Compassion International connects alumni

writing letters (Via Unsplash: Green Chameleon)

A Colorado Springs-based Christian organization recently took handwritten letters to the next level as part of its child sponsorship program.

Compassion International asked some of its alumni to write a final letter to their former sponsors this year.

The sponsored children, who are now adults, expressed gratitude to their sponsors in a video.

'You Changed My Life!'

One of the Compassion alumni featured on the video was a young man named Kennedy.

According to The Daily Sentinel, Kennedy came from Mathare, a slum outside Nairobi, Kenya.

Remembering his days there, he said people had to fight for everything, even the word Mathare means "to struggle."

A couple named Darrell and Denise reportedly sponsored him when he was eight years old. They did not have children when they supported Kennedy and told him he was their first son.

In one of their letters, Darrell and Denise quoted Jeremiah 29:11, which eventually became Kennedy's favorite verse.

Eleven years after graduating from the sponsorship program, the alumni wrote a heartfelt letter for the people who helped him.

When the couple supported him, Kennedy said he was one of the malnourished kids in his community.

The alumni revealed that the sponsorship did not only change his life. It also built a sense of life and hope within his community.

Since the sponsorship, their family started eating three meals per day. He also had his first pair of shoes and a mattress to sleep on. Kennedy said it was the time of his life when he felt loved.

"Thank you for giving me a chance to be introduced to Jesus. And for all the encouragement, prayers, and support. If only you knew how much all you did impacted me, you'd be so proud of who I have become," he wrote.

The Compassion alumni also said that the couple inspired him to serve in the military. He enlisted in the U.S Army as an engineer.

Now, Kennedy said he emerged from poverty and described himself as a "free man." Currently, he is married and a father of two.

On top of that, he also gave back to the organization and sponsored a little girl from the same place where he grew up. In the end, Kennedy told his former sponsors to be proud of their decision to support a child like him.

"I want you to know that I am forever grateful to you for releasing me from poverty in Jesus' name," he added.

Compassion International

As stated on its official website, Compassion International is a child sponsorship and Christian humanitarian organization.

They reportedly lead a Christ-centered, church-driven, and child-focused organization. Their ultimate goal is to release children from poverty in Jesus' name, based on the website.

Rev. Everett Swanson founded the organization in 1952. As of now, they partner with local churches from 25 countries worldwide.

Aside from child sponsorship, Compassion International also addresses a community's critical needs. It reportedly includes medical assistance, food security, income-generation training, disaster relief, and more.

Why Handwritten Letters?

As reported, writing letters has always been a part of Compassion International's sponsorship program. They believe that it is equally important as the sponsors' financial donation.

For them, through handwritten letters, sponsors and sponsored children could build a strong relationship.