The News Reporter

By WALLYCE TODD

I have a daughter.

For any of you who know me – and know that I’m not or never have been married – that might come as a bit of a shock. I know the Lord loves every child born in every circumstance. I also believe His Word clearly advocates posterity coming from married parents.

However, in today’s world, there are so many children who are brought into the world in love, but who are faced with life that includes only one parent. Increasingly, there are children who must live most of their lives without any parent.

So, I have the privilege of having “adopted” a child in Africa. I may never meet her. She may never see me. But, in my heart, Asana, the child I sponsor through World Vision, is my “adoptive daughter.”

Each month, a portion of what the God has given me, I am privileged to share with Asana, her family and the community in which she lives. Asana is not an AIDS orphan. She’s still blessed with two parents. Her religion is Islam. Each time I get to contribute to her well- being, I know that the God whom I believe created us all, is reaching out and hugging this child whom I may never meet.

My prayer is I’ll see her in heaven.

But until eternity, I’ve been given the gift of supporting a child who likely will never know what it’s like to work in an air conditioned office as I do. She’ll likely never get to travel through Europe as I have. She’ll likely never live a life of wealth that most Americans do. But, hopefully, in some small way, she’ll know someone in America loves her and wants her and her family to be blessed by the peace and provision that only God can give.

You see, I’ve seen what it’s like to be really poor. Even the poorest person in the U.S. has access to more resources than a huge portion of the world’s population. When I was unemployed, I had an opportunity to access government benefits. When I am sick – even if I don’t have health insurance – there is medical treatment I cannot be refused to receive.

This is not the case with 80-90 percent (or more) of the world’s population. In Albania, I saw gypsy children living in shacks made of cardboard and scraps, missing school and lucky if they weren’t sold into the sex trade. Never mind seeing a doctor if they were sick.

In Africa, when a young child’s parents die of AIDS, he or she can become the head of the household - forced by circumstances to farm for food, walk for water, and take care of the younger children under his or her care. Ten-year-olds may often find themselves filling the roles of “mom” or “dad” to their smaller siblings.

My mother was born in what was, in essence, a one-room house in western N.C. My granddaddy on my father’s side had 12 siblings (including step-siblings) and grew up poor on a farm in Mollie. Yet my mom’s family was able to move into a much larger home by the time her youngest sister was born. My grandfather was able to educate himself and eventually build a strong business base as a result of a lifetime of hard work.

In many countries outside of America, a person can work and work with no hope of achieving beyond the barest of existences. This is many people’s reality because the land they live on is drought-ridden or enemy-controlled, or infested by dangerous animals, insects or disease.

Most people – even those who are poverty-stricken in America – have some way to get help from federal government or from state or local resources. Being poor in America is hard. Being poor and affected by disease in Africa too often goes hand and hand.

My eyes were opened to poverty and disease in a whole new way when I worked and traveled abroad. However, one doesn’t have to travel away from North Carolina to make a difference in Africa.

When you simply give financially what most people spend on soft drinks during the month, you can radically impact for good the life a child across the world. Help one child through World Vision, and you’ll also be helping the community he or she lives in.

If you have children of your own, you know what a difference some love can make to their lives. Imagine if your child, or your sibling, or your friend were left parentless and poor to the point of starvation. Think about what it would be like if someone dear to you were left alone fighting against AIDS for his or her life.

Then, imagine how it would feel to a child in desperate circumstances to learn that he or she was loved, sponsored, “adopted,” by someone far, far away. Imagination is good, but reality is what truly makes a difference.

Editor’s Note: For more SpiritSong columns, visit whiteville.com and click on the link found on the upper left side.


		The Life of a Child By WALLYCE TODD I have a daughter. For any of you who know me – and know that I’m not or never have been married – that might come as a bit of a shock. I know the Lord loves every child born in every circumstance. I also believe His Word clearly advocates posterity coming from married parents. However, in today’s world, there are so many children who are brought into the world in love, but who are faced with life that includes only one parent. Increasingly, there are children who must live most of their lives without any parent. So, I have the privilege of having “adopted” a child in Africa. I may never meet her. She may never see me. But, in my heart, Asana, the child I sponsor through World Vision, is my “adoptive daughter.” Each month, a portion of what the God has given me, I am privileged to share with Asana, her family and the community in which she lives. Asana is not an AIDS orphan. She’s still blessed with two parents. Her religion is Islam. Each time I get to contribute to her well- being, I know that the God whom I believe created us all, is reaching out and hugging this child whom I may never meet. My prayer is I’ll see her in heaven. But until eternity, I’ve been given the gift of supporting a child who likely will never know what it’s like to work in an air conditioned office as I do. She’ll likely never get to travel through Europe as I have. She’ll likely never live a life of wealth that most Americans do. But, hopefully, in some small way, she’ll know someone in America loves her and wants her and her family to be blessed by the peace and provision that only God can give. You see, I’ve seen what it’s like to be really poor. Even the poorest person in the U.S. has access to more resources than a huge portion of the world’s population. When I was unemployed, I had an opportunity to access government benefits. When I am sick – even if I don’t have health insurance – there is medical treatment I cannot be refused to receive. This is not the case with 80-90 percent (or more) of the world’s population. In Albania, I saw gypsy children living in shacks made of cardboard and scraps, missing school and lucky if they weren’t sold into the sex trade. Never mind seeing a doctor if they were sick. In Africa, when a young child’s parents die of AIDS, he or she can become the head of the household - forced by circumstances to farm for food, walk for water, and take care of the younger children under his or her care. Ten-year-olds may often find themselves filling the roles of “mom” or “dad” to their smaller siblings. My mother was born in what was, in essence, a one-room house in western N.C. My granddaddy on my father’s side had 12 siblings (including step-siblings) and grew up poor on a farm in Mollie. Yet my mom’s family was able to move into a much larger home by the time her youngest sister was born. My grandfather was able to educate himself and eventually build a strong business base as a result of a lifetime of hard work. In many countries outside of America, a person can work and work with no hope of achieving beyond the barest of existences. This is many people’s reality because the land they live on is drought-ridden or enemy-controlled, or infested by dangerous animals, insects or disease. Most people – even those who are poverty-stricken in America – have some way to get help from federal government or from state or local resources. Being poor in America is hard. Being poor and affected by disease in Africa too often goes hand and hand. My eyes were opened to poverty and disease in a whole new way when I worked and traveled abroad. However, one doesn’t have to travel away from North Carolina to make a difference in Africa. When you simply give financially what most people spend on soft drinks during the month, you can radically impact for good the life a child across the world. Help one child through World Vision, and you’ll also be helping the community he or she lives in. If you have children of your own, you know what a difference some love can make to their lives. Imagine if your child, or your sibling, or your friend were left parentless and poor to the point of starvation. Think about what it would be like if someone dear to you were left alone fighting against AIDS for his or her life. Then, imagine how it would feel to a child in desperate circumstances to learn that he or she was loved, sponsored, “adopted,” by someone far, far away. Imagination is good, but reality is what truly makes a difference. *Editor’s Note:* For more SpiritSong columns, visit whiteville.com and click on the link found on the upper left side.


				Wallyce Todd

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