The Sponsorship Experience

Wara

It's not the same for everyone, this sponsorship thing.

But I'll get to that in a minute.

There are twenty-five right now.

Twenty-five at risk and orphan children who are no longer either of those things, and who no longer need be defined in such a way...

Thim

because of Sponsors.

From the beginning of our connection with Pastors Suradet and Yupa and the then eleven children they so courageously welcomed into their home in and about 2007, the Sponsors have been "our part" of what makes it happen.  

Suradet and Yupa and the staff at New Family Foundation carry the weight and joy of the every day.  They are caring for the needs of eighteen on-site kids, plus six older students studying at university or specialized prep schools.  That's feeding, clothing, nurturing, parent-teachering, and loving, all with the logistics of twenty-five sets of needs.  Yes, that's the much bigger thing.

And the Sponsors come alongside, love and befriend, and support financially and relationally, their one child.  It's a very personalized deal.  All Sponsors send over packets filled with tangible evidence of their care.  Some Sponsors actually are able to go and visit and meet their child in person.  All the children know their Sponsors by name, and pray for us every single day.  

And we get to see them grow and graduate and launch into their adult lives, just like we hoped would happen when they first came to us.

Entorn is working of a Masters of Theology.

Miki has her engineering degree and is now married with a baby girl.

Somechai has his own small engine repair business and is now married with a son.

Two is now a mahoot (elephant trainer) at a rescue camp, married with a baby girl.

Wara is just graduating from Bible school and will be looking for a church to pastor.

Eak is pressing into his last years at a prep school that will bridge him into a university degree in architecture.

Thim is now a teacher in a remote mountain village school, providing the kind of education that was not available to her when she was growing up.

Eak then

None of these children would have had these opportunities without their Sponsors.  And we are so proud of all of them.

That's what we live for!

Sometimes it hurts though.

Love like you won't get hurt, but you do.

Because we are not legal guardians of these children, but rather custodians whose living relatives have entrusted their children into our care.  Rightly so, Thai law gives final say to the legal guardians and parents of all children.  This is especially necessary in a country where many organizations such as ours undertake the mission to help break the cycle of life crushing poverty.  

So parents sometimes call their children back.

Lots of reasons.

Sometimes, and this is great, a parent's life situation changes and they are now able to provide for their own child's well-being and education.  We rejoice, even if we're sad when we say good-bye.

Eak now

One time, during COVID, a grandmother who was the legal guardian, firmly believed the the virus would not reach them up in the mountain, and was terrified to allow her grandson to return to begin the new school year, living so close to Chiang Mai.  

Sometimes, often enough to make it so hard on all of us, parents or family members of girls do not feel it is necessary for them to continue their education past grade 8 or even grade 6.  We don't agree.  But we have no legal recourse.  

In every case, especially when the Sponsor has done the investment emotionally, we grieve.

But it's still worth it.

And I describe this as honestly as I can because right now we have had no less than eight new children join our family.

Four of them have Sponsors already.  Thank you!

Four do not.

And I resist here the temptation to post their pictures and names, even though I'm pretty sure I think I may have done so in the past.  But by now the last thing I want to do is to randomize a Sponsor-Child pairing process that has become so much more prayerful and spiritual as we have grown as an organization over the years.

I let you know here so you can know, and respond if that's where this is leading you.

And if you're interested please contact me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

I can send along all the information and expectations.

And some pictures :).

Sponsors, past and present.

We are so deeply grateful for all you have given to us from your hearts!!!!