When 1,000,000 Becomes 1

I love my job. I mean, I absolutely love what I do for Compassion International. I am able to work with people committed to serving children around the world and I get to travel the world to see the amazing work being done by pastors and volunteers in the name of Jesus. It’s a great job. But there are days that the numbers become just that, numbers. Compassion serves over 1,000,000 children in 26 countries and there are days when I can’t see past the numbers into the single life of a child in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, or any other country we work in.

Today was one of those days when 1,000,000 children became just one child at a time. The child who reached out for me in a home visit this afternoon is one beautiful child. The beautiful 12 year old girl who needs an urgent eye surgery and is getting it next week because of a dedicated Pastor and Compassion’s medical fund is one blessed child. The girl who met her new sponsors and celebrated by putting all the bracelets on at one time that she received as a gift is one happy child. Today was that day when I was reminded that the beauty of what we do is not found in the impressive 1,000,000 number but instead found in the excitement, love, and hope we find in each individual child.

Here are some pictures from the day.

I know this looks like I am asleep while the rest of the group is laughing at me but that is not the case.  I think maybe I was just looking at this sweet little boy in such a way that my baby blues avoided the camera.

This little boy just found out that his new friend goes by Marlboro Man on his wife’s blog. Evidently, that is pretty funny to a 1 year old.

If you wonder what this looks like through the eyes of an 8 year old, go check out Challies, Jr.

~ by brianseay on November 3, 2008.