Olphine – How one child changed my life
This is Olphine. She’s eight years old. She lives in Haiti with her three sisters, a brother and mother. I have the pleasure of sponsoring her through Compassion. Each night before I go to sleep, I ask God to take care of this little girl, my friend and her family.Olphine can’t write in Creole yet, but her older sister, Milka writes the letters for her. Olphine draws me a sweet picture on the back of the letter. The translators at Compassion translate the letter into English for me. When I get a letter, I am so excited. I have read each of the letters at least ten times each. I was so excited to read that she got a solo at her church.
I send cards, letters, stickers, thin books, coloring pages and anything flat that I can find in an envelope to Compassion and they translate it and give it to Olphine. I hope to visit Olphine one day in the future. I don’t look forward to seeing the poor living conditions she may be living it, but I do look forward to hugging her and bringing her some things from the US.
I never though that sponsoring a child would make a difference to me. It’s $32 a month and it’s definately made in a difference in my life. No, I am not thinking about the $32 and how much coffee I would buy at Starbucks. I think I have more of an awareness about the world. Haiti is a hard place for a child to grow up. Many Haitians are struggling to eat and are making food out of flour, water, sugar and dirt. When I saw the video of Haitian woman making a flatbread “mud cookie” and using dirt as an ingredient, I winced. I know that the Martissant Child Development Center is making sure that Olphine is fed and looked after. Of course it is wonderful that Compassion teaches the children about Jesus, but it would be hard to learn about Jesus if they were hungry.
When I tell people about Olphine, they think I sponsor her through the Feed the Children Program, you know the commercials that Sally Struthers is in. I don’t know much about that program, except that the television show, South Park does a lot of spoofs on Sally which are mildly entertaining. I found out about Compassion online when some bloggers made a trip to Uganda to meet the children they sponsor.
Yet, Compassion is unique in many ways. When you sign up for the program, you choose the child you want to sponsor. They have many children on their website to choose from. You can choose the sex, age, country and even the birthday of the child you would like to sponsor. Olphine’s picture appeared on my computer and I stared at her red socks. Then I saw her name and noticed that the first four letters of her name were the same as the acronym for my church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. And I felt that was a good enough reason to sponsor her.
Olphine’s picture sits on my desk and I smile every time I glance at it. I’ve never gotten that much joy from a Starbucks coffee – not even one with caramel and whipped cream in it.
Hugs,
marlene
Topics: Uncategorized | 8 Comments »
July 13th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Hello, Marlene, and welcome to the Compassionate world of Compassion! Olphine is, of course, precious; they all are.
I do have some information for you, tho’, about a couple of the other programs. Sally Struthers has been a spokesperson for a very long time for the Christian Children’s Fund. Feed the Children is a separate program based in Oklahoma City. Adoptions are possible through one of FtC’s related organizations, but not child sponsorship as we know it.
Be assured, you made the right choice is sponsoring through Compassion! :o) I do hope you will be able to visit Olphine, one day. I have met two of my girls on sponsors tours; those tours are life-changing experiences, besides the fact that there can’t be anything better than hugging your sponsored child! Well, maybe holding your own newborn….
July 14th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Hello Marlene, thanks for telling people about Olphine. This is one reason why I am so passionate with my work for Compassion is because Compassion gives these children a voice. At the center and church they are given opportunities to talk in front of people, to sing or dance and make many friends. I’m sure Olphine is having a time of her life at the Martissant Center, thanks to you. If you do get the chance to visit Haiti somday, grab it. It’ll be worth it really.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
[…] Olphine, the child I sponsor through Compassion celebrates her 9th birthday today. This little girl that I never has a place in my heart. Hopefully, one day I will have a chance to meet and hug her. For now, I am just glad that Compassion allows sponsors to send gifts. […]
September 14th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
[…] also believe in the work of Compassion International and the Figure Skating in Harlem. I met my girl Olphine through […]
September 26th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I have to go to Compassion and sponsor one of these kids but I have been so lazy. I’ll do it today M.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
That was a very nice post. I had a friend who was sponsoring a little girl in the Philippines for years. I only found out when I was picking up his mail for him. He was very humble about it and didn’t like to brag.
I’m curious: Do any of us know of a charity (like Compassion or CCF or FtC) that provides sponsorship opportunities for adults?
April 21st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Great post! This is why I love blogging. Always something interesting to read, watch and enjoy. It keeps the mind active. Thanks, Amy x.
January 24th, 2010 at 5:52 am
Found your blog through Google :)