I’ve been home from Guatemala now for 48 hours.
I don’t know what I expected.
Maybe I thought I’d have processed things a bit more by now. In some ways I definitely have, but I have a feeling this is something I’ll be unpacking for years to come.
Maybe I expected there to be such an overwhelming response to the stories the team and I shared about our trip that all of the children in Seoguis would be sponsored before our plane touched down in Houston Friday afternoon – that there would be people emailing, asking if they’d missed their chance to invest in this community – wondering what other ways they might be able to help. Several children in Seoguis have been sponsored (thank you!), but fewer than I would have hoped. (I hope high for that village, though, let’s be honest.)
The truth is – it’s really hard to know how to respond to really hard information. It’s hard for me as a writer. And it’s absolutely hard as a reader.
I was talking with another blogger one evening last week and we remarked how natural and breezy it felt to comment on someone’s “What I Wore Wednesday” post or a crock pot recipe, but it’s hard to know how to respond when someone’s telling you that children’s brains aren’t developing because they don’t have the proper nutrition. It’s hard to know what to say – or do.
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I feel like I need to stop here. Please hear me when I say that I am not writing to make you feel uncomfortable. So if you feel uncomfy – please do not.
Instead – here is what I really want: I would love to hear from you.
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I have talked enough for now about my experiences with child sponsorship – from committing to Kendy in Haiti 2 years ago (he’s getting so stinking tall!) to meeting Olga and her family in Guatemala last Wednesday. It would mean so much to me if you would share your own child sponsorship experiences!
- I’m sure many of you have been sponsoring and communicating with your child(ren) for much longer than 2 years – what has that been like? Has anyone been able to see their child into adulthood?
- How frequently do you communicate with your child?
- What kinds of gifts do you send, if any?
- What do you talk about with them?
- What has surprised/excited/disappointed you?
- Has anyone else had the opportunity to meet their sponsor child face-to-face?
(this is not a horn-tooting session, but I’d love it if you’d share! I also know that sharing something like this may feel too private and that’s okay.)
And what about those who are not child sponsors? (Please, please don’t feel funny sharing!). Would you mind sharing a little bit about the why not? (There are so many things – tight budgets, not knowing how the money is helping exactly, afraid to commit to a child only to let them down, waiting until your children are older, been meaning to pull the trigger but just haven’t yet…)
And finally (I swear this isn’t some kind of 3-point close!), I’d love to open up the comments for questions. If I can’t answer your question, I will do my best to find someone who can.
Y’all have seriously always been so gracious and respectful in the comments here (I love that!), and you have also been awesome about knowing my heart in a conversations like this. I’m not trying to talk you into child sponsorship here (though, honestly, I absolutely encourage you to consider it!) – I would just like to provide a platform (even just for my own benefit) for discussion about thoughts and experiences in this area.
All photos taken by Jessica Taylor for FH.
[If we ever made a SRT trip to Seoguis, would you be interested in coming?]
I have just started to jointly sponsor with my boyfriend, a beautiful little girl named Faith (so appropriate).
it's through 'compassion' organisation and so far I have only written one letter.
I'm not really sure what to say!
I would love to visit her one day,
my boyfriend's parents recently got to visit some of their sponsor Children in Kenya and the photos just blew me away.
I feel very blessed that sponsoring children through compassion is culturally normal in my church family and so i had little reservation and also dont feel disproportionately proud of my service. Reading these posts makes me want to do more!!
I loved this whole series and read every post. I think it's really important for us, who have so much, to be reminded that here are so many people that have so little. I went to Guatemala a few years ago, not on a mission, but on vacation. I remember seeing children everywhere, selling things or begging. At a restaurant, one little girl came up to our table and trying to sell pot holders or something. After we said no, she laid her down her head down on the table and said "I want an ice cream." How can you say no to that? I've visited the fh website many times and looked at he children. This may sound silly but I'm scared. What if something happens and the money isn't there anymore? What if I have my own children and suddenly this becomes unimportant compared to what's going on at home? As much fear and doubt I have in myself I do feel called to this. Thank you so much for doing this series and opening our eyes.
Oh Raechel! I feel bad you are going thru such a low time after seeing the fruits of your labor! As you saw my other comments on your blog posts, I think you have done soo much to bring this need to our attention. As with most things, I think time will tell. Like Babs above, I survive on $180/month disability and support 3 children on that amount. While I would LOVE to support a child, I just CAN’T. ..and it breaks my heart! Even living in poverty in the US is wayyy better than somewhere else in my humble opinion, and I shared your posts with my own kids to help them understand that while we may not have xboxes and other stuff, we DO have much more than some folks in this world do. So don’t fret Sister, you ARE touching many more than you realize!! Future generations and anybody else all of us share your story with is bound to plant seeds. They just need time to grow!
Blessings to you and yours today! Smile!! :)
When I read your post I knew exactly what your were saying. I have been blessed to travel to Zambia four times on mission trips. My husband has been five. The first time after he came home I could not get enough of what he had to say about Zambia-the people. As I listened to him tell other people I saw a blank look on many of their faces. They did not have a clue. Then, when I traveled there and came home and talked to people I saw that same blank look. It was so strange to see their eyes glaze over and their head nod but their was absolutely no understanding going on.
I did not expect to have reverse culture shock but I had it so bad it took me over a year to stop feeling like I did not belong in the USA. My heart stayed in Zambia. My mind stayed there. My soul stayed there. All I could think about and talk about was Zambia and the people and their needs. I dreamed and talked about going back.
Not knowing if I would ever go or not.
It is so hard because we want to make a huge American difference in everyone's life. But the bottom line is:
Do what you can to meet the physical needs. However: the MOST important thing we can do it take the Gospel to them. Matthew 28:18-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; an lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age."
Thank God that when we have been blessed to travel to a third world country we come home for ever changed.
Who knows what effect the little we are able to do will have on eternity. Whether you go or whether you help a child or someone else in a foreign county, just do something.
I read your comment this morning while laying in bed and I've been thinking about it ever since. I can understand your high hopes and expectations in regards to a greater response. Each year I host a jewelry party for WAR International, a non profit organization that rescues women and children from poverty, abuse, human trafficking, etc. After being rescued, they are taught how to make jewelry, scarves, purses, and beautiful ornaments so they don't have to resort to prostitution to make ends meet. Each year I hope for a more grand response in the amount of money raised ($250 supports one woman in a safehouse for a month). This past month, I had a party and the outcome seemed dismal to me in comparison to years past.
So here's what I wanted to encourage you with: I think sometimes, God calls us to do something in order to help others move further along in their faith walk with Him. I may not have experienced the results I was hoping for, but I know that 2-3 families learned more about human trafficking through this recent party and I think their hearts were pricked to consider action in the future – in whatever way God may call them to. They may not have purchased jewelry, but they may be more prepared to do so the next time I have a party. I read your posts concerning your recent trip to Guatemala, and my heart breaks. Currently, my husband and I feel God calling us to get out of debt. I also deeply long to have children of my own and/or sponsor a child in need and I believe God has called me to that too. But, right now we are following God to prepare for a time when we can give so generously without being in debt. Your posts and stories have further deepened the desire in my heart to support a child. You've further cemented in my heart through your words that this is something, when the time is right, that I and my husband are called to do. So don't lose hope, God is ALWAYS working behind the scenes!
I’ve sponsored two children for years via two different organizations, the best known Compassion. Interestingly, both sponsorships have termed this year. I feel some loyalty to Compassion but not as much to the other. Why? I’ve been unpacking this as well.
Compassion has a robust system making communication with your child easy. Write a letter online. Upload photos online. Or do it the old fashioned way! The other has no fixed way to communicate. It’s small with a skeleton crew in the States. I don’t feel there’s enough accountability for where the money goes.
So yes, I’m considering FFTH and “your” village as a sponsor. But I’m also sitting with my discomfort about this other org for a tad longer.
And there has been –very candidly — a part of me which hasn’t felt comfortable with using a devotional group as a forum to recruit sponsors for another organization, no matter how great. On a personal blog, sure. On this one, not so sure. Just sayin’.
This isn’t answering all of your questions and I hope you don’t feel attacked or maligned–not the intention.
Please take this with love and appreciation.
I have also read every post, and cried through most of them. My husband and I have known for years that we are called to help children in some (big I think) way – and we know we are to adopt at some point, but we have small children of our own right now, and feel like we should wait until they are a little older – so they can be the indluencers and not the influencees.
But child sponsorship feels like something we can do. Not today or this weke, as finances are tight at the moment – and Im a little afraid of making the commitment (my husbands work is seasonal, and we usually have a month or two twice a year where things are a lil tight) – what would happen if my monthly contribution wasnt made for two months? Would my child know? Would they do without when it didbt arrive or would FH be able to fill in the gap? Maybe for me to make up latrr. Idk – I really want to help, but am afraid oc getting attached and making a diference, only to let him/her down. ?
:) thank you so much for sharing your journey! It is evident you are doing the Lord’s work! I have enjoyed it tremendously!
I have never sponsored a child through one of the international programs but commend all who do. Currently one of the programs I volunteer with is Big Brothers Big Sisters. My Little is about to turn 15 next month. We have been matched for 2 years and it has made a great difference. I tend to use what little extra money I have to help her. She is one of five and her mother struggles. In fact I spent yesterday helping to complete her school shopping and setting goals for the school year. I believe that we all have to be called where God would have us. It is not to say that I will never sponsor a child but it is not what I am currently called to. I loved reading about your experience and meeting the beautiful girl that you sponsor. Thank you for being open about your feelings and allowing us to respond without feeling like we are going to be bashed. I will continue to pray for the children to be sponsored by those God has called.