Last night was one of the best nights of my life. I got to meet Amisi, my 5-year-old sponsored boy; the Uganda office was kind enough to coordinate our visit.
I have to say, Amisi has to be the cutest boy in the entire country. Of course, I’m sure I’m a bit biased. I was worried he would be scared or overwhelmed by Kampala since it’s such a large city. But he was so excited. As soon as he saw me, he ran to hug me. He loved the coloring books, stickers and his new ball, but nothing could compete with the doors in the hotel lobby that automatically opened. He’d never seen anything like it. He was squealing and laughing so loud I was afraid we’d get kicked out of the hotel!
He knows a few English words. He knows, “Jesus,” “Thank you,” and “sponsor.” He also knew enough to laugh at me as I tried out a few words in his native language.
I really didn’t think he would understand who I was, but the project director said he’s been telling all of his friends that he was going to meet his sponsor. He was excited all week.
If you are a sponsor, I would encourage you to check into visiting your child! It means so much to them — and to you! If you don’t already sponsor a child, please pray about it today!
12 Comments |Add a comment
Robyn,
Thanks again for sharing!!! It is amazing!!! When I went to Nicaragua Osmari’s mom told me she didn’t think I was really going to show up until the Compassion people called them. I would write in the letters I was going to visit to force myself to figure out a way to go!!! I am very thankful I did visit!!! For that reason and the amazing benefits to Osmari and myself. I guess it seems impossible until you do it!!! Now I am still in disbelief as I look at the pictures from the trip!!! My advice to people who truly want to visit is to start telling people you are going to visit. That is what I did!!! I only received $20 for the Philipppines Sponsor Tour from someone else, but I didn’t even ask for it I was just saying how I am going to the Philippines to visit the boys I sponsor with Compassion and thanks to God a month as a taxi driver nearly paid the whole trip!!! Trust God not man!!!
I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for YOU!!!”
Hi Robyn&Sharon, How exciting to me your sponsor child,i am saving and if God is willing i am praying and planing to meet my sponsor child in 2009.I can’t wait!!! Sucema
Dear Sharon and Robyn,
There can only be a positive effect in a child’s life, if you only mean well by visiting them. I think they’d be willing to meet that special some one in person, who has the heart to help them without knowing them.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.(Romans 8:28 NIV)
Hi Sharon,
That’s a great question! I really do think Amisi was fine when I left. I think it just made him feel special to know that I wanted to meet him. Hope, the Compassion worker who coordinated the visit, was so good with him. He seemed to love her so much. I know she will help him process his feelings. Now for me, on the other hand — it was hard. I did not want to leave him! I miss him very much. But it helped to meet the Compassion workers, like Hope, and see how much they care about each child. I can rest assured knowing he is in excellent hands. Thanks so much for your question! God bless you!
Hi Robyn, What an exciting experience! I just wondered if you had any idea how it affected the child when you had to leave? Even for yourself.
That would be my concern, as much as I would love to do the same for my child.
Thanks and God bless!!!
What a wonderful thing to actually meet your sponsored child! We think of our four children in Haiti as part of our family. How great it would be to visit them in Haiti and teach our children about them first hand. We hope to do this in the future. For now we love them and pray for them daily. If you haven’t sponsored a child, pray and seek God’s direction, it is such an awesome blessing.
On my first sponsors tour to DR, I had only one child to visit. So many times, on the day that we spent with our children, some piece of my mind opened its eyes really wide and said, “I’m here! I’m in a foreign country, hugging, talking with and watching this precious child!” I know of nothing that compares with hugging your sponsored child and witnessing her or his developing personality. It truly is priceless.
Someday I want to visit both of my sponsored children one in Haiti and one in Nicaragua.
That sounds so amazing! I can’t wait till I am able to visit my sponsored children!
What an amazing experience! I would love to meet my sponsored child one day.
meeting linet when we were in uganda on the blogging trip was amazing. i can’t wait to meet abdukerim, who lives in ethiopia. we are saving to visit him soon.
Robyn,
Yes meeting your sponsored child for the first time is a miraculous experience. It is so amazing to see the love in their eyes as you realize that you mean more to them than you could ever imagined. Have fun!