{Hey guys! I just wanted to let you know I’m on my way to Savannah right now with my husband, sister-in-law and kids. My husband’s grandfather is dying. We’re expecting a funeral this week. Please pray for the family! Here’s a few retro photos of Grandpa. He is an awesome guy! If you see me on twitter or commenting on your blog, it will only be because I commandeered my husband’s iphone on the trip to Savannah!}
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Compassion International is hosting another blogging trip this week. Four bloggers are leaving for Guatemala today. I can imagine their trepidation and excitement because I felt the exact same way on my trip to the Dominican Republic with World Vision.
Today I want to encourage you to follow the bloggers on this trip. It’s not about Compassion or World Vision (both organizations are amazing tools for advancing God’s kingdom and I give money to both of them monthly) or another child sponsorship organization. It’s not about taking your money. It’s not about blogging. It’s about taking YOU out of YOUR WORLD and realizing their is MORE to life than YOU. It’s about realizing God’s big plans for ALL His people. It’s about getting INVOLVED with Him. And leading you to pray, as Bob Pierce prayed, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.”
So, I’m going to give you 10 links today. And I know doing a link post on Tuesday is kinda counterproductive because I really want you to click the links of the other Top Ten {Tuesday} participants. And when you read one post of ten links, it’s really like reading 10 posts. But. I’m gonna do it anyway.
Here are 10 posts from my trip to the Dominican Republic with World Vision, other Compassion blogging trips and important links to help you get involved. Please click and read. Or bookmark this page so you can come back to it at a quiet time today. Sit down, read and listen.
1. Is Child Sponsorship Worth It? My favorite post from my Dominican trip. It’s the story of John Robert. The best part is that John Robert himself left a comment for me. You must read this.
2. Maria. Jesus’ Light in the Slums by Jessica at The Mom Creative. The most affecting moment of our trip in the Dominican. A beautiful post.
3. A Meeting Ten Years in the Making by Jill at The Diaper Diaries. This is what child sponsorship does–to sponsors.
4. Kristen’s Trip to Africa. This is a link to all her posts. Click any of them–it doesn’t matter which one. They will all touch you.
5. Poverty Statistics from The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision USA.
**Oh! Oh! I just saw that The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns is on sale for $5 at Family Christian Stores and on their website. You MUST buy this book! You will never be the same!**
6. Sohie (aka BooMama) and Shannon from Rocks In My Dryer went to Uganda with Compassion. It was the first bloggy-missions-trip thing I’d ever seen. And I read hungrily. I said, “This is my dream job. This is what I want to do when I grow up.” Read their stories: To Africa with Compassion by Sophie and My Africa Story by Shannon. {And my response post: The One In Which I Sob}
7. Less Charity, More Justice an interview with Sara Groves. I’ve documented how Sara Groves has impacted my worldview, too. This article briefly describes her journey and the organization she partners with to sponsor kids. (And Sara Groves’ blog is worth a read, too!)
8. A Father to the Fatherless by Brad Ruggles. I just glanced at this post again while linking it here and began to cry. Please read this.
9.
10. Please follow the journey of the Compassion Bloggers to Guatemala. Read up on Compassion and World Vision. And change the life of a boy or girl living in poverty. It will in turn CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
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You know what to do! WRITE a fantastic Top Ten list on your own blog, LINK back to me, PASTE your list’s url in the linky below and then start VISITING and LOVING on the rest of the participants! See my Top Ten {Tuesday} page for details and a cute little button.
Great top ten topic!
So excited to follow the compassion bloggers while they are in Guatemala. Just added their badge to my site. I am so glad I decided to sponsor a child in Kenya this past Mother’s Day, she is a delight in our family’s life. I hope that someday we will be able to physically give one of the 147 million orphans a forever home.
And… so sorry to hear about the grandfather.
Sorry about your Grandpa…we will keep your family in our prayers.
Thanks for the information about Compassion…I’m always interested in sponsoring a child, but never know which organization to go with. I’ll have to dig a little deeper into your resources.
Thanks!
Beautiful post, Amanda. It’s heavy on my heart.
Praying for your family right now.
Thanks for putting all of these links in one place.
I am praying for your husband’s family, Amanda. I don’t mean this to sound weird but I hope it goes well; peaceful passing and no family drama.
I was so moved when you and Jill (and everyone else of course) went to the Dominican – reading the posts and keeping up with the amazing journeys was a testament to faith, but also to the power of blogging. It made me dig in deeper myself – in both areas.
I have been following Kristen’s trip to Africa for a while now. It has truly touched my heart. Thanks for the other links. God bless.
We sponsor a child through Compassion International. I expected, from the beginning, that it would be as much, if not more, of a blessing for us than it was for Nathan. What I didn’t expect was how much and how quickly we would grow to love him. Nathan is a part of our family now. He comes up in conversation regularly and in prayer daily. I’m so glad we decided to give sponsorship a try.
Praying for your family this week.
Praying for your family!
Thank you, Margaret.
Thank you for this amazing post, Amanda. Love your heart and passion to bring change to the world.
Matthew
Thanks for hosting! I’ll be praying for your family!
Wonderful topic! And I love that picture of Jill.
What an inspiring post. God will use whatever it takes to get us to the end of ourselves and your post was a reminder of that today. Thanks!
Please tell Les that all of you are in my prayers. It’s so hard, no matter how old they are. Please be safe in your travels.
I look forward to reading all of these links–thank you for putting them all together. Your family is in my prayers!
I am continually looking online for ideas that can help me. Thank you!
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I’m glad that I found your post and your blog – will be bookmarking your blog! Thanks!