Once a year, our church sets aside a Sunday to focus on the ministry of Compassion International.  CI is a child sponsorship ministry that has been in existence since 1953.  Currently, 1,400,000 children from many of the poorest countries in the world are sponsored by individuals, families and churches in America and Canada (and possibly other countries, I'm not sure.)  For $38 a month, children receive nutritious food, medical and dental care, clothing, education and are connected with a local church.

CI has a very special place in our family's heart.  First, we sponsor Lavendar, a little girl from Kenya.  We write to her and she writes to us several times a year.  She frequently mentions how much she appreciates the letters, but even more, the pictures we send her.  We like to pick up post cards form Maine so she can see pictures of snow, autumn colors, moose, loons, etc.  CI is also special because, on some of our short term mission trips, we have visited and performed at Compassion churches in South America.

I was asked to share for about 10 minutes as part of the Compassion Sunday at church.  I did a paper tear trick that told the story of the miracle of the fish and bread.  It also was an opportunity to show a few pictures from our visits to the developing world:

This is Jona-Lynn at age 14.  We are in a Compassion church's courtyard, and that rusty broken garbage can is their basketball hoop..

 4 year old Rose with an Ecuadorian friend who benefits from the ministry of Compassion.

 Two little boys who live in the Quito city dump, a site that could desperately benefit from Compassion's ministry, but to date, does not.

 Naomi on her 12th birthday.  My favorite picture in the world.