Best Conversation Ever

"If you could talk to anyone in the world, who would it be?"

That is the question BestConversationEver.ca is asking Canadians and you can enter their contest sponsored by Wind Mobile to win a conversation with that person.  But the part I'm more excited about is that you can support your favourite Canadian charity and its chance to win up to $50,000.  It's as simple as registering on the WIND site and voting once each day.  Of course my charity of choice is COMPASSION and currently they are in 8th place.  

Please, please, please if you are a Canadian, go over and vote and help change poverty in Jesus' name for children around the world!  There are less than 20 days left to vote - please help!

Please Consider

Once again, a group of bloggers are touring with Compassion International, this time in Guatemala.   Following along on the trip today is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes as you read about Ann meeting her sponsored child!  I pray that you might consider becoming "bread for a family and join in the endless celebration".   Sponsoring a child will change your life - guaranteed.  I know it did for me!

Check This Out

I got a message from Hotelscombined today so I went over and toured around for a bit.  This is a hotel locator site that covers many countries around the world.  I clicked on Egypt and Kenya and Australia and New York City - can you tell what I'm dreaming about?!!  I loved the way several hotel choices in a city are listed and  how it's so easy to investigate each one.  You can see pictures of the hotel, find out if internet is available and read reviews from past guests.  Bookings can be made through the site too.  I think this is a seriously cool site - and a complete bonus is that they are donating to one of several worldwide charities when you mention them on your blog.  So thanks for listening - and investigating further, I hope.  Compassion International is happy too :))

Compassion in the Dominican Republic

You can see Keely Scott's pictures from the first day of the trip. Wow!!!

Please Watch, Pray and Consider

with me this week as Compassion International leads a bloggers tour to the Dominican Republic. Compassion International is a Christian child development organization dedicated to releasing children from poverty in Jesus name.

You can follow the trip here here or you can go and visit:

Mary at Owlhaven
Melanie at Big Mama
Tim from Challies.com and his son
Jennifer from 5MinutesforMom
Marlboro Man, Ree's husband at Pioneer Woman and their 2 daughters
And the trip leaders:
Brian Seay
Shaun Groves

Here is what Compassion says about this trip: “Known for its resort-speckled beaches, there’s another side to this Caribbean nation unknown to most vacationers. Our bloggers will visit a city dump where families scavenge for food and clothing. They’ll tour a neighborhood where drugs are trafficked and children live beside open sewers. And bloggers will also see firsthand how Compassion International and child sponsors are bringing hope to children living in these places by releasing them from poverty in Jesus’ name.”

Please consider if you might be able sponsor a child this week. The support you give with your financial contribution ($35 monthly) and your letters to your sponsored child will change a family's life. And it really is offering hope when life seems hopeless. I pray that your heart will be moved this week.

Compassion International

As one of Compassion International's group of bloggers, my September assignment is to tell you about the letter writing support that is part of our child sponsorship.

Compassion ministers to more than just the physical needs of children and emotional and spiritual support is provided by letters from sponsors to children. From everything I've read on the site, the relationship of one child with his/her sponsors is a precious way to share and support each other. It just melts my heart to read the children's reactions to letters - how they save them for years, reread them to family members, and wait for the next one to arrive.

I want to know more about Thayane, our little girl in Brazil, and one of the ways we can do this is by corresponding with each other. I know how much I love getting mail and I imagine she is just the same, especially when it comes from far away and from someone who is helping to offer hope and life changes by sponsorship. I write to Thayane every month and I was delighted to get our first letter from her last month!!



This is the front of the letter with spots for Thayane to share information. The design of this is so interesting and inviting - just what a little girl would have fun doing, I think. (I've blocked out our personal information.)

It was amazing to read about the whole journey and process that a letter goes through on its way to and from us. The workers in each project help the kids prepare their letters to respond to sponsor letters. The journey can take 3 or more months! I am so thankful to those people who provide translation services. My Portuguese language skills are pretty much non-existant!!



This sweet little drawing just made me so happy! To imagine her sitting at a table with pencils and crayons creating all the tiny bits of this picture brought a huge smile to my face. I wish I could give her a big hug to let her know how very much we love it and appreciate the letter. It hangs in a place of honour on our fridge and I am reminded of her several times a day.




These are the translations of the information from the form on the front.

There is no doubt that receiving this letter has made us love Thayane even more. We think of her often and pray that she knows we care about her and her family. And even more importantly - we pray that she is growing to know Jesus and the love that He gives her always.

If you aren't a child sponsor yet, I really encourage you to consider it. We've made a few small changes (like foregoing the Starbuck's coffee after buying groceries) monthly and the money is quickly there for our child. There are children around the world waiting for someone just like you! Go to Compassion. check out the possibilites and share your love and resources.

And then please, please tell me about your sponsored children!