Ada’s Story

SantoDomingo.jpgThis story will break your heart then give you renewed hope in the difference that each one of us can make in the lives of others.

I’ve posted a number of stories with audio from Compassion Day on 98.5 Sonshine FM today and I know that most people probably won’t listen to them all, but I beg you to take just fourteen minutes to listen to Ada’s story.

If you want to hear something to lift your spirits just click play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

The whole story is worth hearing but I’ll warn you now that it will really start to touch your heart around half way through.

Ada is a girl I met and interviewed in Dominican Republic. She is a beautiful twelve year old with a bright future. I wish I could show you the picture I had taken with the two of us but I prefer to keep her identity somewhat private. You’ll understand why as you listen.

I talked to Ada, I visited her home and talked to her parents. I’m sure that all of us that visited her home on that day will remember the warm hug she gave each one of us as we left. She is a remarkable young girl.

I managed to track down her sponsor in Australia and shared Ada’s story with her. Lisa’s reaction to hearing her sponsored child’s voice is priceless. Hearing Lisa describe how she feels when she hears just how much of an impact she has had on Ada’s life is inspiring.

I don’t know what else I can say but to again ask that you take the time to hear this amazing story.



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Cristopher

Cristopher.jpgAnother one of my guests this morning on 98.5 Sonshine FM for Compassion Day was Cristopher Garrido who works with Compassion in Dominican Republic. Cristopher took our Australian team to see the work that Compassion is doing through local churches in his country.

Santo Domingo, the capital of Dominican Republic, seems to be a rich person’s playground. It’s a favourite spot for tourists, with lavish hotels and casinos along the coast but the statistics tell a different story for most of the population.

Devastating poverty and high rates of unemployment maybe be hidden from some of the tourist areas but many people are finding it ever harder to make ends meet for their families.

Thankfully, Compassion is making a difference by partnering with local churches to bring about change and release children from poverty.

I asked Cristopher to give us a picture of some of the work that is being carried out in Dominican Republic.

While people here in Australia are facing increased fuel costs, rising interest rates and upward pressure on inflation, we still have it so much better than those in countries such as Dominican Republic.

Just press play on the audio player at the bottom of this post to listen to my conversation with Cristopher.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/COM150508_1017.mp3]

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Edouard

Edouard.jpgAs part of Compassion Day I spoke to Edouard Lassegue during my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM today. Edouard is Compassion’s Vice President, Latin America and Caribbean Region.

Edouard was in Haiti with our Australian team last month when we had to exit the country rather quickly as rioting and looting took hold in Port-au-Prince. It was a nervous experience for us but millions of children are still caught in that situation. I asked Edouard to give us a quick understanding of what brought about the riots that caused our quick departure from Haiti.

When we made our somewhat risky trip to the airport to leave Haiti, Edouard was the one who stepped out of the safety of our vehicles to try to find a way forward. He’s a very brave man who quite possibly saved our lives.

I really want you to listen to his heart for those experiencing desperate poverty in his home country. Edouard is Haitian and was once the Compassion Country Director for Compassion.

Listen to what he had to say by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR150508_0931.mp3]

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It's Compassion Day

CompassionDay.JPGWhat a day it’s been so far.

It’s Compassion Day across Australia. 42 Radio stations across the nation are encouraging listeners to sacrifice $44 a month to change the world one child at a time.

I had such a wonderful time during my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM today as I told listeners about my recent trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Many listeners have taken up the challenge to sponsor children through Compassion Australia and I’m hoping that many more will make that decision before the day is over.

Haiti, in the Caribbean, is the most impoverished nation in the western world where one child in fourteen never reaches their first birthday and one in five never reaches the age of four. Haiti is a nation of people locked in shocking poverty. I travelled with Compassion Australia to see the work that they are doing and to see the hope that people like you and me can give through child sponsorship.

Can you imagine being in the situation where you have to decide whether your child will go to school or whether you need them to go out to work? Or even which of your children will be given the opportunity of an education. Compassion’s Vice President for Latin America, Edoaurd Lasegge, was with us on our journey and he explained a little of the situation while we were there.

Can I encourage you to listen to a little of my story? Just click the play button of the audio player at the bottom of this post. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you hear.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/COM150508_1107.mp3]

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