Today, as I am spending time baking, wrapping presents, and making friendship bracelets (more on that later!), I want to remember to say 'Merry Christmas!' to you. I pray you have time today and tomorrow to simply be in awe of God's love for you.
My One Word for 2014: Content
Content - in a state of peaceful happiness; contented, satisfied, pleased, gratified, fulfilled, happy, cheerful, glad, unworried, untroubled, at ease, at peace, tranquil, serene
Philippians 4:11-13 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
In just a couple of weeks, at the beginning of the new year, I will be going on a trip like no other trip I have ever been on. Preparing for this trip, my emotions have been all over the place. Excited, overwhelmed, anxious, fearful, content.
Content is not usually a word someone would use to describe their feelings about a trip to visit areas of extreme poverty. But it is what I am feeling tonight. Why? Because I know that God has been preparing me for this trip, not just since May when I made the deposit. But He has been preparing me for this trip my whole life.
In an e-mail from our trip leader today, he reminded us that God has been preparing each one of us for this upcoming trip since before each one of us was born! Can you even imagine that?
So it is only fitting that I choose the word 'content' to be my word of the year for 2014. I want to be 'in a state of peaceful happiness', knowing that God is with me at all times and in all circumstances. He will never leave me nor forsake me. At all times, I can be thankful for His presence in my life.
December Compassion Share & Tell
With Christmas in just a few days, I know it is hard to even think about Valentine's Day! But since letters to our Compassion sponsored children can take 2 to 3 months to arrive in their hands, many sponsors will do a little planning ahead when writing their letters. While I didn't talk about Valentine's Day in the letters I wrote this week, I did find a great printable on Compassion's Second Friday Letter Writing Club board on Pinterest.
Here is what I wrote to Lina this month:
Hello Lina!
This month, I want to remind you how much God loves you! Do you know this verse from the Bible, John 3:16? "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Sometimes it is hard to believe that God loves us that much, but He does! And He always will!
Are you familiar with the Leadership Development Program through Compassion? If so, is it something you have thought about for your future? A couple of weeks ago I traveled from my home in California to Colorado. I was able to attend the graduation ceremony for a Leadership Development Program student. She is a formerly sponsored Compassion child from Uganda. It was a blessing to be there for her celebration!
You asked what my favorite hobby is. I love to read. I like to read biographies and books that help me to learn more about God. Do you like to read books?
I want you to know that I continue to pray for you and your family!
I Love You!
Yvonne
When I write to my sponsored children, I like to pull out their binder that holds all of the letters I have received from them. This helps me see what questions they have asked so I can try to respond to their questions in my letter. In this month's mailing, I sent a postcard from Colorado, a printable USA map (which I colored in California and Colorado, and a printable from Compassion's Second Friday Letter Writing Club board on Pinterest.
In order to keep everything together for this mailing, I layered all the papers for each child, then stapled the postcard (with 2 staples) to the papers. My sponsor number and name, as well as Lina's number and name are written on everything. You can also print out your own labels with this information to speed things up a bit when preparing letters for your sponsored children.
Letters for all three children that I am currently writing to were placed in one large manila envelope. Like labels with names and numbers, I have printed out labels with Compassion's address. Just a simple step to save a little time!
Ready to share what you wrote to your sponsored child this month? Be sure to come back and join the link up!
Compassion Christmas Display
Do you have a few copies of Compassion's Gift Catalog on hand? If you do, or even if you do not, I am going to show you how you can set up a Compassion Christmas Display for your church lobby.
Here is what you will need to set up your display:
- a few copies of Compassion's Gift Catalog (if you do not have any catalogs on hand, print pictures from Compassion's Gift Catalog website)
- black poster frame (I found mine at Walmart)
- sheet metal to fit inside the frame (I found a sheet already cut to fit at Home Depot)
- small Christmas tree
- red and green cardstock
- scissors
- glue stick
- hole punch
- ribbon
- black marker
- magnets
First, place the sheet metal inside the poster frame. This will give you a magnetic surface which will allow you to easily change out your Compassion display.
Next, cut round circles from the red cardstock to be used as ornaments for your Christmas tree. Then use the items from the back of the Compassion Gift Catalog, cut the individual items out, and adhere them to the round ornaments. Hole punch toward the top, decorate the ornament with the black marker, and add a small bit of ribbon. Hang these ornaments onto your Christmas tree.
Then, find other gift ideas and quotes from the gift catalog. Cut these out and glue them to pieces of green cardstock. Place these on your framed piece of sheet metal with a few magnets.
Finally, place a few extra copies of Compassion's Gift Catalog onto the table (as well as a few child packets!) and your Compassion Christmas Display is complete!
Our new Compassion child!
Looks like we will be visiting a child on our Compassion trip to Mexico after all!!
Our new Compassion child, Felix!
Felix attends one of the Child Development Centers that we will be visiting! He is 6 years old, lives with his parents and 2 siblings. He has been waiting 9 months for a sponsor and I am really looking forward to learning more about this little guy and spending time with him on our trip!
These children need a sponsor!
As much as I would like to sponsor many more children, we just can't do it. So I am asking you. Have you thought about sponsoring a Compassion child? Your $38 a month will be a blessing to one of these children. And, because we will be traveling to Mexico in less than a month, if you sponsor one of these children soon, we can bring a small gift from you to Mexico with us for the child you choose to sponsor! (Kelsey is really hoping that someone we know will sponsor the little guy with the blue shirt and shorts on...) Just let me know in the comments if you have any questions or would like to start your sponsorship today!