Monday, October 06, 2008

Aw Shucks!

I had an Aw Shucks! moment yesterday in the midst of opening up various bills. There was an envelope from Plan Canada. We sponsor a child in Guatemala through this organization, formerly known as Foster Parents Plan. So I expected it to be from the organization itself, but instead it was a colouring done by our little sponsored daughter, Nathaly Rosmeri.

From My Sponsored Daughter

This is the second message we've received in the year or so since we decided to sponsor Nathaly. The first was a note from her mother, but this was done by the child herself, and is certainly an Aw Shucks! kind of thing to stick on our fridge. Nathaly Rosmeri just turned four and lives with her mother and two brothers and no father, apparently.

We've sponsored her for over a year now, but for a long time I had felt guilty for not adopting a child. I think it started when I heard an African orphan choir when our own daughter was little. I was moved, but there wasn't much extra cash lying around, so I resisted. Nevertheless, I should have found the money somehow.

But when a year or so ago, someone from Plan Canada knocked on my door and invited me to participate, I could no longer, in good conscience, refrain from reaching out in this way. And so I pledged to send a little bit off every month to assist a kid who could sure use a helping hand: less than the cost of the moderately sized turkey that we consumed for our early Thanksgiving yesterday.

This is my little sponsoree (although spellchecker informs me that's not a word) possibly before she turned three. Warms the caukles of my heart, she does.

9 comments:

Ruth said...

I think Plan Canada is great. (We sponsor a child through Compassion Canada) Family are slowly getting the idea that I do not want Christmas gifts. Last year, cows, pigs, school books and equipment for a physiotherapy clinic in Africa were purchased through Plan Canada in my name for Christmas. And that made me very happy.

Jules said...

Nothing like getting 'good' snail mail, especially when it makes your day!

thailandchani said...

That's a beautiful drawing.. and she is a beautiful little girl! I've always wanted to do that as well, adopt a child that way, but couldn't figure out how to determine which organizations are legitimate. Perhaps I could do it through Plan Canada. :)


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Paul said...

Both sponsoree and sponsor warm my heart. Great going!

dabrah said...

That is so adorable.

Shammickite said...

Well done for sponsoring a needy child. I have often considered it, but it's a big commitment and not always affordable. She looks like a little sweetie.

Jane said...

What a cutie! Great that you sponsor her. We sponsor a girl in Lesotho through World Vision. She is 10 now. I went there when I was 18 and the place made a huge impression on me.Since then, I had always wanted to sponsor a child there and so 3yrs ago we took the step. It warms my heart to know that we're making such a difference to her future and to her family.

Woman in a Window said...

So easy, isn't it? Shame on me.

Simply Coll said...

Bless your kind heart.