Beside Still Waters Ministries

I already had a post set to publish today with pictures of the card I sent yesterday to Bridget for her upcoming birthday, but I will wait until Thursday or Friday to put that one up.  Instead I have to first talk about how she made my day, week, month, year, lifetime yesterday because I got my first letter from her in the mail!!!   

This is what she drew for me, a house and an Easter egg (I’m guessing!).  The letter also had info about her family, and her favorite foods (bananas & rice) and color (brown) and stuff like that.  Oh, this did my heart good at the end of a long, difficult day at work, especially having been at work later than I planned because I had to help make sure we got all of the business return extensions filed. 

Apparently her name is actually Natocho, which as it was printed on my information packet I thought that was her last name.  I know that other languages/countries do the firstname and surname stuff different, but I’m a little confused.  Though when I thought about it awhile, I remembered that my friend from Seminary that is from Kenya had an English/American name (Moses), and then an African name that I don’t remember and couldn’t type or pronounce.  Maybe that is the case with Bridget – Natocho is her African name, and Bridget is her English name.  Any of the Uganda trip bloggers know?

What really just about made me cry was where she asked that I pray that her friendship with me may be maintained.  I’m sure that it happens where someone signs up for sponsoring a child through Compassion, pays the first month or two and then they slack off paying because of financial stuff or the “spiritual high” that led them to signing up wears off or whatever other reason.  So, some children end up on this emotional rollercoaster of being excited to be sponsored, and then the sponsor “quits” on them so they are disappointed, and then maybe it happens all over again who knows how many times.  I wonder if that is what she is worrying about, and I do indeed pray that our friendship will be maintained for a long time and that she can let go of that fear and embrace hope through Jesus.

She has three older siblings (two sisters and a brother), so I will also be praying that they are also sponsored since I know that I cannot afford to sponsor them all at this point.  I’m very excited that I mailed the birthday card yesterday that folds out into a dollhouse (see a picture here), with paper dolls and furniture, because she said that her favorite game is playing with dolls.  Truly a God moment that led me to that card.

This is definitely going to be a life-changing experience.  For her and for me.  Thank you, God, again for Compassion and for Bridget.  If you are thinking about sponsoring a child – do it, but make sure you are committed to it for the long haul.  They need you, now and forever.