Joe Neels travelled to Colombia this past February along with six other businessmen to see the Word & Deed sponsored projects there.
I have been a child sponsor for many years already. Through the right organization, sponsorship can be a good way to make a significant impact on an underprivileged child for a relatively small contribution. I just hadn’t realized how significant.
In April 2007, my daughter Leah (then 14 years old) and I decided to each sponsor a child through Word & Deed. We were given Edgar (then 8 years old) and Danise (then 12 years old) from Cartagena, Colombia, as our sponsored children. It is special to receive the first pictures and general information and to receive the annual update.This past February I had the privilege of meeting our sponsored children face to face. Edgar was quiet and didn’t say much at first. His face brightened considerably, however, when they carefully opened the small gift packages my family had taken much pleasure in providing. Danise stole our hearts and brought tears to our eyes when she spoke her quiet and touching words of appreciation. This very composed young lady thanked Word & Deed, me, and especially God, for their sponsorship and the major changes it had brought to her family. Before this they had been sharing a shack in an incredibly poor, filthy, and corrupt area of Cartagena without much to look forward to. Now she spoke with courage and hope. She was especially thankful for her Bible, which her principal says she carries with her everywhere. She is working hard at school with the desire of one day becoming a doctor. In this way she hopes to “help people and give back to her country.” Edgar loves airplanes and has ambitions of becoming a pilot one day.
I left there that day humbled by their gratitude, with a new appreciation for how much sponsorship means to those who receive it, and thankful for the privilege of being a part of this program.
Joe Neels is a member of the Word & Deed Business Group of Chilliwack and is a member of the Chilliwack Netherlands Reformed Church.
