LV Hanson, who traveled with me to Kenya put this video together recently and I thought I’d share…

I spoke with Compassion International this morning to see how many kids have been sponsored as a result of our blogging trip to Kenya.

822. So far.

Most of us had absolutely no idea what to expect. I didn’t know if our trip would yield 50 sponsorships or 500…I just didn’t know what to hope for. I secretly prayed that I would be able to help our team achieve 500+ sponsorships during our trip.

I had no idea that such an outpouring of grace, generosity, and trust would usher in from a bunch of dweebs with laptops. I guess it had something to do with the infusing of the Holy Spirit that was clearly present during our time in Africa. Pretty much everything to do with it.

822 children sponsored.

Let’s break that figure down a little bit:

* $38 per month per child x 822 children

* Guesstimate 5 years of sponsorship commitment per child (hopefully more)

* 822 x $38 x 60 months = $1,874,160

$ One Million, Eight Hundred Seventy Four Thousand, One Hundred Sixty

Together, we raised nearly two million dollars to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

Wait…that’s wrong.

Together, we raised nearly two million dollars to give children the opportunity to fight for themselves.

On behalf of them, on behalf of us…

Thank you.

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.