February 22, 2010
Meet Richard Ssempijja
I would like for you to get acquainted Richard Ssempijja. Richard lives in eastern Africa, and he just turned 6 last month. He lives in a hut with his parents and siblings, and just started going to school. He likes playing soccer with his friends, and is fascinated by cars.
And, though I have never met him, he’s completely changed my world.
I became Richard’s sponsor through Compassion International in July 2009, thanks to encouragement from Daniel Bryant. And though the monthly cost to support Richard is less than almost every other “bill” I have, it’s more than three times as much as his parents are collectively able to make in a month doing occasional farming jobs.
What my support of Richard represents is the first major contribution that I’ve made that I have a true personal connection with. I’ve given to various charities before for various reasons, but none of them have had nearly the satisfaction or impact within me as Richard has. I’m specifically helping Richard; not Compassion as an organization. My support isn’t being spread out over all of the countless children that Compassion supports. No, I am helping Richard Ssempijja grow into the man he is going to be.
Having this decidedly personal connection has changed the way I now look at every charitable gift. But I’ll save the broader picture of how my perspective of charity and giving has been vastly altered for my next post.
For now, I just wanted you to see that adorable picture of Richard, and learn a little about him. I highly recommend that you read more about Compassion International and really consider sponsoring a child. You’ll be absolutely amazed the impact that it will have in every aspect of you life.
And, of course, in the life of your own Richard.
This is great, and I’m checking out the site right now.
I totally see the appeal of donating to someone you can see and hear the difference it’s making in that one person’s life.
Inspiring, you’re awesome. Glad to know you.
Ah man that’s inspiring. I’m digging around on the site right now.
Awesome.
Caleb, This is awesome. Letting God ruin our lives for Him and the world is truly a beautiful thing. Once it begins, you can’t seem to ever really live any other way again, thus what I mean when I say ruined, and ruined for the best.
Pslam 39:4-5 says that our lives are at best, a breath. With a breath’s worth of life, I think living it for Him for others is the only way to live.
Thanks for sharing.
Meh. It’s cool that you’re helping one kid, but what about all the other kids?
The problem isn’t just that they don’t have certain things, it’s that we have far too much, and waste more than others will ever have.
So not to rain on the parade that’s going on here, but until the system gets fixed, there will always be another Richard that won’t be helped.
Great input, Matt! Seriously. I completely agree; the way the world works is broken. But I can’t wake up tomorrow and suddenly change that; it’ll take time and tons of people working together. In the meantime, I CAN help Richard. It’s so cliche, but it’s true: you’ve got to start somewhere.
http://bears.carenurse.com/thinking/starfish.html. One of my favorite stories. Folklore? Possibly. But still very powerful. Small boy trying to get starfish back into the ocean before the sun comes up and they die.