I’d held it together for a couple of days since being back in the states. All that had happened during our trip to Kenya was still on the tip of my tongue and resting in the forefront of my mind. Jet lag + irritable kids + dazed confusion as we integrate ourselves back into our lives. Grandma calls to see if we’re okay.
The stories begin and I have to tell her about what happened just as we were leaving Africa.
We met Kayoo.
My words, interrupted by tears as I explained to Grandma that Allison and I got Punk’d in Kenya.
We had only sponsored him a few days before…it couldn’t be possible.
There were only a few hours left before we headed to the airport. We were just supposed to be grabbing lunch and hanging out back at the hotel for a little while.
Somehow, they had made a way for it to happen. Everyone was in on it. The stars aligned and everyone acted quickly to give us an opportunity to meet our newest sponsored child. I turned to our trip leaders as soon as I saw him. I was stunned and I had no idea what to do. I wasn’t prepared for this. Other sponsors had brought a small gift to their kids. That’s when I noticed the bag…the bag with a soccer ball in it that was “from us” to Kayoo.
They drove him to us from the other side of Kenya. 6 hours in a car. He had never been in a car. Not once. He told the Compassion International social worker that he wanted to be a professional driver when he grew up. He must have enjoyed the car ride.
He’d never had shoes on before.
He’d never seen white people before. (To see some this strange must have been traumatic.)
He’d never been in a city before.
He’d never drank a soda before.
He’d never been in a restaurant before.
It was a day of firsts for him. A day he’ll remember for a long time.
Kayoo is 6 years old, but he’s just a little bit bigger than our 3-year old, Ava.
He was the first child in his area to be sponsored.
He’ll have opportunities…
He’ll have support…
He’ll have sponsors who love him.
Thank you Compassion International for changing our lives and the lives of so many.
You can change a life too – Sponsor a child through Compassion.
There is no better time than now.
Ugh, your killing me!
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I’m speechless. So happy for you guys.
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*tears* So glad they made this work out for you guys and for Kayoo. Life changing, I’m sure!
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Amazing. For so long I’ve been of the mindset that says, “I don’t know how we can”. My husband is a youth pastor and we struggle to make ends meet. But the Lord has laid sponsorship on our hearts recently and your stories have confirmed His will. I don’t know how we CAN’T sponsor a child. Thank you for going and telling and being faithful.
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Yep , Im crying…
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Ok, that one worked. Now to decide how many…
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Ryan says:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:57 am
@Plano Mom, I hear they’re cheaper by the dozen.
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That is so amazing. I’m so glad you guys were able to meet him. I know all my comments on posts from your trip are the same… but I have to say it again: this has been such an inspiration. I know I have to sponsor a child. I can’t get it out of my head.
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Ryan says:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:58 am
@Katie Jane Parker, *crowd cheering* DO IT – DO IT – DO IT.
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OH WOW! That is the greatest thing for them to arrange that for you!!! How wonderful!!
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I’m bawling, but I’m so happy – so happy for Kayoo, so happy for you guys that you got to meet him. Awesome!!!
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Wow how amazing is that??? What a beautiful boy…and amazing experience for everyone! This put tears in my eyes!
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So, so touching! That’s precious & I’m so happy for you. Just amazing – GOOD for Compassion!
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You made my Monday! Love it!
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Wow. Just WOW.
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Oh my gosh. You have me crying again! How amazing it is that you got to meet Kayoo. Such a beautiful little boy. Blessings.
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Amazing spirit. Adorable boy. Awesome pictures.
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Every post I read about any Compassion trip only makes me that much more passionate and in love with what they do. I am more certain everyday that supporting Compassion is what I am called to do, and using this small voice I have to bring one to these kids.
I am so so happy you got to meet Kayoo! What an amazing experience. And now, as the years go by and he grows up, he will be able to say he met this couple that have changed his life and that are part of his family.
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Awesomeness. Pure awesomeness. So glad that my meek prayer given in earnest was answered in such a profound way.
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That is why I love Compassion and the people who have a heart for this ministry. They get that it goes way beyond the finances. It is the relationships and treating people as the whole package physically and spirtually. And I am not just talking about the children that get sponsored but how life changing it is to be a sponser and receive this grace. Your stories gave us Compassion Advocates renew energy to tell the story and ways to share the story back here. In the short time I have been an advocate God has led me on an amazing journey. Most recently he connected me with 2 people from Haiti who are here studying Water Management to bring back to their country and one worked as a teacher at a Compassion project and another was a sponsored student as she called herself. Right here in my backyard and God connected our lives. The young lady said it best. When I became a sponsored child through Compassion it was like I had received the gift of grace!
Thanks again for taking us on this journey.
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I’ve bawled my eyes out with just about every post you have done about Kenya… but this… this just made me cry even harder. I am SO happy for Kayoo (and you guys too!) His face is so full of JOY!
How amazing that you were able to meet him before you left! I have a feeling that his life will affect yours just as much as you will be affecting his.
I’m going to have to talk to my hubby when he gets out of the field again, he just got promoted and I’d like to sponsor a child with the raise…How could we not?
Again, I am SO happy you and Alison had this opportunity to go to Kenya, to share your experiences with us back here in the US, and to affect Kayoo’s life this way.
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Beautiful….love it when A Plan comes together!
(I see Kristin commented earlier…but I couldn’t resist….it was too beautiful a post, to beautiful a moment….and to beautiful a plan! ) ~Chris Ann
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This is it. My favorite post of the trip. What a perfect ending!
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michelle says:
March 15th, 2010 at 9:42 am
@Becky,
Don’t you mean “beginning”???
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Becky says:
March 15th, 2010 at 10:06 am
@michelle, Yes! Definitely.
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And just how were you able to avoid bringing that little cutie HOME with you?!
Meeting/sponsoring him was a blessing just meant to be … as, I’m sure, Kayoo feels about YOU! ~Michelle from Cincinnati, Ohio
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I knew it. When you wrote about missed opportunities I thought someone within compassion international has to make this happen. Ryan, I found your website through PW and I check it daily. I have been so touched by your journey through Kenya that I really want to sponsor a child along with my 5 year old. What a great learning opportunity for him and I. We have been talking about what it means to be ‘without’. He is starting to figure it out, but doesn’t truly understand. Thank you for giving me a wake up call as a parent and a person. Many blessings to you and your family.
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Oh wow Ryan. What an amazing thing to have happen. I was moved to tears by this post. Thank you so much for allowing your readers to experience your journey along with you. And for inspiring so many of us, myself included, to do what the Spirit has moved us to do, and sponsor a child through this wonderful organization.
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Enough, Ryan, I have cried on every post. Never. wore. shoes. This world? We will ever fix everything?
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Beautiful!!!
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Wow. Amazing. There truly aren’t words….
What a wonderful, amazing, inspiring organization Compassion is.
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This is good stuff! These are the kind of things that remind us of who has control of our lives. Clearly, the Lord has gotten a hold of your hearts through the eyes of a little boy a whole lotta miles away. Thanks for the inspiration.
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A wonderful kind of Punk’d!
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Thank you for posting your trip. At 13 years old God placed a vision in me that I would have a home full of children and of many colors. So far at 35 doesn’t look like that is the plan after all. Maybe being a sponsor is the way to go? My almost 8 year old son and I have checked in daily to see your post while in Kenya. Also we have 4 of our youth from church heading to Kenya in July.
Trying to help my son understand what a sponcer is verses adopt has been hard, so reading your words where very helpful. He now understands that Orphans need a family and a home, and a sponsored child has a loving family but needs help from others just to survive. I am going to speek to my husband to see if we can too can become a sponsor. Thank you.
LOVED all your photos and I was brought to tears from many of them, today tears of joy. So glad you guys got to meet Kayoo.
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I’ve been following your posts from Kenya and had decided that I, too, would sponsor a child…someday. After reading today’s post, I couldn’t delay any longer. I just now received my e-mail from Compassion International to let me know that I’ll be receiving information about “my” child shortly.
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Pip says:
March 15th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@Rita, You won’t regret it. I just received my packet Friday.
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Renee says:
March 16th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
@Rita, You don’t have to wait for your packet you can send an email online through the compassion site. Then you can send something via snail mail, too.
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AMAZING!
Definitely crying at my desk at work once again!
Ok, I need to sponsor a child. Now, how to decide which one!
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Oh this did my heart good today! SO thrilled that you got to spend time with him and that he knows you guys love him!! God just stinkin rocks. I’m getting to carry over 3 packages to my friend’s sponsored kids in Ethiopia in a few weeks when we go to adopt our son and this just makes me all the more excited!! You’ve done a beautiful job sharing about what you saw and learned. Can’t wait to hear more. I know it takes time to fully process it (if that’s even possible!) Will you be sharing at church anytime soon about your trip? Would love to be there for that one!
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I’ve been glued to your blog, pouring over your posts, and though they were all heart-wrenching, I was able to hold it together. Until this one.
Yours, bawling at my laptop,
Chelle
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Hello…I’ve read your cooking posts on Ree’s blog for some time now but just added you to my daily ‘blog ring’ a few weeks ago. Just in time too so it seems. You’re experience has been amazing and I feel blessed to have been able to live a small portion of it through your eyes and words. Thank you for sharing your trip, your feelings and your heart. I’m so happy that you got to meet Kayoo! What a joy. Off to sponsor my own child….Jenny
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Oh, I am so happy you were able to meet him!! He is such a sweetheart! I wouldn’t have been able to leave! I dream of one day meeting the kids I sponsor! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. Even though I don’t sponsor in Kenya, it still made sponsorship so much more real to me.
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OK Ryan………..the final straw and tug of God! Just adopted Alfred. I asked God to pick anyone…saw that his bithday is tomorrow! Can’t wait to get started.
Thank-you for releasing me from selfishness about taking so long to do this! Jesus ROCKS!!
Kimberly
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This is so awesome Ryan… what an incredible experience you both have had!! You are changing the lives of not just these children you sponsor- but also the lives of their whole families, as well as those of us following along. Way to go!!
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Yay! Congratulations! It’s a boy!!!!
Makes me feel like smoking a cigar……
I read the beginning of the post at a stoplight this morning and did a shout hooray and then a fist pump. Then the dang light turned green and I had to wait until I got home to finish reading. I almost didn’t speed to get there too.
That is a wonderful thing that Compassion did for you and for Kayoo. I love Compassion. I have a “few” sponsored kids of my own. I hope to meet at least some of them someday. It would be amazing to say the least.
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What a great gift you are giving him and he is giving you. He is precious and truly a child of God.
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Dang it!! Can you just quit it already? BTW, we are thinking of refinancing our house to get a lower interest rate. The motivating force behind this consideration was trying to figure out how to free up some cash and sponsor some kids.
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beautiful. believe it or not – he’s 24 now, but the child I took in (unusual circumstances) was only 10, right here in the usa, about 10 miles from where I live, and he also had not been used to a car, never been on an escalator or to the mall… and only had the clothes on his back when he came. When we took him to the buffet for lunch he got a plate of only chicken. EVERY kind of chicken. I remember him saying ” I haven’t had much good chicken in a while”… Ten miles away and I had no clue. He lives in Santiago, Chile right now with a brand new babe…
I believe God blesses those that change the life of a child just for the sake of love – and you are truly blessed
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[...] Check it out. Touching. [...]
Wow! Ryan that is so awesome. I am usually just a lurker here- dropped over from the dark side (PW’s blog). I was so moved by your recount of Kenya this past week, but none more so than your story of meeting Kayoo (can you say crying at work?). He is an absolutely precious little boy and now he has the love and support from you and Allison. I too will be looking into what I can cut back or change to try and sponsor a child. What a wonderful way to make a difference in someone’s life. Congratulations on your newest (long distance) family member!!
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I love reading your blog and have so enjoyed your posts about Kenya—-thank you. I’ve been reposting and sharing them all over the internet
Thank you for taking the time out of your life to make this trip, for using your own resources to love others, and for sharing it with us and encouraging us also. I’m so glad you got to meet little Kayoo. He is so precious, and so blessed.
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What a blessing, for all of you! And for us.
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[...] roomate and sweet camperJennifer and Israel -camp romance Shaun The Camp Director with wild hair.Ryan and Allison – camp romance again…Keely the camp photographerChris – The Camp Lifeguard [...]
Oh my… how awesome… reading it to my children…
Talking about our sponsored child from Indonesia. Maybe one day I will be able to meet Ucok. He is 6 just like Kayoo…. we have sponsored him since he was 3… we love him. We love his letters and sending him letters.
Thank you so much for sharing…. Our oldest daughter wants to go to Kenya this summer and work at an orphanage. She has always wanted to be a missionary in Africa.
blessings,
Teena
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don’t you do that!!! you stop it right now!!! if you’re gonna cry then I’m gonna cry. so we cry together. bless you.
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Stupid Ryan…why do you keep making me cry?! My hubby keeps looking at me like I’m crazy, lol. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. You and Ally are a blessing to my soul.
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Ok, I’m in…scrolling through pics now and how ever do you choose which one?
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Beautiful.
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i sponsor a child through Child Fund, and always love hearing about people meeting their sponsored children. How amazing that you were given the chance to meet him just before leaving, that he had such an amazing day of firsts, and that he is now one of many children whose lives you are changing!
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*sniffles* Now I’m crying at work!
and off to click the sponsorship link and read…
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Oh my goodness. I am in tears.
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Ryan,
I am a follower of your blog but haven’t felt compelled to comment until your posts about your Compassion International trip. The post about Mathare especially touched me and inspired me to sponsor a child. I am happy to report that my husband got involved and even picked out the child we are now sponsoring, Enock from Uganda. I just wanted to say thank you for enlightening me to this charity. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back for the many blessings I have received. God Bless You, Cathryn
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Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I come to you through Pioneer Woman’s website. She sent us to check out your visit in Kenya. The first post I read about was Mathare. Holy Cow. Then I showed my 9, 8 and 5 year old. We are blessed but more that I ever really knew. Pray for us as we discern adding another opportunity to give back to God as we check out Compassion International. We will pray for you, your family and Kayoo.
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What an amazing story to be able to share at the end!! He’s adorable! That’s so awesome that all of that was done for him AND for you.
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that is just AWESOME! i’m so happy that you all got to meet him and what a wonderful surprise.
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I have been following your journey to Kenya and back. Your photos are amazing. I will be travelling to Tanzania in July and your pictures are helping to prepare my heart for it. Thank you so much for sharing this experience so openly.
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Wow, wow! That’s so awesome. I’m so glad you got to meet him, he is precious.
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Oh the tears…the tears…
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He is precious, I was thrilled for you both to be able to meet him. I just received my first letter from ‘our’ little girl that we have started to sponsor through C.I. Only God makes it possible for these beautiful little souls to capture our hearts so quickly and completely.
Congratulations!
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I can’t believe I didn’t see that coming. So glad for you that Compassion made the visit happen. Now I wish we could see the video or photos of YOUR reaction!! What a moment. I don’t know how the H I’m going to afford it, but I’m scouring the website for my third sponsore child…
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This has warmed my heart, in a way
I never thought possible! what a touching
story and you are an amazing couple. He is
such a deserving beautiful little boy>!
I truly want to sponsor a child, but my husband
has not warmed up to the idea yet, I am praying that
he will soon. I don’t work, so I don’t make the financial choices, but I truly will find a way to do this one day soon. and all because of this post!
tara pakosta
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When I see these pictures I see a family full of love.
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Shoot, I just put my makeup on so I could go out with my sister in law and you made me cry. What a beautiful story! I’m so happy you were able to meet your child. YAY!!!!
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How amazing!!!! To meet Kayoo! What a wonderful blessing! And what a beautiful little boy!
I pray that our Jeniffer knows that her new sponsors love her as well. Thank you again for sharing your wonderful, and heart-wrenching adventure.
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Ryan, I have gone back and re-read this blog entry at least 15 times today and I can not stop crying tears of joy for Kayoo and you and Allison. I could see in the photos how happy all three of you were to meet and spend time together. He is such a beautiful child and I am so grateful that God blessed him with you and Allison as his sponsors. By reading your trip to Kenya, I realized that I need to spend more time sending letters to my sponsored child. The kids so need our encouragement to have the confidence to strive to do better than their current environment. Your trip has helped me re-align my priorities. i am now trying to figure out how to sponsor at least 3 more kids while myself and my husband are not currently employed.
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Oh, you guys, that’s just beautiful!!
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I have no words…but wanted to say something.
Praise God for such a day. YOU will never forget it. What a face.
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Really i am very happy for kayoo…
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So happy for you guys and your sponsored child! What a wonderful treat to get to meet him and give him such a wonderful day!
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I just shared this post w/my hubby and he said “that child is beautiful” he really is.
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My throat is tight as I’m trying to hold it together in front of my own children as I read your post. We sponsored a little boy in Haiti 3 years ago, and it’s been a blessing for our family! I can’t imagine having the opportunity to actually meet him some day! So glad you and your wife met him, AND that he met you both. What a great day for him. Truly a day that changed his life.
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Yikes!!! I’m boo-hooing over here! So glad for the celebration of “firsts!” God is sooooooo amazing!
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That is awesome. I shouldn’t have read it at work because now I’m all teary eyed.
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No words…
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you blog keeps making me cry! that is an amazing story.
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Simply amazing … very touching.
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What a beautiful blessing! I love the redemption in this story. How your heart was changed and how quickly you saw the results. God is good!
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Words cannot describe the things I have learned from your trip to Kenya. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your gift of photography and writing to show the world what these people are going through on a daily basis.
What a blessing.
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Every post about your trip has brought tears to my eyes. What an amazing experience for you and Allison. I am very happy for you both.
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That kid is ADORABLE. What a great time you guys had.
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I’ve followed your website for quite some time. Just wanted you to know your latest blog post touched my heart and I’m happy to say I’m now the proud sponsor of Josephene Maande Matanda of Kenya. I hope you’ve started a revolution here! I am SO blessed and so excited to start on this new journey. Thank you Ryan, for your inspiration and for everything you do to inspire the rest of us. God Bless!
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So sweet and wonderful for you!!!
All of you heart’s overflowing has filled our home as well. Thanks for sharing even the heartbreaks.
Reading a few of the posts prompted me to sponsor a child. Not regretting my sponsoring, but regretting my decision to make a financial move and not talking it over with my hubs, worried me. I did not mention a word of it to him until we got the packet.
I told him about it. I was worried. He asked how much it was. I told him. He asked if we could send the child more. I told him we could sponsor more. He said do it, sponsor as many as we can afford. As long as it is an organization you trust, give them whatever they need.
What a silly girl I was to forget that his generosity is far more reaching than mine. He did not need to read your post to be convinced, he just needed to know about the need.
… Thanks for letting a little of your heart overflow, drip here!
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Ryan says:
March 16th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
@katherine cherry, Awesome story of generosity Katherine!
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Amazing! What blessings you all received to be able to meet….beautiful!
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Ryan, this is truly your most beautiful and amazing post from Kenya. God works for us and through us, and I will be sponsoring a child.
Thank you.
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Just do it folks; find a way and just make this happen for the children who need us in His name.
Woo Hoo !!!
Thanks for the leading Ryan and Allie!
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OK – I’m bawling as I read this. You have such an awesome way of sharing, Ryan. I just told my husband that that’s why those kids I have posted on my fridge mean so much to me (my sponsored kids). Thanks for helping to get the word out Ryan. What an awesome “God thing” to be able to meet little Kayoo on your last day – praise Jesus!
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crap….now i’m crying
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What a precious little boy! I’m so glad you got to meet him!
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What a gift to all of you! Thank you for sharing it with us!
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that is awesome! What a day to treasure!
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Oh my goodness. Once again, God has brought me to tears through your stories. Isn’t He so good?! What an incredible opportunity for you and Allison to get to meet Kayoo. My husband and I received our sponsor packet yesterday for our two little kids. We’re so excited to be able to be a part of their lives. We’re going to frame their pictures and put them on our mantle. How amazing that you have a picture actually with Kayoo. Thank you so, so much for going on this trip and for sharing. God used you and Allison in ways only He can know.
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Awww damn now I’m crying at work. That is an awesome story. That makes Compassion just all the much better.
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That. is. indescribably. awesome.
Way to go, Compassion!!!
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aaa great you guys are so lucky to have met him before you go..I looovvvveee te pic whee he looks into the camera…May God Bless him and your sponsorship-relatonship!
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I cried and have cherished your posts about your trip. We’ve been sponsoring a boy in Mexico for about 2 years… but after reading your post I decided it was time to sponsor another child.
Thank you for opening your hearts to share your experiences in Africa!
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