a heart-warming share while the debut of my sites are a bit delayed…

These are the most beautiful photographs you will EVER see posted on my blog.

Please note: In no way do I personally or professionally benefit from sharing the information in this post. I am in no way affiliated with World Vision other than by choice of simply sharing what God has blessed me with financially on a monthly sponsorship basis, along with thousands of other families across this nation that have also chosen to do so. ALSO, no names or specifics of location about these children are being shared for the protection of each child.

MEET M.

He’s the little boy that I’ve chosen to sponsor through Teri Fode Photography. Yes, I actually chose him from thousands of children available to choose from! I was able to read about his needs, his condition, his family…and it was difficult to say no to the thousands of other faces looking up at me from the table of photos, but saying yes to one…now that felt really, really awesome.

I’ve made a decision that I want my business to be more than just…a business. More than my own fulfillment of living out a dream of being a photographer. I’ve made a decision that I want my business to support something very, very significant. And so…he is the first in a series of children that I will sponsor during the lifetime of my photography business.

M. lives with his parents and 1 brother in Bangladesh. His parents struggle to provide for the family. His father is a fish seller and his mother takes care of the household. Despite their efforts, it is difficult to meet the family’s needs.

He lives in a slum community. A typical home is one room with bamboo walls, a metal roof and a dirt floor. Community members survive on rice, fish and whatever vegetables they can afford.

M. is not in school at this time. He likes to play soccer.

M. is my reminder that my life is blessed. He’s my reminder that no matter how bad I think my day is, it could be worse. He’s my reminder that I never have to wonder about my next meal. He’s my reminder that there REALLY is a world full of hungry and less fortunate children. He’s my reminder that I need to thank God DAILY for my good, comfortable, convenient life.

He’s my reminder that when my computer crashed the other night, and I was panick-stricken due to a busy proofing schedule and obligations to clients waiting for holiday orders, that my life wasn’t really all that bad. I stopped in the middle of it all (seriously, it was a horrible feeling to think I might lose EVERYTHING STORED in my computer) and said "you know Don, it really doesn’t matter in the whole scheme of life. Other people in the world don’t even OWN computers or KNOW what computers ARE!!!!".

Yes, he’s my reminder that there are more significant things in life than…my daily grind.

MEET W.

She’s the little girl that T. and her 5 friends chose to sponsor by contributing $5 of their allowance each month. They formed a group, and one of the mother’s agreed to be in charge of paying it on her credit card each month (thank you, Dianne.). Her daughter is responsible to collect the $5 from each of the other girls, all with the permission of each of us mothers. See? Even our own blessed children can organize a way to GIVE FROM THE HEART and make a difference in the life of a less fortunate child…

W. lives with her mother in Thailand and has no brothers or sisters. Her mother is an odd job worker and struggles to provide for the family. Despite her best efforts, it is difficult for W.’s mother to provide for the two of them.

Sticky rice mixed with curry, meat and vegetables is the staple of their diet.  Typical homes are mostly rented and are made of used materials.

W. is not in school at this time. She likes to swim and helps at home.

She’s T.’s reminder that going to school is an honor, a blessing and a privilege. She’s T.’s reminder that eating yucky veggies is…a blessing. She’s T’s. reminder that life is good, life is blessed and God can use her to make a difference…even as a child herself.

MEET L.

She’s the little girl that our family sponsors…she’s new for us because we’ve been sponsoring a child for over 10 years now and as the children grow up, and their needs change for the better or their families drop from the World Vision program, we are given the option to continue sponsoring a NEW child…

She’s our newest little girl and we just received a letter from her! It was written in her own language and we received a picture she drew, her letter, and an English Translation written out by a World Vision volunteer.

Here’s the letter we received introducing herself to us:

"Dear Sponsor:

Hello! My name is L., but you can call me "G". I was born on xxxx,. I like to play dolls. I attend kindergarten and I like to draw.

I live with my parents and sister and brother. I live in a nice place surrounded by green hills."

Here is her hand-drawn picture:

Most of the adults in her community work with the wood from the nearby forrests. Just to send a letter to us requires them to walk (they have no cars) 2 hours to send it. They have little education in this community and find it very difficult to write but send plenty of colorful drawings to express themselves.

Our sponsorship helps to improve the wellbeing of W.’s family and World Vision implements actions that help them to have better education, health nutrition and housing conditions.

During this month that our country celebrates Thanksgiving, I am very thankful for the blessings my family enjoys. It’s a huge burden on my heart every time I clean out my refrigerator and throw away rotten vegetable that we haven’t eaten. I walk to the garbage can quietly asking God to forgive me for being so wasteful in a world that has so much starvation and poverty.

$30 a month? Yes, it’s a commitment. But it’s a proven fact that MILLIONS of Americans are spending $60 a month on STARBUCKS and other coffee houses. It’s a proven fact that MILLIONS of Americans eat out at LEAST once a week, spending an average of $25 per WEEK…most eat out 3 to 4 times a week including lunches.

Not a guilt trip. Just a reality check. It’s what made me commit to doing this a while back. And it helps put our FORTUNATE and blessed lives in perspective. If you are reading this post, you pay for internet service each month and can afford a computer. It’s all about…desire to contribute to the world poverty that is RAMPANT.

It doesn’t have to be World Vision…it could be any one of MANY local, state, or world-wide programs sponsoring local or world-wide poverty-stricken children and families.

Decide today to make a difference.

ONE CHILD AT A TIME.

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends, family and faithful readers.

-Teri