From time to time, the information in this site will vary, as new items are added, and more links to pages of interest at Compassion’s website.
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Vicki Small – currently serving as the lead advocate in southern Arizona for Compassion’s Advocates Network.
In 2002, I walked out of the church one cold, gray and dreary December morning, in a mood to match. In the outdoor basketball court, I started to walk past the ministry tables. I was there for one reason: to look for anyone who would be willing to talk with me–just for fellowship, beyond a “Hi, how’re ya?” Above and behind the first ministry table was a banner that said something about “Compassion”; I took a couple more steps before my resident cynic wanted to know: “What’re we being ‘compassionate’ about, today?”
I could not know, when I looked down at the table, how much my world was about to change. All noise and activity around me receded. A sea of packets was on the table, each one showing a photo and brief bio’ of a child. Ah! Child sponsorship!–what I had wanted for more than 30 years to do and had only recently become financially able to do. My recent question had been, “Through which organization?” As I repeated the words, “I can do this!” I heard another Voice say, “Yes, you can do this; this is it!” Simultaneously, I felt a warmth wash over me and through me, from the top of my head, all the way down.
I took two packets home with me, that day, but also looked on Compassion’s website for photos of other children who were available for sponsorship. Overwhelmed by the numbers of children in need, I found myself saying, “God, we’ve got to find sponsors for these kids!” About the fourth time, He said, “Yes, we do!” And then I understood: His “this is it” had answered both my desire to sponsor children and my year-long prayer for direction in ministry. I often feel as though I never really lived, before I learned to wait for His leading, and then to follow it.
The week after I submitted my sponsorship forms and payment, I began peppering Randy Klug with questions and ideas, asking if we could do this or that to find sponsors for more children. He soon suggested that I might want to think about joining the Advocates Network (then known as the Volunteer Network). I was way ahead of him, but thought that I needed to wait six months, in order to know more about Compassion. But he recognized the signs of a called child advocate, and after three and a half months (April 2003), I was added to the Network. The following year, I was able to attend my first National Volunteer Network Conference. By the end of the first evening, I was overwhelmed: I could not fathom why God had chosen to honor me with a call into this ministry. I still have no answer for that; I can only carry it out as He enables me to do it and hope that I will, one day, hear Him say, “Well done!”
My sponsored children: In the beginning, I sponsored Tausi (Tanzania), and Denisse (Dominican Republic). Since then, I have added Maria (also in the Dominican Republic) and Uwizera (Rwanda). They all range in age from 10 to 15 years. Uwizera was 13 years old, when I began sponsoring her, which means that she had previously had and lost at least one sponsor.* Next, Bruce and I added Rebecca (Kenya), who had graduated from the Child Development through Sponsorship Program (CDSP) and needed a new sponsor to see her through the Leadership Development Program (LDP), which includes the opportunity to earn a university degree. She is now in her junior year. A bonus in sponsoring Rebecca: She writes in English! And finally (for now!), we now sponsor 9-year-old Amanueal in Ethiopia. Amanueal had been waiting for anywhere from 6 to 15 months for a sponsor. Imagine his joy, when he learns that he now has one!
*Losing a sponsor–for any reason–is always hard on a child; no matter how the sponsor explains the termination (which many of them never do), the child always wonders, “What did I do wrong?” and “Will anyone ever choose me, again?” I discovered an extra joy in sponsoring an older child: She writes her own letters!
Randy Klug - “Retired” in November, 2009, from active advocacy through Compassion, having continued his service as an advocate following his time as the lead advocate for much of Arizona (and Vicki’s mentor), for about five years. But his history with Compassion is much longer than that! Our relationship with Compassion International began in 1978, when Nancy and I were making our home in Sheridan WY, on the eastern slope of the Big Horn Mountains. A young man, single and working with the Forestry Department, attended the small Baptist church we belonged to; he shared with me his experience of sponsoring a needy child through Compassion. Nancy and I had two young children, at the time, and we realized that sponsoring a child would help us to teach our children about helping others and give our kids some idea of how very different life is for children living in poverty.From the beginning, I felt a close bond with Compassion, and after 20 years, I decided to take the next step. In December, 1998, I submitted my application to the Volunteer Network. Bob Dosey, a member of PCC at the time, encouraged me to take this step, and I know God used Bob in this. I have always felt honored to be a part of this great ministry, serving children.My first Compassion Sundays–before PCC had launched its expansion project–saw me simply standing in the sun with Bob, at a table with child packets on it, before I became “official.” The Lord always guided at least a few people to sponsor children, although we always give thanks for even one.
One year, while Steve Shaw was our youth pastor, his son Tyler joined me on stage for a presentation. Tyler was well-received, as children who share about sponsoring always are. His involvement brought our best turnout at PCC for sponsoring, up to that time.
My tenure as an Area Coordinator (read: lead advocate, or team leader) began in 2002, at the suggestion of my Regional Manager, Doug West. Before long, I was overseeing all of Arizona, except for the Phoenix Metro’ area, and into Mojave Valley. Shortly before Christmas, in the same year, a most inquisitive woman approached the table on which I had placed packets for a number of children who awaited sponsors. Vicki Small was serious and asked many questions about Compassion’s work. She began sponsoring two children right away and, after the New Year, she applied to the Advocate’s Network. We formed a strong partnership in presenting the needs of the children served by Compassion’s field-partner churches, as we each responded to the call of God on our individual lives for “the least of these.”
Because of long-term health issues, my energy began to wane. Vicki was open to learning, sharing and praying for God’s lead, and by the spring of 2007, she was prepared to move into the role of Area Coordinator, in my place.
My sponsored children: Christina in Tanzania is 12 years old. We began sponsoring her in October, 2002. She loves Jesus, speaks about Him and asks us if we are familiar with particular Bible stories and scriptures; she often expresses the hope that we are walking strong with Jesus!! She is 15th in her class of 320 children, loves to dress up and look her best. I believe she will do great things!
We began sponsoring Raju of East India, now 14 years old, in February 2004. He loves Jesus and is very expressive in his writing, with words of love and endearment for us; for example, he tells us that “the breeze from the fan you gave us reminds me of your love for me.” He calls us Dad and Mom and has had some struggle with his parents threatening to divorce, which caused him to fear having to leave his Compassion-assisted student center. However, it seems that this situation has at least cooled, and hopefully has healed somewhat. He has asked for prayer for his parents. Raju likes music and school and is a very compassionate young man.
In September, 2005, we added Victor, in Ecuador. Now 13 years old, Victor knows Christ as Savior; likes school and soccer; likes to ask us questions about our family, how we are doing, and he prays for us. He is inquisitive. Earlier in January 2009, we were gifted with a video showing a brief interview of Victor about his sponsorship. He seems to be reserved, well-mannered, and a thoughtful young man.
Read more about Compassion by clicking on links in the sidebar.
Click on the link to sponsor a child:
http://www.compassion.com/vickismall.
