Compassion 'Trip of a Lifetime' Runners-Up

Mark Geil, Kennesaw, GA

The little picture on our refrigerator is a window to another world. The picture is of Diana, an eight-year-old little girl from the Dominican Republic. She has a crooked half-smile, and it’s apparent that she is trying hard to look her best for the picture.

We have lots of little pictures on our refrigerator. Some are family – there’s a great picture of my brother’s twin girls – and some are friends and neighbors. We refresh them every Christmas when the mail brings new ones, and we always marvel at how kids have grown and people have changed. Among all those pictures, though, I make it a point to look at Diana’s the most.

I know my existence here in America is opulent. We would call it “middle-class,” but in my life I’ve seen a few small glimpses of poverty and I know what we have. In fact, deep down, I struggle sometimes with whether or not I should feel guilty because my family has a nice house and two cars and even a garage in which to park them, especially when there are so many who work harder than me and still have so little.

Diana’s picture somehow helps me sort all that out. It does not make me sad, though the plight of children in her part of the world is sometimes very sad. It does not make me feel guilty, though I wish I could do more. Instead, it makes me smile, because I know that Compassion International is there, rescuing those children, bringing eternal hope in the midst of depressing hopelessness, and I know we’re a small part of that. Diana’s picture and her crooked smile are the gospel putting on hands and feet.

I check the airfare to the Dominican Republic often. I wish I could take my whole family to meet Diana. Our youngest daughter is her age, and I think they would become friends. Our oldest daughter has taken a few years of Spanish in school. I know she would love to try communicating one-on-one with Diana. Personally, I’d like to do something more than just writing checks and sending letters. I’d like to go repair a fence or build a well or doctor a wound. I do not fear, though, and I joyfully write the checks and send the letters because I know Compassion is there, working with the local church to build friendships, communicate one-on-one, and mend both fences and wounds.

When I pray for Diana, more than anything I ask God that Diana feel loved. Despite Compassion’s efforts, I don’t pretend to think her physical circumstances will ever rival ours. What I think Compassion is doing most is showing her that someone cares – that we care – and thereby providing a little picture of a great big God who cares more than any person could. That I can be even a small part of that leaves me humbled and grateful and ever more compassionate.

Dave Wells, New Jersey

My name is David Wells, but my friends call me Compassion Dave – I live in New Jersey and I am a volunteer with Compassion International.  My wife and I currently maintain 16 sponsorships around the world, seven of which are sponsorships are with Compassion International.

The Compassion sponsorships are comprised of two Leadership Development Students (one full and one partial sponsorship) one Child Survival Program, and four individual child sponsorships.   We have had three additional Compassion children who have retired or left the program.

In my role as a Compassion volunteer, I speak at churches sharing about the Compassion ministry or anywhere else where folks will let me talk about how the Lord is saving lives through Compassion International.  I also maintain three internet sites (below) that are devoted to Compassion International and that focus on finding sponsors for Compassion children. 

To date I have found somewhere between 800 and 900 sponsors for children living in poverty.

Here are the sites that I maintain:

http://compassiondave.wordpress.com
http://www.facebook.com/Compassion.dave?ref=name
http://www.myspace.com/compassiondave

There are other sites as well, but these are the three main locations that I keep my primary focus, because they receive the most traffic.

For the record I am not entering the contest because I believe I am better than anyone else or that I somehow deserve to win a prize – honestly, I feel kinda silly tooting my own horn. I do however desire to travel and perhaps visit with one of the children we sponsor.  If in fact the trip is not to one of my sponsor countries, then I am certain the traveling experience will lend itself nicely to the passion I have for this ministry and serving my Lord Jesus.

May God continue to bless you and His Compassion ministry,