Tuesday, April 23, 2013

What's In A Day?

Sometimes I'm asked what I do... and it really is a great question. But it's also a really tough question. No, not because I don't do anything, it's because what I do is so sporadic and unpredictable that it's hard to give a real job description of my responsibilities. I'm the sponsorship coordinator by title, but I also have other responsibilities as I live this life of service to God. It is my responsibility to make sure I respond to an email from a child sponsor, but it is also my responsibility to counsel two children who are fighting over a swing. I have plenty of the "job" type of responsibilities, but I also get amazing opportunities to disciple the children here at GSF. But when it comes down to it, why AM I here? Is it to create a seamless sponsorship program, or is it to share the love of Christ and story of the Gospel at every opportunity? I try my best to do both.  
 
But for your sanity, let me focus on my sponsorship coordinating responsibilities exclusively. One of my favorite parts of being the sponsorship coordinator is writing letters with the children. I love watching as they carefully craft each word (or in some cases, carefully craft each scribble). For the most part, the children have never met their sponsors, and yet they are filled with love for these people that help provide for them. Do they even get what a sponsor really is? I'm not sure, but they definitely understand enough to know that there are people from other parts of the world that are dedicated to them. And that dedication gives them a strong sense of belonging, which turns into a strong dedication returned back to the sponsors. The children here pray for their sponsors, cherish gifts and cards sent from their sponsors, and pour effort into their return letters. It's an amazing relationship; it's a two-way street. Although the children here don't necessarily have anything they can give their sponsors materially (except the other day when I intercepted a boy trying to give his sponsor his baby picture..),  they give everything they can - love and prayer.

Love it.
Hard at work

Besides managing communication between sponsors and the children, I also match sponsors with children, track sponsorship finances, keep a sponsorship blog (www.gsfsponsorship.blogspot.com - I know, it's time for an update!), send out a monthly sponsorship e-newsletter, communicate with sponsors, and....send lots of emails. Quite honestly, it's a great deal of computer "desk work." But God gives me amazing opportunities with both the sponsors and the children to watch His name be glorified and love be exemplified.

Truly, I'm so thankful that God brought me to GSF to serve Him through whatever responsibilities He brings me on a given day. Each day looks so different, but that's all part of the adventure of being led by the Holy Spirit =)

Praises/Prayer Requests:
 - Praise God! Daniel and I have set a wedding date. On August 15 we will become Mr. & Mrs. Iya =)
 - Praise that the time with Heather continues to be fruitful and wonderful! Click here to see her latest video: http://vimeo.com/64224802
 - Pray that God would give me grace and wisdom as I continue to work on expanding and improving the sponsorship program.
 - Pray for our children at GSF. The school holiday is soon, which means that many of them will go to their relatives and spend some time in the village. Pray for God's emotional, physical, and spiritual protection over them during the holiday.
 - Pray for the missionaries at GSF. The opportunities that God gives us to reach the poor and needy can be overwhelming. Pray that God would continue to grant strength as we serve Him in this community.

Sisters writing their sponsors letters

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