Something Bigger

This post originally appeared in the February 2017 SEAPC Magazine.

This past year I had the great opportunity to meet the children my family sponsors in Myanmar and Nepal. I have often been asked how my trips are, why I do them, and thoughts about sponsoring a child. First, it is hard for me to respond in a rational sense on why I do these trips but it makes me feel closer to God. As a disciple of Christ, I strive to be an agent and represent the kingdom of God in all my weakness. I strive to bring faith, hope, and forgiveness and most of all, love. As for the worldly reason, a 2013 study by the University of San Francisco supports the child sponsorship method of giving. Child sponsorship results in an improvement of a child completing secondary school by 27 to 40 percent, completing university education by 50 to 80 percent and obtaining a white collar job by about 35 percent. The focus of child sponsorship is on developing human beings versus just provisioning for them. The overall gain is to improve the social fabric of the country. I have also seen SEAPC is using my donations to the maximum effect, bringing light to where there has only been darkness.

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I am frequently asked if I am afraid of the long flights, going into a poverty environment, or afraid of getting sick. I take heart in Isaiah 43:1-7, from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: “God’s favor and good-will to his people speak abundant comfort to all believers. The new creature, wherever it is, is of God’s forming. All who are redeemed with the blood of his Son, he has set apart for himself. Those that have God for them need not fear who or what can be against them. What are Egypt and Ethiopia, all their lives and treasures, compared with the blood of Christ? True believers are precious in God’s sight, his delight is in them, above any people. Though they went as through fire and water, yet, while they had God with them, they need fear no evil; they should be born up, and brought out. The faithful are encouraged. They were to be assembled from every quarter and with this pleasing object in view, the prophet again dissuades from anxious fears.”

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To me sponsoring a child means developing a relationship with that child and making us both a part of something bigger. Sponsorship gives them security, healthcare, self-esteem, and raises their personal expectations and aspirations. It’s so wonderful to see them being taught God’s Word, faith, morality, and goodness. Sponsorship takes them out of the cycle of poverty, child labor or worse. I also must mention my heroes! They are the teachers and staff that work each day at the schools and homes. They are the ones who teach the children to look for happiness within God and not outside of God. There are no words I can use to express my admiration for their dedication to these kids. They are so awesome in reflecting Christ to the world.

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