Guian Carlos

This is Guian Carlos.  He is 15 years old.  He lives in Peru.  He is my newest sponsored child, and my last for a while.

I don't have a nickname for him yet.  But I feel like I should share him anyway.

For the past few months, I had been thinking about who to sponsor when my oldest kids leave or graduate; mainly Eugene, who I would still have for a couple years or more, and Metha from Indonesia, who was scheduled to graduate in 2014.  My goal was to sponsor one child from each of the four regions that Compassion works in.  Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America.  Niphaporn is in Thailand, Anabell is in Central America, Emmanuel is in Africa.  The last region was South America.  I wanted three boys and three girls.  When two of my six children leave, I will not sponsor anymore.  So I think.  I do a lot of thinking of my kids and where I'd like to sponsor should they leave, or when they graduate.
Through all my thinking and praying (for I do talk a lot to the Lord about my plans), I was getting more and more sure that my next child would be a boy.  Then, it gradually got to from Peru.  Then, over 12 years old.  Finally, a specific age.  15.   Okay, I'll sponsor a 15 year old boy from Peru.  When Metha or Eugene graduate.  I can't afford a seventh child right now.

When I get strong impressions like this, I have to boycott myself from Compassion's website.  I will get into trouble if I don't.  The Lord reminded me of a recent post from someone who mentioned that the Lord shows them which child to sponsor BEFORE they find out another child has graduated or left the program.  Hmm. . . Is someone going to leave or graduate?  If so, I was sure it would be Eugene, for Child Fund had said that they might graduate him early, since he is now 18.

Taking  a small step of faith, I perused the website, looking for older boys from Peru.  There were a lot of older boys on the website.  I clicked on the first one. This is when I found Jimmy.  I was so burdened with him. that he was all I could think about for a week.  I kept checking the website, praying for a sponsor for him.  I knew I couldn't afford to sponsor him, at least not yet.  Friday he disappeared.  I rejoiced that he had found a sponsor.  Monday Compassion called and said that Metha had graduated early.  I said no to the replacement child.  I needed to pray about sponsoring another one, or if I needed to wait.  On the way home, I was burdened once more for Jimmy.  "But, Lord," I said, "he's gone.  He's found a sponsor."  At home, all I could think of was Jimmy.  So, I prayed.  "Okay, Lord, You have burdened me with Jimmy.  I know You can do all things.  If he is back on the site, I will sponsor him."  After a few minutes, I said, "If he's not, then who will I sponsor?"  The Lord whispered, "Carlos."  I had to laugh, for I am a part of a Carlos prayer group on OC.  We are under the assumption that Carlos is a cute kid's name.  And, so far, our theory is being proven correct.  My correspondent, Carlos, I have dubbed, "The cutest little boy in El Salvador."  Shortly after the Lord whispered, Carlos, I felt an urgency in my spirit.  I needed to get on the website and find him, whoever this boy was.  So, I looked for a boy in Peru.  The only 15 year old boy I found was the picture you see above.  I was so in a hurry that I didn't even pause to read his name, just his age.  I clicked the sponsor me button, and he became mine.  Shortly after, I received a confirmation email that said, "Guian Carlos."  I had heard right.  Carlos.  The Lord knew Carlos was the one for me.