We Moved…

Posted on 02.16.08 in Faith and there are 17 comments.

We added another little girl to our family.

Her name is Grace. She is from Uganda.

“I Dare You to Move” too....

How have the Uganda blogs impacted you?

The Comments:

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I just blogged about that today, since you ask. I am ready to add to our family of 5...six is a good round number, plus it’s the number of Man.

They’ve forced me to really consider how I’m living my life.  By the end of this year I’d like to have a budget that allows for the sponsorship of six kids, (I have four now) and um, well there’s something else that I can’t really talk about yet but if you think to pray for me, please pray that I’ll live and make decisions without fear.

John already has a child through World Missions.  i just asked him if we could get another one! YEA! I will let you know.

oops!  I mean World Vision.

I don’t know how the whole deal came about . . . but, I think it was an awesome idea. I’ve been a big advocate for compassion for a long time. But, the stories and images brought to me by these bloggers has renewed my heart for these kids and helped me fall deeper in love with Jesus to be quite honest.

It seems like I’ve spent this entire week constantly either thinking about or praying for the bloggers. I’ve read every single entry from every single blogger, and watched all the videos. I want so much for what they’re doing to be effectual in helping to spread the word and increase the number of sponsors, because my family has been so blessed by being Compassion sponsors.

Also, I thought I knew a lot about what Compassion does, but have learned so much about the many value-added benefits to the entire families of the Compassion children, and really the entire region surrounding each Compassion project.

And finally, because I’m so thick apparently, I’m once again re-examining my personal priorities, and being challenged.

I’ve sponsored a boy in India for the past couple years through another organization, but I added a little girl this week through Compassion. It’s so much fun!

Kat, you made me think (again).  When people ask me how many children I have, I may start answering, “Eight, but four live in other countries.” It’ll make an interesting way to introduce Compassion International. Thanks for the idea.

I have to say that for me, it’s given me a different incentive to be more frugal with our expenses. I honestly don’t care that much about our 401k or our stock portfolio or saving for retirement, but the idea of being able to help more kids really makes me want to clip coupons and be frugal.

It also makes me want to visit our kids someday.

Not to quote hillsong or anything, but I feel like God has really been using these blogs to “break my heart for what breaks Yours.” I’ve always been concerned and prayed, etc but I’m really feeling the weight of everything lately.

As soon as I’m done raising support for my Barbados trip and that is covered, I’m going to sponsor a child.

it’s been a blessing to see this trip unfold. i went to Peru in November with Compassion & it rocked my world. now i get the chance to speak for Compassion at every event that we play at. It’s awesome to see how these bloggers were influenced. i can’t wait to see how this helps Compassion & all that they do.

Kat - sweetheart.  So glad you are not too concerned about our stock “portfolio”.  Can you call owning stock for one company a portfolio?

Serious question:

Why do people consider sponsored kids to be a part of their family?  I’ve never understood this, because the kids still have parents or other legal guardians.  Honestly, if I was a parent of one of those kids, I would be nervous about such terminology.

My wife and I sponsor several kids, but we don’t consider fundamental nature of the relationship any different than when we help sponsor missionaries or provide scholarships for inner city US kids to get a good education.  While, I may be the kids only sponsor, that is simply because the program is structured that way.  If I bumped up my St. Peter Claver boy’s school donations significantly, I could sponsor an education for one inner city boy… but it still wouldn’t make him part of my family.  I personally know the missionaries that I sponsor and write/call them.  They aren’t a part of my family.

So, why do you consider your sponsored kid to be a part of your family?  Is there something I’m missing? 

Tangential comment: I would think that a 401K would contain a portfolio of stocks, either stand-alone or in the form of mutual funds.  Retirement savings, 401K, stock portfolio… all terms for basically the same thing.

MB

MB - great questions, and i hope no one slams you too hard on this. this is kat’s blog & i should let her answer first, but i wanted to share with you why i consider my sponsored kids “part of my family”.

i’ve gotten to meet all 3 of my kids(not everyone can do this) so i have special ties & connections to them. i’ve held their hands, smelt their hair, visited their homes, and kissed their faces. my wife & i pray for them daily. there is not a day goes by that i don’t think about them. i would do anything in my power for these kids. we talk about them all of the time. it’s as if they are a part of my family.

i have best friends (not family) that i consider them & their children family. it’s more of an emotional heartfelt thing...than technical terminology. i would also do anything for these people.

it’s when you start to view your sponsored child as a real person that has a soul & dreams (not saying you don’t) when you begin to have that emotional heartfelt attachement to them...an attachment that is evident in families.

mb - these are just some thoughts from me.
kat - sorry if i wrote too much. delete it if you want.

blessings,
bush
http://www.stevenbush.org

MB--
I use the phrase “my kids” to talk about my sponsored kids, but I don’t think of them as truly being my kids.  It could be because I’m single.  But I definitely think I have more of a bond with them, through praying for them and sending them money and exchanging letters, than another person who doesn’t do that.  They are in my family only in the same sense Bush mentioned...because I love them.  The truth is, when they graduate from Compassion I’ll never hear from them again.

"i hope no one slams you too hard on this”

I’m used to it.

Thanks for the explanation.

MB,
Well, Bush said exactly what I was going to say - only better.

I’m committed to each of my kids and their families. I pray for them daily and write letters often. I hope to visit each of them someday. I’m willing to do anything in my power to help them.

I don’t consider myself parent or guardian in anyway - but one of my kids addresses each letter “To My Dearest Uncle and Auntie” - I LOVE that.

I hope that helps clarify things a bit. That’s a great question MB and I hope we’ve helped explain we’re we are coming from.

Bush,
That was an excellent comment. I’m not able to respond to comments as often as I’d like (something to do with three small children hanging off of me during the day) so I really appreciate it when people step in and answer questions. Especially, when they answer them as eloquently as you did.

Thanks.

Amy,
I’ve never really thought about what happens after they graduate! Ahh...Sathish is already 15. I’m not ready. I’m going to be sad… I know he’s a boy and boy’s aren’t known for being great letter writers, but I do hope he’ll continue to write to us.

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