Today we got a very special Christmas card. It had a picture in it, hand drawn by the little girl that we sponsor in Ethiopia, a world away from Portland, OR. Kaysie and I were very excited to get news from that part of the world. The letter that came with the card was from the World Vision program director for her region. Our little girl is going to school for the first time in her life at nine years old. She's learning to write her name, to read and to do math. The program director gave us the latest news from her region of Ethiopia and she told us how much appreciated our monthly gift to our little girl was. She spoke of new schools that were being built so that the children didn't have so far to travel to learn. How for the first time ever this area where our sponsored child lives, had clean safe water to drink, and that the community at large was benefiting from irrigation that was helping them to farm and grow much needed food for their families. She also said that they were hopeful to be getting better access to basic health care.
Every single thing that this lady spoke of, I know I have taken for granted, at some time or another. Clean water, education for my daughter, food and access to more than basic health care for my both my daughter and myself. These people are delighted and very grateful to have them for the first time EVER. As I read this letter I felt both proud and ashamed. Ashamed that I had so much and had not fully appreciated it; proud because I knew that what little I was giving was being put to excellent use to make life better to folks who really needed it. Now I know there are people out there that think that we should take care of people in our own country, and yes I agree with that, but I also think that maybe we should be thinking wider. The wider world is important too. I wrote recently about the Portland Rescue Mission and the good work that they do right here at home. Well now I'm writing about my friends at World Vision.
World Vision takes care of the wider world. Their programs are all over the globe and here in the US. As far as non-profit organizations go, they use their money wisely and a larger portion goes to the programs they sponsor. I asked before what would happen if everyone sent in $5 to the Rescue Mission or similar organization in their area here in the US. Now I'm going to ask, what would happen if we invested in our brothers and sisters around the globe? What would that say about us? How would it make you feel to know that someone far away might get to go to school for the first time, or take a long drink of safe clean water? I know it was the best gift that I ever could receive, knowing that I made it possible for a little nine year old girl on the other side of the world. Merry Christmas Hirut. I hope we get to meet each other some day.
If you are interested in helping World Vision with their good work by sponsoring a child or just making a contribution you can find them at www.worldvision.org or at their address
World Vision
P.O. Box 78481
Tacoma, WA 98481-8481
Together we can make the world a better place. Cheers!
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