Mwanatumu

"I always tell people if you want to do something great in the world, sponsor a girl in sub-Saharan Africa, because we see enormous impacts in the sponsorships of little girls in places like Uganda and Kenya. If you sponsor a girl in sub-Saharan Africa, she’s likely to obtain three more years of education, she’s far more likely to finish high school and also has a greater chance of finishing university and getting a salaried, white-collar job in adulthood." -University of San Francisco economics and international studies professor Bruce Wydick

I am advocating for this sweetheart! If you sponsor her, I will send you a bracelet with a bead from Kenya :)


Mwanatumu (ke3593004)
Birthday: November 21, 2001
Age: 11
Gender: Female
Region: Africa
Country: Kenya
Program: Deliverance Church Kaloleni Child Development Center

Personal and Family Information:  I have been waiting over eight months for a sponsor. There is a high risk for child rights violations where I live in Giriama, Kenya. My dadworks as a laborer when he can find work. On average, he earns $20 a month. And my mom stays home with my two siblings and I. I help her by gardening and kitchen work. Because of Compassion, I can go to primary school, where I do average. I like to jump rope and play ball games at the project and at home. When we have food, I often eat maize, beans, bananas, fish,cassava, and rice. Many children who are not sponsored have health problems like malaria, typhoid fever, diarrhea, asthma,anemia, and bilharzias (parasitic disease). Compassion provides me with Bible teaching, recreational activities, remedial studies,skits, HIV/AIDS awareness training and programs to reduce poverty. My community needs more jobs, education for girls, and tuition help. Please pray for me. I live in poverty, but Compassion is giving me hope. If you sponsor me, I will write you letters. I will tell my friends about you. And I will be very happy to know that someone loves me and wants to help me! God bless you.

I only have her packet until Friday (July 5, 2013).  If you would like to sponsor her, contact me asap!  Email me at: lizzie4compassion(at)gmail(dot)com  You can read my sister's amazing post about the man we met from Kenya- Free and Holy: A Pair of Shoes

Also very thrilled because Doreen was connected with a very sweet, loving, letter-writing sponsor!  Thank you :)

Watoto

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of seeing an amazing African children's choir.  My friend shared with me about the Watoto choir.  She told me to go and see it if I could.  I thought that there was no way it would come near me, but sure enough it was going to be not too far away!

Watoto means "children" in Swahili.  These Watoto children are orphans.  When they were young, their parents either died or abandoned them.  There was no one to care for them.  They felt unloved and unwanted.  That is when Watoto took them in.

Watoto is a holistic care program for vulnerable women and children.  The children are welcomed into a home with a house mother and seven other siblings!  They learn skills that will enable them to be leader in Uganda when they are older.

Part of their leadership training includes touring as a choir for six months.  They travel throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas.  Performing dances, singing songs, and sharing their story- the Watoto children bring Africa to you!

I soo enjoyed their performances!  It was incredible to see their smiles and hear their stories.  They worshiped freely as they sang about Jesus.  

My favorite song was the last one, I think.  It was a traditional song.  The boys had white hand-prints on their bellies, and they all wore frilly bands around their clothes.  Some of the boys played the big African drums, and the rest of them with the girls danced.  It was amazing.  I felt like I was in Africa for a moment.  

It isn't quite the same, but here is a video from a couple years back of one of the choirs performing a traditional song-

Here is another song that they performed (again, it was taken like three years ago).  When you remember that they are orphans, this song is just beautiful!

Their music is so much better in person!  The choir will be traveling through Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan this month.  (I don't know where they will be outside of the USA.)  The group of children that I was able to see will be finishing up their last month on tour in June.  

After that, another group will come up from Uganda.  Their tour will start in the USA in December 2013.  It starts out in the west- Arizona, Washington, and California.  I expect that there will be more dates and possibly more groups as it gets nearer.  I really suggest that you go if you can!  These kids are amazing! :)  You can see the tour schedule HERE.  

You can sponsor a Watoto child too.  I really wish I could.  Like I said, these kids are amazing!  Each child has multiple sponsors, but you can still write and receive letters.  Go HERE for more info on that.

How have you seen another culture or people recently?

photo credit

Choir 61 Are Loving Queensland, Australia! | Watoto Choirs Blog

Home - Watoto

Ethiopia

I have been reading some things about Ethiopia.  Ever since I got Abdisa, I have been excited to learn about his country.  I always knew that Ethiopia was poor.  I saw the picture of the kids with holey clothes and bloated bellies.  When you see those pictures on Compassion's site, you know that they are in desperate poverty.

But, I never knew this- the population estimate includes the "effects of excess mortality due to AIDS." (http://www.compassion.com/about/where/ethiopia.htm)  About one percent of the population lives with HIV/AIDS.  I am so glad that Abdisa's center provides HIV awareness programs and health screenings.

Abdisa is blessed.  He lives with both of his parents.  He is even blessed to be alive.  One hundred, nine out of 1000 babies don't make it to their fifth birthday.  Abdisa did.  Today, I rejoice for all those little lives that Compassion has saved.  I know God has great plans for their lives, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for Abdisa!

Abdisa from Ethiopia

Please welcome Abdisa from Ethiopia to my Compassion family!!  He is my ninth correspondent.  Compassion assigned him to me on Monday.  I literally freaked out when I saw him on my account.  I am soo excited to get to know this precious child of God!

Abdisa's current photo

Abdisa's previous photo

Abdisa is my first child from Africa.  He lives in Ethiopia.  He will be 13 on May 22.  Abdisa lives with his dad, mom, brother, and sister.  His dad plasters walls with mud, and his mom is a hair dresser.  Abdisa is in seventh grade, where his performance is above average!  (I am already so proud of him!  Many children in Ethiopia have to help earn money and don't do well in school.)

His center (Omi Hane Berhane Wongel Church Student Center ET805) provides Abdisa with Bible teaching, health screening, hygiene and health education, clothing, field trips, recreational activities, tuition, life skills training and counseling. The center staff will also provide health education, evangelism and HIV awareness programs for his parents.

I was able to read a letter from his pastor on OurCompassion.  I thought you might enjoy reading it (I bolded some parts that I thought were very sweet!)-

Dear Sponsor, 

Greetings from Omi Hanne, Ethiopia. The Lord's grace and peace abound for you.

Please read 2 Corinthians 9:10-12. Your generous action toward your Compassion-sponsored child is a cause for thanksgiving to the Lord. We are grateful for your kind support for your sponsored child.

My name is Negessu Ebba, a pastor for Omi Hanne Berhane Wongel Church and coordinator of a fellowship of seven local churches. I am married and father of six children. I am responsible for praying, teaching and visiting children of our Compassion Child Sponsorship Program at the Omi Hanne Berhane Wongel Church Child Development Center in Tikur Enchini town. 

It has been two years since the center started with 249 children. The center has become a means for witnessing the gospel for children and guardians. Many children are filled with the Holy Spirit and also freed from evil spirits.

Children who have been affected with various diseases have got an opportunity to get referral to higher hospitals and escaped death. 

In rural areas, children do not get attention or protected. As the result, children often die under five years of age. They are not often protected from fire, latrines, flood and sharp materials. On the other hand, the center being able to teach guardians in this regard has saved many children from dangers. Ever since the center started, more than 54 persons have come to the Lord because of their children. In turn, those have brought 16 people to Christ. 

Guardians are often taught about personal and environmental hygiene, and also get vocational skills trainings. Though food shortage, lack of potable water, orphan hood, HIV/AIDS, TB, etc. are challenges, the center in our church through Compassion assistance could intervene by using trained manpower in spiritual and socio-emotional areas. As the result, lives of many children has changed. The children are being released from holistic poverty and becoming responsible citizens. 

The community has benefited from the center since lives of many poor people is changed due to medical support and food delivery. Children's lives are changed due to school supports. 

God bless you, the other sponsors and Compassion Ethiopia for being a means in rearing children in orderly fashion and in God's Word. 

As you are praying both for our church and children, we also pray for children ministry fervently. We thank you and say God bless your ministry to your sponsored child. "The God of heaven will give us success" (Nehemiah 2:20, NIV). 

Sincerely, 

Negessu Ebba
Pastor

(Written in 2011)

Change a life!
Lizzie :)