Thursday, December 10, 2009

Scared (a book giveaway)

Have you read the winter She Reads pick Scared by Tom Davis? Oooh, it's good. It's a compelling, gut-wrenching tale of a photojournalist covering the AIDS crisis in an African country. While there, he meets an orphan girl, Adanna, who opens his eyes and leads him to revamp his values and life. This is not a book you will soon forget - it reaches in your chest and grabs hold of your heart.


I'm giving away a copy of this book next Tuesday 12/15. If you'd like to enter, here's what you need to do. Click on the Compassionate Christmas banner to the left. It will take you to a website where you'll find profile pictures of children trapped by poverty. Choose one child from the site to give the gift of prayer. Pray for the child over the next day or two, and leave their name/country in a comment here so I can pray for the child you choose as well.

Then I'll announce the book winner by noon on Tuesday. It's that easy ... kinda like paying it forward. And if this book doesn't interest you, you can pass it along as a Christmas present to another reader in your life.
Here's to having a compassionate Christmas this year!
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22 comments:

  1. Cheri BunchDecember 10, 2009

    I love this idea, Rachel!

    I will be praying for Puquh, Indonesia, age 6 and Genesis Nicaragua, age 5. They all look wonderful! This really got my heart.

    Thank you for offering the privilege of getting involved this way!

    I started a new blog. Would you like to check it out? You can find it at cherilb.blogspot.com. I just started this one a little over a week ago.

    Have a beautiful Christmas, Rachel.

    Cheri

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  2. AnonymousDecember 10, 2009

    Hi Rachel - I love the idea of paying it forward with prayer! I have chosen two girls from Compassion to pray about. They share the same birth month/year of my own girls. Pamela Nicole from Honduras and Melisa from Indonesia.

    "guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
    Psalm 25:5 NIV

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  3. JottinMamaDecember 10, 2009

    Cool giveaway, Rachel!

    I'm praying for Jefie from Mexico :) He is the same age as my son :)

    Have a wonderful rest of the week!

    Blessings,
    Kate :)

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  4. AnonymousDecember 10, 2009

    what a beautiful christmas 'gift.' prayer. I will say a special prayer for 'anais' age 4. merry christmas.

    karenk
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  5. KimDecember 10, 2009

    Love this idea, Rachel. Thanks for the opportunity to focus on these children. I will be praying for Santiago, age 11 from Colombia and Osneider, age 15 from Colombia.

    Kim

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  6. MelissaDecember 10, 2009

    What a great idea! I am praying for Jonh (real spelling, not a typo!), an 8-year old boy in Nicaragua. I was in Nicaragua 3 years ago and the memories of the poverty still stick with me. Thank you for reminding me to not just remember the children, but to lift them up in prayer as well.

    God Bless you,
    Melissa

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  7. Stacie ParksDecember 11, 2009

    I will pray for Jean in Haiti. Too see all the children who need sponsors makes me feel so small. What do you do when your heart wants to do so much yet you know you can't sponsor them all? I know prayer moves mountains, but how do the children know that? I will not pray for Jean for just a day or two, I will pray for her always.

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  8. Lynn - JnL4GodDecember 11, 2009

    HI Rachel
    What a great idea. I am praying for Ufitinema Bertilde Age 8 From Rwanda Africa.
    That area has been a area on my heart for some time.
    Thank you,
    Lynn

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  9. Rachel OlsenDecember 11, 2009

    Stacie, what a sweet heart you have. You asked: "What do you do when your heart wants to do so much yet you know you can't sponsor them all? I know prayer moves mountains, but how do the children know that?"

    I would say you choose one child and sponor them if you can. By sponsoring them you help their parents and siblings by freeing up some of the family's limited resources to be spent on others. And by sponsoring them, you boost them, which in turn helps their future family, their future spouse and children will be better off.

    When you sponsor a child you are able to write letters to them and tell them you are praying for them. You will receive letters back from the child as well.

    However, even if you can't sponsor them financially (it costs about $38 a month) or tell them you are praying for them, your prayers will make a difference in their life! Plus, you can pray for someone who is able to come along and sponsor that child. Prayer is a precious commodity and a priceless gift.

    Blessings to each of you responding to this post - I'm praying for your chosen children too.

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  10. AmyDecember 11, 2009

    I will be praying for 8 yr. old Vily Theresa Kapele from Indonesia.

    What a wonderful idea to select a child, even if we can't afford to sponser one and pray for him/her. :)

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  11. CindyDecember 11, 2009

    Rachel, What a great idea for this book and a way to bring light to the children out there waiting in the Compassion Ministry. We have three children we sponcer through Compassion, the blessing of those relationships are incomparable. Our family has a heart for orphans. I would love to receive the book Scared by Tom Davis. Thanks for all you do. The Gift of Christ, Merry Christmas. Cindy

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  12. Cape Breton Girl for GodDecember 11, 2009

    Hi Rachel,

    What a wonderful idea to pic a child and pray for them. Sometimes when we cant help financially we think we cant help at all but like you say prayer is a precious gift.

    i will be praying for Erika, from Ecuador, she is 5 years old and has been waiting over 6 months for a sponser. God bless you

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  13. Runner MomDecember 11, 2009

    Hey, Rachel! What a great idea! I'll hop over and visit and let you know!

    Hope y'all have a great weekend!
    Hugs!
    Susan

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  14. Melissa TaylorDecember 11, 2009

    Rachel I think it's awesome what you are doing here! What better gift than a gift of prayer for our sweet Compassion children.

    Love you!
    Melissa

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  15. AnonymousDecember 11, 2009

    Beautiful idea!!!

    I am praying for Roland, age 3, of Burkina Faso...his sweet, precious really touched me...he will always be in my prayers...

    Patricia/nyc

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  16. AnonymousDecember 12, 2009

    i would love the book!

    Jeannie

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  17. MelissaDecember 12, 2009

    Hi again, Rachel! I had posted previously about praying for 8-year old Jonh in Nicaragua and I couldn't stop praying for him! So this morning I didn't, I made the commitment to sponsor him. I am so filled with joy I can hardly stand it!! Thank you for introducing this to my heart and have a blessed day!
    Melissa

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  18. Rachel OlsenDecember 12, 2009

    Melissa - how wonderful!! Your news warms my heart today. And it will make Jonh's day for years to come.

    I pray you and Jonh both have a special Christmas this year. :)

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  19. blessedoriginalsDecember 12, 2009

    I am praying for Ester from Brazil! She looks like such a sweet little girl! Thanks for this way to do a contest!

    many blessings,
    melissa

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  20. UnknownDecember 12, 2009

    I am honored to be praying for Johnathon from Nicaragua! All of the children just tugged at my heart so!

    I would bring them all into my home if I could get them here!

    Thanks for your devo thoughts today too, Rachel.

    With Christmas so near, it is good to remember what our real treasure is!!!!!!!!!!

    Love,
    tammy nischan
    www.tammynischan.blogspot.com
    JOSHUA 1:9

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  21. UnknownDecember 13, 2009

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. UnknownDecember 13, 2009

    WOW~

    Thank you for doing this.
    I have chosen Buntubwimana she is a 5 year old lil girl in Rwanda.

    I will pass this on to my mommy group message board.

    I am having my 3 year old and 4 year old daughters do this as well. They are my lil prayer team.
    Riley picked to pray for Sanju a 17 year old in India.
    Saige picked to pray for Rosa a 4 year old in Guatemala.

    Thanks Rachel!
    Mommy Melback

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