If you want to read more about the history, education and other information, read Compassion's page on Sri Lanka.
Compassion asks that we pray for three things for these kids here:
1) Please pray for children who are growing up without the presence of their fathers. Pray for the children to come to know God as their Father. Pray also for God to give strength and wisdom to the mothers who are raising their children alone.
2) Pray for Compassion Sri Lanka as they minister to some of the most vulnerable mothers and children through the Child Survival Program. Sri Lanka's most pressing health issues are maternal and child malnutrition and neonatal mortality.
3) Please pray for the many mothers living in poverty that are unable to give the necessary care their babies need to be healthy. Pray that Compassion will bring hope in the midst of such desperation.
And for some beautiful photos of Sri Lanka, check out Compassion's Flickr album here.
COMPASSION IN SRI LANKA
If you want to read a thorough description of Compassion's work in Sri Lanka, read their ministry highlight here.
If you'd like to know more about Compassion's Child Survival Program in Sri Lanka, check out this post: Growing to Love the Local Church.
And you can read about how the Inigodawela’s Child Survival Program is working on helping parents connect with their children through play: Building Playhouses to Emphasize the Importance of Play for Children.
INDIVIDUAL STORIES
Here's a nice post about Priya and Raja and their involvement with the Child Survival Program (CSP): A Home Filled With Love.
And you can read how the CSP is also helping Vasantha: What Do Popsicles, Brooms and Coconut Oil Have in Common?
Chandrakanthi has an amazing story--I recommend reading it and hearing about how God worked in her life and how He used the CSP to help her and her children: Bludgeoned by an Ax at the Hands of Her Husband.
FOOD
Compassion's website shares this information about food in Sri Lanka:
"Rice is a main staple in Sri Lankan cuisine. Flavorful curries are used to make a wide variety of rice dishes ranging from meat or fish-based dishes to vegetables and even fruit. Along with the main curry dish, a typical Sri Lankan meal includes side dishes such as chutneys, pickles and sambols, which can be extremely spicy. Coconut sambol is the most famous and is made from ground coconut, chilies, dried Maldivian fish and lime juice. These ingredients are ground to a paste and eaten with rice. Along with rice and various curries, coconut milk is a common ingredient in Sri Lankan cuisine and gives it its unique flavor.
"Short eats" — a variety of hamburgers, hot dogs, Chinese rolls, patties and pastries — are a popular snack. Mallung is another popular dish, made of chopped leaves, grated coconut and red onions.
Dal Curry
1 cup of masoor dal (whole red lentils)
1 teaspoon curry powder (Sri Lankan)
1 clove garlic
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 green pepper
1/2 red onion
1/2 stick cinnamon
1/2 cup of coconut milk
Basil leaves
Put masoor dal into a sauce pan and add 2 cups of water. Add all the above except the coconut milk and salt. Once the masoor dal becomes a sauce, add the coconut milk. Cook for about five minutes over medium heat.
If desired, you may sprinkle a little bit of fried onion and garlic on top of the curry to taste. Add salt to taste."
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Ever wonder what it's like Celebrating Christmas in Sri Lanka? It's neat to learn how these kids and their families celebrate!
AVAILABLE KIDS
Please be praying for the kids of Sri Lanka who are still waiting for sponsors.
Meet Luxmitha, who's 8 and who has been waiting 408 for a sponsor.
Luxmitha's birthday is May 7. In her home, Luxmitha helps by gathering firewood, making beds and helping in the kitchen. She lives with her grandfather and her mother. Her grandfather is not employed and her mother maintains the home. There are 4 children in the family.
For fun, Luxmitha enjoys singing, art and walking. She attends Christian instruction regularly and is in primary school where her performance is average. To sponsor Luxmitha, click here.
And meet Guna, who's 4 and who has been waiting 408 days for a sponsor.
Guna's birthday is February 2. Guna makes his home with his mother. Running errands is his household duty. His mother is sometimes employed as a laborer. There are 4 children in the family.
Guna is not presently attending school. Playing with cars, hide-and-seek and playing group games are his favorite activities. He also attends Christian instruction regularly. To sponsor Guna, click here.
To see more available kids from Sri Lanka, please click here. Or to see other kids available for sponsorship, visit this page.
(Note: all facts & photos are taken from Compassion's website and blog.)
I'd also like to take a moment to say Happy 16th Birthday to our Magreth!
Age 13
Age 15
It's been such a blessing to correspond with her this past year and to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman.
