This is not the life I should have

Over the weekend, my son and I had the opportunity to work the Compassion table at a youth conference. On Saturday, we were able to hear Lincoln Brewster share a bit about his family life. It struck me when he said, "If they had taken a vote in high school to see who would be least likely to be a worship leader, I would have won that contest."

I could so relate to his statement. I never had any intention of relying on anyone for anything. My goal was to climb the corporate ladder and be one of those 'look, she has it all together career moms'. I know God must have been laughing, because He knew the path my life would take.

Be a stay-at-home mom? No way!

Be a homeschool mom? Not ever in my lifetime!

Minister to children through an organization I had never even heard about in high school? That was something that was never on my radar.

My life is different today than I would ever have thought possible. And I am in awe that God loves me so much that He has allowed me to do things I never thought would be a part of my life. Makes me kind of wonder what other plans He has for my future.

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.

13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Compassion's Gift Catalog

Each Christmas, as we pull out the Christmas ornaments for our tree, I remember back when we earned money to purchase a cow from Compassion's Gift Catalog. 

Kelsey with our Cow ornament, December 2011

But I am not sure if I have ever shared the video we put together!

Cows are currently not available from the gift catalog, but there are many other items available to bless a family this Christmas.

What one gift will you and your family choose this year?

Give Babies a Strong Start on #GivingTuesday

After the rush of sales and deals over the past few days, each one of us has the opportunity to make a difference by giving a bit that will last a lifetime. And this year, for Giving Tuesday, Compassion is looking to do something absolutely amazing! 

Children born into poverty have no guarantees of making it to their first birthday. And In India, nearly 1 in 3 newborn deaths occur in India. To help give new moms and their newborn babies a fighting chance, Compassion has a big goal on this Giving Tuesday! The goal? Raise $25,000 to open a new Child Survival Program in Gujarat, India.

So what exactly is a Child Survival Program? Like the Child Development Program, the Child Survival Program (CSP) works through the local church with pregnant and new mothers to ensure they receive proper medical care, nutrition, training to care for their new babies, and sharing with them the hope of Jesus. This program is helping over 30,000 mothers and babies in over 700 centers. Babies are being born healthy because of this program, and over 4,000 mothers came to know Christ in the past year through the Child Survival Program!

So what do you say? Can you give $5, $10, $25, or more to help build this new center in Gujarat, India? Let's help give babies a strong start on this Giving Tuesday!

November Compassion Share & Tell

Last month, since I sent my Compassion kids handwritten notes and a few extras, I decided to do online letters for each of them this month. I had just been to Yosemite again, so I knew I wanted to share with them a photo from my most recent trip. Here is what I wrote to each of the kids:

I loved this fall template so much, that I used it for each of my kids this month since it went perfectly with the fall photo of the deer we saw in Yosemite.

Have you taken the time to write to your child lately? If you are still new to letter writing to your Compassion child, you can follow the tips I shared on the Compassion blog this month. 

Loaves and fishes and Compassion

These past few days, I have been writing out the verses from John, chapter 6, in my journal, and have been pondering how God can take what we consider to be a small contribution, and He can turn it into so much more than we could even imagine. In fact, I feel like I need to pinch myself, because at this moment, I am overwhelmed at His plan and His timing and His provision!

Four and a half years ago when we first became Compassion sponsors, and even three years ago when I became a Compassion Advocate, I never thought it would be possible for me to ever (and I mean never, ever!) travel to see one of our Compassion children. Our one income family just doesn't have wiggle room in the budget for us to travel internationally. But I know God knew what He was doing when He provided me with the opportunity to use my gifts and talents to earn money for the Compassion trip my son and I were able to take to Mexico in January of this year. And now, here I am, a week away from the deadline to make the final payment to go on my second Compassion trip!

Just this morning, I was able to make that final payment thanks (huge, huge thank yous!!) to many, many people who purchased pizzas, and cupcakes, and jam, and dishcloths, and baby blankets, and hope ornaments, and many who were generous to donate money for this trip. In just over 100 days, just over a year from my first trip, I will be traveling to Colombia to visit Lina. Lina is the child we have been sponsoring the longest. She is a 15 year old young lady who has dreams of becoming a veterinarian. I believe this is God's way of turning pizzas and cupcakes into an opportunity for Him to show me and Lina what can happen when we trust in Him.

I am so looking forward to giving her a big hug at the end of February!!

But this is not all that has happened this week!

As a Compassion Advocate, I love to work events. And in our area, I have many, many opportunities to work at events. Church events, conferences, concerts, and the Compassion Mobile Experience are just some of the ways my family and I have worked together to help connect many new sponsors with children that are being released from poverty in Jesus' name. Encouraging new sponsors and answering their questions is one way that I can multiply my excitement about Compassion with other people.

Just a couple of days ago, I was talking with my Advocate Manager, and she mentioned an opening for a volunteer position on Compassion's Volunteer Coordinator Team. At that moment, I almost can't even explain it, but it felt like God already knew that this would be my next step...as the new Northern California Event Volunteer Coordinator!! This is just one more way for God to use me, one person to multiply His efforts to connect more people to sponsoring children.

So when I think about that young boy who provided those loaves and fishes, I remember that I am just one person. But I am excited about the amazing opportunities that God is providing for me to help in a small way to make a difference for children that have dreams to do more, and to be more, and to have a chance to learn about the hope they have in Jesus.