Hey there everyone,
This post was originally posted in Life of Younkin.
Tonight, I have the honor and privilege to feature Compassion Juli. I asked her some basic questions. Below my questions you will find her answers.
1. Do you have any type of introduction that you can give on your history or the like?
I’m the wife of Paul, a local Attorney and Judge. Our children are all grown — Jeremy, Masters in Music Composition; Chris, a Commercial Pilot; and Sarah, getting a degree in Aerospace Engineering. I’m a Piano Accompanist for our local High School, and play for choirs and vocal jazz groups. I also love playing with jazz/blues gospel combos. I grew up in Kansas City but have lived in Wyoming for 30 years, and love it here.
2. Over your time blogging, what has been your favorite topic to blog about? Why?
I love to share about God’s work and presence in my life — whether scriptural insights, devotions, experiences that have drawn me closer to Him, or visits to Compassion projects in third world countries. It is my goal to lower the dividing walls that separate us from the poor, so we can benefit from their lives and they can benefit from our support. I believe we truly need the poor as much as they need us — we need their joy, contentment, strong faith and prayer support.
3. If you could live any part of your life over again, what would it be? Why?
I would love to have my children at home again as toddlers or babies — to hold on my lap, read to, cuddle and encourage. I think I would do a lot of things differently; but at the same time, I think it was in raising children that I learned a lot about God and myself.
4. How many children do you sponsor through Compassion?
We have two — I sponsored a boy in Haiti in 1988 and finally got to meet him in person five years ago. We fell into each others’ arms, hugging, and shared easily with one another — for we had become close friends through letter-writing. When he left the project due to his age, I asked Compassion if he had a sibling that needed support (he did), and I still sponsor his brother–Enold–today. I found out, through the visit, that their father is a Pastor who walks 4 hours every Saturday to get to his church, and back home again on Sundays. There are several children in the family, and they are extremely needy.
When I heard that girls were being abused in Thailand and placed in prostitution rings instead of given actual (promised) jobs in the city, I asked for a girl from Thailand. I still sponsor her today, and she has been accepted to Compassion’s Leadership Development Program! She’s in University studies now and I’m very proud of her. She’s been a huge source of encouragement to me through the years, as well as a great role model. We write very lengthy letters to each other! I have a post on my blog about her called “Siriporn.”
5. Could you tell me a little about yourself and the story behind your love for Compassion International?
God had been talking to me about sponsoring a child in need, but I didn’t know which company I could trust, so I prayed about it for several months. One day, I was out for lunch with a missionary (Doctor) friend from Haiti. She was telling me about a recent hurricane and I said, “What do those people do? How do they get by? What do they eat?” She said, “Well, of course the children that were on Compassion didn’t miss a single meal.” I asked if she was talking about Compassion International, and she was. She told me Compassion’s ministry was authentic, effective and worked with integrity and Christian values. In fact, several of the nurses in her clinic were formerly sponsored children! I immediately called Compassion and asked to sponsor a child in Haiti. I became a volunteer Child Advocate in 1994 and an Area Coordinator for other volunteers in Wyoming, Montana, and parts of South Dakota in 2004.
On a side note, as it turns out — my missionary friend was also a personal friend of Dr. Wess Stafford, President of Compassion International [they became acquainted years before he was involved with Compassion’s ministry, when he worked in Haiti]. Small world. Her parents lived in my town and attended my church, and when we had the conversation she had no idea I had been praying about sponsoring a child.
6. Are there any specific posts on your site that you are particularly proud of?
7. If you could make a trip to any part of the world, where would it be and why?
To Thailand to visit my LDP student — Siriporn — especially at the time of her graduation, about two years from now.
8. Do you have any other blogs that you author?
No.
9. Do you have any blogs that you recommend to others?
10. If you could share one message with the world, what would it be?
Please — sponsor a child today if you have not done so yet. You will be amazed how much it will change your life as well as the life of the child. We truly need them as much as they need us. We need them to get rid of our greed, materialism and selfishness. We need them to get our lives in the proper balance and perspective. For about a dollar/day you can totally change the future of a child in need, and you will be blessed as well.
Compassion Experience 