Joy

Joy is stuffing toys, clothes and school supplies in a backpack for a four-year-old girl. Joy is filling a gift bag with household items, toiletries, a Spanish Bible, an Esther book, and a Texas A&M ball cap for her parents. Joy is going to visit my new Compassion sponsor child today.

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.

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200 Responses to “Joy”

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Comments:

  1. 151
    Linda JONES says:

    What an inspireing blog! Thank you for sharing

    Thank you for such an inspireing blog! Those children are georgeous. I had a big ol’ cry of my own in that my Compassion Child …Caroline… I had to quit on because of my cancer. Pray for her and that she will get another sponsor. PLEASE.
    Linda

  2. 152
    lashes grow says:

    Thanks so much, Amanda, for sharing your trip in photos – I am just bawling! My precious little Compassion boy lives in Thailand, so I don’t know if I’ll ever get to meet him in person – I love him so much. I feel so blessed to have a small part of this wonderful organization!

  3. 153
    Elena Abraszek says:

    Amanda,
    Thanks for your September post about Stefanie. It touched my heart and prompted my family & I to adopt a child from Compassion last week. Your Stefanie is precious, and she brought big smiles to my family as we sat around the lap top, reading about your visit.
    In Christ,
    Elena

  4. 154
    Meghan White says:

    I cried through this entire post. This was beautiful Amanda. Thank you so very much. I have a little girl in Haiti named Souvenir and the day I signed up to go with Compassion last year to see her, the earthquake hit. Same day. It was a huge shock. I still plan to go see her. I pray it is soon. Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart with us. 🙂

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