To Change The Story

April is coming on fast and Compassion International (along with numerous sponsors) will doing something special on April 21st: Compassion Sunday.

{Click on the above image to learn more about Compassion Sunday}

Compassion Sunday is a yearly event, drawing the attention of the Church to the needs of  poor children...And I, as a sponsor, am participating! I get to talk about my story of Compassion here on my blog and at my Church.

Check out my Compassion Sunday page!

If you have read any of my past assignment posts for Compassion, you may have learned bits and pieces of my Sponsorship story. But here's the whole story from beginning to end:

      For Christmas 2012, I received Alex and Brett Harris' book Start Here. Near the back of the book is 100 Hard Things, one of which said "Sponsored a child through Compassion International."
After reading those 100 hard things, I wanted to complete at least one of them. So I chose to sponsor a child (not knowing the money involved, or anything for that matter!).

On Compassion's website, I eagerly chose my preferences of gender, Where in The World, and age: Girl (I definitely wanted a girl!), somewhere in Asia, and ages 3-10 would do.
So many profiles came up before my eyes! Out of all of them, I figured a little girl from Bangladesh was the girl I would sponsor. Though, strangely enough, God had other plans in mind...The five year old girl in Bangladesh was sponsored by someone else before I even started talking with my parents about sponsorship! Disappointed at this (though also very happy that the girl was sponsored), I moved my preferences from Bangladesh to Peru. I found the profile of a nine year old Peruvian girl and this time, I thought long and hard if I would sponsor her. $38.00 was a lot for me to bring in every month ($456 a year!).
With my Mom's permission, I selected my girl. Only problem? I didn't count my money and I had less than I had thought. Nothing extra, I had little more than $38...And I wasn't very happy.
I wrote in my journal "Now I'm in a heap of money trouble. When I gave Mom the $38, I said it was worthless because I spent all my money on a girl for a whole year and I only have enough for one month."

It doesn't sound like I was really wanting to sponsor, does it? My Mom replied, "You mean you spent money...for a girl you don't even want?" Oh dear! But once I started working to bring in the necessary dollars to support my sponsored child, I soon realized it was a good choice. My first letter from her was exciting and I wrote one back soon after. She wrote me that she loved me, and I've never regretted my decision to sponsor her.

And that is how my life was changed by one girl in Peru, South America, one book, and an amazing ministry helping children in need.

Book Review: The One Year Father-Daughter Devotions

 

      The One Year Father-Daughter Devotions is a day-by-day book designed to keep the relationship of a Dad and his daughter close and special as the daughter becomes a young lady. It includes a movie night guide in the back, "On this day" devotionals, and true stories of various individuals. At the end of each devotional, there is a "What's The Word?" with the Bible verse pertaining to that day's devotional. From topics about computers to Olympic sports, it is very informational.

      I enjoyed this Devotional because I learned about many different things from this book, including care packs and adoption.  I liked the history behind some of the devotionals, and some of the stories were downright funny (thieves' antics, translation mess-ups, etc).  The topics of World War II, music, and the Olympics were very enthralling for me. 

I wasn't impressed with the movie guide because it had movies I have never heard of and some I don't watch. The devotional seemed more public-school centered, and I am home-schooled. There seemed to be a lot of  Bible versions which left me wondering why they couldn't just stay with one version instead of a whole bunch.  The confusion of which version this verse or that verse was from led us to using our own Bibles.

Here is my Dad's view of the Devotional: 
I would like to see more scripture with each entry that would assist with the context. I prefer us to look the scripture up in the Bible rather than read from the devotion because it seems to paraphrased. I like the content of the daily readings which includes some interesting tidbits of history. The length is appropriate for the daily readings. I enjoy being purposeful about our devotion time, and we have easily adapted it to read with our entire family in the evenings.

This is my first review as a Tyndale Blog Network blogger. I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers  in exchange for my honest review.

 

Saturday's Selections

The Friends

One of my best friends came over a while back (Last Summer. I just haven't gotten around to posting this!) and we had so much fun!!!! We did a sunset photo-shoot.

It started when we looked out my backyard-view window and saw a beautiful sunset. We took one look at each other: We were thinking the same thing. I grabbed my camera on the way out. Our two little sisters tagged along too.

 The two little girls gave in to a 'little girl photo-shoot' and I came up with some great pics.

 

From left to right: My little sis, me, and my friend.

I  like doing a  "heart made with hands" photo-shoot every once in a while!

I haven't the slightest idea why I took this photo...but I like it! :)

Our sisters.

My friend and I. My sister took this photo.

Isn't it fun when the friends come over? I always wish they could stay longer!!!!

Forever my Brother

It's been a long time since I accepted Jesus into my heart. My big brother helped me along with a drawing of what would happen if I didn't accept Him. My brother convinced me that if I did not give my life for Jesus, I would go to the "other place". He drew a smiley face when he wrote about heaven, and a sad face when he wrote about hell.

My brother is helpful to be around, even when he stalks me when I'm trying hard to skype -alone- with my best friend, or when I want to sit in my little corner writing a story, or when we play Apples To Apples and he doesn't want me to get the card for "smart". 

He listens in to my best friend's phone calls (especially when we get talking real fast and excited-like), chases me around the whole perimeter of our wooded backyard,waving his airsoft gun, trying to aim at his escaping sister: a.k.a. me. He doesn't listen to stories of what my favorite music artists did, and anything like that. But he's a special friend to me.

He's been my friend since I was a tiny baby. He'd cover my car seat with a blanket and stick his head in, saying, "Boo!" He once asked my mom to take a video of his foot. His foot, are you kidding?!
If he needs help with spelling a word, he usually comes to me. I like that. It makes me feel like I know something he doesn't. And I sometimes do.

What a brother I have! He is awesome. He's seriously my friend forever. I have a deep passion in being around him. Unless, of course, he wants an airsoft battle when I don't. He loads up the high-powered things, and begs me to "play". How can one play when they're getting pelleted with airsoft BBs? Anyone who has ever 'played' airsoft probably knows they hurt!

 He's a repeater. If I sing something a lot, he'll randomly burst into the parts he's heard most...badly out of tune.:) He knows what makes me excited.
One minute, he's talking with me. The other minute, he's in his room! What a boy! What a great family member! He's the first-born, and an awesome one at that.

And he is forever my friend...

Memorization

This past week I've been watching some Christian movies with some great Scripture verses in them.

I've read them in my Bible for myself and they've really stuck in my memory.
Here are the verses and others I have read:

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 5:8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to the salvation for everyone who believes.

Ecclesiastes 8:1  Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed.

2 Timothy 2;11-14  This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

1 John 4:17-19 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

~Adoption (Part II)~

On many days, I click over to adoption websites, hoping to find resources and requirements. I am always on the search for the ability to convince my parents to adopt at least one little orphan! But I realize these current laws may be obsolete by the time I myself reach the required age to adopt.
I've been looking into Haitian adoption, but I  never knew the established law is that one must be at least 35 years of age and 19 years older than the requested child. I was thinking, "35 years!"
Everything seems satisfactory, but I don't want to sit around, waiting to adopt from Haiti until I 'm 35!
I'm sort of the "jump-right-in, let's-do-it" kind of girl. When it's something I'm inspired to do, I immensely dislike waiting.

I would gladly read fine print, or learn the order of adoption, but the cost of bringing an orphan into one's care always throws me off....$20,000-$40,000?! I would do good to start saving! :)
Not just the money, either! Adoption is more than having cash.

And then I think of the orphans with siblings. They want to stay together, and I love the idea...even though it would usually mean spending twice the amount of money to do so! The thought of only adopting one sibling and leaving the other behind is a thought I hope to never go through with.

I have a board on Pinterest titled "My Dream House." Currently, it has 30 pins on it, compiled of decorations, rooms, furniture. But the many other pins I feel I am missing on the board are children! A house is not complete without kids, with only a few exceptions.
My house will be absolutely filled with children: Biological, adopted, teenaged, babies, multiple different descents. But as long as I am unmarried (and will hopefully continue living with my family until I am), I will keep on praying, loving, searching...and saving.

Saturday's Selections

The widow's offering is something we can all learn from!

Cleaning

I had the pleasure of helping clean at my Grandma's house! Cleaning is one of my favorite things to do (I hope some people reading this can believe that) just as long as it's another person's room or house. That way I see new things that I haven't seen before.

But all work and no play is fairly 'boring' sometimes. So, we went thrift-store shopping! I got two pairs of clothes, a couple books, a purse that matches a hair-thing I own exactly (what a coincidence!), a beaded  picture frame for my friend, and a poodle keychain for my little sister's friend!

I was there for 10 days.That is probably the longest I've ever stayed away from my whole family!
It really wasn't that bad. I liked it. It was a little crazy, though (being away from home that long?!)! But after a few days, we saw plenty of changes! I found interesting items in her house! An old newspaper about horses, things like that.

It was raining one day and my Granny's dog, Sandy, ran away because she is scared of lightning and thunder. We put up a few signs when my Granny called and she was excited. She'd found the poor dog. We had a vet check her up and everything was just fine.

On another day, we were driving past a bunch of horses. Not once did they put their heads in a good position for a picture! I love horses and I said it seemed a little 'unfair' that some people have more than three horses in a pasture and all I want is one! My Grandma said that if she had the money and I lived closer to her she'd buy me one. But I don't!

My favorite site to look for horses and dream that I have one is EquineNow. My best friend loves horses (like me) and she told me that even a miniature horse costs around $1,000. To us, that seems like a lot!

But the week went very well, even if I had been a little homesick (OK, I was pretty homesick, at that!).

~Adoption (Part I)~

It's something I've said so many times. I've already made plans for putting aside money for adopting a child.

No matter where I have to travel, or what age I need to be to meet the adoption requirements, I have insisted that I will adopt at least one boy or girl.
I have even designed my own house to fit my adoptive and biological family. I research countries and their adoption laws; I think about what I need to meet their requirements; and all the while I am putting aside money for it all! Either that is persistence or I'm a big dreamer.

I like basing my inspiration for adoption on James 1:27-"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: To look after orphans and widows in their distress..." Not only do I feel the need to help the fatherless, I feel the inspiring call of eventually bringing home one of these orphans.

I believe the adoption of a parentless child is something beautiful. It is an act of love, of hope, of care.
*Love: You are bringing someone into your home to care for him or her, to love the child God has chosen for you.
*Hope: Imagine the joy of the orphan when he hears he has finally been received into a real home, and now has a loving family. He has hope for a wonderful new life in his forever family.
*Care: An adoptive parent has been so impacted to adopt. The parent cares to give time, money, love...almost anything to give an orphan a home.

I see photos of orphans and destitute children practically every day.  They are not always the sad, half-starved impoverished...the image most people imagine to be. These kids know how to smile and laugh and be glad. But most of the time, they lack one thing that is very important in their lives. And that one thing is love.
Love can be pictured in many different ways: Hugs, prayers, memories. I've read the phrase "in loving memory" dozens of times. In fact, our family watched WALL-E last night and watched the end credits. One sentence way down near the bottom read "In loving memory of....1981-2003." I had never noticed that until last night.

People care to love. It is a selfless act of kindness to love someone or something. And "love," I think, is one of the words that define the reason of the persistence to bring an orphan into one's family for life.

Hearing the story of love from the fatherless' perspective is special. In some instances, you can feel what they have felt...just be listening to their stories. The emotions are what bring people together.

*Note: since this post would have had over 750 words in it, I have decided to create another part to this post! Check later for more!

Saturday's Selections

I prefer this song more than some others because the lyrics inspire me to fear God even more!
"Though darkness fills the Night/It cannot hide the Light" :)
Also, the video has guitar chords on the side, so that is helpful when I play this on my guitar!