Compassion, in my opinion, is different than having pity on someone. I think true compassion requires more than shedding a tear or two. It requires an action.
It requires you to get off your couch and do something. Sometimes I get frustrated when I see the words “viewer discretion is advised” at the beginning of TV shows depicting the struggles of people in places like Darfur.
It’s like they’re trying to say, “Hey, what you’re about to see isn’t very fun. If you don’t want to feel like crap, then go ahead and change the channel now.” The people who are being killed and/or displaced in Darfur, or in similar places, don’t have the option of changing the channel.
I’m not going to change the channel when it comes to this orphanage project. I’ll be starting a fundraiser shortly to help raise money to buy things like food, milk, toys, soap, books, etc. While these things are very important and will be much appreciated, there is something else these kids need.
They need stability. They need a family. They need to understand family structure and family values by witnessing them firsthand.
I don’t understand how we can sit in America and spend enormous amounts of money seeing fertility specialists when there are thousands of children around the world who need a home. There are 75 children at the Peace and Love Orphanage alone. Sadly, only one child has been adopted in the past five years.
That’s a startling number, one that should inspire people to change it. It’s probably a good thing that I’m a 20-year-old unmarried college student, or I might be coming back from Africa with a few “souvenirs.”
Working at this orphanage has impacted me. It has shown me the tremendous need for someone to raise awareness about these forgotten children. I get frustrated when people go on a mission trip or go volunteer in a third world country for a week or two and then come back and say that it changed their life.
Did it? Alright, so what have you done about it? I get even more frustrated when people say that volunteering has made them appreciate their life in America more.
That’s so selfish. I don’t think the point of volunteering is to make you even happier that you’re living it up while they’re still “starving in Africa.”
Before I left for Ghana, one of my friends’ overly concerned mothers told me that there was no need for anyone to go to Africa, because of the dangers involved. Not being able to ever keep my mouth shut, I told her that there was actually a huge need.
Perhaps my own adoption has inspired me in some way to help these orphans, but I don’t think it’s just that.
There are so many things that I want to do with this orphanage, and the others in the area. It’s a daunting task, one that could never be accomplished by one person alone.
All these kids need is for you; yes you, to not change the channel. Better yet, they need you to get off your couch and do something.
Compassion – it’s an action. Fundraiser details coming soon to my blog at www.kimberfoli.blogspot.com.
Also, if you would like to find out any information just drop me a line at overmyhead333@yahoo.com.

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