We Meet... at Long Last!- Philippines

10.5.12

We Meet . . . . At Long Last!

by Dr. Paul Maxfield, Executive Director

Today was filled with emotion as sponsors met their sponsored children.  It is always so much fun to watch both the child and the sponsor scanning the crowd to see where the other is; seeing that first eye contact; and the resultant smiles; that first handshake or hug.

Pete and Carla Weber met April today.  Their church, Sunny Place Church of God, in Addison, IL, has sponsored April for several years.  They met today at April's church, and then visited her humble home for a while.  It's so hard to say everything you want to say in the short time you have together.  But Pete and Carla were focused on letting April know that the church loved her deeply, that they were so proud of her, and pleased to meet her personally.  April's large smiles indicated she understood.

April's home is humble, a two-room dwelling with a dirt floor.  The family all sleeps in one room on a bamboo slat bed.  April's father works as a farmer, and her mother makes colorful mobile decorations made of folded gum-wrappers.  She was so eager to give two of these creations to Pete and Carla in appreciation for the friendship, love, and care that Sunny Place folks share with April.

Pete and Carla had this to say about meeting April:  "When we just looked at her picture, we knew that April was a girl in need and that she also needed Jesus.  When we came face to face and then in the arms of this beautiful, shy thankful girl, our whole perspective changed.  When we then visited her at her two-room, dirt-floor home, we knew that our sponsorship was helping the whole family with the most basic needs.  We know that it is a blessing for her.  Little is much when God is in it."

There is so much more happening each day than can be reported here.  Perhaps you should just come with us on the next trip - and meet your sponsored child!