How Sponsoring A Child Changed My Life

How Sponsoring A Child Changed My Life

by Brandon Stiver

Brandon and Awadhi One day, over a year and a half ago, I was scrolling through the different child profiles on the Treasures of Africa Orphanage website. I was captivated by the stories of these children all the way on the other side of the Earth. Story after story exemplified the Lord’s mighty hand in rescuing each individual child. I started to try and decide which child I would start to sponsor, and at that point I was wavering between Antoni and Tina. Then I read a story that changed my life. I clicked on the picture of this three year old boy named Awadhi. I was so taken by his background and overjoyed to hear about the wonderful things that have happened in his life since he had arrived at Treasures of Africa. I loved hearing about his joy and his sweet heart. Then I read the last paragraph where it said that he was HIV positive. I broke down and wept. My heart was broken for a boy that I had only seen for the first time on a computer screen. I knew at that moment exactly who I would sponsor.

That was January 2008 and since then, Awadhi, my sponsored child, has played a huge role in my life. As I write this, there is no way that I could even come close to conveying how much he means to me.

I always thought that sponsoring a child through an organization was more of a guilty obligation, a check on a list or a different way to tithe, but this is far, far more. My love for him has driven me to Moshi both in the summer of 2008 on a short term mission trip, as well as this summer for a 3 month internship. And now I am rejoicing because I will have the privilege of joining the TOA staff and I will be moving to Tanzania to live, very soon.

The Lord has used Awadhi in my life in wonderful ways. He’s not some fictional character or detached person, he and I have a multifaceted relationship. I have not only committed my monthly sponsorship money to him, but Awadhi has had a major role in my prayer life. He is the first person that I pray for in the morning and the first person that I pray for during my nightly devotional. I pray for his healing, for his heart for the Lord, I pray that he would grow up and follow Jesus and I pray that he knows he is loved deeply by a man that lives all the way in southern California.

Beyond that, the Lord has used Awadhi to help get me through some of the hardest times in my life. Shortly after I started sponsoring him, I fell into some really hard times and getting my updates about Awadhi and knowing that I have someone that needs my prayer and support helped tremendously. One night in particular I was really struggling. Relationships of mine that I had really counted on had fallen apart and I was feeling the pressure. I went on a walk to relieve some stress and pray. As I was nearing my university dorm room towards the end of my walk, I stopped by my mailbox and opened it to find an update from TOA. I opened it and there was a picture of my boy, smiling and reaching for the camera as the photograph was taken. I smiled. Some relief had come. Then I turned over the photo to read the update and found out for the first time that Awadhi is deaf. My heart broke all over again and I realized that despite my personal pain, I had someone else that desperately needed my prayers. And once again, my focus was on the Lord as I interceded on Awadhi’s behalf.

Meeting him face to face has added a whole other dimension. We have played and laughed together and it has caused my love for him to grow with each passing day. Being here in Tanzania, (as I write this) I can actually lay hands on him as I pray. And as I hold him in my arms, HIV doesn’t exist, because love rules. And where our homes are doesn’t matter, because at that time we are together. The depth of our relationship goes beyond what makes sense in this world, it is a God ordained and God blessed relationship and it all started with a decision to sponsor a Tanzanian orphan.

I can honestly tell you that Awadhi has become the most important person in my life. I love him and I would do anything for him. There are so many other beautiful children at Treasures of Africa, each of them equally wonderful in God’s sight, and one of them is waiting to become your special child. I would challenge you to prayerfully explore what prayer and financial sponsorship of a TOA child looks like in your life, because it has truly changed mine.

Editors Note:

Brandon Stiver was a Vanguard University student when he began sponsoring Awadhi in January 2008 and has been a faithful monthly sponsor since that time. He has since graduated with a degree in Education and will join the TOA staff in January 2010, as our new Director of Education implementing a targeted computer based supplemental tutoring program for the TOA children and staff. Please pray for Brandon as he returns to the USA to raise his missionary support.