One of the best surprises of our connection with Hot Springs Children's Home has been the personal nature of our sponsorships.
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| Members of the 2008 Team at our first ever visit to Hot Springs. Six girls shared this bedroom. |
Initially, it was all about an urgent need. That first Team came back from our time there in 2008 with pictures and stories of (at that time) eleven children who desperately needed to be housed, fed and clothed, as well as be given the opportunity to go to school. It didn't take long. Within seven days every one of the children had someone who had promised to provide monthly donations and occasional gift packets that said, "We love you and we believe in you and you are not alone!"
It just seemed like the right thing to do.
But along the way this wonderful surprise happened. We'll call it 'personal'. We'll call it 'real time'. We'll call it 'family'.
I asked some of our Sponsors to describe in their own words what this surprising connection has meant to them.
Megan Ogilvie (who jointly sponsors one of our most recent graduates, Apple) writes:
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| Apple, on her way to University. |
Heidi and I initially decided to become sponsors because we wanted to help the place both our hearts had become attached to. I'd gone once on my own, and once with Heidi, and after seeing how wonderful and loving Hot Springs was, we couldn't NOT help! We wanted to be a part of such a loving family, and help in any way we could. Hot Springs is a special place.
Being a sponsor is so rewarding! A couple times a year we get updates on how our sponsor child is doing, and it's really nice to feel like you've had a hand in that progress. It's also just nice being able to see them grow into their own person. You want them to do well. You're rooting for them. With everything going on in the world, it's nice to have someone on the other side of the world to cheer on and help in whatever small ways possible.
I've met my sponsor child twice. It's strengthened the connection so thoroughly. Before, when we'd send packets, I was never entirely sure that what I was sending was what she wanted. After having met her, I got a good sense of her likes and dislikes, and could tailor the packet to be things I knew she wanted and needed. Meeting her also made a stronger bond between the two of us. I now have great memories of swimming at Tutu's pool on a sunny day, or singing poorly translated Taylor Swift lyrics in the back of the truck. And those are memories that the two of us will always share. Meeting them makes them feel real. It's not just sending money and items somewhere in the world - they're going to a real person with real dreams and struggles.
Heidi Mullins (Megan's partner Sponsor) writes:
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| Opening a Sponsor's Packet |
Seeing how the money is being used in a personal and direct way - knowing my money is going to the child I am sponsoring to suit their immediate needs. It's also fun making personalized care packages specifically for my sponsor child. My sponsor child, Apple, has now graduated and knowing that my financial contribution helped her achieve her goal of being a nursing assistant is very rewarding.
I've had the privileged of meeting my sponsor child, Apple, twice (2012 and 2014). Seeing how much she grew in those two years was incredible. Even seeing how much she changed from the first picture we received from when she arrived at Hot Springs, to when I first met her in 2012 - she looked so much healthier and happier! It was fun getting to meet her, hug her, and get to know her more (finding out her favourite colour, bible verse, subject in school, etc). It makes sponsoring so much more personal. As sponsors, we've been told that the Kids have devotions twice a day (morning and night) and that they pray for their sponsors every day - but being able to participate in those daily devotions and being there is life changing. I also feel like for those who haven't had a chance to meet their sponsor child personally, just having the connection through Highview with Hot Springs makes it so much more intimate than possible through other large organizations. When Suradet and Yupa have a need, we're able to pray specifically for that need. We get to see pictures and hear stores of the kids we sponsor.
Emily Inthof sponsors a young guy named Bang (who hilariously plays the drums!). She writes:
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| Bang, sporting his "I take my drumming seriously" look. |
I decided to become a sponsor when I became a bit more financially stable after I graduated university. Sponsoring a child is a very simple way to give back and it can make a huge difference in that child's life.
Knowing that I'm helping a specific child have a home at Hot Springs is a big deal to me. But it's also cool to see pictures and real stories/drawings from my sponsor child; it's a bit closer of a connection than other sponsorship programs.
Our soon-to-be Senior Pastor Erin and her husband Dave recently came alongside to sponsor Laywee, one of the children of our staff couple Pastors Jaroen and Dtu. Here's some of their thoughts.
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| Laywee |
Our family found ourselves with more than we needed and were looking for a way to give back. When Laywee's sponsorship came up, he was God's answer to our prayers.
Knowing that Laywee is "a ministry kid" much like our own boys, whose parents are working hard for God's kingdom, makes us feel like there is a connection. It's hard being a PK. As parents, we appreciate when others love on our boys, and pay attention to what they need or want. We wanted to give that gift to another ministry family.
We haven't met Laywee yet, but the fact that this is a possibility is very exciting for us.
These are Sponsors, among others who've joined the Hot Springs family, who are making a difference.
How?
Most of our children are from rural mountain villages that exist well below the poverty line.
Children from mountain villages do not have birth certificates, therefore cannot go to school, therefore cannot break out of the cycle of poverty.
Children in the mountain villages often do not have enough to eat, poor nutrition at best.
In these rural settings there is minimal communication with the 'outside' world in that tribal languages are not the language of commerce and education in Thailand.
But...
If these children can go to school and get positions of influence within the greater society, change can happen from within.
This is not about western ideas being imposed upon Asian cultures, by the way. This is about equipping them to be change agents within their own culture.
True, we are a Christian organization so there is clearly a faith-based world view in our raising of the children. We make no apologies for that. In fact, the Christian understanding that we have one and only one life to live, meaning that our choices in this life have great weight and consequences, is a effective motivator within a culture that often does not understand the cause and effect connection in the same way.
There are always children on the waiting list!
Even though Hot Springs is not accepting new children into our family right at this time, we are always seeking out new partners who want to make a difference in the life of a child in this way.
There are several ways to do that.
- Sponsor one child for $75.00 per month through our simple Pre-Authorized Withdrawal program.
- Sponsor one university student for $2,000 per year, payments arranged to your convenience.
- General contributions to Hot Springs to help cover staff salaries, repairs and upkeep to facilities.
- General contributions to the new school building project happening 'soon'.
All contributions go through Highview Community Church and are tax deductible.
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| Traditional school uniforms. Must be Friday! |
If becoming a Sponsor sounds like a good fit for your own passions and desires to make a difference, and if you're up for the adventure, please let us know.
Contact me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca and I we can set up a time to chat, arrange for an in person visit, and otherwise make something surprising happen once again.
For further reading about the plight of children in Thailand please see:
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