Heart-Rending First Visits for Sponsors

Nine-year old Caren recognized Brenda in an instant when we pulled up to the Church of God community room in Valenzuela in metro Manila.  The children filled the room, not only with their presence but with a joyful spirit.  They held small flags with each of our names on them.  When we stepped out of the van, they chanted their greeting.  What a reception!

Brenda Berry, a pastor from Owensboro, Kentucky, had waited with great anticipation for this moment.  Their eyes locked and it was all over for Brenda.  As soon as the children sang a few songs for us, Brenda, Caren and Caren's mother, traveled to Caren's home with Marlene Viray, staff member of Grace Family Helper Project (Children of Promise).  Nothing could have prepared Brenda for what came next.

Immediately upon arriving in the community, your eyes, ears and nose were assaulted with urban poverty that took your breath away.  Caren lived in an area that floods every day at high tide.  The water that floods the neighborhood wasn't nice clean clorinated water.  It was filthy and it smelled unpleasant.  Each step Brenda took on the path to Caren's house confirmed her worst nightmares.  Her sponsored child had to carefully walk over several boards, laying end-to-end, that were suspended over murky waters below.  Her house was hidden behind another house (house on the right), the walk to her home was even more treacherous than we thought at first glance.

From another walkway we could see Caren's house.  Her siblings and cousins peeked out to see if we were still there.  A little while later, Brenda emerged from her visit.  We had no sooner gotten into the church van than Brenda began to sob.  She had confronted the reality of poverty but this time she had left a part of her heart with Caren and her family.  Later Brenda committed two things:  she would sponsor Caren's brother and she and her husband, Jeff, would be coming back together.

For Bob Weeks, his encounter with two of his and his wife Wendy's sponsored children transformed him in a way he did not expect.  He and Wendy sponsor several children around the world and he has even visited some in Uganda.  Nothing, though, prepared him for what happened in The Philippines.  His first home visit was to meet Mary Angelique.  Wendy had sent him with gifts for the entire family which was good especially since Mary Angelique had a twin sister, Mary Angeline.  As they visited with Mary Angelique reading a letter to him aloud, it was all he could do to "hold it together".  When he entered the van, he sat quietly...unable to speak.  Overwhelmed, the tears began to flow.  He never expected to feel what he was feeling...he felt like a father.  This was a new feeling for him, having never been a father.

Later in the day Bob met another child that he and Wendy sponsor, Wanda.  Wanda and her older sister Wella live with their mother who works very hard for them.  (Another sponsor who had visited The Philippines after typhoon Ondoy last year toured Wanda and Wella's "house".  This sponsor gave money for Wanda's family to have "their home" reconstructed into a safer and sturdy home.)  It was during his visit with Wanda that she called him "Dad" and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  His father's heart swelled in him once more.  He wasn't sure how he would make it.  Later, Bob told us that "his heart was for The Philippines."



Mary Angelique, her twin sister and Wanda



That evening Rev. Eddie Viray of the Manugit Church of God assisted in a celebration service for Grace Family Helper Project and the Children of Promise team who would leave the next day.  We were all asked to share from our hearts.  When Bob's turn came, he was able to verbalize his gratitude for the experiences he had with his sponsor children.  At the end of the service, he gave the closing prayer but not before his sponsored children came up on stage with him.

Kathy Knox was so excited to see her sponsored child, Leonito.  He and his parents had made the long trip to the Grace Family Helper Project just to see her.  They took the train and then a Jeepney (an elongated Jeep carrying up to 20 or so people) to reach the office.  Then they waited for us to return from  the village.  Leonito was very quite and reservedwhen we arrived but Kathy was excited.

As Kathy began giving him some gifts she had brought, it was had to tell what was going through his mind.  But the faces of his parents showed it all.  They were loving and gracious people, who would do anything for their child.  The expressed their great love for Kathy and what the Grace Family Helper Project was doing for Leonito. 

And then the moment came, Leonito lit up like a Christmas tree when he started to play with the Etch-a-Sketch.  Those of us who enjoyed playing with the Etch-a-Sketch as a child could understand his joy right away.  It was fun for all of us to see Leonito be taken by such a simple gift. 

As a sponsor, you sometimes wonder what effect you may be having on the life a child who you may never meet.  But this sponsor trip confirms in my heart that even a letter or card sent occasionally may have a profound effect, one you may not realize until you meet your sponsored child in heaven.  Afterall, seeing our children come to a saving knowledge of Christ is our most desired outcome.  Only that brings true freedom from the chains that bind our children in poverty.  It really takes such a small effort on our part to change the life of a child.  I just wish everyone in the Church of God especially would catch a vision of what could be accomplished in this world if we are open to it.  But that is God's work.  Our's is to tell the stories.

We left The Philippines on Thursday morning (U.S.'s Thursday evening).  We will bring you our next installment from Thailand. - Linda Mason