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January 14, 2008
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For less than a dollar a day, you can make a powerful
difference in the life of a needy child. Click on the
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Pincushion?, by Phil Ware
Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my
name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent
me. For whoever is least among you all is the greatest" (Luke 9:48
TNIV).
Nine shots in less than a month! Sore arms and a touch of fever or two.
It's been interesting. As I was pulling my sleeve down, the nurse at
the health department joked about the three Band-Aids I had on my arms
after one of my visits. "You look like a pincushion," she joked, "so
we'll see you next week?" She giggled at the little grimace on my face
and the funny she had made. "Yep!" I replied, "I'll see you next week
for that last shot!"
Why in the world would I get nine shots in such a short period of time?
Africa!
Lord willing, I will be going to Uganda with Compassion International
in February. The trip is to see the operations there and also help
folks in our Heartlight Internet family know more about sponsoring
children in the AIDS ravaged countries of Africa. Heartlight is also
sending along some small gifts for children and World Bible Translation
Center is sending some New Testaments; but the focus of the trip is to
open our readers' hearts to the idea of sponsoring a child.
Donna and I have sponsored a little boy for quite some time, but the
very same day we had decided we wanted to sponsor a little girl, we
received an email from Compassion International asking if I would be
interested in going to Uganda. I would get to meet the little girl we
will be sponsoring and get to encourage lots of other folks to join us
in sponsoring a child. What an incredible blessing! What a Kingdom
opportunity!
I can't think of anything more crucial in our time than helping
children to know the love of Jesus and give them a chance to grow up to
serve him. Yet in so many countries, poverty and disease prevent
children from having much of a opportunity to do any of these. In the
squalor of poverty, we can help them experience the love of Jesus and
perhaps prevent them from being recruited or kidnapped into a life of
hatred, violence, and self-destruction.
So, off to Africa! And you are a part of the trip.
I was invited because of our interest in Compassion International and
because of you -- the tens of thousands of people in our Heartlight
community. Many of you have already committed to sponsor a child each
month. I hope many others will consider the possibility of doing so in
the future. We are hoping to find sponsors for 500 children as a result
of this trip. Many of these children live with the prospect of losing
one or both parents to AIDS before they finish their teenage years. We
can make a difference!
So, you see, I'm quite happy to get all my required shots and make a
long trip with all its adventures and risks, because nothing -- not a
thing -- is more important than helping children get an opportunity at
life and to know the love of Jesus and the family of God.
So, please, help out with the trip and the effort in any of the ways
you believe God would want you to help. Here are some things you can
do:
* Pray for us and the trip to Uganda in February: the effectiveness,
the impact on the children, and that God opens the hearts to help
us find 500 sponsors for these precious children -- during the
trip, we'll keep you updated through the daily Heartlight articles
as well as my blog.
We have an opportunity to change our world one child at time!
* Learn about Compassion International and prayerfully consider
sponsoring a child from Uganda or another African country: for just
a little more than one dollar a day, we can change the future of a
human soul
* Ask God to awaken his people: we have an opportunity to change our
world one child at time, throughout the world and home if we choose
to do so.
* Pray that God will raise up great leaders for God's Kingdom in
Africa out of these children who are helped.
Oh, and one last thing: can I borrow an arm or two in case I have to
get any more shots? This pincushion has about run out of places to put
needles!
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If you have questions or comments about this effort or any of the
questions below, I'd love to hear from you on my blog:
http://blogs.heartlight.org/phil/?p=190
If you sponsor a child, I'd love hear about your experiences and
commitment to make a difference and why you decided to get involved?
If you will pray for our trip in February, would you please let us
know!
---------
(c) 2008 Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Compassion International
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=80308
* Compassion Ugandan Children to Sponsor
http://www.compassion.com/about/where/uganda.htm
* World Bible Translation Center
http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer
* Southern Hills Church of Christ
http://www.southernhillschurch.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200801/20080114_pincushion.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
WILD AT HEART, by John Eldredge
Helping men rediscover their masculine heart, this is a guide to
understanding Christian manhood and Christian men.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?153
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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