It hasn't been very long since I was a child - I'm only 21-years-old. In many ways, I still consider myself to be partially a child. I certainly don't see myself as a full-fledged adult yet :) I think we're all still somewhat in a state of being a child - at least we should be. Many people shy away from this idea. We want to be bold and courageous and independent free thinking adults. I'm not saying that's bad - but there's something unique about children. Children are learning, and children are growing. I think we should all be in a state of learning and growing.
When I was a child, I was afraid to get in trouble. I was afraid of what others thought of me. I was shy. I was reserved. When I was a Daisy Scout in Kindergarten I didn't play the games with the other little girls, I sat at a table and colored with my friend.
It hasn't been until these last few years of college that I've learned how to change that view. I've learned to get out of my own way and simply be myself.
If I could go back and tell elementary school Carly something - I would tell her to speak up. I would tell her that your ideas matter, that you're smart, that you're able, and just because you prefer reading to playing tag, doesn't make you any less than anyone around you. Being the first to raise your hand in class and honestly enjoying school isn't a bad thing! At all! Just because you wear glasses, don't always match your clothes, and sometimes forget that it's important to brush your hair - doesn't mean that you are any less than anyone else around you. Just because you're not a Disney Princess - doesn't mean that you're not a princess to God.
I don't mean to say that I was a self-conscious, unhappy little girl. I wasn't. I was comfortable with myself, but I was also very aware that I wasn't like a lot of the other girls. I wasn't athletic. I wasn't popular. And those things probably weren't going to change. But maybe if I had that push of self-assurance - that everything that I am is okay, that there is nothing wrong with the way that I am, and that it's actually a Good thing that I'm not like every other girl. Maybe I would be different now.
Then there is middle school and every little thing is a big thing and the smallest things might be the end of the world entirely. A poorly planned outfit or a pimple could be complete and utter deal-breakers. Being friends with anyone of the opposite sex meant you were dating and was filled with awkward prying, gossip, and embarrassment.
If I could go back and tell middle school Carly something - I would tell her to not be afraid. I would tell her that you're not weird - you're you, what other people think about you shouldn't affect how you choose to live, that your interests and goals are awesome - and to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF because nothing is impossible. I would tell her to be bold and unafraid, because the weird waters of middle school don't last forever and you are perfect the way you are.
Come high school a girl may no longer seem like a child in the same way she was as a little elementary student - but she is. There are still challenges abound and lessons to be learned. The path of self-discovery is far from over, and the battle to deeply and truly love yourself is far from won.
If I could go back and tell high school Carly something - I would tell her to get out of her own way. I would tell her to cherish the friends that make her feel good, and forget the ones that don't. Because if they don't challenge you, if they don't encourage you, if they don't support you, if they don't love you, if they don't inspire you, they aren't it - and you can do better. I would tell her how amazing she is - that her heart is HUGE and that she should learn to use it. I would tell her that she can do anything, that none of her dreams are too big, and that she should shout them from the rooftops. I would tell her that she is perfect because she is God's, and anyone that doesn't see that or turns her away from that isn't it. I would tell her that the opinions of others DO.NOT.MATTER. What matters is God. That you love God. That you love others. That you love yourself. Because you are amazing.
These lessons came to me slowly since being at college. I can finally say that I've fully embraced who I am, that I whole-hardheartedly love myself, and I would change nothing about who I am. I can finally say that I don't care if someone doesn't like me for who I am - because there is no use trying to change to please somebody else. I've learned to not be afraid to say what I feel and express who I am. I've learned to not be afraid to dream big and follow God in every walk of my life. I thank God every day for the person that He has made me, and I constantly look for opportunities to spread His love. I tell all three of my beautiful ladies these lessons I've learned with the hope that they can learn them, and embrace them when they are still children.
And guess what - you can do that for a child too. Take a look at these kids that are waiting for your love and guidance. You can change one of their stories today.
Showing posts with label Blog month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog month. Show all posts
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Monday, October 1, 2012
Something very cool
As I occasionally mentioned over the course of last month, September was blog month at Compassion. The goal of blog month is to raise awareness of Compassion International solely through the internet. Compassion set a goal of getting 3018 new children sponsored over the month of September entirely through blogs and the internet community. Today the results were in...
The grand total of new children sponsored (through blogs) was a whopping 3159!! So we exceeded the goal by 51 beautiful children. What does that mean? It means that 3159 children's lives have been saved and their stories have been changed.
For anyone that began sponsoring a child, prayed for child, shared a child with someone else, or even thought about these children, thank you. We all have a voice and we all can be heard!
The grand total of new children sponsored (through blogs) was a whopping 3159!! So we exceeded the goal by 51 beautiful children. What does that mean? It means that 3159 children's lives have been saved and their stories have been changed.
For anyone that began sponsoring a child, prayed for child, shared a child with someone else, or even thought about these children, thank you. We all have a voice and we all can be heard!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
A story of poverty
The following post is written from the perspective of a sponsored child through Compassion with inspiration coming from my kids and formerly sponsored kids that I have heard speak through the years.
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Dear Sponsor,
I love you. Thank you for giving me this gift and for praying for me. I will not let you down! My teacher suggested that I tell you about what my life was like prior to the best day ever, the day I found out that I have a sponsor.
I was born in a village outside of a large city. I have an older sister and brother. Life in the village was not good. We never had enough to eat and my parents struggled to find jobs and earn money. My father decided that we should move into the larger city because there would be more work there. He received a loan so we could buy a small house then we were in debt. My parents were worried that they would not make enough to pay for the house and the things our growing family needed like food, water, clothes, and education.
In the city, the only home we could afford (even with the loan) was in a large slum. Drug lords ruled the streets and demanded payment for protection. Our home is very small and barely holds all of us. There is one mattress an old stove, and a small table. I am young enough that I could sleep on the mattress with my parents but my brother and sister have to sleep on the dirt floor. I don't like the slums. There are plenty of kids but my parents say it's too unsafe to play outside with them. It's always loud and sometimes I can't sleep because of the noise and because I am scared of what's going on outside. We can't lock our door and I hear gunshots and screaming almost every night. I fear what would happen if they came to our door.
By the time I start school my mother is pregnant again. My family is excited for this blessing from God but I know my parents fear how they will be able to take care of another child. When the baby is born I stay home from school to help my mother take care of him because my older sister is very smart and is doing well in school and my parents don't want to take her out because they think she will go far in life. I guess I won't.
The new baby quickly becomes sick. My mother isn't getting proper nutrition and can no longer breast feed so we don't have much to give the baby. He is thin and cries a lot which makes me cry but there isn't anything to do. My baby brother dies before his first birthday.
My mother was so upset that she couldn't leave her bed for months. She blamed her self and was angry with God. My father tried to make her feel better but nothing worked. He quickly became frustrated that he was the only one working and providing for the family. A little less than a year after my brother died he left and never came back. My older brother dropped out of school to provide for the family and told me that I had to go to school so I did.
I really enjoy school. I love learning and making friends even though it's hard to learn when I can't afford the supplies. I always try my best though. I love to read and I think it would be fun to be a teacher myself but I don't know if it will ever happen. My sister told me that to be a teacher you have to go to college and we can't afford to go to college. She told me that we'll probably all be market sellers like our parents and didn't understand why we should bother with school.
I made a friend in school. She lives in the same slum as me and is very nice. She likes to read too and we talked about being teachers together at the same school even though it will probably never happen. Her family is just as poor as mine.
At home the situation became worse. My mother stayed in bed, my brother continued to provide and my sister seemed to slowly stop caring. She stopped working as hard in school because our parents weren't there to encourage her anymore. She didn't see the point of continuing with school even though she was only a couple of years away from graduating because she didn't see a future for us. I began to believe it myself.
My friend stopped coming to school every day and eventually stopped coming at all. I saw her in her home in the slums and figured her parents were making her work. She always looked so sad and I felt bad that I was able to go to school and she wasn't. One afternoon when I came home from school I saw two men enter her house and give her parent some money before going into their bedroom. I didn't see my friend in the house but before I got far enough away I could hear loud crying and screaming.
I became used to life as it was, a dangerous, sad, lonely place. I stopped trying to make friends, stopped caring about school, and became angry with everything that went wrong in my life. I didn't get to eat that day? It's God's fault for giving me such a terrible family. I failed a test? It's God's fault for giving me such a terrible teacher. I became sick off of the water I drank? It's God's fault for not providing for me.
One evening when I came home my brother told me that we needed to go to church that night and I didn't want to. God and I weren't on good terms. He wasn't looking out for me the way that I had been promised. I had no father, a mother that could barely get out of bed most days, a tiny, smelly house in a disgusting, loud slum, no materials for school, no food, no clean water, three outfits, and nothing to keep myself clean. The last place I wanted to be was church. My brother told me I had to come because he heard about an organization called Compassion International that could help us. I was intrigued so I went along. If all else failed I was prepared to give God a piece of my mind.
We were led into the sanctuary and a representative of Compassion explained to us what the program was about. We would be paired with a financial sponsor from another country who will write us letters and give us gifts. After we're enrolled we will be able to participate at the project and receive food, access to clean water, help with school, learn about healthy living, make friends, participate in other recreational activities, and learn about Jesus Christ. It sounded pretty sweet and my mother signed me up that day.
I was scared to go to the project for the first time because I didn't know what to expect but it was so cool! Everyone was so nice and welcomed me right in. They helped me with my schoolwork, gave me a great lunch (the best meal I'd had in a long time!) and I got to play games with very nice kids. A lot of the kids had sponsors already and they told me about the letters they got and how much they loved their sponsor. On letter days I would look at the pictures and gifts my friends got and was sad that I didn't have a sponsor yet. I began to learn about Jesus and was encouraged to pray about why I was upset with Him, which helped me I think.
I remember the day I found out I had a sponsor like it was yesterday. After lunch I was called into the project supervisors office. At first I thought I was in trouble but then I noticed that she had a smile on her face. "I have great news!" She said. "A family in the United States wants to sponsor you!"My face formed a huge smile and I couldn't believe it was true! A sponsor! A real sponsor! A family! I ran from the office and told all of my friends.
Every time I get a letter I read it over and over until I have it memorized, then I put it in a box in the bedroom of my house. I have never felt so loved in my entire life. When I feel sad I take out the letters and read them all again to remind myself that you love me and you're praying for me and that I can do anything. You make me want to work hard in school because I don't want to let you down. You make me want to be nice to others because I want to set a good example. You make me want to be kind to my family because I want a family like yours. You make me want to love God as much as you do because He seems like a pretty cool guy.
My life is so different now. I have food to eat, I have supplies for school, and I for the first time in my life I get gifts on my birthday and at Christmas! My mother has received counseling for depression and is doing much better. My sister has been inspired to keep working hard too. She is very smart and she is saving her money to be able to go to college. With the help of Compassion my brother has been able to go back to school too. Our whole family is happier and healthier. I know that I have a future now and I have hope of a better tomorrow. I have dreams now. I want to go to college and become a teacher and help kids like me learn. I would love to sponsor my own child someday too to return the favor.
Thank you sponsor for changing my life!
-------
Even though this is not a true story, this is the reality of millions of children living in poverty all over the world. It doesn't have to be this way. You can be the person that changes a child's life. It start's here. It starts now. It starts with you. Change the story.
-----
Dear Sponsor,
I love you. Thank you for giving me this gift and for praying for me. I will not let you down! My teacher suggested that I tell you about what my life was like prior to the best day ever, the day I found out that I have a sponsor.
I was born in a village outside of a large city. I have an older sister and brother. Life in the village was not good. We never had enough to eat and my parents struggled to find jobs and earn money. My father decided that we should move into the larger city because there would be more work there. He received a loan so we could buy a small house then we were in debt. My parents were worried that they would not make enough to pay for the house and the things our growing family needed like food, water, clothes, and education.
In the city, the only home we could afford (even with the loan) was in a large slum. Drug lords ruled the streets and demanded payment for protection. Our home is very small and barely holds all of us. There is one mattress an old stove, and a small table. I am young enough that I could sleep on the mattress with my parents but my brother and sister have to sleep on the dirt floor. I don't like the slums. There are plenty of kids but my parents say it's too unsafe to play outside with them. It's always loud and sometimes I can't sleep because of the noise and because I am scared of what's going on outside. We can't lock our door and I hear gunshots and screaming almost every night. I fear what would happen if they came to our door.
By the time I start school my mother is pregnant again. My family is excited for this blessing from God but I know my parents fear how they will be able to take care of another child. When the baby is born I stay home from school to help my mother take care of him because my older sister is very smart and is doing well in school and my parents don't want to take her out because they think she will go far in life. I guess I won't.
The new baby quickly becomes sick. My mother isn't getting proper nutrition and can no longer breast feed so we don't have much to give the baby. He is thin and cries a lot which makes me cry but there isn't anything to do. My baby brother dies before his first birthday.
My mother was so upset that she couldn't leave her bed for months. She blamed her self and was angry with God. My father tried to make her feel better but nothing worked. He quickly became frustrated that he was the only one working and providing for the family. A little less than a year after my brother died he left and never came back. My older brother dropped out of school to provide for the family and told me that I had to go to school so I did.
I really enjoy school. I love learning and making friends even though it's hard to learn when I can't afford the supplies. I always try my best though. I love to read and I think it would be fun to be a teacher myself but I don't know if it will ever happen. My sister told me that to be a teacher you have to go to college and we can't afford to go to college. She told me that we'll probably all be market sellers like our parents and didn't understand why we should bother with school.
I made a friend in school. She lives in the same slum as me and is very nice. She likes to read too and we talked about being teachers together at the same school even though it will probably never happen. Her family is just as poor as mine.
At home the situation became worse. My mother stayed in bed, my brother continued to provide and my sister seemed to slowly stop caring. She stopped working as hard in school because our parents weren't there to encourage her anymore. She didn't see the point of continuing with school even though she was only a couple of years away from graduating because she didn't see a future for us. I began to believe it myself.
My friend stopped coming to school every day and eventually stopped coming at all. I saw her in her home in the slums and figured her parents were making her work. She always looked so sad and I felt bad that I was able to go to school and she wasn't. One afternoon when I came home from school I saw two men enter her house and give her parent some money before going into their bedroom. I didn't see my friend in the house but before I got far enough away I could hear loud crying and screaming.
I became used to life as it was, a dangerous, sad, lonely place. I stopped trying to make friends, stopped caring about school, and became angry with everything that went wrong in my life. I didn't get to eat that day? It's God's fault for giving me such a terrible family. I failed a test? It's God's fault for giving me such a terrible teacher. I became sick off of the water I drank? It's God's fault for not providing for me.
One evening when I came home my brother told me that we needed to go to church that night and I didn't want to. God and I weren't on good terms. He wasn't looking out for me the way that I had been promised. I had no father, a mother that could barely get out of bed most days, a tiny, smelly house in a disgusting, loud slum, no materials for school, no food, no clean water, three outfits, and nothing to keep myself clean. The last place I wanted to be was church. My brother told me I had to come because he heard about an organization called Compassion International that could help us. I was intrigued so I went along. If all else failed I was prepared to give God a piece of my mind.
We were led into the sanctuary and a representative of Compassion explained to us what the program was about. We would be paired with a financial sponsor from another country who will write us letters and give us gifts. After we're enrolled we will be able to participate at the project and receive food, access to clean water, help with school, learn about healthy living, make friends, participate in other recreational activities, and learn about Jesus Christ. It sounded pretty sweet and my mother signed me up that day.
I was scared to go to the project for the first time because I didn't know what to expect but it was so cool! Everyone was so nice and welcomed me right in. They helped me with my schoolwork, gave me a great lunch (the best meal I'd had in a long time!) and I got to play games with very nice kids. A lot of the kids had sponsors already and they told me about the letters they got and how much they loved their sponsor. On letter days I would look at the pictures and gifts my friends got and was sad that I didn't have a sponsor yet. I began to learn about Jesus and was encouraged to pray about why I was upset with Him, which helped me I think.
I remember the day I found out I had a sponsor like it was yesterday. After lunch I was called into the project supervisors office. At first I thought I was in trouble but then I noticed that she had a smile on her face. "I have great news!" She said. "A family in the United States wants to sponsor you!"My face formed a huge smile and I couldn't believe it was true! A sponsor! A real sponsor! A family! I ran from the office and told all of my friends.
Every time I get a letter I read it over and over until I have it memorized, then I put it in a box in the bedroom of my house. I have never felt so loved in my entire life. When I feel sad I take out the letters and read them all again to remind myself that you love me and you're praying for me and that I can do anything. You make me want to work hard in school because I don't want to let you down. You make me want to be nice to others because I want to set a good example. You make me want to be kind to my family because I want a family like yours. You make me want to love God as much as you do because He seems like a pretty cool guy.
My life is so different now. I have food to eat, I have supplies for school, and I for the first time in my life I get gifts on my birthday and at Christmas! My mother has received counseling for depression and is doing much better. My sister has been inspired to keep working hard too. She is very smart and she is saving her money to be able to go to college. With the help of Compassion my brother has been able to go back to school too. Our whole family is happier and healthier. I know that I have a future now and I have hope of a better tomorrow. I have dreams now. I want to go to college and become a teacher and help kids like me learn. I would love to sponsor my own child someday too to return the favor.
Thank you sponsor for changing my life!
-------
Even though this is not a true story, this is the reality of millions of children living in poverty all over the world. It doesn't have to be this way. You can be the person that changes a child's life. It start's here. It starts now. It starts with you. Change the story.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Something Exciting
September is blog month at Compassion and throughout the month of September, Compassion wants 3108 new children to find sponsors. As of yesterday (Monday, 9/17), 1515 new children have sponsors!! That's only 1593 more to go with two weeks left! This is very exciting to me. If you have started sponsoring a child this month or referred a child to someone else or know someone else that has or have thought about or prayed about these children, thank you! You are changing their entire lives.
An amazing example of the life-changing truth of Compassion, check out this video that was posted on the Compassion blog today. Amazing!!
Also, please take the time to look at these kids that have been waiting for over 400 days for a sponsor!! Please pray for them and pray that they will find a sponsor soon. If you are able, please consider sponsoring one (more more!)
Love & Peace
An amazing example of the life-changing truth of Compassion, check out this video that was posted on the Compassion blog today. Amazing!!
Also, please take the time to look at these kids that have been waiting for over 400 days for a sponsor!! Please pray for them and pray that they will find a sponsor soon. If you are able, please consider sponsoring one (more more!)
Love & Peace
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A Letter to God
Dear God,
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand why the world is the way it is and why beautiful, God-loving people have to suffer when so many others get off completely free.
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand why innocent children that have done nothing wrong have to live in some of the most deplorable, hopeless conditions in the world.
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand how a mother or a father could sell their child into a life of forced labor or prostitution.
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand why a parent would abandon their children or their spouse.
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand why governments don't seem to care about the suffering of their people.
Sometimes it's hard for me to remain positive and to see more than the suffering, hurt, abuse, pain, and poverty in the world.
Sometimes it's easy to forget that you love us all more than we could ever understand and that you have a plan for each and every one of us.
Sometimes it's easy to forget that you don't do things accidentally and that for everything there is a season.
Sometimes it's easy to forget that you have a plan for me and that you are using me for something amazing.
Sometimes I want to close my eyes and forget about the overwhelming suffering in the world. But then I remember that I can't.
I can't because you gave me a big, loving heart.
I can't because that's not what you want from me.
I can't because you have shown me that there is way to solve this and that it can start with me.
I can't because I know that I can change a story and in doing so change a life.
I can't because you have given me the tools to help change the world.
It's not always easy to see the good and believe that the bad will get better but I know that with your help and your guidance I can do anything. I know that the world can change and the change can start with me. I know that this is what you want me to do and this is the way I am meant to help. I know that I am meant to help. Thanks God.
Love,
Carly
Please consider sponsoring a child of your own!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Blog Month!
The month of September is blog month at Compassion International. What does this mean? This means that Compassion is really encouraging people to blog about Compassion with the goal of getting 3,108 new children sponsored as a direct result of blogs.
First and foremost, go here: http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm and choose a child to sponsor. Do it. Anyone can do it. I did it when I was 13.
I've already talked about how children benefit from sponsorship but I haven't talked about how you as a sponsor benefit. Here is a list of benefits I feel that I have received in the last seven years of being involved with Compassion (this is by no means a comprehensive list)
- The knowledge that I have saved and changed another person's life and the satisfaction that comes with that
- Being able to watch the children I write to grow and develop and gain confidence and building a relationship with them
- A way to profess the immense love I have in my heart for others
- A closer relationship with God as I pray for these children and see the work He has done in their life
- A sense of thankfulness for what I have. I thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed on me daily
- The chance to travel and see these children and the good, bad, and ugly of Brazil
- The ability to meet incredible people that inspire me to do more (Shout out to Lorenna, Ana, Isabela, Paul, Becca, Bobbie, Misty, Carol, Todd, the Millers, the Sullivans, and everyone else from the Brazil Sponsor Tour and the amazing country staff and people of Brazil)
- Increased confidence in my ability to speak and tell others my story and about Compassion
- Love love love love love
- Huge dreams and making those huge dreams come true
All of this and more can happen to you too. You just have to make that first step.
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm
I understand that not everyone can make a $38 per month commitment and if that is the case, please pray for these children and the country staff, that they may have the resources they need to continue their life-changing work, and that all of these children will receive sponsors.
Love & Peace
:)
First and foremost, go here: http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm and choose a child to sponsor. Do it. Anyone can do it. I did it when I was 13.
I've already talked about how children benefit from sponsorship but I haven't talked about how you as a sponsor benefit. Here is a list of benefits I feel that I have received in the last seven years of being involved with Compassion (this is by no means a comprehensive list)
- The knowledge that I have saved and changed another person's life and the satisfaction that comes with that
- Being able to watch the children I write to grow and develop and gain confidence and building a relationship with them
- A way to profess the immense love I have in my heart for others
- A closer relationship with God as I pray for these children and see the work He has done in their life
- A sense of thankfulness for what I have. I thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed on me daily
- The chance to travel and see these children and the good, bad, and ugly of Brazil
- The ability to meet incredible people that inspire me to do more (Shout out to Lorenna, Ana, Isabela, Paul, Becca, Bobbie, Misty, Carol, Todd, the Millers, the Sullivans, and everyone else from the Brazil Sponsor Tour and the amazing country staff and people of Brazil)
- Increased confidence in my ability to speak and tell others my story and about Compassion
- Love love love love love
- Huge dreams and making those huge dreams come true
All of this and more can happen to you too. You just have to make that first step.
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm
I understand that not everyone can make a $38 per month commitment and if that is the case, please pray for these children and the country staff, that they may have the resources they need to continue their life-changing work, and that all of these children will receive sponsors.
Love & Peace
:)
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