Compassion Sunday

Just a reminder to everyone that this Sunday is Compassion Sunday at the Orchard. We have 8 child packets, and it's our prayer that every one of those children finds a sponsor. Please keep these kids in your prayers. We hope to see you there on Sunday.

to the Compassion sponsors at the Orchard Church...

This is just a friendly reminder to everyone to wear your Compassion buttons this coming Sunday in preparation for Compassion Sunday on May 4th. I noticed that we all forgot this past Sunday (myself included) and I really want other people at the Orchard to know who is sponsoring in case they have any questions and want to talk to a sponsor first hand. Thank you all so much for the incredible ministry that you have taken part in. And please please please share your experience with others. Encourage others to sponsor a child as well. And please pray for Compassion Sunday. Pray for hearts to be open and for more children living in poverty to find loving sponsors.

Compassion Sunday is coming...

Hey Orchard family,

Compassion Sunday is only a few weeks away. I hope you are all getting excited about it. I know I am. If you were at the Rain this past Sunday, you probably saw the Compassion table all decked out w/ information about Compassion. You also may have noticed those of us that were wearing our "Join Me" buttons. (Which reminds me...if you are currently sponsoring a Compassion child and you did not get a "Join Me" button, see me on Sunday.)

Last year when we were a church of about 30 people, we found sponsors for 4 children. Now we are a church of nearly 70, and my goal is to find sponsors for 10 children. I ask that you all prayerfully consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International. It is such a wonderful and transparent organization. If you already have one child, consider sponsoring another. You can make such a huge difference in the life of someone that the world has told doesn't matter. And last time I checked, Jesus thinks that someone does matter.

If you have any questions, please ask either Matt or me.

It's Been a Long Time

I know it's been a long time since I've posted, but I'm getting really excited about Compassion Sunday. The official Compassion Sunday is April 13, but at Orchard, we will be holding our Compassion Sunday event on May 4th. I ordered all of our supplies this past week. And I'm really excited because now that we are a larger congregation, we can do more with Compassion International and hopefully find more sponsors for more kids.

If you have any questions about Compassion Sunday, feel free to contact me.

2008 Compassion Calendar

Compassion has released a free downloadable 2008 Calendar, complete with captivating photos of Compassion's work around the world, a Bible verse and a prayer challenge. Download it here!

November 2007 Prayer Calendar

Here is November's prayer calendar. Please keep these children, families, and Compassion staff in your prayers this month.

Thursday 1 Marshul Sangian, a child in Indonesia, suffered a broken leg and kidney damage in an accident. He is receiving medical attention and needs prayer for a quick recovery. Friday 2 Pray for a miracle for 6-year-old Agnesius Hasdak in Bangladesh as he recovers from a coma caused by brain damage and infection. Saturday 3 Pray for Compassion's efforts in Ghana as the staff works to expand and reach more children. Pray for the workers and church partners to be fully committed. Sunday 4 A program on alcoholism and drug abuse was presented in India for fathers of Compassion-assisted children. We praise God for 10 fathers who started treatment. Pray for their deliverance from addictions. Monday 5 Nine-year-old Lucero, daughter of Juan Carlos Palacios, a program manager in Peru, struggles with bone cancer that did not respond to chemotherapy. She was scheduled for an amputation of her leg and needs prayer. Tuesday 6 Pray for the families of 71 Compassion-assisted children in Uganda whose homes were destroyed by recent floods. They are receiving provisions. Wednesday 7 Pray for 12-year-old Chanderbhan in India who was admitted to the hospital with tuberculosis. Thursday 8 Pray for a quick recovery for 10-year-old Abijuru Beni from Rwanda who was scheduled for heart surgery in India. Friday 9 Pray for Compassion-assisted children in the town of Amatitlan, Guatemala, as their families struggle with gangs and alcohol and drug addictions. Saturday 10 Continue to pray for the after-school programs organized by staff and volunteers of YouthPartnersNET for children in cities in the United States. Pray for the families as well. Sunday 11 We prayed for 15-year-old Edgar Silva in Ecuador as he struggled with cancer. He gave his heart to Jesus, was baptized on August 30th and went to be with his Savior the next day. Pray for his family and the Compassion staff as they grieve. Monday 12 Pray for 8-year-old Merlin Gisselle Cortés Rivera in Honduras as she recovers from a gunshot wound to her leg. It was intended for her father but he escaped injury. Pray for God's protection of the family. Tuesday 13 Our staff in Ghana asks prayer for every child in Compassion's program to receive Jesus as Savior. Wednesday 14 Pray for correct medical treatment for 10-year-old Mahisha in India, who suffers from chest pain. Thursday 15 Pray for 7-year-old Suvo Rahman in Bangladesh to recover from the hepatitis B virus. Friday 16 Pray for 12-year-old Stevano Sekeon in Indonesia who was hospitalized with malaria. The virus caused serious damage to his heart and liver, and he required a blood transfusion. He is recovering. Saturday 17 Pray for all our prayer partners who faithfully pray for the children in our calendar every month. Pray for God's blessings to be upon each family. Sunday 18 We praise God for the recovery of 8-year-old Rita Sarkar in eastern India from injuries she received in an accident. Monday 19 Pray for 10-year-old Neethu Raju in India as she grieves the death of her mother due to cancer. Tuesday 20 Pray for 7-year-old Keydi Rubi Elvir Giron in Honduras as she recovers from broken bones in her hand. She is in rehabilitation therapy. Wednesday 21 Pray for 6-year-old Keya Sarker in Bangladesh to recover from a serious liver problem. Thursday 22 HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY. May our loving God bless each one as you gather with family and friends in giving thanks to Him for His blessings. Friday 23 Pray for 11th grade student, Ramesh Kumar in India, to recover from malaria and typhoid. Saturday 24 We thank God for His mercy and healing of 7-year-old Nirjon Mallik in Bangladesh from tuberculosis of the bone. Sunday 25 We praise God for 200 pastors and church leaders who attended a workshop in Thailand. Thirty-nine churches were interested to begin working with Compassion. Pray that each one is committed. Monday 26 Pray for all the children and families in Mexico who were affected by Hurricane Lorenzo recently. Compassion is providing needed supplies. Tuesday 27 Pray for 8-year-old Lucy Eliana Colindres Aguilera in Honduras who was diagnosed with kidney problems and received treatment. She needs healing. Wednesday 28 Pray for 9-year-old Rahini in India who has tuberculosis. Thursday 29 We praise God for the successful heart surgeries of two Compassion-assisted children in Uganda: Basasira Cissy and Kibuka Pavio. They are safely home from India and recovering well. Friday 30 Pray for Jesudas, Daniel, Samson, Pathras and Solomi in eastern India, who are all physically handicapped. They need to know they are valued in God's kingdom.

Got Letters?

Sorry I haven't posted much on here as of late. Life has sort of gotten in the way.

However, right now I am looking for letters. Anyone who has gotten letters from their Compassion children...I'd really like to post these letters for others to read. You can give me the actual letters if you'd like or just type it out and email it to me and I'll add it.

I'm looking forward to hearing what your children are saying.

Compassion Store

Compassion has just launched it's own online store. You can purchase t-shirts, hats, mugs, etc. I am super excited about this. I love the idea of supporting a great organization...by shopping!! So check out the store and do some philanthropic shopping.

Our First Letter From Mamuu

Matt and I received our first letter from our Compassion child, Mamuu today. It wasn't a long letter. In fact, it was sort of a cute little detailed "about your child" letter. We found out he has a 3 and 1/2 year-old brother and a 9 year-old sister. His favorite sport is football, he favorite color is green, and his favorite subject in school is "numbers" (I'm assuming that means "math"). And his favorite song is called "Jesus God of Blessing" or "Yesu Wa Baraka". When Mamuu grows up, he wants to be a business man. He asks that we pray for him to pass well in his exams and strive for excellence. And best I can tell, it seems that he speaks english.

We were so excited to receive this today. It's one of the best feelings ever. If any of you who are sponsoring have received a letter recently and would like to share it with the community, please let me know and I will get it up on the blog.

Happy Birthday Mamuu!

Today is our Compassion child, Mamuu's, 6th birthday.