Meet our Compassion Child

Today is Uwitwongeye's 9th birthday. --We call her U since we're not sure how to pronounce her name.  She lives in Rwanda with her grandmother.  She lives in a highly affected HIV/AIDS area.   We don't know if her parents are alive or not.  She has brought Brian and I such joy -she's more than worth the $38 a month we give.  It's been great watching her come to know and love Jesus.  We love her heart!  Last year we sent extra money for Compassion to buy her some Christmas presents- they bought her a doll and a dress and a some toys and then gave her the rest of the money, which she used to buy her family a goat.  How Sweet!  How many 9 year olds turn away buying extra presents to support their family.  

Rwanda Facts:  Rwanda is considered to be in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.  HIV/AIDS, Bacterial diarrhea (caused by unsafe water -    >50% of Africans suffer from some type of water disease), Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and malaria are major killers in Rwanda.  Sub-Saharan Africa is 10% of the world's population, but has 60% of the world's AIDS population.  The average worker in Rwanda makes $510/year.  Life expectancy for men is 38 years and women is 40 years.  118 out of 1,000 infants die at birth.  In 1994 800,000 people were killed by genocide.  

Compassion is a great organization.  Their mission statement is:  "In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults." 

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:7