Compassion is a child called Puja

Tomorrow Puja will be 5, she has no idea that I exist...yet. Last week at "New Wine", I made the decison to sponsor her until she is 16, I was quite surprised at how emotional I felt, once I had chosen her. I specifically wanted a child from India as at some point, when she is older, we would like to visit her. As many of you know, India is a country close to my heart since I visited Asha, an NGO which works alongside the urban poor in the Delhi slums, in 2005.
http://www.asha-india.org/

Puja lives in Orissa, her father is a subsistance farmer. She is one of three children. I will be the only Sponsor she has. I hope I do her justice.

Her photo sits on my dresser, awaiting a frame, her little face has the expression of someone trying to stand still for the photo...Her palms pressed against her legs, trying to do the right thing...she looks so innocent and cute in her pink outfit, I just want to scoop her up!

In the next week I will write my first letter to her. It will be translated and read to her and she will dictate one back to me. I will send a photo of us and probably a small page of stickers or something. Everything must be flat for posting. Compassion seem to have thought of everything.

I like the idea that Compassion partners with local churches to reach out to the poorest children in their community. The projects where they work are safe places where children are free to enjoy being children...It's not just about giving money, it's about building a future for a child, their family and the wider community.

I will be praying for her and developing a relationship over time. I need to see that poverty and injustice have a face, but that I can play my part in enabling her to break out of the cycle and be given the opportunity to fulfill her God-given potential.

This will explain far better!

http://www.compassionuk.org/

The Simple Woman's Daybook

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window… Apples are ripening on the trees and dh has already stewed some windfalls with the blueberries and some cinnamon. Had some with yogurt at lunchtime, lush as lush.

I am thinking... I have much to process....what has been and what is to come.....challenges and questions....need a facillitating bubble bath.......

I am thankful for...a new day, a new adventure!

I am learning that…if I want PLJ, I have to go to Morrisons!

From the kitchen... dh is preparing french beans for the freezer.

I am wearing...black leggings and a long tunic top...both of which are a little too big now.....

I am creating...some ideas about a new style day journal, but uncertain whether two into one will go....

I am going... to start writing stuff daily, if I can, done in the hope that somehow, something may rise to the surface...rather than putting things to one side until I have a slot where intelligent words just come flowing out...hahahaha!!! (as if!!!)

I am reading…"More than conquerors, a call to radical discipleship" Simon Guilleband. Chapter 2 so far....I underlined a lot and made little comments in pencil....make a book your own, I say!!!

I am praying…for family stuff....

I am hoping...I get my 1 1/2 stone award tonight....a sticker and a clap!!!!

Noticing that…a buzzard is being dive- bombed by a crow in my back garden...

I am hearing...N filling a bowl to soak his washing....all life skills, I love the boy xx

Around the house...remains of "New Wine" sorting...books, teaching Cds.....tent, camping equipment...now waiting for Greenbelt....and piles of ironed bedding from last week's visitors. Sort of semi organised chaos!

One of my favourite things... dawn

Pondering these words…"I'm not what I ought to be, I'm not what I'd like to be, I'm not what I hope to be, but I'm not what I was and by the grace of God I am what I am". John Newton.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Not in priority order.....you'll be pleased to hear...oh holy ones!!!!

Love my house (cleaning)
Love my garden (weeding)
Love my friends (talking)
Love my job (listening)
Love my God (learning)

A picture to share…

A new day begins..."New Wine" Shepton Mallet 2010