This is the photo journal of a child from Compassion.

Just $38 a month changes their lives, but it also changes their family’s life.  Add a little bit extra for a birthday or Christmas, and it changes everything!

I have completed the Fasting For Food event.  Please consider sponsoring me, at $1 a day – to help children like Daniel.

Daniel lives in Uganda. He lives with his mother and siblings.  Life is not easy in Uganda.  But when I saw this boy, born on the same date as our son Stephen, I lost my heart.

Our first photo of Daniel - at just 5 years old

He just had this cute little face, and I just wanted to pick him up and read to him.

The next best thing was to sponsor him.

Our first letter says:

“Engaro and his family send you warm and lovely greetings in Jesus’ name. They also thank God the caring heart he has given you which enables you to share the Joy of the Lord with them.”

Our first look at Daniel's family

In this photo, we got to ‘meet’ Daniel’s family.  The one in the middle is his mom, Hilda.  As far as I can figure, the baby is Robinna, his little sister.

As I look back on this photo, Hilda looks so worn…so tired, so harsh.

If my heart was taken by Daniel, now I added Robinna to my prayers.

Christmas, 2008 - I think it's marked wrong

Here we learned that Daniel has three sisters.  The tallest is Agnes.

I marked the photo wrong, as I later learned…and the little one is Robinna, and the one Daniel’s height is Luuky.

It is difficult to gather detailed information, as I have to trust the translator to write on the back of the photos in a manner that I will understand!  Like, no one puts dates on the photos!  It just adds to the treasure and adventure of sponsoring a child through Compassion.

Daniel and his mother - Spring of 2009.

This photo was to show us the clothing that they were able to purchase with a small gift.

It is amazing how quickly Daniel grew…just a pennies over a dollar a day and, he is sprouting up like a weed! Before sponsorship, he had not attended school.  Now he is in Kindergarten.

One of the great things about Compassion is that they do not limit your contact with the child.  So, we went on a trip, and I sent postcards.

Our first family gift - they were able to aquire a goat!

When we were able to send extra, we did.

This time, when we sent a little extra, they were able to aquire a goat.

In Uganda, a goat changes the standing of the family, as well as gives them an opportunity to create a business.

This is the first time we saw a photo of Daniel’s father.

We had sent photos of us in the large snow in Ohio.  Daniel’s response was “How can a man live in snow(ice)?”  Of course, they never have snow or rarely ice.  He writes ” I thank God for keeping me alive.”  Wow.  That’s basic faith.

Our next photo

Look at how much Daniel grew….

This is somewhere between October 2008 and 2009.

Not all centers are able to produce the photos that we’ve gotten from Daniel – but Compassion does provide photos on a regular basis, such as this.  It even came with wallets, and book markers to share with others.

Daniel's 6th Birthday

Daniel was not able to purchase a cake, but this is some sort of sandwiches, which they ceremonially ‘sliced’ for his birthday photo.

Daniel's 6th Birthday Party, October 2009

For his birthday, he was able to have neighbors and cousins come and celebrate.

The woman in white is Hilda, Daniel’s mom. The woman in blue, is Daniel’s sister – Jessica.

There are six children in Daniel’s family.

Daniel's Christmas 2009

With the Christmas gift we sent…and it’s not a lot….Daniel’s family was able to acquire a SECOND GOAT!

Now they can really make a difference!

In Uganda, as in America, clothing denotes social status.  Of course, the need for clothing is universal.

This photo was taken on a rainy day, and the center apologized for the photo, but I think they all look beautiful!

New clothing from fabric purchased

This next photo just broke our hearts with joy…amazement about how little can change a family’s lives.

A Cow....and the goats have a kid!

If seeing the cow, and the kid, and the prospering goats isn’t enough to make you smile…look at Hilda’s face!  All three of the children, Luuky(Lucy), Robinna, and Daniel, have all grown so much in 2 years!  Sponsoring Daniel has helped all his sisters, his mom, cousins, and the community! AND he gets to hear the Word of the Lord!  They all participate in the church at the center!

Daniel's 7th Birthday Party

In the letter that came with this photo, it says:

“From the gift you last sent, Daniel bought a new pair of shoes, food and drinks for the family to celebrate his birthday.  He also bought a birthday cake and attached to this letter is a photo of the family as they joined Daniel in cutting the cake.”

Daniel has struggled a bit with school…but has consistently been passed to the next level. As of November, 2010, Daniel is in P1, or first grade.

Here is a video, not of Daniel, but of an hispanic family that shares how being sponsored…and only ONE child from a family is sponsored, can change a WHOLE family…and maybe, even the world.

Please, consider sponsoring me, through the Fasting for Food project.

Or better yet – consider sponsoring a child, and their family, through Compassion.

Mark 9:41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Please, if not one of these two ways, find a way to give.

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

And if you are one that is enjoying the blessings of giving to a child…please share your story here!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

1. 100 days challenge – moving – check my goal, walk 30 minutes.
2. 100 days challenge- blog – check(day late)
3. 90 days Bible Reading – I’m on 1 Samuel
4. 50 days T-Tapp – check
5. 21 days Fasting for Food – completed!