ChristiansUnite Forums

Just wondered if anyone here sponsors a child (like through World Vision, Compassion Int'l, Christian Aid, Gospel for Asia or Christian Children's Fund)?

I am not able to do so right now, but always thought this would be a nice thing to do, even for a Sunday School or church.  I was looking at the children in Bangladesh (which is poorer than India)....even children as young as 5 years old are doing chores like carrying the water!

I recently heard from Christian Aid that much of Bangladesh's water has arsenic in it.  They send money so the missions there can dig deep wells and therefore get through to clean water.

I am not able to sponsor a child overseas right now either. I do work with many children locally here though. Although it is not as tough as it is over seas it is not uncommon for me to see children at the age of 3 or 4 being made to carry the garbage out to the garbage bin. Most of it doesn't make it to the bin. Those bags don't take being drug along the cement sidewalks for very long.  ::) ::)

Not only is Bangladesh suffering from arsenic in their surface water but it is also in West Bengal. They can't use the natural aquifers either because that is were the arsenic is coming from. In other words the arsenic is coming from underground and contaminating the surface water, too. Most of the tube wells have high contamination levels. Like you mentioned they have to drop these tube wells even deeper and that is no guarantee that it will succeed in getting past the arsenic.

I think 3 and 4 is too young for those kids to have to dump the garbage....like you say, too, it just ends up on the street.

Do you know if Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh) has problems in the good neighborhoods with arsenic?  My friends try to visit family there and stay for a few months.  Their little girl (American-born) is compassionate to the street children there.

I going to be sponsoring a child in a couple of weeks. I have one in mind.
It weird you posted this the same day I consider sponsoring.

All of Bangladesh has the problem with arsenic. Some of the major cities like Dhaka though have already drilled the extra deep wells and tested them to insure they are free of arsenic. The wells that are tainted have been marked with a big red "X". They allow people to continue using them but only for bathing in as that does not affect people. Those should not be used for drinking, cooking, etc.

What country is the child in?  If I ever get to sponsor one, I'll ask for one in Bangladesh.  I know there are needy children all over the world, though.

Pastor Roger, how are you so knowledgable about Bangladesh?  Just curious...  :)  I'm glad to hear Dhaka has drilled the deeper wells as this is where my friends visit their family.

The sad thing is the people in the villages are probably having to drink tainted water, as they have no other source of water.  That is why the Christian missions there are trying so hard to dig the deeper wells.....I think it costs about $750 per well.  They also allow the non-Christians to use the wells and this often opens a door to telling them of the hope/forgiveness there is through Christ.

I have friends in many places overseas. One of my "boys" that was in the Peace Corps at the time was in Bangladesh until they were removed in Mar 2006. He helped many of the local people to drill some of the new tube wells. It really made a change in his life for the better.

That's so wonderful to hear he worked/helped in Bangladesh!  :)  I guess they were removed after those bombings (something like 250 across the country all at one time)?  Did he ever run into any of the native Christian missionaries?  There are two missions I try to help there....one mission also shows The Jesus Film quite alot (besides all other sorts of outreach).

Yes, the Peace Corps was afraid of being targeted by islamist militants so they ordered all of their people out of the country.

I have her now. Jesica from Guatemala.

That's great, David.  How old is she?  What organization did you go through to sponsor her?  Will you be able to write letters to her and receive them, too?

She is 8. World vision Canada. My parents will help me but yes

That's great.  Let us know when you get your first letter and what she says.  :)

I have an epal that sponsors 2 children, both from So. America.

My family has supported Daniel, from Nigeria, for the past year.  It's been a blessing.  We're far from rich, but we've still got enough to live on.  They don't.  And to me, having the ability to help and not helping isn't being a wise steward.  Also, they get the gospel as well, which is paramount in supplying their physical needs.  We go through World Vision.

That's wonderful....how old is Daniel?  Do you get letters from him very often?

At Christian Aid it is only $20 to sponsor a child but you don't get letters....just a bio and an update each year, I think.  If you want letters, too, it's a few dollars more.

One of the missions in Bangladesh I try to help, helps about 54 poor children in the village areas.  They are from families that have come to know the Lord as their Savior.

He's a month or so older than my oldest daughter, so he's 9.  We get letters every so often, and visa versa.  It's $30 through World Vision a month.  Cool about the mission!