3 Years of Change

My Compassion sponsor child,
Philip Acquah Addison, 9 years old

Today I received a card in the mail. A card that made me stop and think about the past 3 years of my life. The front had a small child on it saying 'Happy 3 Years with Compassion'. I have been sponsoring my child for over 3 years now... and he has changed my life. This isn't an advertisement for Compassion, this is just me expressing what's happened for me as a result of this.

I started sponsoring a child when I started working at the post office and had a steady income. I felt I wanted to start giving back with what I've been blessed with. I chose a child that was in need of immediate sponsorship and went from there. Philip Acquah Addison is probably the best thing to happen to me in the past 3 years.

In letters I sent pictures of myself and my family for Philip. I told him about my life, what I was going to go to school for (this was before I was at NAIT). When he saw it was relating to computers he drew me a computer in every letter he sent me. I've lost more letters than I would like to admit to, but thinking about it fills me with absolute joy. I try to write him regularly and really appreciate the updated pictures and updates on what's going on with his life and family.

Philip was 6 when I started sponsoring him. He obviously hasn't written the letters to me himself, but I can tell they're his writing. I can sense the appreciation he has for me and other sponsors by what his young mind tries to send to me. The thought that goes into these letters... it blows me away. The last letter I got I still have on my desk and the message is as follows:

Philip says that God Almighty is the only one who will look through everything, you and look through your work and heart desires. May you get anything you want in the name of God.

I understand he may be being coached by the person actually writing the letter for him... but this brings tears to my eyes. It makes me think about my relationship with God and how he does know our hearts desires. He put them there for a reason. Philip asks where I will spend my holidays. His prayer for me is that God Almight should give me wisdom and understanding. His drawing, right in the middle of the page, is a simple heart with the letter 'I' above it and 'U' below it. Thinking about Philip makes me think about how blessed I am. But that's why I sponsor a child. Because I am blessed and I am able. I want to make a difference in a world where there is growing apathy.

I posted a picture of Philip up above, sorry for the bad quality. I couldn't get any good lighting that didn't need a flash from my phone and I didn't feel like kicking my scanner in the teeth to get it to work. If anyone reading this is contemplating sponsoring a child, do it. It will be the most rewarding thing in your life when you get that first letter. And then the second. And the third. And each one after that. It puts your life into perspective when you read the words coming from the young mind you are helping to survive in a country where poverty is rampant. You are giving hope to the hopeless, peace of mind to the restless. This blog post may be scattered, but I don't care. Sponsoring a child was something I always saw at YC and BreakForth and wanted to do but never had the money to. Ever since I had a job, and in between when I was going to school, I made it a priority, and I believe I have been blessed head over heels for it.


Update: After checking the Compassion website, I started sponsoring Philip on October 08, 2008. This makes this year the 4th year I will have been sponsoring him and he turns 10 in June.