Merriam-Webster defines compassion this way:
sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it
Momma Heidi had it in spades.
I recently shared with you a corner of my mom’s heart that I stumbled upon in one of her journals – her desire to serve God by serving children in need. Though God honored this desire by sending her love around the globe in shoeboxes, her missionary friends’ work in Central America stirred compassion within her specifically toward the children of El Salvador.
Our family has been acquainted with the work of Compassion International since the mid 90’s. Though she was financially unable to support their work at the time, she believed in their ministry and longed to stand with them in the fight against poverty. Many years later, after my sister and her husband generously helped Mom buy her home, she expressed her gratitude to God by sponsoring a beautiful girl named Karla from – you guessed it – El Salvador.
Mom faithfully supported Karla for years. Her monthly sponsorship provided education, vocational training, basic hygiene, nutritional support, medical exams, and a safe place to learn and grow with other children at the Compassion Center. Her additional gifts provided supplemental food for Karla and her family during difficult seasons, clothing, and some fun toys and treats for Karla for birthdays and Christmas. When Karla graduated from the program and shared with Mom her training and desire to become a beautician, Mom was delighted. And though her heart broke to say goodbye to her Little Karla, Mom eagerly welcomed a new little girl from El Salvador – the precious Ilsia.
One of the greatest joys of child sponsorship is correspondence. Compassion International is vocal about the difference a written letter makes in a child’s life but the truth is, a written letter from a child can be an unspeakable blessing to those of us in America. For most of Mom’s second sponsorship, she was cognitively unable to send many letters, but Ilsia’s letters brought joy, purpose, and clarity to Mom. In hindsight, I think it reminded Mom that God was still using her to bring about His good works in the world. Even as she neared death, she served God in this way. As her body and mind grew weaker here in Upper Michigan, her spirit gloried in ministry to these children of El Salvador.
Every now and again, I imagine Mom sidling up to Jesus, leaning to His ear, and smiling as she whispers her joy and affection for Ilsia and Karla. However deep her love for the girls in this life, I know that eternity cannot help but multiply it. As a treasured daughter of Mom’s heart, though, our family could not let go of Ilsia after Mom’s passing; We chose to continue her sponsorship in hopes of seeing the fruition of God’s work in her life.
In my last post, I invited you to join me in packing shoeboxes as an expression of God’s faithfulness.
This morning, I urge you toward Compassion. As a longtime sponsor myself, I cannot recommend child sponsorship highly enough. If that’s you, if your heart longs for the blessing and ministry of sponsoring a child in poverty, I rejoice with you. Just visit Compassion International and follow the prompts to select a child.
But this morning, as a group effort, I’d like to ask you to join me in a special gift to another venue of Compassion’s work. In honor of Mom’s ministry to Karla and Ilsia through Compassion International, as well as her ministry as a nurse to mommas and babies here in the Upper Peninsula, would you consider giving a small gift to the Baby’s Medical Care fund through Compassion International?
The minimum donation amount to this project is $5.
$60 will provide care for a baby for the first 12 months of her life.
If twelve of us gave $5, we could provide medical care for one baby for an entire year.
But here’s the ice cream: For October and November, Hubby and I will match donations made by my subscribers to this fund. That means your donation is doubled. (Just send me a quick photo of your giving receipt so I can verify the amount.)
And here’s the cherry on top – just for Ilsia: We have confirmed a second matching partner for this endeavor. That means your gift of $5 becomes $15.
That means if twelve of you give $5 to this fund, we aren’t providing $60 in medical care for one child for one year; it means we are providing $180 in medical care for three children in poverty.
Five dollars, friends. Glory in God’s faithfulness. Let Him use you to show His faithfulness to these precious Little Ones in life’s most difficult circumstances.
Not a subscriber? Click one of the “subscribe” buttons or send me an email. We’ll match you.
From my heart to yours,
This is wonderful. I will help
support.
Thank you so much!