Joy is being so nervous to meet little Stefanie, but being greeted with big hugs and smiles at the door.
Joy is finding a baby doll at Target that speaks Spanish.
Joy is seeing a little girl so eager to share her new things with her baby sister. Joy is being told that Stefanie is a girly girl who dreams of growing up and wearing beautiful dresses. Joy is telling her that I love beautiful dresses too, and one day we can twirl in them together for Jesus.
Joy is Stefanie’s mother asking me to pray for her as she prepares to enter school next year. Joy is telling her that I’ve been praying the same thing for my son.
Joy is a having abuelitas who care so much.
Joy is meeting Stefanie’s big brother who is dressed up like a cowboy. Joy is telling him that I live in a place known for cowboys and teaching him to say “Howdy, partner!” Joy is showing the kids a picture of an armadillo.
Joy is Stefanie’s mother telling me that in our family photo, my son looks just like my husband. Joy is spending the whole day with a little girl who will grow dearer and dearer to me through the years. Joy is seeing that she’s a daddy’s girl.
Joy is now having family in Guatemala.
Joy is eating Dum-Dums together in the bus. Joy is being given a Guatemalan headband and wearing it right away. Joy is Stefanie’s father saying that we are two peas in a pod. Joy is him saying that I look happy.
Joy is Spanish coming back to me after a long time. Joy is feeling like I would take 7 more years of Spanish classes just to get another day like this.
Joy is visiting the student center where Stefanie and her brothers are nurtured by godly men and women.
Joy is drawing pictures of rainbows.
Joy is playing with balloons. Joy is missing my Jackson but having tons of little boys to play with.
Joy is meeting several college students in the Leadership Development Program who have had the same sponsors since the age of six.
Joy fills my prayers for God to give Stefanie the grace to do well in school and enter the LDP program one day. The ultimate joy would be to continue sponsoring her and attend her college graduation.
Joy is the promise of writing letters. Joy is having to say goodbye to Stefanie, but knowing she will continue to be taken care of in Jesus’ name.
That darling little face. Praying so much for all of you.
Joy is seeing you having so much fun with those kids!
wow! thank you for sharing. i have always wanted to visit one of my sponsored kids but financially was unable. it is nice to live vicariously through you. thank you. cindy
Watching you today, Jesus in you, it made my heart hurt with happiness.
Thank you, Amanda… what you did today was beautiful and eternal and I will never forget.
Thank you for shining so brilliantly!
All’s grace,
Ann
I love your pictures and hope one day I can visit my two girls in India, Prateeksha and Sindhu!
So beautiful (people, words, pics, all of it). You two look like BFFs! What a blessing to click so well so quickly.
Joy is knowing you are doing all of this is Jesus beautiful name…..
This is beautiful and I love seeing yours and the other bloggers journey. The stories I am hearing make my heart ache but I know that God hears their cries and sees them and knows their deepest needs. My prayer is that I would be able to sponsor a child and have it change both of our lives. Thank you for letting me go on this journey with you Amanda, for it is changing my life…..
Joy is the tears rolling off my face as I read your beautiful words.
Thank you for sharing your joys. I sponsor a young girl in Uganda through Compassion. It is in my heart to one day be making a trip to meet her and put my arms around her in a big snuggling hug.
I hope you get to do it, Kim.
joy is having you for a sister in christ, amanda.
since becoming a mom, i have REALLY struggled with leaving my girl- even in the nursery at church. its been very crippling in that it can be hard to serve others (and even be served myself) with a two year old on my hip. thank you for showing me by example that faith and obedience can sometimes mean leaving the little ones behind now and then.
love ya, amy
Reading this post brought JOY to my heart (well, all except the Texas A&M cap part…haha). Praying that your trip continues to be blessed and that lives will be touched through this great ministry.
It’s true, Amanda, a picture is worth a thousand words.
These pictures tell a beautiful story, and all of them touched my heart deeply, especially the one of the grandmother (b/c I am one, and cry like this for my family, too), and little Stephanie with her Shine t-shirt. I immediately remembered a verse from Philippians 2:15 and prayed that she will shine like the stars in the universe, that she will shine for Jesus!
Ok, I am sitting here bawling because of this post. You put into words all the things that I feel and will one day experience when I visit my little Ruth in Tanzania. I’m telling you, I’m ready to load up and go today!!
Leah
Ohhh, thank you, thank you for sharing your experiences from this amazing trip.
The pictures are perfect.
Joy is being able to share these experiences with the eager hearts of many who think of “thier” sponsered children daily.
Thank you Amanda!
I think I need to go write my Compassion child. He lives in Ethiopia so I may never get to meet him. What a blessing it is for you to get to meet your child face to face!
Please do! It means the world to these kids to hear from you. They want to know that you love them and believe in them. They also want to know where you live and how old you are. 🙂
Amanda,
What a joy for you to get to experience and a joy for us to read about. That little Stephanie – what a doll. Praying for you.
Reading and seeing your pictures makes me realize how important my sponsership to my compassion child is. Thank You!!
Yes! Be blessed!
Of all of the anticipated posts THIS was the one I was most excited to read. The joy you received, in Jesus name, was shared with all of us. Thank you for including us in this special day, down to every single glorious balloon filled detail. Safe travels home, with affection. Elizabeth
Joy is reading your post today and seeing that special little girl and her family. I loved this!
Loved this post! Thanks for sharing and I am praying that many, many more children are sponsored.
Joy indeed 🙂
She is an absolute doll — what amazing photos! So glad you’ve had this opportunity to meet your sponsored child. What a blessing!
Amanda,
Joy is being reminded today of when God first stirred my heart 20 years ago to become a Compassion sponsor. I was a single mom with a 2 year old daughter living happily paycheck to paycheck. I learned about Compassion and felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit to sponsor a child. I responded to the Lord by saying I could not afford it – I had no extra money. He then gently, but firmly showed me that I was paying $24 a month for cable television – the exact amount to sponsor a child and provide him or her with an education, food, medical care and the opportunity to learn about Christ. Game over, He won!
So I cancelled our cable television and requested a girl from Haiti. It brings tears to my eyes even now to recall how the girl they sent to sponsor, Islande Louise, was born on my daughters birthday! What confirmation and rejoicing I had over that, as I knew God had orchestrated the whole thing. It made me think that I would want some to help my daughter if for some reason I could not do it.
We have since sponsored 2 other children and are looking for a 4th child. My daughter also began sponsoring a child, Jhorgely, as soon as she got her first job.
Joy is receiving letters from each child and hearing of their progress. Joy is receiving their pictures over the years and watching them grow up. Joy is hearing how their siblings and parents are doing.
But the greatest Joy for me has been obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit!
Thanks you for reminding me of this today!
Linda
Amen, siesta! There’s nothing that can compare to the joy and peace that floods your soul when you walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading … Oh, for grace to trust Him more …
Linda, I’m so glad you share my joy. God bless your family.
What a beautiful post…Joy is seeing Jesus lived out in you and the beautiful people in your Guatamalan family. A little of bit of heaven just touched earth. Blessings to you sweet Amanda. Patty
Oh Amanda, the joy that floods my souls and wets my face as I sit here reading this! Sharing joy in Jesus name…there is nothing more beautiful than that!!! Our family sponsors a precious little girl in Thailand. We consider her part of our family. We love her dearly!!!
Thank you so much for sharing with us. May God continue to use you as you shine His light!
Amanda thanks for posting these posts are so moving this one is moving beyond words. When I read the joy and the smile on your face I just see the Lord all over you and I am praying for you and the Compassion team .
Love Carol
Amanda,
Joy is the thought of seeing you and Stefanie twirl before our Jesus in beautiful dresses. Won’t it be wonderful to actually do this? With God’s grace I will be right their twirling with you. (who doesn’t love twirly dresses?)
Amanda, although I cannot help Compassion due to fianaces, my prayers are with you, the team, but most especially, the littles lambs. Thank you for sharing this joy filled journey with me.
Joan
Thank you, Joan, That means a lot.
I know many others have said this already but I’ll say it anyway: Joy is looking at these pictures and reading the captions. Joy is seeing Jesus at work. Joy is seeing Jesus on the faces of men, women, and children.
Oh Amanda!
I’m so overwhelmed with JOY! thank you so much for sharing that with all of us. I can hardly write today… just wanted to let you know how much it affected me.
heidi
Thank you for sharing this! Made my day. I’ve been thinking about sponsoring a child from Compassion. Your post may just push me over the edge.
May God continue to bless you,
Poorna
Bless you, Poorna!
This was a really beautiful post and it inspired me. I just signed up with Compassion to sponsor a child.
God bless!
Laura, thank you for investing in this child’s life! Your generosity and especially your letters will mean the world to him or her.
Oh, Amanda- thank you. We sponsor a child in Honduras and I’m so encouraged by your post. More importantly though, I’m the mother of a 3 1/2 year old boy and a baby girl about to be 1. Our church is planning a mission trip to Ghana next March and for the life of me I can’t figure out why, but I feel called to go. It’s 11 days. I’ve never been away from my babies for more than a day. I’m struggling. Big time. But your post has reminded me what true joy is. I’ve got a while for God to build up my courage and strength but if He’s really calling me to go, He’s really faithful to supply what I need. Thank you for your obedience and service. I’m completley blessed by your family and words cannot express….
I am sobbing. That is the most precious thing I’ve ever seen. Thank You, Lord. Oh thank You, Lord.
Noogs, Mom and I just sat on the phone together and bawled reading your post. We adore your sponsor family! How perfect! I love you and can’t wait to talk to you on the phone!
This morning my daughter looked at me and said, “Mommy, why are you crying?” Together we looked at all of the pictures and talked about sharing God’s love to those in need. Thank you for sharing this moment so I could share it with my daughter! We must give our children vision and examples of sharing the love of Jesus through compassion and missions. I realized that I can now use this blog with my children to show how mothers and daughters minister together and pass it down, generation to generation!
P.S. I am so glad you were able to figure out how to get the pictures bigger! It really makes a difference! Tell Keely she is rocking it!
Amanda, forgive me for posting without reading your recent post and responding I wanted to share this with Beth. I sat behind Lynn (Praise the Lord) Tuesday evening during your Fall Forward lesson. I just received this blog link from a 19 year old family friend who is at Julliard studying the Viola. At the beginning of her piece she gives God the glory for His hand in her ability to play the piece she is about to play. Only because of His creation is she able….I commented (it’s under BrentW as much as YouTube would allow me in the comments). I am also this week beginning the Believing God and Revelations study. I am humbled by what God reveals when we believe, He never stops giving and showing. I wanted to share the video with you of Marie playing and her testimony because I know you will understand the gift God gave to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWQpzSbjW4k (I just copied and then opened a new tab and pasted the link and it went right to it) Note that Marie wipes tears from her eyes at the end, I felt she gets it, He played and wrote the piece not Marie. I do hope you watch it I think you will be blessed following your lesson God’s timing is perfect.
Oh, Yanna, it was beautiful! (I don’t like to post a comment with a video link unless I’ve seen it, as I’m sure you understand.) How fun to hear her tell the audience that she was “from Houston, Texas”! YES, she is indeed an exquisite glimpse of Imago Dei.
Well, cry my eyes out, I felt terrible later for posting anything that would take away from Amanda’s love and her own personal Imago Dei and said to myself that’s the last time I’m going to post. I have a tendency to say/write something because I’m so excited then wish I hadn’t. Thank you Beth. Amanda, I have a newly adopted daugher, Sachini, who lives in Sri Lanka and she is 4. I adopted her when Casting Crowns came to College Staion recently. Your story and pictures made me realize that it really does “make a difference” Again Beth, thank you, seeing your reply is a GodStop moment for me.
Yes, Beth, I understand….I love God so much and it seems every thing that happens in my life is a moment from Him. Just breathing. I keep getting these GodStops, as you call them and wish there were a way to share them with you because I know you would feel the moment too. The blog is the only place I know how…I just knew the gaurdian blog angel who so kindly states “your comment is awaiting moderation” would tap you. Very touching too meet Sister Lynn by the way.
Wow! Once again God wins. I thought I was so technologically smart (Techne) once I submitted comment the link was highlighted so God made it easier to go right to the youtube for anyone who wants to watch it after reading my post no copy or pasting needed. Thank You Lord.
Enjoyed this, Yanna! Thanks for sharing the link! What a beautiful young lady!
Thank you Bobbie, and Gig ’em she used to live in CS.
Joy is knowing the same Jesus that you know.
Yes, yes. Oh, He is good to us all!
I just want to eat her up!!!
I apologize, I just have to share with Beth….being 9/11
when I was studying this am in my workbook I “reflected” what the date meant, the cliche what would Jesus do regarding what is going on in our nation with religion and all the turmoil…I thought about the greatest commandment and the second greatest. If we really obeyed would we be in the mess we are in. If we obeyed and lived what we believe the world would see we would not live one way and proclaim another. I copied and pasted the comment I posted to this blog with the video link so I could tape it inside my reflection journal, and as I taped it I thought to myself this is just another answer how do we “love the Lord our God with all of our heart, with all or our soul,and with all of our mind” and Reflect His image, Techne, creativity. We give Him the glory for who we are. Humbled and not of self all of Thee.
Timely again, I’ve read the blog, another reflection of His image, of His glory sharing God’s love with those in need.
JOY is being allowed to share just a few of those precious moments with you here in this message. JOY is being able to cry with others who are crying in reading every word.
JOY is Stefanie’s face and heart. Praying over all of you in Jesus Name!
Blessings,
Lisa
Isn’t that little one (Stephanie) adorable? Amanda, I imagine you couldn’t stop smiling to entire day.
Ditto on the crying, Beth.
Truly, Jesus loves the little children…all the children of the world…they are precious in His sight.
I LOVE how the Lord loves!
Crying tears of joy right now for you and your new family. (And look at those dimples on beautiful Stefanie!)
Love you, Amanda. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Karene
Your post and pics brought me JOY! JOY to my heart so much joyful tears are in my eyes. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
I burst into tears when I first saw the photo of Stefanie’s precious Abuelita. Amen! My grandmother prayed for me every day of my life until she passed on, and now I have 4 (so far) PRECIOUS grandchildren myself.
That one did me in.
The post was awesome! Thank you so much for sharing.
Amanda,
Joy is reading about your joy. Joy is little Stefanie’s smile (oh, that dimple!). What a wonderful ministry! You are doing what God calls us all to do – spreading His love. I am so glad you were able to take the trip. Safe travels home.
Ok… Joy is seeing the big brother in a cowboy outfit… And the reminder that children across the world are just like my children, but are just not blessed with all the extras and comforts that we have. May I be more and more willing to share with these less fortunate angels.
Thank you Amanda for sharing your Joy with us.