Pam McCormick - Testimony of Compassion

Ten years ago I wrote to Compassion International asking to sponsor an older boy. In response I was sent a packet on Kaboko Samson who was 14 years old and without a sponsor. I saw his big smile and bright eyes and started a journey that has given me much joy and sometimes a bit of sadness. His letters were personal and full of gratitude and the love of our God. I cherished each one as I got to know and love this special person I had been allowed to share my life with. He and I also stayed in touch after he was no longer in the Compassion program.

Just this last March Kaboko was married to a lovely young girl named Hellen. The two are expecting their first baby in a few months. I decided to sponsor another Uganda child when Kaboko no longer was in the program. This time it was a young girl named Praise. I chose her for her name. She and I have been writing for 4 years now as she was about 7 when we met and now is almost 11. Kaboko says she is his sister since he and I are ”heart related”.

When a medical mission trip to Kenya came up at the nonprofit I volunteer for (H.E.L.P. International) I signed up to go. The leader of the trip knew of my love for my Compassion kids and extended the trip for her and I to go on to Uganda from Kenya when the medical team went home. You can imagine my amazement at actually getting to give Samson a big hug and seeing him face to face. A dream come true! This dream goes on. Not only was Samson able to show me his Compassion International’s office, keep us for a night in his home and meet his newly married wife but he was assigned to take us to meet Praise at her Compassion project. I got to hold her on my lap, play paper dolls, encourage her in school and remind her how much God loves her. Not only did I get to bring her gifts to delight her she gave me a woven pot that I have proudly sitting on a shelf in my family room.

I am home now relishing my time in Africa and wishing all sponsors could reap the rewards I have enjoyed through these sponsorships. If the world just knew what they were missing we would not have enough kids for the sponsors.

"If this story has touched your heart we encourage you to contact Compassion International (http://www.compassion.com) and find that child who is waiting to partner in life with you. Or contact Pam at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information or to just say "thank you".