In 2004 we responded to a plea given over Christian Radio to sponsor a child through Compassion International. We had no idea the Lord would use this venture to one day be a great blessing in our lives. We were just wanting to be a blessing. Who would have thought that we would one day meet our sponsor child and spend the day with her.

We would like to introduce you to our Compassion daughter, Leti. She was born in 1998 and lives in the southern tip of the Dominican Republic, on the Haiti border.

It will be very difficult to pen our experience but I pray you can catch a glimpse of the impact it has made on our lives.

October 8, 2007 Melanie and I joined a group of Compassion ministry partners and traveled to the Dominican Republic where we spent 5 days among those entrapped in poverty. We have seen and worked with people in great need but it doesn’t compare to what we witnessed on this journey.

The ministry of Compassion International has been in existence over 50 years. Through an application process, their design is to work through the local church to equip, train and prepare churches to start a project in their community. Their intent is to reach the children early in life with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In return, this will provide purpose in life, through Salvation, that will reach out to their families and their community. In a country where there is no hope, the Word of God is the only answer and a miracle that has brought a new beginning to hundreds of thousands.

As we visited their remote villages, walking down the dirt pathways, we passed little structures made of corrugated tin, plastic, concrete and scraps of metal they called home. Many have no running water or restroom facilities and the sewage runs through the villages in ditches. What electricity they have is brought into the homes by splicing extension cords into the power lines not far overhead throughout the community. There were children at play but you didn’t see many toys. Their keen imagination allowed them to take odds and ends of things to play with and occupy their time. When you looked into their eyes there was no expression and a deep feeling of emptiness. The depressed state of poverty had robbed them of all joy and happiness and purpose of life.

The very moment we walked into the first Project, you heard children singing, you heard laughter and you seen smiles from ear to ear. The expression of emptiness was gone and you soon realized how the ministry of Compassion was changing lives through the name of JESUS! It was like a switch had been thrown. The difference between day and night or in this case life and death. It was such a joy to be with the children. We talked with them, through an interpreter, sang with them and helped feed them lunch. We shared with their staff and was able to experience the integrity of the accounting system in each project. These children are loved and cared for just as Jesus would have cared for them.

It was on our first day that we were blessed to meet our Compassion daughter, Leti. They traveled 110 miles to meets us, a very treacherous journey that took 13 hours. She was very shy at first but it wasn’t long before she was holding our hands and smiling. She suffers from several health issues, that she is being treated for, that stem from the poor living conditions of her community. She is blessed to have a Father and Mother and siblings at home. Her project administrator made the journey with her to help care for her needs. We were blessed to have her join our group for lunch. This was her first experience of being in a restaurant. You could tell she wasn’t sure what to do but we finally got her to eat some rice, cold ham and ice cream. (Every kid loves ice cream) We were allowed to take some gifts to her and what a blessing to see her expression of joy! She loves to draw and write so we took pads of paper, markers and crayons but she never let go of the Teddy Bear that we had in the backpack. We soon realized it is not the monetary value of the gift that is important. These are children that have so little and they are thankful. Our day was too short and after lunch they began the long journey back home. Please pray for Leti and her health needs. We ask that you agree with us that God will heal her body and provide good health.

It was a joy to visit a few of their churches. Some very small and some seating around 100 people or more. The children always out number the adults and how they love to sing! The most precious moment was our group singing for the children. The moment we started a song with a familiar tune, they joined in their native tongue and together we became one in the spirit of praise and worship. The presence of the Lord was powerful and so sweet.

I could write for days but I will save more for later. Max Lucado once wrote, “Jesus demonstrated his tenderness by helping those people forgotten by society: He helped the deaf, He helped the lepers, He helped the blind, He helped the crippled. This was how He proved that He was the Messiah: He had a different way of looking at the people. He helped those who had no hope. Proverbs 31: 8-9 says “ Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; defend the rights of all those who have nothing. Speak up and judge fairly, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.” You can be Jesus to someone in need.

Please pray for the precious children around the world. Join us and be an advocate of HOPE to a child in need by saying yes to the sponsorship program of Compassion International. For only $32.00 per month you can bring life to a precious child. Click here or on the Compassion logo on our home page to sign up TODAY! You will be blessed and a blessing at the same time.