Meeting Senait, my sponsored child
STACEY GAGNE – I had the opportunity to live the dream of Compassion child sponsors everywhere by meeting the little girl that I am sponsoring. Nothing could have prepared me for it. We were all sitting in the office hearing from the site director when she was brought in. As soon as they pointed out that I was “the one’… she came right over beside me and leaned up on me. All day we held hands. We toured the site together, played bubbles, jump rope, talked about ourselves through an interpreter (though she started out very shy… just like her mom). She’s very kind… there were 3 lollipops in her goodie bag that I gave her and she gave 2 away immediately. That is the way it is here, though… when you have, you share…
Senait’s mother is only 22 and she is 7, so she was a very young mom. Her father is not in the picture. I know that this support is going to be crucial for her as she grows up and am so excited and honored to be able to be a part of the life of this beautiful beautiful family.
Saying goodbye was very difficult. VERY difficult. You’ll see evidence of that in the video that was taken once that is posted… but I am happy to know that she is being taken care of despite the circumstances she lives in. I am anxious to see/read updates as she receives more assistance, clothing, food, education, and love from the people there. I look forward to the day that she can write to me and tell me what she is learning and I hope to find out that she and her mom decide to follow Jesus.
I’m sure I’ll have more to share as I continue to process this life changing day and week.
Meeting our sponsored children was one of the most exciting days in both my life and my wife’s life. You don’t realize what living in poverty means until you are actually there, and you don’t realize what a difference sponsorship makes until you’re there too!
Hope the rest of your time in Ethiopia is a blessing, and that it turns into a blessing for others when you’re back here in the states!
There is nothing quite like meeting those less fortunate than we are and yet see the joy on their faces. Hope your time there is refreshing and rewarding.
Keep blessing others!!!
Wow! It’s always amazing to hear about trips to third-world countries. The people who live in them may not have many material things, but they have faith, hope, generosity, and love. It is these things that are even greater than the material things we have. We can help them by providing food, water, clothes, education, etc., and they can teach us about hope and faith and love.
Well said, Stacey. I have often hoped to get the chance to meet our sponsored child in Bolivia. And is has been really cool to see her faith growing and sharing of herself with us as she matures and writes letters with more detail as she grows up.
Stacey-
Thank you for sharing your experience. It is an awesome experience to meet the families and children that are sponsered through programs like Compassion. Our church has a sister church in Uganda and their gift of hospitality is so amazing! It is a lesson we can learn from them. I dream of the day being able to go back to Kamapala to see the friends I made their and in Seeta Village. Again, thanking for sharing your experience with us.