Spence Smith

One of the greatest moments is watching sponsors meet their sponsor kids and today was all about that. Angie, Melissa, Robin, Anne, Patricia, Shaun and Becky all met their kids today and we all had a blast with the great moments that happened.(That’s me and Angie’s sponsor child, Sangita, in the picture above.)

We took the kiddos over to Science City (think Mad Max for kids and parts of the Water World set that never made it in the movie) where we got to see Everest in a REALLY old IMAX theater. The only problem was the film looked really cold and yet… it was still 120 DEGREES OUTSIDE!!!

After the IMAX we went over to the 3D Science Show which I just couldn’t resist trying to fit in. (See Exhibit A below) I mean… this show had 3D glasses AND animals flying at your face!! Pete and Keely took pictures and made funny videos through out the day.

So… here’s the deal. It’s one thing to sponsor a child and write letters back and forth. But when you get the chance to meet your child!!!(Exhibit B below – Me and my sponsor child Verelyn from Peru) Wow!!! The letters come to life and you see your sponsorship dollar come to life!!

I love watching people meet their kids for the first time. I know those feelings and how you remember every moment.

If you can afford to go on a sponsor tour to meet your child or if you can go visit them on your own, then I would highly recommend you going for it. It’s an experience you will never forget.

But first… if you haven’t already… go sponsor a little one. You won’t regret it!

As some of you know, I’m headed to Kolkata, India (Calcutta). By the time you read this we will probably be in New Delhi on an overnight layover.

I’m taking these group of bloggers headed up by Shaun Groves who handles CompassionBloggers.com for us. We are in for quite a trip indeed.

I want to make sure you know the point of this trip. The bloggers going on this trip will be getting to see Compassion International’s work first hand everyday. Meeting their sponsor children, playing with kids, meeting families, pastors, church volunteers, and watching how Compassion International partners with the local church. Why? So they (and I) can tell you first hand about what they (we) experienced THAT DAY in hopes that you the reader will be compelled to sponsor a child and invest into the development of a little one. I love the immediacy of the internet.

So…  here’s what you can do to help out and take an active roll in this week with us.

1.    Pray – pray for our safety, health, loved ones back home, and for what we aren’t expecting to see. Pray for our time with the kids and what we don’t expect will happen. And finally… Pray for those reading these blogs that they and you will be moved to make a difference and sponsor a child… or another child.

2.    Tell all your friends to come read along. Most of us have ways you can subscribe to our RSS feeds or email like in my blog… just enter your email address in the column to the right of this post and my posts will come straight into your inbox the minute I post something. You can find the list of bloggers here and here.

If you are looking for all of my posts on India as the trip rolls along, you can find them all right HERE.

3.    If you’re a blogger link back to these posts and re post them if you want on your blog. Rising Tides Lifts All Ships. The more people know about what is happening on this trip, the more positive change we can bring to the lives of children in India and to the rest of the world. Careful though… Your life might change in the process… I’m just sayin… These kids will have that effect on you.

4.    If you are on twitter (@SpenceSmith)… follow us all on twitter and Re-Tweet if we say something that moves you or if we Twit Pic something you like. Please don’t foget our Hash Tag for this trip when it comes to Twitter… #CompassionIndia. (Follow the conversation at tweetchat.com – enter CompasionIndia.)

5.    Sponsor A Child. I know… I keep bringing this up. But this is what we do… We do Child Development through the local church and the funding comes through the one on one sponsorship people like you and me provide. It’s so so important.

6.    Finally… if you already sponsor a child… go write them a letter. I can’t tell you the impact one letter will make.

So… that’s it… that’s your part in all of this if you so choose to be an active participant in our blogging trip to India.

Have a great rest of your weekend, good luck and congrats to all my friends running the Country Music Half and Full Marathon today. I’m proud of you all and I miss getting to run with you…. Warm up for the first 20 miles then the next 6 miles is the marathon:) Stretch, Hydrate and most of all… HAVE FUN!!