What could you and your family do with $38?  Maybe a fast food meal out?  Take-out pizza for a movie night at home?  As much fun as those two things might be the simple fact is $38 dollars will not last you a month.

That $38 dollars, in the hands of the people at Compassion International, can change the life of one child living in poverty. So the question is are you willing to free up $38 a month to make a difference in the life of one person?  And when I say make a difference, I mean a HUGE difference!

The little cutie below is the newest “member of the family.”

Her name is Aprilini but she goes by Arini.  She turned five last April, lives in Indonesia and is the Compassion child my husband and I sponsor.  Her parents work as vendors when there is work available!  And she’s one of the lucky ones because she has both of her parents.

Our sponsorship provides education, health training, and Bible teaching.  She’s already sent us two letters written with the help of a tutor and translated by Compassion employees.  We even have the opportunity to send monetary gifts which the Compassion staff in her country will use to purchase gifts for birthday, Christmas or “just because”.

Compassion students have gone on to obtain college degrees, start their own businesses, and strengthen the economy of their home communities.  Helping just this one child could have an effect on the future of her family and her village.  We are her only sponsors so somehow that $38 stretches much farther than I could EVER make it stretch.

Are you ready to put your money to work to change the life of one child?  I know, I know, helping one child seems like such a small thing in light of the rampant poverty in parts of the world.  But if that one child can make her life better for herself and her family, if that one child can reach out and help others with what she learns, then my $38 has gone much farther.

It’s so easy I’m ashamed we didn’t do it sooner.  We have set up an automatic monthly payment on the Compassion website, used their online letter service to send her letters and pictures which they print out and give to her and her family.

Yes, the $38 a month means purchasing a few less “high-end” coffees. But in the end, she gets far more out of that money than anything a cup of coffee could provide for me!  I encourage you to get involved.  Encourage your kids to get involved!  Two of my daughters use their own money to sponsor children through compassion as well so sponsorship is not limited to adults!  It’s time to stop talking about poverty and start doing something to really make a difference.