Dear Friend,
I am Sharonsundar Croos. I have been the interim program implementation director of the Sri Lanka office for the last year. Compassion has worked in Sri Lanka for six years. Currently, we partner with 65 local churches to serve about 12,500 children.
Thank you for your contribution to your sponsored child. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support. Your generous contribution goes a long way.
Children in the child development center get nutritious meals, time to show their God-given gifts, activity-based education, and an opportunity to know the unconditional love of God, which they see through the child workers in the center. They know that someone cares for them and loves them.
Through sponsor support, Compassion has changed many lives. A grandfather and his 3-year-old granddaughter lived in a hut – just sand, a mat, a shoddy roof with a burnt opening from a fire, and walls of dried palm fronds. They didn’t have a lot to eat. The grandfather was blind in one eye and losing sight in the other due to cataracts. He cared for himself and the granddaughter by selling a few fish or vegetables. He was also lame. He took the little girl to attend the center activities on a shabby makeshift bicycle. They never missed a class.
The little family received some nutritious meals, books, and much-needed clothing. One astonishing day a gracious sponsor, visiting another child, saw the little girl and decided to sponsor her too. Life began to change. Compassion Korea intervened with a cataract operation to save the grandfather’s sight. Through the sponsor, the church, and Compassion’s complementary intervention funds, a solid stone house was built for the family of two. But two days after moving into their new home, the grandfather died.
Today this little girl is almost 5. Her mother, who left when the girl was a baby, returned with a new stepfather and brother. The family now lives in the girl’s new home, the home her grandfather envisioned for her.
In many areas of Sri Lanka, the poverty level is high, malnutrition is widespread, and educational outcomes are low. Access to health services and basic primary education is limited for the most vulnerable. High unemployment prevails, especially among young people and women. Please keep these needs in your prayers, as we are planning to expand into new areas to touch more children.
Meeting social needs opens doors to sharing God’s love to the children and their caregivers. In addition to Compassion-supported programs, many church partners are involved in local governance work, reconciliation work, disaster response, working with widows, etc.
Receiving letters reminds the children that someone far away loves them. They love to write back and tell the sponsors about themselves, their families, their schools and friends, and everything they consider important. Sponsor letters give them the chance to express what they are feeling. They love their sponsors.
Sadly, some children rarely get letters. They constantly ask why, and they feel bad when they see other children receive letters. Some children are reluctant to come to the center, since they do not get letters and they feel their sponsor does not love them. Some of these children have never had anyone tell them that they are special, loved and prayed for. Receiving a wonderful treasure, a letter, makes them special and loved. So please write to your child as often as you can.
Please continue to pray for our ministry. Our churches face many challenges. I would also ask you to pray for our expansion into new areas.
Thank you once again for your generous support for your sponsored child. May God continue to richly bless you.
Sincerely,
Sharon Croos
If you would like to sponsor a child from Sri Lanka, please consider sponsoring
