Rumblings and stirring launched Plan A. Go somewhere uncomfortable, do something meaningful, and bless everyone along the way. Plan A pointed to Africa. For years, God placed the beautiful continent on my heart and mind. Time to step into the unknown. An internet search led to a ministry working with children in Uganda. I completed …
The unknown number went to voicemail. Compassion International’s call delivered bittersweet news. The young man I correspond with in El Salvador was graduating. Wilmer, 16, completed all the available programs at his project and our time together was ending. Wilmer’s long informative letters with beautiful drawings brightened my day. When he won a drawing contest …
How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. ~A.A. Milne One email. Double heartbreak. A request to visit our sponsored child, Chisomo, in Malawi was denied (heart break #1). After assisting his community for ten-plus years, World Vision completed their work and needed to assist another area. This meant our …
Samuel’s black jacket hung loose on his thin frame. At his Compassion project in Tanzania, he demonstrated his proficiency at welding, woodworking, and sewing. Following the tour of the facilities, we drove part way, then walked a short distance to this young man’s home. Samuel was of the Maasai tribe and the man of the …
The metal sliding board rose in the middle of the modest playground. Children bunched together waiting for a turn down the slick runway. Goodluck and his buddies climbed up and giggled down, anxious to repeat. Goodluck dreamed of becoming a pilot. Too young to understand the science and skill of aviation, his dream hinged on …
Relay races with colorful balloons squeezed between legs. Ping pong balls balanced on plastic spoons. Time for fun and games with children at a Compassion project in Oaxaca, Mexico. Chaos and laughter erupted when balloons popped and ping pong balls bounced away. The sound of pure joy filled the church’s sanctuary. A team member brought gold medals …
In the little grocery store, we purchased beans, oil, and rice. We added sugar, once rationed, to our basket along with a sweet treat: lollipops. With our box of staples packed,we drove to Goodluck’s home in Tanzania. While my husband climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with Compassion International, I traveled with a Compassion representative to spend additional time …
The two towns appeared close; approximately an inch separated Arusha and Karatu in Tanzania. ‘One inch’ translated into a three-hour drive, one way. Better map-reading would have allowed fear to keep me in Arusha. But a Love lesson awaited, just an inch away. In Karatu, two Compassion Centers added wood and metal shops to provide …
His excitement was palpable. “In March, I will be 11 years old and I’m going to get a chocolate cake.” Israel lives in Peru and shared his chocolate news with me 3,500 miles away.Yay for birthdays celebrated with chocolate cake! His sentence contained two of my favorite things: chocolate and cake. My fingers flew across the …
The thick envelope exposed the secret. In addition to a donation request, the American Heart Association enclosed return address labels decorated for Valentine’s Day. “Be Mine” and “With Love” written across red and gold hearts adorned each sticky label. Reminders to be kind to my heart, go easy on the chocolate, and spread some love …