Welcome to the Family, Alicia

Last weekend while I was at the Beth Moore conference in Memphis the Lord really laid it on my heart to stop by the Compassion International table and pick out a child for our family to sponsor.  For less than $40 a month (probably less than I spend on Icees), we can provide a desperately needy child with adequate nutrition, medical care, tuition for school and social opportunities.  It also provides the child's parents with income-generating activities as well as parenting skills training.  Above all, it will ensure that the child hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is discipled and trained up in the way of the Lord. 

 

As I stood at the table gazing over dozens of pictures of sweet little faces, one caught my eye more than any other.  It was a picture of Alicia. 

 

How could I resist that sweet face??  Alicia also caught my attention because she is exactly 5 months to the day older than Kyndall.  She was born on April 20th, 2010 and lives in Burkina Faso, Africa. I scooped her packet up right away and tucked it into my purse.  I couldn't wait to get home and share it with Kyndall.

 

When I returned home that afternoon I sat down with Kyndall and showed her Alicia's packet.  I explained to her that our family would be sending money to Alicia each month to ensure that she has enough food to eat and a place to live.  I tried to convey to her the importance of realizing that not everyone is as blessed as she is and that there are many children who don't even know if they will have enough food to eat, not to mention toys and electronics and a comfy bed.  As I read Alicia's packet out loud, she perked up when I said that Alicia's favorite things are playing with dolls and the game of hide-and-seek.  Her response..... "Ooooh, can we Skype with her??"  She also wanted to invite her to her upcoming birthday party.  Oh dear.....obviously we missed something along the way!

 

Nonetheless, she was interested to hear that Alicia is about her age and that she will be able to communicate with her through "slow" mail.  Alicia can send us things and we can do the same in return.  Right away Kyndall ran upstairs and got to work on a picture to send to her new friend....

 

 

We also filled out a brochure about our family that will be given to Alicia so that she knows exactly who we are, where we live and what we look like.....

 

 

Here's a little info about our sweet Alicia......

 

She lives with her Grandparents in Burkina Faso, Africa.  Her Grandparents are sometimes employed and Alicia works at home washing clothes and running errands.  There are two children in the family.  Alicia is not presently attending school.  She does attend Bible class regularly, though.  Her home is constructed of dirt floors, mud walls and an iron roof.  Her native language is Moore.  Her diet presently consists of maize, beans, fish, bread and rice.  Common health problems include malaria, meningitis and typhoid fever.  Most adults in her region are unemployed but some work as day laborers and earn the equivalent of $27 per month. (wow!!) 

 

 

We have placed Alicia's photo on our refrigerator to remind us to pray for her every single day.  Not to mention, each time we open the fridge without even thinking twice--A luxury Alicia will likely never know.  Kyndall is so sweet in her faithfulness to pray for Alicia every night during our prayer time.  Tonight she said the funniest thing---"Dear Jesus, please take care of Alicia and give her lots of healthy food to eat and not junk food."  She also prays that Alicia stays healthy and that she grows big and strong.  I think this will prove to be a great teachable opportunity by forcing our extremely spoiled very loved daughter to look beyond herself and realize the reality of life outside of what she has always known.  I am quick to remind her of Alicia each time she throws a fit over a toy that I refuse to buy her or when I force her to eat the food she ordered at a restaurant.  Hopefully it will all come full circle and eventually she will really get it.

 

For now, we are excited to welcome Alicia into our family as we provide her with some basic needs that would otherwise not be met.  Most of all, we will continue to pray for her and her family.  We look forward to getting updates on her through Compassion International and Kyndall is very excited about having a new friend to communicate with!

 

Two precious and beautiful little girls each living vastly different lives in opposite parts of the world, yet brought together by the love of Jesus!