miguel

i first met Miguel in 2000. i was in my second year of college, and i wish i could remember the circumstances leading up to our meeting. i remember receiving a letter one day (the highlight of any on-campus college student!) that told me that a little boy in Honduras was mine. i teared up as i read this first letter from him, as he told me about his family and school and activities. that he helped his family by carrying firewood and other chores. he liked to play soccer. he enjoyed going to school and learning about the Bible. what a thought, that this precious child, potentially destined to a life of poverty, was now receiving an education, medical care, Biblical teaching, socialization. not because of me, but because of the Gospel. the Gospel motivates people to make a difference in peoples' lives. not so they can feel proud or accomplished, like they've "done their duty", but because the Gospel is about setting people free. it is about changed lives. it is about compassion.

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd". Mark 6:34

Compassion International is an organization of true compassion, lived out across the globe. this isn't the tv commercial donation site that you are accustomed to seeing. this is a real life, day-to-day, fleshing out of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name".

Miguel turned 18 in July. for me, this means he has completed the Compassion program. that we won't correspond any more. no more picture updates to hang on my refrigerator or letters for me to translate from Spanish to English or drawn pictures to smile at and imagine him coloring them just for me. for Miguel, this means the beginning of a new phase of life. he has completed the eleventh grade; he has had special training in woodworking; he is a new creation in Christ and will now go into the world, his world, and advance the Kingdom of God!

i'll miss his letters, but i will continue to pray for him, as i have done for 11 years. i pray that he will be a mighty warrior, a champion for Christ, that he would fearlessly proclaim the Truth of the Gospel, that he would succeed in all that he sets his hands to do, that he would work as unto the Lord not unto man, that he would live a full life on this earth, laying up for himself treasures in the Life to come.

bendiciones a usted en Cristo, Miguel!

for information on how you can sponsor a child, please visit the Compassion Internation website.