When I read a ‘Lump in My Throat” It Put a Lump In My Throat

February 17, 20158 Comments

Hi everyone! This week on the blog we are following a group of bloggers who are traveling with Compassion International in the Dominican Republic. Today I am sharing a post by Lisa and Stephen Leonard. If you ever wonder if child sponsorship works then this is the post for you.

The title of the post today is “the lump in my throat” and I will warn you when you finish reading it you will have a lump in your throat.

The Lump in My Throat – by Lisa and Stephen Leonard

Today we visited with Josefina and her daughter, Hilde. They invited us into their freshly painted home with wall patched together with brick, found wood and cardboard. Their entire home is smaller than a typical bedroom in the US.

photo courtesy of Lisa Leornard Blog

While I’m here in the DR, I want to learn first hand how Compassion is impacting lives. I want the mothers to tell me how life is different now that their child has a sponsor.

Continue reading at –> Lisa Leonard Designs

I hope it blesses you like it did me, see you tomorrow!

Terri

If you would like to follow along click this picture and it will take you to all of the blogger’s posts

God With Us

February 16, 2015February 16, 20152 Comments

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

They have arrived! Today the Compassion bloggers have arrived in the Dominican Republic and as promised I will be posting some of their blog posts.

Though I am not on the trip with them I almost feel as if I am still somehow going to be a part of their adventure.

When I saw their picture this morning it brought tears to my eyes. I know that sounds crazy and I can’t really place my finger on what it is that makes me want to cry when I see them or why I want to cry as I type this post.

(photo courtesy of Compassion international)

Could it be because I have been in the Dominican Republic several times myself and the people who live there are still close to my heart?

Or could it be that familiar van in the background reminds me of my trip with Compassion to Haiti and I know they are getting ready to embark on a journey of a life time?

Bonnie said in her post, “I’m afraid I’ll cry so hard. And I don’t want to.” As I read her words I found myself once again holding back tears because I truly know that feeling.

The feeling of trying to hold back tears of heartbreak because what you just saw makes you want to roll yourself up in a ball and just make the world go away.

And then there are the other tears, the ones that spring forth because just when you think all hope is lost, what you see or feel causes your heart to swell so full of joy that it pours out from your eyes.

I am excited to follow along with these bloggers and I just can’t wait to see what God has in store for them!

As I am writing this, my memory goes back to a bus ride I was on in the Dominican Republic four years ago. I was a fairly new Christian at that time and still struggling with who God wanted me to be. As I sat on the bus that day I was thinking about God and my thoughts were full of doubt and fear. As I sat there deep in thought a young Dominican man said hello to me. I returned his hello back and he reached out his hand to shake mine. As I placed my hand in his he told me his name was Immanuel… at the same time he said his name the words “God with us” came to my mind and I said them out loud. Just as the words left my lips I realized that at the exact same time I said them he had said them simultaneously with me. At that moment I realized that God had set up our meeting. I also knew at that very moment that God was with me and that he had always been with me. Today as this Group of bloggers head out on their adventure in the Dominican Republic God is with them too!

Today we begin this adventure along with them, I can’t wait to see what God has planned!

Follow along by clicking this link

What is one thing Compassion Bloggers Have in Common?

Have a wonderful day!

Terri

Will You Take the First Step?

December 2, 2014December 10, 20148 Comments

Today is an exciting day! Today on this blog we are going to be a part of something big and brand new that has never been tried before. Today Compassion International along with it’s family of friends, sponsors, and bloggers from all over the world are coming together to help fund and launch a brand a new Child Survival program to help moms and babies in Gujarat, India! Did I mention… the plan is to do it….ALL IN ONE DAY?! Today is ‘Giving Tuesday’ and I am inviting YOU to be part of it. Why are we doing this? Because these are the facts….

In the small community of Gujarat most of the mothers are just teenagers.
Over 70 percent of the babies born here are born in their homes.
Most are surrounded by, illiteracy, alcoholism, abuse, child labor, and child marriage,
They are malnourished.
1 in 3 newborn deaths in the world occur in India.
Every year over 2 million children under the age of 5 dies in India, and half of those 2 million children die before their 1st birthday.

I am saddened when I read those facts. It is just so hard to believe that children are living in those conditions and that they are dying from preventable and treatable causes. Children under the age of 5 should not be dying from things such as dehydration and malnutrition and today we are going to help change this! Because WE can change this! Funding this new child survival program will:

help prepare moms with training to help them care for their babies.
help mothers learn to read and write.
help by giving children a safe place to learn and grow.
help by ensuring lifesaving medical care for babies and their moms.
and most of all proclaim the hope of Jesus to families living in poverty.

In March of 2013 I visited a small village in Haiti which has a Compassion child survival program in place and it was working very well. I saw moms and babies who where healthy, thriving in their community and most of all I saw whole families who were filled with the joy and the knowledge that they are loved by others and most of all loved by Jesus. Child Survival programs help to save lives and they help to give hope. They work. Today I am asking you to join us as we band together to help the moms and babies of Gujarat to have a fighting chance by helping to fund this new Child survival program. Will you help rescue babies in poverty in India? Your first step could be their first step…. Click any picture in this blog post and it will take you to more information about how you can help rescue moms and babies. You can also help the moms and babies of Gujarat by sharing this post today or any other link in this post with your friends. I also ask if you would please pray today for this program and all of the lives it will affect. Thank you so much for your help,