My Time With Thomas

So I go halfway around the world, and where am I taken on my first day in Africa? A LUTHERAN CHURCH!!! I kid you not!! The Compassion International project for this particular suburb is housed at a Lutheran church. Getting there was a bit scary -- they have no stopsigns, traffic signals, crosswalks, or any sort of traffic rules in general from what I can tell. It seemed like a giant game of dodgeball with cars, tractors, bicycles, and pedestrians, and I was quite sure my taxi driver was going to kill someone. We made it, though!

For anyone who sponsors a child through Compassion International or any other relief organization, start saving up your money so you can make a home visit! And if you don't sponsor a child now, start! Not only did I meet Thomas, but I met his family, people at his church, every kid within a ten mile radius (so it seemed), and saw the impact sponsorship is having on his life. He and all of the adults I met kept telling me over and over to thank all of the children at the church.

Thomas is a very quiet and sweet little ten-year-old. He lives with his mother in a room that's smaller than my bedroom. Maybe about the size of or a little smaller than Mrs. Judy's Sunday School room. The walls are made of a dirt/dung mixture and are covered on the inside by cardboard. There are no lights or windows. When his mom met me, she gave me a big hug and several kisses (after a loud "lelelelelelelele"). She said that without his sponsorship, he wouldn't be able to go to school, have clothes to wear, etc. The sponsorship also provides food for both of them. He LOVED the soccer ball, especially with all of the signatures from Ascension kids on it. He has an 18-year-old brother who lives in the neighborhood and I told him to make sure none of the bigger kids steal it! I think his favorite thing, though, was the bubbles!! He didn't know what they were at first, but I have a feeling he spent the rest of the day blowing them!

I also went to his school, walked all over his neighborhood, and generally saw things that will now help me picture what he writes about in his letters. When I asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up, he said, "A teacher, so I can make money and sponsor other children who need it." Pretty amazing for a ten-year-old.

Can't wait to tell all of the Sunday School kids about my visit when I get home -- and I've got lots of pictures!