I remember seeing commercials showing children in poverty. A nice, soothing voice over gives the statistics about how many children die every day of malnutrition and from a lack of clean drinking water. For less than a cup of coffee, you can save a child’s life…call 1-800 SAVE-A-CHILD. I’d get all choked up, feel guilty and change the channel or breathe a sigh of relief that the commercial had ended. I’d always wondered how much of that money actually went to kids and their families, but I’d quickly get wrapped up in whatever show I was watching and forget about it.
A few months ago, I heard about a group of bloggers that were heading to Uganda with Compassion International. My interest was piqued for several reasons. First, I want to do my part to eradicate poverty. The Bible clearly states that my responsibility as a Christian is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked…but I live in suburbia. I love that Compassion used blogging as a way to let people know what they are doing in Uganda. Doing some research, I love that Compassion gives 83.1% of the money that donated every month to the kids that are sponsored.
Compassion not only takes care of the kids’ physical needs…they also take care of the children’s spiritual needs. Christianity gives kids living in situations that most of the people reading this blog cannot even imagine hope. Hope that one day they will be able to rise above their circumstances and make a difference in the lives of other people, of their own friends and family.
Whether you know it or not, poverty affects you…and every decision that you make positively or negatively affects someone in poverty. People in poverty are more likely to be exploited. Have you taken a moment to think about by whome those inexpensive jeans you are wearing were made? How about the coffee that you drank…do you know that the people who picked the beans were treated and compensated fairly?
You can do your part to ease the pain of poverty, even in one family’s life. For a little over $1 per day, you can make sure that a child gets an education, that a family has food and hope. I don’t want to sound like a used car salesperson and I don’t want you to feel guilted into helping someone. At least take a few seconds to check out the Compassion International website. Look at their financials. Look at their programs. I’m not asking you to make an emotional decision. That would be wreckless. However, I am asking you to make a compassionate decision.
Deneen White 