#18 Buy a goat for a family in a third world country

I started out planning on buying a goat for a family in third world country through Samaritan’s Purse.  I get their catalog every year that is full of items you can purchase for people in developing countries. 

         But, I went to a Women of Faith conference and God changed my plans.  Instead of buying a one time gift for someone, I decided to “adopt” a child.  World Vision is an organization that matches up people who want to help with children who desperately need it.  They provide food, medicine, and an education using monthly donations.  They also share with them the love of Christ.

         During a break at the Women of Faith conference, I perused the World Vision tables full of beautiful children, ranging from a few months old to late teens, all in need of help, each of them someone's child.  I found a little girl named Asnaku from Ethiopia.  She was 7 at the time.  She lives with her mother, a sister, and a brother in a community that is severely affected by the HIV and AIDS crisis.  Her mother is a farmer, but struggles to provide for her kids.  In the photo, her clothes were dirty and she had a necklace made of a pepsi can tab top.  She had big, beautiful brown eyes, but she wasn’t smiling. 

         I filled out the paperwork necessary to become Asnaku’s sponsor.  It was as simple as writing down my address and my debit card number.  Each month, $37 is withdrawn from my account automatically and sent to World Vision, which they use to meet Asnaku’s basic needs. 

This $37 means the world to Asnaku.   Honestly, I don’t even notice it’s gone.  This $37 is how much we may spend going to dinner and a movie on a Friday night.  Ten drinks at Starbucks.  One third of a designer pair of jeans.  To Asnaku, it’s food, clothes, and medicine.   

Asnaku and I have sent a few letters back and forth, translated of course, by World Vision workers.  I was able to “throw” her a birthday party when she turned 8.  As a part of my list of 31 things to do, I sent a $100 gift to her family for Christmas.  World Vision workers in Ethiopia met with Asnaku’s family and decided how it would be best spent.  They bought seeds for their next crop, food, clothing, and shoes. 

I got a letter a few weeks ago from Asnaku, along with a photo, thanking me for the gift.  Here is some of her letter:

“Thank you so much for your nice gift which you have sent me through World Vision.   These created in me a special feeling and joy, so much indeed.  Not only me, but also all of my family, friends, and relatives are always so happy because of you and would like to thank you.  They all say prayers for your health and peaceful life as well.  As for me, I really love you so much indeed and think of you often….I am so happy and proud of you and that I am your daughter here in Ethiopia.  I am sure you will be so excited looking at the photo of me and my gift.” 

Isn’t she so sweet? The photo is of Asnaku and her mother standing next to two large sacks of seeds....and they're smiling.  

In America, it is hard to imagine that the majority of mankind lives so very differently than us.  My aunt and uncle are on a mission trip in Tanzania right now.  I was reading my aunt’s journal yesterday and she shared about a bible study she taught.   When she asked a group of ladies what their fears were, their responses were hunger, disease, and death…all of which are a very real part of their lives. 

I think about how difficult it would be, as a parent, to see your child dying of hunger, or of a treatable disease, and know that there were people living the way we Americans do.  I don’t have children, but I can imagine the desperation I would feel if my niece or nephews were malnourished or dying of malaria.  I would want someone, somewhere, to do something to help.  I know that my $37 isn’t much.  It doesn’t even begin to make a dent, a dimple, in the problem of poverty and hunger in the world.  But it has made a difference for Asnaku, my Ethiopian daughter.

 “Love your neighbor as yourself.  

There is no commandment greater than these.”

                                                               -Jesus (Mark 12:31)

If you want to adopt a child, or if you want to help with a one-time gift, visit www.worldvision.org