She smiles

The last blog assignment for Compassion blog month is to write from the perspective of a sponsored child. Trouble is, I don't have a clue what a sponsored child's perspective is. I could give you links to stories about sponsored children from those who have seen them. I could talk about what I think it's like to live in poverty, or to be hungry, or to experience true need. But I don't really know.

But what I do know is that Diana started to smile.

We began sponsoring Diana in December of 2008. Compassion sent us a introduction packet that included some basic information (she is one of 3 children, she liked art and playing with dolls, she is part of the Masindi Child Development Centre in Uganda) and a picture of her. In the picture, Diana was wearing a very simple blue dress, some brown tennis shoes, and no smile.

We continued to get updates on Diana, and in the next picture she was wearing a fancy yellow dress--it's what she had chosen as her birthday present from us--and the ghost of a grin.

In the latest picture, she has grown so tall. She is wearing a blouse and tie with a skirt. We assume it's her school uniform. But the part of the picture that stands out is her smile. It's very shy, sort of small, but it's there. In her eyes and in that grin you can see it. Hope.



I don't know what it is to be hungry. I don't know what it is to live in poverty. But Diana does. And sponsorship through Compassion--food, education, healthcare, Jesus--these things have given her a future and a hope.

Please consider giving hope to a child by sponsoring through Compassion.