Emmanuel’s father took the day off work to meet me even though that meant he wouldn’t have been paid for that day. He was a quiet man who didn’t speak much until right at the end of the day when he came up to me and thanked me for sponsoring Emmanuel. He was very appreciative that his son would have the opportunity to finish his education and that he wouldn’t have to go and work in the fields like most other kids his age. That is something I will never forget.
My visit was also really important to the local project staff. They had been hoping that a sponsor would visit for such a long time so the children could meet them and learn about them. I hope it does happen again because it was really uplifting for them. They were so excited to be able to show me all the work that has been done in their community and what has been achieved for children living there.
The highlight of the day for me though was meeting Emmanuel and his mother and father. They told me that they often say a prayer for their godmother (which is what they call me), thank me and wonder what I am doing. This really surprised me. I always assumed that Emmanuel knew he had a sponsor but that it wasn`t something that he really thought about, so to hear that he does think and wonder about me really moved me.
This visit really put things into perspective for me – to think that such a small amount of money can go such a long way in the lives of children and their families living in poverty is amazing. If sponsorship can take them in even a slightly different direction in life, then that is what it is all about. To me, it doesn’t get much better than that.
