November 4, 2012
As Orphan Sunday is drawing near an end today, I cannot help
but write about how this day has made such an impact on not only me, but my
whole family. Four years ago, Gary Schneider, spoke at our church about the
orphan crisis in Zambia and about his ministry Every Orphan’s Hope. God spoke
directly to me at that moment, leading me to serve on my first mission trip.
Although hesitant to serve in Zambia, I found that it’s difficult to resist God
when you feel his push. Since that moment our lives have never been the same.
Many of you that are reading this have been instrumental in
helping both Peter and I serve over in Zambia for the last three summers and
through this experience we have been blessed more than we could ever imagine.
We have grown to love the Lord in a way never anticipated and have found Every
Orphan’s Hope to be a beacon of light to children who desire to know that they
are loved by God.
As I look back over the last three years, one thing that has
remained significant to us is sponsoring children that are in the orphan homes
in Zambia. We have grown to love the children that we sponsor and with each
visit we learn how important child sponsorship is to them. Each of these
children knows what a gift they have through their sponsors as they are given a
home whose cornerstone is that of Jesus Christ.
We didn’t realize how important this was until we
experienced it firsthand by a young boy named Harrison. We had met Harrison in
the summer of 2011 when Peter and I served together in the village of Chongwe.
Upon coming home, we spoke with Peter’s parents and after prayerful
consideration; they decided to become his sponsor. Every year, we would have
the opportunity to see our own sponsor children as we served, and so we
understood the excitement, but how could a child get excited about someone they
had never met. It was through Harrison that we saw how important it was.
This past summer, Peter and I had many days we were able to
spend with Harrison. He didn’t realize that he was being sponsored by Peter’s
parents. On the day that we had a celebration day with all the children in our
homes, we were able to give Harrison gifts that were sent over by them.
Although the gifts were greatly appreciated, there was something else that was
received with great joy. Peter’s mom had handwritten him a letter and enclosed
a picture of her and Peter’s father. When Harrison saw the picture it was then
that he lit up. With great joy he took that photo around to anyone who would
look and say “This is my sponsor!” Harrison has a contagious smile, but at that
moment I feel in love with him in a way I never expected. Here are two
individuals that he will probably never meet, but yet they have made a
significant impact on his life. He will always know that someone all the way
across the world loves him enough to provide for him. I can’t even begin to
express the joy in his heart at that moment.
So why do I share this? I find moments in my life where God
just pushes me to a point that I cannot hold back any longer. Every Orphan’s
Hope is doing amazing work in Zambia and each year I serve and the more I learn
about the ministry I firmly believe that God’s hand is upon the administration
here in the states and in Zambia. Their sponsorship program is like no other.
You not only can sponsor a child, but can also have a personal relationship
with that child through various avenues, whether it be letters, facebook, or
even serving on a mission trip to meet them one day. Their model is simple
based on the scripture James 1:27. For $27 a month you can change the life on 1
child by giving them a home, food, clothing, school and above all a love for
the Lord.
So each year we have thanked each of you immensely for
committing to Peter and I as we have traveled to Zambia to serve orphans with
this organization. Every time we return, we prayerfully consider whether God
will lead us back to Zambia the following year and although we are patiently
waiting to hear from the Lord as to when we will return again, we know that
Zambia has become a second home to us with children that have begun to know us
a Uncle Peter and Auntie Cheryl.
This year I approach you with a different commitment to our
mission in Zambia. In place of sponsoring us for an upcoming mission trip, I
pray you will consider making a difference in the life of a child and sponsor
them.
To learn more about child sponsorship, please visit Every Orphan’s Hope http://everyorphan.org/ or you can also contact their sponsorship coordinator, Michelle Jackson (michelle@everyorphan.org).
In Him,
Cheryl
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| Harrison showing that picture saying "This is my sponsor!" |
