I planned to write a post dedicated to a fabulous lunch I had while attending a conference for work. I hunkered down in my conference seat to upload photos of said lunch, preparing to post from my phone (nothing could be more important than the blog, of course).
But then…
The video screen up front showed a girl with dark hair and darker eyes. She’s from South America, living in a rural, wooded area between the tree canopies and earth. Her mother is dead; her father is disabled and cannot work. Images of the girl wearing a pale blue headband, pink t-shirt, and a jean skirt flash by: she’s throwing tortillas on the grate over an open flame, she’s gathering wood from the forest floor, she’s rubbing clothes along a wash board, she’s removing a cast iron pot half her size from a high flame. She speaks: she misses her mother, she takes care of the house work and her younger siblings, she worries her family will not eat tomorrow.
She’s eight years old.
I fully expected to learn something about leadership and ministry at this conference. I do every year. But I never expected to FEEL so much.
Honestly, I felt a bit like a sucker. I’m sure you’ve seen similar images. People are in need everywhere, after all. I felt like a sucker because they had me right where they wanted me. Just like that, a switch flipped in my heart. I was in tears over a little girl on the screen.
But you have to understand…
SHE SMILED. Amidst the turmoil and hard work, she smiled. Her two front teeth are missing, she has a dimple in her chin, and her black eyes are shining.
More images: she puts on a backpack and walks a trail through the woods. Joining other children in a building with bright walls, she claps and dances and sings.
This girl was smiling, clapping, dancing, and singing because of $38 a month.
ONLY $38. We spent more than that on the fabulous lunch I mentioned earlier.
At the conference, I learned about world issues I’ve heard about before–AIDS orphans in Africa, sex trafficking, and education reform in underprivileged areas right here in the U.S. But now I saw faces to match the issues.
I’m venturing off blog topic here. So rather than show you photos of my lunch, I’ll show you one photo. This is Brenda Anatoli Salema. She lives in an AIDS-affected village in Tanzania with her mother and two siblings. Brenda helps in the kitchen, runs errands and carries water. She loves to play hide-and-seek.
Through Compassion International, I’ll be sending Brenda and her family $38 a month. I’ll give up a bottle of wine or a dinner out in hopes that one day I’ll receive a picture of Brenda smiling. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a happy smile.
The sun emerges predictably red on the horizon, start the clock on the day…mostly unaware that we are inexorably connected one to another in invisible pathways…jetstreams, shipping lanes, prevailing winds, genetic strains, climate patterns, tidal pulls, the mysterious inroads of prayer. Connected: when one is lost, another grieves, when one is hurt, another bleeds. This day is in our hands…what will we do with it? (gregfergusonblog.blogspot.com)
Rachel's Table 
Yeah but WHERE’S THE LUNCH!??? 😉
Beautiful Rach. I sponsored a boy in Mali for many years. It’s a rewarding experience.
Thanks, Sean. 🙂 I’ll post photos of the lunch soon, because I really liked the restaurant. How’s Oregon?
I’m home. FINALLY… (It was fun but exhausting.)
Okay, now you got me too. Because I promised that on my blog vacation, I’d only “like” and not comment. Wow. About Schmidt is a favorite movie of mine…and not just because it features my home state of Nebraska. I loved hearing how the little funny side element of Jack Nickolson writing to his Save the Children sponsored kid actually made Save the Children Fund sponsorship soar that year of the movie’s release. I want to finally do this now!
Angie! You made my day. Let me know if you do it and the name of your child. I went with Compassion International. It’s really hard to turn down a child when they have a table covered with little faces in need.
Now I have to watch About Schmidt and As Good As It Gets again…
I’ve been a Big Sister to a girl the past six years…since she finally graduated high school (ahem…at age 19), I think I’m ready to focus on another deserving kid. My own…oh, I guess I can pay attention to them too 😉
Haha! I imagine you are a FUN mom!
Your influence must have been the reason your little sis didn’t quit school at age 16. Congrats for sticking with it for six years! I applaud you.
Thanks! Oh, actually she did quit school at 16. But my influence might’ve helped get her back there 😉
We all MUST do something. We can’t let those kids down.
Right you are, as always. 🙂
This is so lovely. I just read a post yesterday about participation in the 40 hour famine to raise money. AND THEN my sister adopted a World Vision child named Elmer. This all keeps jumping right in my face and I know I need to do whatever part I can. Thanks.
Hi Heather! It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, too. I’m excited to exchange letters with this little girl. My brother sponsors two children through World Vision. It’s a great organization, too. Thanks for the comment! 🙂