January Compassion Joys

As usual, I am linking up with Jill for Compassion Joys!

Last month, I didn't get as many letters as I have been lately.  So it gave me a wonderful chance to catch up replying to some letters I got in December (which was busy for me) and also gave me time to make up Mabel's final letter/package.

In January, I received.....

2 letters from my precious Juan in Mexico (his letters usually come two at once with 4 month waits between),
1 letter from my angel Aprila in Indonesia,
and 1 letter from my sweet Gabriel in Indonesia (my first letter from him!)

In my opinion, it is not just a blessing to receive letters, but I also find much joy in writing them!

In January, I sent......

1 final letter with photos and a handmade prayer journal to my Mabel,
3 intro letters - 2 in Spanish - yay!!,
7 reply letters,
13 themed letters (the theme was Bible reading because I just finished reading thru the whole Bible for the first time!)
and a couple other "personal" letters.

I also followed the Compassion Bloggers in Uganda and celebrated Elizabeth's 18th birthday!!

Feeling so blessed this month :)

August Compassion Joys

a letter from Eduardito, Lucie, Junior, Samantha, and Elizabeth
cards to send to Wess

meeting Jey from Kenya, a Compassion graduate

volunteering at the Compassion table at Kingdom Bound

112 newly sponsored children at Kingdom Bound!

Cycle4Compassion donations! (thank you :)

Linking up again with Jill from Compassion Family for Compassion Joys.

Three Hundred, Sixty Five

184 posts

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575 comments

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11,575 views

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24 Google Friend Connect Followers

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2 new sponsored children

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1 successful fundraiser

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365 days

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some of God's blessings 

Thank you (yes, you!) for reading my posts and following my crazy journey in blogging!

Happy Birthday to this blog and may it forever serve as a reminder of God's blessings......

Love in action

via

July Compassion Joys

This was another amazing month for me.  God has blessed me much through Compassion.  While I write this list, I likely will miss something.  :)

1. I wanna write a post about this later, but- the biggest joy I had this month was seeing Mwanatumu and Doreen sponsored!!!  Praise God :D
2. my first letter from Abdisa
3. letter from Mabel,....with promise of photos and recipes next time!
4. letter from Eduardito
5. making pupusas- tasting El Salvador
6. letter from Aruna (to be posted)
7. letter from Juan (to be posted)
8. letter from Samantha (to be posted)
9. letter from Aprila
10. #CompassionHunt  Though, I didn't win, some sponsors won some cool things!

Hop on over to Compassion Family and see Jill's list of Compassion Joys!

June Compassion Joys

1. letter from Mainor
2. two letters from Elizabeth (one and two)
3. letter from Samantha
4. photo update of Elizabeth

5. while not technically Compassion, it was a compassionate thing- seeing the Watoto children's choir!

6. letter from Aruna

7. letter from Lucie

8. Ann Voskamp's trip to Uganda

9. the Compassion Bloggers' trip to Nicaragua

10. country updates from Bolivia and El Salvador :)

11. prayer child sponsored by a friend on OC!

linking up with Jill for Compassion Family: June Compassion Joys  co

May Compassion Joys

May was an amazing month!  God blessed me soo much through Compassion in this past month.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. -James 1:17

1. meeting Maria!!  She's such a sweet lady :)

2. letter from Aprila (Kartini)

3. Mabel's and Mainor's pastor letters

4. two letters from Samantha, and those words I had been waiting for

I love you so much.

5. letter from Junior

How were you blessed by Compassion in May?

April Compassion Joys

It is amazing to remember all the ways God has blessed me through Compassion each month!

1. new photo of Lucie
2. new photo of Aruna
3. new photo of Juan
4. Compassion Sunday!
5. letter from Mabel
6. letter from Elizabeth
7. letter from Lucie
8. letter from Samantha
9. start of Cycle4Compassion campaign!

Linking up with Compassion Family! :)

March Compassion Joys

I am linking up with Jill at Compassion Family to share this month's Compassion blessings.

Second letter from Mainor Eduardo

Ability to send a quart baggie of goodies to Junior (thanks Stephanie!)

Reading about Bolivia and Ecuador sponsor tours

Sponsor bracelets

Package from Bolivia (beads)

How have you been blessed by Compassion this month?

February Compassion Joys

Here are some blessings that involved Compassion this past month-

1. two letters from Aruna!
2. letter from Mabel
3. letter from Lucie
4. letter from Junior
5. opportunity to send a gift to Junior with a friend who is going to Ecuador
6. letter from Juan
7. letter from Kartini (Aprilla)
8. God's timing- I sent a gift to Mabel for her graduation from the Compassion project, her completion date changed, but the gift got to her for her school graduation!
9. finding out that Aruna and Aprilla believe in Jesus!
10. opportunity to make bracelets for sponsors

I am linking up with Compassion Family for February Compassion Joys!

January Compassion Joys

Today I am linking up with Compassion Family for January Compassion Joys.

1. Letter from Kartini
2. Letter from Lucie
3. Letter from Aruna
4. Rosa's sixth birthday
5. Letter from Rosa
6. Elizabeth's seventeenth birthday
7. Prayers from my Compassion kids (every time they write, they always tell me that they are praying for me!)
8. Shutterfly Photo Book of my Compassion family

How have you been blessed by Compassion in January?

Change a life!
Lizzie :)

Joy Dare- one thousand gifts

I read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp this summer.  It was a great book, and I highly recommend it.  She talks about thanksgiving, eucharisteo.  It means grace and joy.

Count everything as grace and you will find joy.  Thanksgiving always precedes the miracle, she says.  I believe it, too.  I've seen it, experienced it.

I am daring you, count your gifts this year to 1000 and beyond.  Find grace in your life everyday, and joy will fill your heart.

Use the prompts on this calendar by Ann Voskamp to encourage your gift-counting.

Join me in counting it all joy (James 1:2).

Blessings

 Hello, friends!

It is really peaceful here.  It is snowing outside.  The baby is sleeping.  Christmas music is playing.  Pumpkin bars are baking.  What more could one wish for?




Some blessings from this month:

• warm, fuzzy blankets
• my new correspondents Samantha and Elizabeth
• letter and photo from Junior
• letter from Aruna
• snow-tipped trees
• bubbles
• Aubrey and Emilie (two girls from my four year old class)
• colorful sunrises
• the baby's smile
• a cool night's fog
• Christmas cookies
• whipped frosting
• and so many more!!

Join me in passing on blessings this Christmas.  Give the gift of hope, healing, or rescue.

Change a life!

Lizzie :)

Linking up with Jill's Compassion Joys post.