BRANT'S AFRICA JOURNAL

Brant Hansen (That's a new link for him; looks like he took my advice. Gee.) is in Africa touring Compassion International's work there. His trip is part of WAY-FM's efforts to support the work of Compassion and rescue children from poverty around the world. This is just one of the many things I love about my friends at WAY-FM. Support them by listening and consider giving and know that you're supporting a radio station that mobilizes it's listeners to care for the least.

Here's an excerpt from Brant's Africa Journal, go there to read about Compassion's work with AIDS patients, hear formerly hopeless people sing to God, meet African college graduates, and more.

Today, I met a boy who told me he lives in the "second biggest slum in Africa." He's right, but it was disturbing that he knew. He also told me he's going to be a surgeon.

I believe him.

I wonder if his sponsor knows just how brilliant he is, how his mind shines amidst the dust in the second biggest slum in Africa.

(He's pictured with me, standing and looking serious. He is a serious thinker! I love that!)

Today, I bought a pair of sandals for 200 shillings. They're made out of tires -- just rubber and nails. A little boy named Daniel has a father who takes tire scraps and makes them, selling them in their on-the-busy-street home that's the size of my closet. He doesn't sell enough to keep his family together. They had to send their oldest away with extended family in order to survive.

Daniel is still home, thanks to his Compassion sponsor. His mom's heart doesn't have to break, again, thanks to his Compassion sponsor. I wonder if his sponsor knows.

Today, I saw kids playing soccer on a dirt field with a ball of bread-wrapper plastic. We brought some true soccer balls from a store in Riviera Beach. The kids played with abandon, and then, as we began to leave, returned to give us back our soccer balls.

They couldn't believe they were for them, to keep. They were thrilled to get the news, and ran off to play.

I wonder if their sponsor knows what kind of little boys they are.

Today, I heard a little Muslim girl break down in tears. Her parents defend her Compassion project to friends and neighbors. "No, they're not the enemy, because they show love to our daughter. They give her food, and they're teaching her. They are good!"

I wonder if Amapura's sponsor knows why she broke down in tears. When asked what her favorite thing is she had learned, she cried and said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

I wonder if her sponsor knows the hope her family is finding.