I would like to introduce you all to Madeleine Jaleska Parrales Parrales. She is 4 years old and lives in Ecuador with her mother, father and 2 siblings. I can’t wait to get to know more about her and her family!
Today, I sponsored Jaleska through Compassion International. Our church is having Compassion Month where we are studying different stories of compassion throughout the Bible (this week was Ruth and Naomi) and talking about how one single act of compassion can change a life.
Each month, I will send Compassion $45. That small amount will help provide Jaleska with education, food, health care and important life skills to help her grow up with hope and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Normal child sponsorship is actually only $38, but the extra $7 includes the Partners of Compassion Fund. The Partners of Compassion Fund allow me to partner with Compassion to expand ministry to children and their families with urgent need including disaster relief, HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention.
I have been wanting to sponsor a child for quite some time, but always found some excuse. Today at church, the sermon of Ruth really put compassion into perspective and showed me that this one act could really change a life. My husband and I decided then and there that we would be sponsoring a child. The reason we chose Jaleska is because our church has partnered with Compassion to help build a church in Ecuador and there is actually a trip being planned to visit the church next year and to allow people to meet their sponsor children. Even if I can’t go to Ecuador next year, it just felt like that was where we should sponsor.
What really got me was when the pastor asked for a show of hands from those in the congregation who had already sponsored a child through Compassion. The number of hands around me was astounding! There had to have been twenty to thirty hands in the air (for a congregation of about 100 meeting in a movie theater, that’s pretty amazing)! What a testimony!
I can’t wait to get to know Jaleska over the next several years and to watch her grow and develop through the help of Compassion.
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If you are interested in sponsoring a child through Compassion, please feel free to use this widget below to find the right child. Some people like to sponsor a child with the same birthday as their own child, so that’s what the search is for.
Thats a Great Thing You Did!!!
God Bless and Happy Holidays!!!
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Lindsay that is amazing and just awesome of you!
Brandy recently posted..Puppies Vs. Babies: Whose Cuter?
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You’re doing an absolutely amazing and beautiful thing! I really need to get more involved with our local Church. So touching!
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Lindsay Reply:
November 7th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Our church has made such a big difference in our lives. It’s truly life-changing when you find a church home.
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The one thing Lindsay didn’t mention about the 20 to 30 hands that were raised to show they sponsor a child is several of those families sponsor more than one child! Lindsay, congrats to you on sponsoring your child!
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Lindsay Reply:
November 7th, 2011 at 6:22 am
That makes it even more amazing! I’m already loving Compassion month and we’re only one week in!
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That is awesome that you are sponsoring a child. I have always wondered how this actually works. Thanks for sharing.
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That’s awesome. The stories of people getting to meet their Compassion children ALWAYS make me cry!!!!
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Lindsay Reply:
November 8th, 2011 at 10:25 am
I can only hope that I get to meet Jaleska someday. I am just so excited to get to know her and her family.
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She’s beautiful and very lucky to have found you. I hope to hear more about her!
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Lindsay,
I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate what you had to say Sunday morning in church. John and I had been talking about sponsoring a child for the past week since Compassion week started. Sunday morning the Lord really laid it in my heart to help. It was the best feeling to not only know we are helping this family and can make a difference but that for once I let the Lord lead me to do what he asked regardless of my typical hesitation. You know recently we have been going through some serious finacial struggles, but the Lord laid it on my heart and said dont worry I will make sure you can accomplish what I ask of you and I have had a calm about it every since.
Just thought I would share!
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