Five words that change everything.....

I never knew that five words could have such an impact....

Little handwritten words from a 12 year old boy who lives on the other side of the world....yet, these sweet words changed my heart this weekend.

You see back in May of 2009, I attended a special event at church about kids in Kenya. Specifically, they were children living in poverty just outside of Nairobi, Kenya among the garbage dumps and the organization that was helping them was called Kenya's Children Fund. We began the evening with a buffet of amazing African foods in a beautifully decorated fellowship hall. Then we went up to the sanctuary for a wonderful presentation from the founders of the organization. I went home that night with a deep desire to help one of these kids.

So, I went online to their website and clicked on the button to see the children that were in need of a sponsor.

A sponsored child could attend the Kinyago-Dandora school where they would get healthy meals each day, a safe place to sleep and become educated while also learning about Jesus. Our family had some extra money in our budget, so we decided to select a little boy to help. Here is the first picture we found of "Kevin from Kenya".

Kevin had the same birthday month as our oldest son (March) and was born in the same year as our oldest daughter (2003). He loved soccer and drawing which also matched some interests of our kids. 

Over the past 6 years, we have sent him many letters, stickers, birthday gifts of money and pictures of our family. We receive an annual picture of Kevin each spring as well as bi-annual letters with hand-drawn pictures and nice words written by the social worker/teacher.

But this weekend's letter was different. Kevin is 12 years old now and can write in English by himself. For the first time, this letter was in his own handwriting and from his heart....

A little boy whom I have never met yet who's life has changed for the better told me he loved me from across the ocean.....tears filled my eyes as my heart filled with love and gratitude for being a part of something way bigger than myself.

I pray that someday whether in this life or the next....that I will one day get to see Kevin and give him a big hug to let him know that his words of love changed me too!

Amazing what a difference a few words can make....

Words matter and can last a lifetime..... 

I feel challenged to write handwritten letters/cards this week to 

people in my life that have changed me for the better by 

sharing the love of Christ that lives in them...

How about you?