Does Child Sponsorship Really Work?

June 21, 2014

By Lisa Pickering

            Some people wonder if Child Sponsorship really works, and how can anyone really know. Sponsoring children through Compassion International for the past 6 years has been an experience that sometimes is really hard to explain, but I always knew in my heart that it really works. This week, I got a letter from an 8 year old boy, Kener David Cabrera, that the Sunday School children at my church have been sponsoring for almost two years, which is a testimony that Child Sponsorship really does work.

         Kener’s mother recently gave birth to his little brother, so I received a letter written by his older sister, Mabel. I want to share the letter with you to show you how Child Sponsorship really works! Mabel wrote:

“I want to thank you for the love for my brother”

        In the letters that are sent to Kener we tell him how much we love him, and continue to pray for him and his family. Mabel continues to let us know how our letters have affect Kener.

“Let me tell you that he has changed very much, he has applied more in school, and has learned very much at the project. He has changed very much, his character is much happier and playful and his is respectful. He likes to draw and he likes the worship song ‘The Spirit of God’. ”  

       Hearing that he is learning much at the project, is confirmation that the goal between the Project centers and Compassion International is really working as it should. After meeting some of the teachers at the centers this past February, I know that they have a great love for Christ and for the children, and work to show them this love. The centers are all church based, and the programs center around Christ, the church and the children. This is what helped me to pick Compassion International for my donations.

       Each letter from the children usually tells us that they are continuing to pray for us, and they will send a prayer request. When we write, we send our prayer requests, as the children like to know how they can pray for us. Mabel wrote:

“Kener asks you to carry us in prayer so that God may supply each need in our home. We are always praying for you and your families.”

       If this letter is not an example of how the Child Sponsorship works, I am not sure what is. I know when I visited Kener it was so much fun, and you could see the love for each other that the children expressed, even when they had never meet each other before today. There was no jealousy, or competition between the children to share my time or love. It was so nice to have six children around me who not only wanted my attention, but wanted to share the time with the others as well.

       If you sponsor a child, if you ever have the opportunity to go on a visit to see them, I strongly recommend that you do so. It will change your life for every. You never know how the visit will impact your life as well. I have never felt so loved and cared for.

For more information on Child Sponsorship visit www.compassion.com or leave a message.

Lisa, Child Advocate for Compassion International