As the sun fades away, I rest with a million thoughts and concerns for that one child who once lacked a safe place to lay his head for the night, a full stomach, and the ability to overcome hopelessness.
In the quest to share my times and moments as a sponsored child, I’ve come across amazing men and women of faith with hearts of gold on a mission to serve wholly.
I must admit, it is precious to hear their expectations, including how they can motivate and have great impact on their sponsored child.
Twenty-plus years down the line, Compassion International is the benchmark of hope in the heart of Africa’s second-largest slum in addition to many other communities under similar conditions. Compassion offers cutting-edge opportunities to lay a foundation of Christian faith, set a meal, and provide quality medical attention.
There are many of us who pose as a testimony to such a journey worth patience and trust.
Age 6 marked the genesis to my relationship with a young sponsor from thousands of miles away who shaped me into the husband, brother and scholar that I am today.
Without Compassion at the scene, I wonder who and where would I be and what my relationship with Christ would look like.
No doubt, education would have been a tale to a little poor kid engraved in a community of crime, drug addiction, HIV/AIDS, illiteracy and poverty. Still, I go strong.
Without Christ, I would be nowhere and nobody.
For many years I saw unsponsored children clinging on the child development center’s fence around mealtimes in hopes of getting food just like those of us who were sure of a nutritious meal.
This image has always been part of my driving force for speaking at Compassion events: I believe every child sponsored is equivalent to at least one waiting for food on the other side of the fence.
As the world keeps changing faces — be it politically or socially — many seem to overlook poverty and turn to social stratification. This raises attention to the widespread poverty in developing countries.
As a person who lived through such poverty, I believe it is the individual who is able to make a difference — one child at a time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Godfrey Miheso graduated from Sterling College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2011. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Kate, where he coaches soccer at Orlando City Youth Soccer and The Master’s Academy.
9 Comments |Add a comment
Thank you for sharing this, Godfrey. It was very inspiring and well-written. It sounds like things are going well for you in Florida. I pray for God’s richest blessings for you and your family as you speak out for those in need. Your Missouri Friend-
Praise God for you! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. God bless you richly!
Because of Jesus,
Cindy
Thank you so much for this, I am a sponsor of 6 children, and I say SPONSOR! If you have not done so yet, what are you waiting for? God will use you to help others BUT YOU Will get the blessing of the letters of grateful and beautiful children, and you will be able to speak God’s truth in the lives of these little ones, it is such a blessing, I LOVE IT!!!!!!
Why can’t the unsponsored children be fed, too?
Hello! The main reason why the unsponsored children are not fed is because there aren’t enough resources to take care of the sponsored kids and unsponsored kids. The ratio of unsponsored kids to sponsored is too high. The bottom line is that there is still a huge need for sponsors to make sure kids can be fed, dressed, educated, and given medical attention.
That’s actually not true. The unsponsored kids get the same treatment as sponsored kids. The only difference is having a sponsor who sends gifts, letters and maybe come for a visit.
Thank you for sharing your story. How inspiring and how much it points to God’s faithfulness, even in the midst of deep pain. He always has a plan, through everything, even when it looks like we’re forgotten. Yes, sponsor, sponsor, sponsor! Praise God for Compassion and for the effectiveness in which it shares the rewards and successes of sponsorship.
We in the western world are so spoiled – yes we have those who suffer here in the US but I don’t think anything compares to those in the “3rd” world. It breaks my heart. I’m so excited to be just a small part of helping others – I wish many others would jump in as well!
On January 10, 2013 I returned home to the United States from my first Bangladesh visit. I can share in this man’s comments on the many children laying on the ground peeking under the fence and also the ones looking over the wall to see the sponsored children having their meal of the day. Being a sponsor gives more than meals, education and healthcare…it gives hopes and dreams. It takes so little for us to share our blessings to these children waiting under the fence for a chance for their dreams of a better future.