World Vision AIDS Experience and Child Sponsorship

How can we even begin to do anything about poverty when the problem is so big?
Where do I start?
If I can't help anyone is it worth even doing anything?

I have struggled with some of these exact questions. The reality is that we are not asked to do it all ourselves. There are legitimate and trustworthy organizations in place that you can choose to partner with that you can help. One of these is World Vision.

Today, I had the privledge of going to LIFE Church in Olathe, Kansas and walking through the World Vision AIDS Experience. For those of you who have never heard of this, it is an exhibit that travels around the country. It is a simulation of an African village where you are given a headset to listen and tour around as a child in that village. There are four different children that you can possibly go through the experience as. My child, Mathabo, is 11 years old. She lives in a village in Lesotho, Africa. Her father died when she was young, probably of AIDS. Her mother had to leave because the family had no food or money and she went to South Africa to find work. Her older brother was abusive and left the family a few years later. At the end of this experience you find out if the child you are is HIV positive or not. To go through the virtual tour yourself and experience the life of a real child in Africa or to find out more about Mathabo you can visit www.worldvisionexperience.org.

If I can't help everyone, is it worth helping anyone? YES! A resounding YES! Just because you cannot change everyone in the world's situation, you may be able to change the fate of one, or a few. One option is through Child Sponsorship. I have had the privledge of sponsoring a child in Tanzania, Africa through an organization called Compassion International. While I have only done this for a few months, it has definately blessed me. There is something about helping others that changes in your heart when you are committed for the long term, not out of any kind of guilt, or resentment but because you truly desire to help another human being.
My child is going to be 11 years old on December 12. Her name is Amina, and she enjoys hide and seek, running, ping pong, drawing, singing, jumping rope, and other ball games. Amina is in grade 5 and though both of her parents are alive, they were never married and they struggle to provide for the family. Today after going through the AIDS experience, I decided to give a birthday present to 2 friends of mine by sponsoring a child. Lydia lives in Uganda and is 5 years old. She lives with her parents and 3 brothers. Her parents struggle to provide for them. She is not in school because her parents cannot afford her school fees. She likes to play ball games and helps out at home. She is in good health currently.
Although I may not be impacting the ENTIRE world population, it is very possible that I am changing 2 children's lives and the lives of their families.