son and I are making a difference in the life of a family across the world and that they are learning about Christ because of it. I think about them when my days are hard and I get tired and the money just doesn’t seem to stretch far enough to cover the bills or buy enough food. I pray constantly that God will always provide enough for us to provide for this small child. And I know that he will. He is an awesome GOD. And I am so thankful to Rend Collective for bringing this opportunity to us. I believe it is more of a blessing to me and my son than it is to my sponsored child and his family.
Nina, copy and the attached and play it whenever you get down. http://richards-page-creations.net/page3/You-Raise-Me-Up.html I grow up in NYC (Bronx) and as you can see I am a Hines also. My God keep yo and your son in His hand always. May wind always be at your back and the sun always shine on your face God Bless You and Keep you close to Him. Let me know if you have relatives that lived in NYC. I will pray for you and your child,
May God bless you and your son with financial security. We too just choose a child and it is a blessing to us to be able to help her and like you we don’t have a lot of extra but God is good and he wouldn’t have lead us to this if he wasn’t going to provide a way.
Committing myself and telling others about that commitment to sponsor a child makes me oh so happy to be a child of God. God has led me to the right decision and He will see me through it. You think your world is turned upside down every day with problems until you see life of the more unfortunate and then you realize that you are truly blessed. Thank you!
I have always supported some kind of ministry that helps people in need. Feed the Children, Joyce Meyer Ministry and my local church! This will be very rewarding to actually receive letters and send encouraging letters to Zacharia Matai! I am looking forward to getting to know him and his family! Thank you Compassion for giving me this chance!
Facebook flashed up a Compassion Experience in an area about 45 minutes away from me. I jumped on the opportunity and made plans for my family to attend. I already had a sponsored child from Haiti but wanted my kids to be able to experience a look at children who go without – an experience we have never had to go through or face first hand. It was totally impactful and I’d recommend for anyone who hasn’t gone to one, to look for one! After waiting 30 minutes in line to go through a 15 minute experience, the kids wanted to go back through the line to see the second child’s experience. At the end we walked into a small room of children’s pictures hanging on a clothesline. My 8 yr old daughter pulled a little boy from the line and asked me to read about him to her. She held him in her hands for quite a while. My own eyes were drawn to a little girl in a bright white dress. I touched her little picture but didn’t take her off the line. How would we pay for this?? We came for the experience … not with the idea to sponsor another in mind. I only had us look so we wouldn’t ignore the children or minimize the experience. … My daughter’s step-sister who had come with us was drawn to yet a third child. … Feeling conflicted and extremely sad, I rounded them up to go home and warred within myself as I helped my daughter place her little boy back on the line. It didn’t feel right … it felt wrong … it made me sooo sad … It stayed with me during the car ride home. I didn’t sleep much that night…. I woke early, tearfully praying and wondering just what to do. All three of us had had an experience that day and I had watched the desire to care for someone rise up in my daughter and her step-sister. My daughter was willing to give up her entire month’s work of chore money which up until that time had been spent on toys and candy (it wouldn’t have covered the cost for the sponsorship but she was fully willing). My husband didn’t blink when I spilled my heart … he readily volunteered to drive us back. I prayed some more for what I had to do next … I called my ex-husband and explained the situation and, completely out of character for him, he agreed to sponsor a child for my daughter’s step-sister. We made plans to go to the Compassion Event right after church. My daughter’s little boy “Marcos” was still there and she snatched him off the line so quickly and cradled his picture in her hands. Little “Melka” was still there waiting for me as well… My daughter’s step-sister found a child as well “Pitchamon”(the child she’d been looking at the day before was gone and we had a learning lesson in what kinda hurt for us was so much better for that child as it meant someone was loving and caring for her.) I will continue to be an advocate for Compassion and the children who so desperately need this love and support. So overwhelmed at God’s providence. Of course He has seen fit for us to afford this financially. So grateful for that day’s experience and all of the little blessings since. We’ve begun writing letters as a family – it’s helped grow our family in more ways than one. Love God, love others.
Christina, what an amazing story of God’s incredible faithfulness! Thank you so much for sharing!
I am so glad to be supporting( Islandy )through Compassion International, it’s truly a blessing to be part of someone life that’s in need, I love it, I am looking forward to seeing her one day real soon, God will make that happen. I just want her and her family to know they are not forgotten, God bless you all, I love you.
Jeff, you have such a kind heart! Thank you so much for deeply investing in Islandy’s life and for loving and supporting her. I pray that you are able to take a tour with us to meet her in person someday! Thank you for allowing God to use you to remind them that they are treasured and valued by the King of Kings! God bless you.
I Am so excited to be sponsoring a child & know that he now knows god really is looking over him. I can not wait to get closer with my sponsored child and build a long term relationship of support and trust. After watching this video, I know I’m doing the right thing, and can appreciate the innocence of these children who just want the best in life. I am also grateful that this brings a bit of relief to the parents who I am sure are always meet their child’s needs before their own. I keep them in my prayers. Thank you Compassion.
I first learned of Compassion International(C.I.) while researching Bible verses online. There it was, an add for this most wonderful of Charities, on the upper right hand side of my computer screen. I did not click on it right away. The next day I was doing more research and there it was again. I thought this to be rather odd – seeing it two days in a row, especially since I had never before heard of C.I. in all my years of online research. Something in my heart this time told me to click on the ad. It brought me to a page with dozens of pictures of children in need. My heart simply broke when I saw all these poor suffering children! Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I looked upon page after page of pictures.
At first I thought I really can not afford to do this. I am not a rich man by any means. I often live pay check to pay check, and so in spite of my deep sense of compassion for these children I still did not make the decision to become a sponsor.
Then on day 3, I again saw yet another add while doing more research of Scriptures online, and I knew then God was speaking to me, placing a burden upon my heart to help. So I clicked on the site and then saw I could choose a child with my same birth day. This is how I was lead to Fernanda, a 16yr old girl from Bolivia who had been waiting 270 days for a sponsor. My thoughts were a child of that advanced age (compared to most on the site) probably felt in her heart no one was ever going to pick her, and so I decided then and there to become her sponsor.
I then over the next few days kept going back to the site, crying each and every time I looked upon the hundreds of faces of children in need until I saw the picture of a 4yr old girl named Katerin. Katerin looked so adorable in her picture, standing in a dirt road with an somewhat sad smile upon her face. My heart simply went out to her because she had been waiting on a sponsor for 371 days!! I felt as if maybe I had picked my 1st sponsorship too soon because clearly this little angel desperately needed help. I also knew there was simply no way I could afford a 2nd sponsorship, but the burden God put on my heart to help this little girl could not be denied.
I started to think of how blessed my life was, of how much God had given to me, and even though by my countries standards I was far from well off financially, compared to how Katerin was living, my life was one of rich opulence. Another three days went by and I could not get Katerin out of my mind. Also in my daily Bible study the Lord kept bringing passages to me that spoke of Trusting the Lord.
I am a recovered addict, with nearly 10yrs of sobriety. During my addiction I stole repeatedly to pay for my addiction. When I reading my Bible later on that day, I came across Ephesians 4:28:
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
I knew then what I needed to do, and so I immediately went back to the C.I. site and selected Katerin to be my 2nd sponsorship.
Since then God has blessed me with extra income and this is just more proof to me that my trust in the Lord was well founded. It proves to me God wanted me to sponsor BOTH children.Praise be to God!
If we simply follow God’s will and place our trust in what He can do, then we will never be disappointed. I have already written 3 letters to each of my children and sent them each a gift. God has also blessed me in this endeavor because I do not have children of my own, but now with Compassion International and God’s loving guidance I consider Katerin and Fernanda to be the two daughters I never had.
I pray for them daily, I think of them all the time and I pray God will watch over, protect, guide and help them and their families. I love them both very much as if they were my own. I am honored God chose me to do His work in teaching these two children about the love of Christ, the glory of God Almighty and also about the love God puts in our hearts for those in need.
Amen!
Dear Scott,
First, let me say that you have a good heart and it is such heart that God is pleased, blessed and honored.
What you are doing for these “daughters of yours in Jesus” is already miraculous.
It does not have to be a huge sacrifice in order to do God’s will and no matter how trifle our “act of righteousness” may be, if we direct our hearts to heaven, it will be accepted.
What you were in the past no longer matters to God because He is more interested in what you are now and what you will be tomorrow.
By your act of righteousness through Compassion, God will do some extraordinary miracle in the lives of your sponsored children and they will rise above themselves.
You, too, have become beyond what you are because of your response to Him through your obedience to His calling.
Now, that’s a miracle.
Remember, you are now bound with love and respect of your girls and you are investing in their eternity, so live a life worthy of such honor and calling you have received from heaven.
Whenever you feel like quitting or giving up because of some hardship that is common to all of us, don’t forget that they are counting on you.
Let’s work harder for His Kingdom, my brother, and our toil is not in vain.
Thank you for letting me know my little Shanbel & his family have been informed of my sponsorship. I wanted to choose a child the same birthday of my daughter, who is now with Jesus, but I was even more astonished that he had been waiting more than a year, so I knew he was the one my daughter would have chosen also. When she was alive, we made it a tradition to go see “The Thorn” when it came to Colorado Springs, & after I lost her, my grandson (her son) & I continued the tradition & we always feels her presence with us. I have heard all the testimonies of grown children who have benefited from the generosity of others through compassion. This year I felt the need to find just the right one & I am very blessed to be able to do this. I can’t wait to hear from him. God bless you all, in Jesus name, I pray for all the other children in need.
In God’s love, Della
Despite the loss of your loved one, you are still willing to reach out and satisfy the needs of others.
Miracles don’t need to be extraordinary, because your obedience to His call is already miraculous enough and by your act of generosity, you are telling your sponsored boy that God is real and He deeply cares for Him.
May God bless you for your courage and tremendous faith you share with your sponsored child and us.
Wow, Della, thank you so much for sharing your sponsorship story with us! Having lost a close loved one myself, I’ve seen the way God uses incredibly painful moments to bring about such good in our lives. I am so glad you and your grandson are able to honor your daughter’s memory every year at The Thorn. It’s so important to do that! I know Shanbel is going to be an important little boy in your life. I pray that he will always remind you that God is faithful to the end and that in all things he works for the good of those who love him :). May you hold onto the hope we have in Christ! I’d definitely encourage you to share your testimony with Shanbel when he is a little older. I think he would be honored to know you sponsored him in memory of your daughter.
Thank you, Compassion, for notifying me that Kenean knows my name. I pray for him EVERY DAY and am so overwhelmed with the love the Lord has put in my heart for him. I am anxiously awaiting my first letter from him, (I have already written 3!) and pray that we can truly get to know each other. My hope is to be a conduit of God’s love to him, and that the plans the Lord has for his life come to fruition. With all my heart I believe the Lord guided me to him. I was listening to the campaign on my Christian Radio Station and kept feeling the tug on my heart, but hesitated and hesitated. When I finally went to your website I didn’t have a clue how to “choose” a child, but there he was…the first precious face I looked at, and my heart skipped a beat. I told myself, “you don’t want to just pick the first child you see…pray about it”. So I prayed, and then begin to look at other children…by birthday, by length of wait time, by critical need…and I just kept coming back to Kenean. The urgency to click that button “sponsor this child” was almost palatable! I prayed one more time and then clicked. I fully believe it is what Jesus wanted me to do! Not a day goes by I don’t think of him, and I pray for him as much as I pray for my own grown children and their spouses. I am so blessed to be a tiny part of this ministry, and am excited, with expectation and anticipation, of how GOD is going to work in Kenean’s life!
Praise the Lord!!
Watching the above video of the family getting notification that their child is now sponsored brought me to tears! I know that my little gril must know by now as it’s been a few weeks and I pray that she and her family are just as excited! I am looking to sponsor a second child from the same village shortly. Does anyone know how I can go about doing this???
Hi Wendy! We are so honored to partner with you in ministry to Peace in Ghana! To sponsor a child from the same child development center, you could search for a child by Child Center/ID name (https://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/child-search-results.htm). In Peace’s case would be GH947. Regrettably, there are no children available for sponsorship at this center right now.
Hi James…my name is Robin I love son I am so excited to be sponsoring you and being a help too you and your family I am so very proud of you I have your picture in my wallet and on the mantle with my three sons David Danial and Dustons…Thank you James and thank your family for allowing me to be a part of your family…. Love Robin
I also just received notice that my sponsored child knows my name and knows someone cares, I hope and pray I can be beneficial in her life and just let her know she is VERY special to me as I have no children, (just furbabies), I hope and pray I do this right. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help.
Susanne, you are going to be an incredible light in Geromin’s life! I’d encourage you to be praying for her every single day. Pray for her to continue doing well in her schooling and that she would feel God’s love and grace upon her life on a daily basis. Your letters are going to encourage her so much and remind her that her life is valuable :).
God is good all the time, I am so happy to see the letter I received from my sponsored child, and I also can’t wait to write some good verses to share with them. I feel so touched by read their words and saw their pictures, it was so special for me. May God blessing every wonderful child for their life and future.
I have just recently received my information about my sponsored child, Tuyishime, who will be six years old on my birthday, Sept 1. I was first attracted to him when I saw that he had been waiting longer than any other child listed. At the time, I didn’t realize that we shared the same birthday ~ what a happy surprise when I found out!
I believe God led me to this boy and this is our special connection. xo
I have yet to write him for the first time but I plan to very soon ~ hopefully within the next few days. I will be sending him a (belated) birthday card also…
I am a widow, mother of eight (all grown now) children & grandmother of seven ~ hoping for more! 🙂 And even tho I have only received one letter from my sponsored child so far, I feel as if he is already a part of my family. His smile will light up my heart!
Thank-you for putting me in touch with such a beautiful little boy. Maybe someday we will meet in person & I can give him a great big HUG!!! 🙂
To whom it may concern.
my name is peter Nyaore, and we are running a home of 16 children here in Kenya. And my question is, what is the procedure of getting sponsors for these children?
Hi Peter! Please email us at [email protected] for more information about partnership. God bless you!
I too just got confirmation that my sponsored child knows my name (he’s from Indonesia) and so excited to see that a child is told ‘up close and personal’. I would like to send a Christmas gift but if it takes 3 mos, will it be appropriate? I am so very excited to be able to help a family with monetary and spiritual needs!
Hi Brenda! Congratulations on your new child! We are so excited for you to begin building a relationship with Rian :). The deadline for this years Christmas gifts was October 31st however, it is never to late to give for Christmas! If you still choose to give a gift this year, it will go towards replenishing the Christmas fund for next year. Because we combine all donations together for Christmas and distribute them evenly among all of the children, please rest assured that your child will still receive a gift from the Christmas Program this year and will be told that his gift is from you!
This is GOD at work. I celebrate this moment in my heart.
I was thrilled to see the excitement of the parents but very disappointed to see no reaction from the child who was sponsored. Do the children not understand what their sponsorship means?
Nancy, you’re right that the child in the video does look a little lost. It is likely that they do not fully understand what sponsorship means. Maybe they are too young to understand or maybe it was not very well explained to them yet. I would not, however, take this to mean that the child is not thankful for what they are receiving as a part of the program. Each child begins receiving the benefits of the program as soon as they are registered. When they receive a sponsor, they begin getting to know their sponsor and receiving encouraging letters from their sponsor which gives them more confidence and helps them to set higher goals for themselves. They have a person to thank and to connect with the benefits that they are receiving. I’m confident that as this child continues with the program, they will begin to understand more and more what sponsorship means.
It was such fun to share their joy! 🙂
I sponsored my first child last month and it feels wonderful! From child up I longed to be a mom. God gave me four wonderful children and I have cherished every moment with them. They are now grown ages 20 to 25. When they were small I had a dream of children standing along a road three rows deep. Jesus was walking with me down the road. The children were of every nationality. They all had their faces turn up to us and while their mouths never moved I could hear them all talking loudly. They were all saying the same thing. Please, help me! Help me, please! I looked at Jesus and said, “They need my help, but how do I help them!” He never answered in my dream, but he placed a burning desire in my heart to help. I longed to go on each mission trip my church would go on, but having small children and homeschooling them, there never seemed a way to go, so I sent things. I tried foster care for a year and sponsoring a child thru another organization, but those did not seem right. My daughter is in college and last year started sponsoring a child thru Compassion when a visiting speaker came to her college. When she told me about it and I read the information she recieved I could not stop thinking about the children and the dream I had so many years ago. As I sat at my computer last month to find my child, I prayed and prayed, “God which one?’ So many needed help how could I pick just one out of so many! I thought of different ways to choose from; the ones waiting the longest to the ones the had the most emblems on their pictures. I looked at the birthdays and still I had no peace. I placed one boy in my view box. There was something about his expression that reminded me of my oldest son. I started thanking God for my children. I had a thought, maybe I should choose a child that shared a birthday with one of my children as thanks to God for the gift He had given me on that day. I still could not help going back to the little boy in my view box. Then I saw his birthday, one day before my oldest son, the son the little boy reminded me of. I now plan to sponsor one child for each child God let me birth and maybe even their spouses. I’m so excited for a dream come true!!
Oh, Margaret! Thank you so much for sharing this testimony of how God drew you to sponsor! Praise God! I love how God works in our lives. 🙂
I definitely need to redo my makeup! I sponsored Mattew in Ghana a couple of months ago! Africa has a special place in my heart since I spent some time there as a child. I have also felt a calling to sponsor a child for a couple of years. I wanted to sponsor a child who was PRIORITY since they had been waiting longer than most. I just received my 1st letter from Mattew and was so excited…It was like opening a present at Christmas! How it warms my heart to know that little old me, can make a difference in someone’s life 🙂
Just got an email stating that my sponsored child has been told she has a sponsor. I wrote my first letter as soon as I could and am anxiously waiting hers. I hope to sponsor more in the future. 🙂
I just got the notice that my child Ferdi was told that he has a sponser. I am so blessed to be able to do this in the name of Jesus. The video was precious it made me cry happy tears. I loved hearing what God is doing for others. I am anxiously awaiting my first letter. God Bless
I just got my first letter from my second sponsored child. He said that when he grows up, he hopes to sponsor a child. I am smiling with tears.
Oh Joan! That is so precious! Thank you for all that you’re doing for this child! It’s obvious that you’ve done a lot because he wants to be like you. 🙂
I happened on this video through an email. It has been delightful to read so many of the responses. I just received my first letter from the 13 year old I am sponsoring in El Salvador. I heard Dr. Stafford on Moody Radio, got on the Internet and knew I wanted to sponsor an older boy who had been waiting for some time for a sponsor. I picked him because his bday is the same day as my husband’s and he likes the same sports as our five grown boys do. I hope to sponsor more as finances allow. Thank you, Compassion, for what you are doing.
This is just awesome! I’m humbled and thank the Lord for allowing me to witness this joyous celebration by the parents, as well as to be in a position to sponsor a child. Jesus Christ is so good!
The link to this video was provided in the confirmation thanking me for sponsoring our second child. I’m not sure why compassion would be promoting this as a sign of joy as the child displays no emotion, no reaction of any kind to this news. I am somewhat puzzled and sad.
Michael – the child’s parents were obviously overjoyed. The child was probably overwhelmed! And a child that age may not truly understand what being sponsored is all about until later.
I am a brand new sponsor and am wondering if the other siblings of the child I am sponsoring will feel bad if I send small gifts or money periodocally to my sponsored child for special occasions. What if the other siblings don’t have their own sponsors?
Hi Leslie! It is very possible that your child’s siblings do not have their own sponsors. However, everything that you send helps to improve the lives of the whole family. It is very likely that your sponsored child shares the things that he learns at the center and the gifts he receives with his family. You’re more than welcome to send extra paper gifts in the mail or a monetary family gift for your sponsored child’s siblings though!
Oh Happy Day! This video makes me smile all over! We sponsor 2 children and I receive letters of beauty, coloring’s from their hands, beautiful children of the Lord!
I anxiously awaited my first letter and was a bit disappointed when I received it. I believe it was written (somewhat, she is 5) by my little girl, but it was written months before I became her sponsor. It is generic and repeats information I already have. I do hold it precious though as she has written on it. I am anxious though to receive a first REAL letter. I have already sent 4!
I agree that is awesome how they started singing and praising! we just started sponsoring and I wish I could have seen the face of my sponsor child when she and her family found out. I can not wait to meet them. I am praying the Lord will be sending us with in two years. I love this ministry!
I am so excited to be a part of my children’s lives in Africa. I decided on Africa because my three of my own grandchildren are half African-American, and wanted to sponsor as many kids as I have grandkids, so I now have 6 sponsored children! We are called to help these precious little ones and as sponsors, we have committed to them. God bless them and all you sponsors!
Hi y’all. I am like some others who commented above. I have had the call to sponsor for over 2 years. I even picked out my kids at a Christian concert. But I did not do anything with them and kept feeling horrible. Then, recently, Compassion had these ads on the radio stations I listen to and they were specific to older kids. I knew that was God talking to me. I felt like he was saying, “wow, the kids you picked out are not going to even be kids much longer”. And how many poor 16-18 yr olds are there who need a sponsor. So, I went online and instantly knew I wanted a boy. I just waited for the H.S. to pick one out. I was looking for one who looked way young for his age, because it might mean he has been malnourished and didn’t develop properly. I found my kid and sponsored him and am awaiting his letter. He is 17 and probably thought the world had passed him by since all the little kiddo’s are the ones getting sponsored so quick. I figure this is the best deal ever, because I can keep sponsoring older kids because I won’t have to sponsor them as long as younger ones!
Oh, but I agree with the guy who said that although this was a real scenario – it did look like it was reenacted…. but who cares?
This video got me excited for what i just agreed to do. I’ve received my first letter from Emmanual and it touched my heart! Thank you for sharing this moment with us!
Oh. I am so happy for you Linda and Emmanual! I hope you develop a great friendship. Sponsorship is such a blessing. 🙂
This video just confirms why my husband and I are sponsoring a child. We just learned that Monica now knows she is sponsored. God commands us to love, to give and to help those less fortunate. We are excited to have this opportunity to welcome Monica into our lives and to share precious moments, and be able to support her and her daily needs. Thank you Compassion.
Oh I just cried seeing this. This is my first time sponsoring a child and I am so touched by this video to learn how much it means to the family and the child
I was in tears after seeing how joyful and thankful those parents were after learning that their child was sponsored by someone in New Zealand. I thank God for this opportunity. I pray God’s blessings our all who are sponsoring–, may God’s favor continue to enable you to make the future brighter for a child you might never meet. And may they and their family grow to know Christ as their Lord Savior.
I began sponsoring Solomon in Africa at a Matthew West concert in Sept. I felt God calling me, so I answered. You just never know what’s going to happen because I lost my husband suddenly October 20. Now I have 4 kids to raise on my own, but because God has provided once again and blessed me financially, there will be no problem continuing to support Solomon. I am happy to answer and continue God’s call and watching this video just compensates the good in it all!
This vedio was heart felt. I want to go write my letter now. I am blessed to be a blessing and am so thankful the Lord has chosen me to be His vessel
Having said that, we see this all the time here in the States. Reality TV which we have become used to, is full of re-enactments and staged scenes. So in my opinion, it does not really take away from the reality of what the producers of the video were trying to portray.
I have lived in Africa most of my life and was raised in West Africa where this video was shot. To me the scenario is legitimate and the joy is real- particularly the song is typical of the response to good news in WA- they are rejoicing, but the video of the meeting itself is clearly staged or perhaps “re-enacted”. They are acting. The child picking his nose on camera is a sign of nervousness.
What a wonderful video. This really touched my heart knowing this family is excited about my sponsorship. The Lord will be praised day in and day out for sending this child to me thru my church.
This video was very touching. God is great ! Seeing this family’s happiness that their child was sponsored brings tears to my eyes and warms my hearth. I wish i can see my sponsored child family reaction.
God bless everyone!
We just found out our sponsored child now knows she is sponsored. It is a very happy occasion for us. We just can’t wait to get our first letter. We have sent two to our child, our first introduction letter and one for her birthday which comes very soon. Hope she gets it on time and now it looks like she will. We are indeed blessed. Who’d would have thought that at 63 years old, we have a new child to share our lives with. God is so very good.
Oh, yes, I’ve taught in several centers in Bolivia and I would see the children write the letters to the sponsors. They are definitely not written by someone in Colorado Springs….
Can you imagine the job:
“We’re looking for someone to write children’s letters. We have about 1,2 million sponsors that we need to fool. So, we’re looking for someone, who can write in 20 plus languages, answer sponsor letters, Also, be able to continually change their handwriting, because some sponsors sponsor multiple children in the same country.”
Then they need to find thousands and thousands of children in those countries and then staff to put on shows for visiting sponsors. They also need to make sure that they have children that look very much like the children’s photos that they send out, because every year thousands of sponsors visit their children. Then they need to make sure that some of them join the LDP and act like they’re receiving money. Probably the hardest to orchastrate are all the CSP babies. Then in each of the countries the staff in the country office needs to act like there are real children. Then the GMC office needs to create this huge illussion of handling all of these letters.
This is a really good scheme…. This tops the biggest heist movies…. Then Wess Stafford needs to really live on top of a mountain in Switzerland, look like he is dressed like a Communist from Mainland China, bald and petting a white cat on his lap….. Then someone needs to go steal his girl friend and blow up his hide out…..
Now pay attention 007, this is your mission…… jajajajajajaja
Thank you so much for this.
We just don’t understand how it is in the rest of the world when we are living in all of our abundance. I am so honored to be able to be a part of this sponsor program. All of the glory goes to God!!!
My daughter and I are sponsoring a child in Ghana and I can only hope she and her grandmother have this kind of joy when notified. I was also overjoyed when I received my initial packet on her. I wrote my letter right away and cannot wait to receive my letter from her. It is a blessing for both sides. Wish you could post and show more videos so people can see what a joy sponsorship is.
this is obviously fake! look how unnatural this is, their greetings, and the way they just go and hug them at the same time. i’m thoroughly upset that i have given money to a company fronting as an organization to help children. what a scam! i’ll probably be recieving a letter back written by a woman from colorado. nice, really really, nice.
hi caitlin, i realize this is super late to reply, but my husband and i got the opportunity through his band to go visit multiple compassion projects in the philippines and many friends who have met their sponsored children in Africa. It is an amazing organization, one of the very best i have ever seen in regards to doing exactly what they say they will do with your money. it is a miracle that children born into poverty are literally released from the cycle and never have to return to it. and its all in jesus name. truly amazing.
Excuse me Caitlin, wow, you do not have heart for the things of the Lord, how sad. You have never been to a third world country have you? Their culture is very different from Western ones, they respond is different ways too. Don’t be so quick to voice your opinion on something you probably don’t know anything about. They are real and REALLY rejoicing.
Caitlin,
I’ve been sponsoring for quite awhile. I get letters from my kids and you can tell right away by the handwriting that the letters aren’t written by someone from the States. The handwriting here and the handwriting in Africa is alot different. I sponsor two in Ethiopia and one in Tanzania. I can assure you that your sponsorship is not fake,and that the letters are coming from the country of orgin. 🙂 The mail goes to Colorado Springs and then is distributed to sponsors but is definatly not written there. Culture here and culture in Africa is alot different. The reactions you are seeing is a cultural difference.
Hi, Caitlin, I rewatched the video again. I could see in the USA how that would be fake, but I don’t believe it is. This is Africa and there culture is different.
I had the unique opportunity to tell a mother that I found a sponsor for her child in Bolivia. I lived in Bolivia from time to time for together 7 months. So, through the internet I was able to look for sponsors in the USA. I can tell you, that when I told the mother, she was very close to crying. It’s a huge deal. The sponsor is very important to the child.
Although I must say that I’m not sure that with your level of skepticism that you might believe me. You’re welcome to call me and ask me anything that you wish. (310) 933-4284. I’m not a employee of Compassion. I’m a volunteer. I’ve been to and taught in many of the centers. I’ve volunteered in the country office of Bolivia. So, I got to see it all from a very close prospective. Anyways, feel free to call me and ask me the hardest questions, you can imagine you can ask. I would be happy to talk with you about. Trust me, if you can show me it’s fake, I want to know about, because then we’re talking it’s huge scam and they have put on quite the show for me. It would have been a show of thousands of people. And then especially all those children. But call me….
I just started sponsering two beautiful children through compassion! I have had it on my heart for years, but due to financial things (and because I believed I was too young, 21 now), I never did do so. But, God has blessed me so much that now I am proud to say I have two sponser children! Seeing this video just gives me such hope for them and their families! Knowing that the little money I provide for them can make them so excited, is a blessing in and of itself! So, thank you for sharing this wonderful video! It truly spoke to me!
My wife recently told me of her desire to sponsor a child through compassion . I have major medical issues which has left me unable to work and because of that we have financial hardships on a regular basis . We both agreed that by becoming a sponsor to a child is what we wanted to do . Knowing our child is safe and will get needed medical care, fresh water and would be enrolled in this wonderful program along with help for the entire family in one way or another is the greatest feeling we have ever experienced…We have written our first letter a week ago and was emailed by compassion it was recieved and is now being translated for delivery. And have just been informed today by compassion our sponsor child Mwiseneza from Rwanda who is 16 yrs old has been told she has a sponsor and will be writing us very soon.. We are so happy to hear she is excited and are eagerly waiting for her letter.
I recently read a story about a missinary in africa that was handing out bottled water to children and gave one to a young boy.. He asked the missionary if it was his to keep …the reply was yes this is for you to drink..Amazed the boy looked up and said i am going to take this water home to show and share with my family because it is the most beautiful thing i have ever seen in my life…..A simple bottle of water that we take for granted was the most beautiful thing that young man had ever seen…..I will never ever forget that..
I need to read and remember stories such as this every day. It’s convicting to think of how much value this child recognized in a ‘simple’ bottle of water. And here I am, in the U.S., with so many material blessings, more food than I can eat, more clothes than I can wear, etc. We just have no comprehension of what poverty truly is.
I got my first letter from my child a few weeks ago. I already wrote her back. 🙂 Her letter was writen by her Mother. It was so cool. It told so much about her family and even her friends. I love it. I can’t wait to get another one.
Seeing this video made me so happy! I’m fairly young to be sponsoring a child all by myself and I’m not very good at writing, but this video shows you how much of a blessing to these children we are. God was truely shining his light on me when I found out about this organization. So glad to be apart of something this amazing!
Amen……what a blessing! This trully warms and brings joy to my heart. To know my sponsor child and family know my name aswell is wonderful. Love to be a blessing.
I love this. Awesome video and so great to see the meaning of what you do.
I just want to share with anyone who is reading this comment. I am comming from a very poor family of South America, I know what hungry is, I know how hit is the ground when you are not wearing shoes. Thank you to God my mother’s siblings always share their few goods with me and my brother. I never stop going the school then I became a nurse, I inmigrated to US my life came together. I adopted two precious children and I am sponsoring one child from Tanzania. Since I began doing that my life is fulfill and I am happy. God keeps my budget bless!
Im glad to know that they are so grateful I sponsored him. Yes, this is my child, I sponsered him alittle over a month ago. I am thrilled I got a video of him showing his reaction.
Thank You Compassion
OMGoodness! You’re kidding! I am so happy for you. To be able to see your child and his family, what a blessing! Just curious, did compassion tell you about the video, or did you just happen to see it?
I have been to 4 overseas mission an have fell in love with children there and was so glad i had the opportunity to sponsor a child. and it was great to see the reaction 0f a family that also got some one to sponsor their child
I am so happy to see that video. I am thrilled to be part of this
and know its the Lords desire that we help all of his children.
I have written Josue and am anxious to get mail back even though he is very young. I am praying for him.
I enjoyed the video very much. I was able to connect with the mother’s joy immediately. I too respond with singing when something good happens for my children. I was just curious if you have any children in Cambodia? Blessings to you all.
My husband and I are new sponsors and just received our notification that our precious little girl has been told that she has a sponsor. I hope that her family is excited too like the couple in the video…I know that we are! Thanks Compassion for being our “hands” to express Christ’s love for this lovely child so far away. We’re so happy to share what the Lord has provided.
What a blessing to share in the celebration of the family in Ghana over the sponsorship of their child! When I was in Senegal, families there proudly showed photos of any sponsors the children in their villages had, and also the school materials that sponsorship enabled the children to have. Sponsoring is a wonderful connection.
That is so Great! The parents were so happy fills my heart with gratefulness that i am able to sponsor through compassion, I am awaiting my first letter i can t wait to see it.
The Lord is good.
I thank God for Ester! And I thank God for the means to be able to sponsor her! I look forward to hearing all about Esther and her family. I also look forward to sharing my life and family with her.
In Christ,
Kathy
I am sponsoring a child for the first time in my life (46 years old). It has come to my heart at others times, but I did not listen to what God wanted me to do. This time he pretty much slapped me in the face when I picked up my child’s card and I saw she and I shared the same first name. When I looked in my checkbook to submit my first sponsor payment, I had EXACTLY the correct amount only in my checkbook. I am thankful God has put this in my life!!
Hi Veronica, I had to laugh when I read your post. I, too, had the call to sponsor a child over the years, and chose not to heed the call. Then, in March, God put the image of a child in need in my head, and asked me exactly when I planned to do something to help. When I hesitated on the thought, the voice in my head said “How about right now.” Two days later my wife and I sponsored our beautiful Compassion child, Luz from Bolivia.
Thanks for the reply Jim. My husband and I are so glad we have put our hearts in this endeavor. I love seeing Veronica’s letter and she recently sent us a picture she colored. I wrote and told her it hangs on my Fridge where I can see it every day and pray for her and think about her.
Veronica, thank you for sharing that. That is really cool. 🙂 I love how God works.
The video is heart-touching. I’m so happy that God has blessed me abundantly, so I can share His blessings with others. I am anxiously awaiting my frist letter from 8-year old Ana, in Peru. When I receive it, I too will most likely jump up and down, and sing for joy. Compassion sponsorhip is a two-fold blessing; child and sponsor both feel the love of the Father.
That’s great! I often think about what the kids must think when they find out they’ve been sponsored, but I failed to consider that how joyful the parents must feel.
Agh, that made me cry, too!
I love that they make it so personal! Great video and thank you for sharing the process with us!
My Husband and I just signed up tonight to sponsor a child! We are very excited! We learned about Compassion International at Jeremy Camp’s concert this past weekend! We felt that this is what God wants us to do! We cant wait to get our packet in the mail!
I recently got my first letter from the child I am sponsoring and I was so excited!!!!! I made sure I wrote her right back. I will probably sponsor another child next month.
I recently sponsored a girl in Honduras. How long did it take for the first letter to arrive at your home after deciding to sponsor her?
Jean -I think it took about 3 wks. as I signed up in mid-Oct. to sponsor a child in Honduras, and I received the first letter from her couple of days ago.
I would give just about anything to see the expression on my lovely sponsor child and her family’s face when they got the news! I’m really thankful that I have been blessed enough to be able to help out a family in need.
So cool!!! I’d love to see more of the kids’ reactions!
That made me cry!
What a great video – tears of joy are in my eyes! I was recently able to sponsor a boy in Peru on an advocate tour. His entire family was standing in front of me when I told them I would sponsor little Emanuel. It was a highlight in my Compassion experience!
Great video! In Tanzania this summer, I had the privilege of witnessing several children being told they had a sponsor. It was very emotional and very special to see! It ‘s truly wonderful news for the child and the family and the cause of much celebration in the home.
On another note, does anyone know if the introductory letter to a new sponsor written by the child is fairly standard from country to country? I was surprised to learn that this letter “must contain detailed information about the child and the family”.One of my boys (in Uganda), whom I have had for a year and a half, has written four times and I still don’t know who his family members are. My other Ugandan child wrote detailed info. in his first letter. In looking back at my other kids’ first letters, it was a mixed bag whether they told me anything about their families…some not until much later. As stated in this post, though, my children in Ghana told me all about their families in their first letters 🙂
my kid was probably one of those! I got her this summer at church camp! ive only had her since july and she has already written me four times! I love getting those letters!!
Stephanie, it looks like this post is specific to Ghana. I think it’s great that they make sure that each child’s first letter has all this information! Everything I have heard about Ghana’s letter writing process has really impressed me. I’m sure other countries work hard to have an effective letter writing process, but Ghana just seems to do an outstanding job at it!
That video made me want to sponsor like 10 more kids! 🙂
Lisa, I’m so glad to hear this. I’m actually looking for sponsors for several children in the Cochabamba area in Bolivia. I got several photos of them, including photos of them when their official Compassion picture was taken. They are very good letter writers and they’ll answer every letter that you wrote them.
That made me cry like a baby! Praise God! I am so honored and thankful that He allows me to be part of what He’s doing in these families! 🙂
Such a great video! This video melts my heart! It just goes to show what a great thing we are doing as sponsors! Thanks for posting it!
I think if I had the job of telling families their child got sponsored and each one reacted like this, then I would cry all day long. That is really awesome to watch.
That would be a tough job. Generally, within each project there is a person with the title of “Sponsorship responsible” who takes care of this. They also handle the letters and the visits to the project (that’s very few, maybe one a year). They are the ones, who take the photos. Given that the average project is probably about 200 children, you won’t be crying all day long, because if 20 -30 children are without sponsors, you won’t have to do this all day long. 🙂
Beautiful!!! Video clips have a special way of touching the heart; it would be nice to see to be more of them representing each of Compassion’s countries.
I love that video! Such joy they have. Thanks for posting this.
Brings tears to my eyes…. the team work that goes into making this possible… the careful way this unfolds… the many hands and hearts linking these precious children to us, their sponsors…. God is being glorified!
we sponsored one of our children during a sponsored tour — so he found out first — they took us to him and said Obed, guess what — you have sponsors and here they are! he was pretty overwhelmed to say the least!!
That’s a pretty neat video. I like how they are starting to sing a song at the end! I was blessed to tell a few children that they have a new sponsor, because I had just found one for them. But noone ever sang a song like that! LOL So, this is cool.