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Michelle DeRusha

Every Day Faith. Faith Every Day.

September 12, 2012 By Michelle

Because 223 Days Seems Like a Really Long Time to Wait

Letters from Pedro and his sister


Dear God,

Remember when I laid awake the other night praying for Noah? I was worried about him, and I prayed for your help.

I thought about that this morning as I clicked through a dozen pictures of kids in need of sponsorships on the Compassion site. I stopped for a long time on the picture of one boy, Niyomugisha. He was wearing a yellow shirt, yellow shorts and sandals, and he stood on a patch of dirt near a wooden shack. The description said he lives in Rwanda and is one of six kids.
It also said he’s been waiting for a sponsor for 223 days.

223 days.

That seems like an awful long time to wait for a breath of hope.

I wonder what those 223 days have felt like for Niyomugisha’s mother. I wonder if she lays awake at night, praying that You will bring a sponsor for her child. Praying for hope. I wonder what she worries about. How to get enough food for her six kids? Where to find medicine for her sick little ones? How her husband will find work?

It makes my worries about my kids seem so silly. Our doctor is a phone call away. Medicine and food are less than a mile up the road – three minutes by car. I worry about problems that can be solved.
But Niyomugisha’s mother…does she worry about losing hope?

This morning as I looked at his picture on my computer screen, I prayed for Niyomugisha and his mother – that they will remain faithful and hopeful in You.

And today I ask that you bring Niyomugisha a sponsor. May this day be the end of his long wait.

Amen.
: :
Our assignment from Compassion for this week was to write a letter to God and publish it online, which, I admit, felt slightly awkward. 
The good news, though, is that as of Monday, 837 sponsorships have been made — isn’t that amazing?! So…three weeks remaining for Compassion Blogger Month and 2,271 sponsorships to go — I really do think we can do this thing!
Will you click over to the Compassion sponsor page, pick one child and pray for him or her?  
And if the Spirit so moves you, please consider sponsoring Niyomugisha or another child today. Thank you!!!


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Filed Under: Compassion, hope, Pedro

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Triple Type A, “make it happen” (my dad’s favorite mantra) striver and achiever (I’m a 3 on the Enneagram, which tells you everything you need to know), but these days my striving looks more like sitting in silence on a park bench, my dog at my feet, as I slowly learn to let go of the false selves that have formed my identity for decades and lean toward uncovering who God created me to be.

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