Jonesbones5 
Crocodile Shoes
Ok… my post title is called Crocodile Shoes only because I have been blogging about shoes this week, and today I went to a crocodile farm, so I put it all together and called it “Crocodile Shoes.” Clever huh? By the way, my camera was this close to the mouth of a crocodile. Only a chain link fence separated us.
It was only a year ago when I had my family with me in Kenya and we met Hannah, our sponsored child with Compassion. What an amazing experience for my girls to meet this beautiful child. We all fell in love with her. Today, I drove into the parking lot of the Crocodile farm where we last said good bye to Hannah, and realized she was waiting inside the park to see me again. I just started to cry and told Keely I was barely holding it together. Moments like these are overwhelming for me.
When I saw Hannah, I ran to her like a crazy lady, but I was just so excited! Hannah is shy, so I think my wide eyed, bubbling over, crazy lady greeting might have freaked her out. She was good though….she tolerated my emotional outburst and gave me a sweet, shy smile.
She looked very pretty. I complimented her on her dress and she told me I bought it for her for Christmas, and her shoes too. Flood gates open, here comes the tears. 
My other sponsored child, Remya, who I met last year on a blogging trip, had a new dress when I met her and told me the exact same thing. How sweet is that?
We had this amazing day together. Crocodiles, this giraffe (he licked me and my camera),
a camel,
……. and third world rides. Please notice how this is powered.
I love this kid. She is shy, sweet and beautiful. What a gift she is to my family. What a blessing she has been to my children.
After our fun, we sat down, I gave her presents and then we talked.
Hannah told me her family lost animals due to a drought this year. I knew that they had lost animals because she had shared this in a letter. I did not know what a big deal this was until today. For this Masai girl and her family, animals are their source of food and income. Hannah’s family lost all their cows and most goats and now they only have three goats left. Sounds weird doesn’t it? I admit this is so far out of my context. I could tell that this was a big deal. I learned her family would have starved if Compassion had not provided food for them. Actually, because of Compassion’s Global Food Program, the whole community, even the families without children in Compassion, received food supplies.
When I got back on the bus after saying good-bye to Hannah, I thought of my daughter Julia, and her red puffy eyes as she blubbered saying good-bye last year. I knew in a moment I could be blubbering so I concentrated really hard to keep myself together so that I could avoid the “ugly cry face”. I knew if I started to talk I would loose it because frankly, I am a blubberer!
Hearing about Hannah’s year and what her family has been through broke my heart today. Wow, I feel like God needed me to hear this story. I realized today that my husband and I need to step up and help this family out. I guess I am warning him because I know he will read my blog. Compassion will allow us to send money for a family gift up to $1,000 a year, and the staff will help the family figure out the best way to use it to generate income for the family. Right now we have been trying to save money, but I believe we can’t just sit back. This family needs some help to get back on their feet. I am so thankful that God has given my husband and me the resources to help….right honey?
Being a sponsor has been life changing. It has changed me, my husband, my girls, the way I think, what we do, how we live and how we pray. I think it has changed the bloggers on our trip too. Not everyone gets to meet their child. I think its only 1% of all sponsors, but I can testify that if you want to do something significant, or be significant to someone, then sponsor a child.
Photos by Keely the Great, and Ryan the almost Masai man
13 Comments on “Crocodile Shoes”
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Thanks for visiting our blog. Here you will find stories of our family, our travel, our faith and our mission. We are on a journey to serve Christ and to journey through this life.
Jonesbones5 
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is
needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost
a pretty penny? I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100% sure.
Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures on
this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem
on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
My family members all the time say that I am wasting my time here at net, except I know I am getting experience all the time by reading thes good posts.
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Outstanding presentation that has been appeared here with superb pictures.Overall composition of this blog concern with crocodile shoe is really superb.The knowledgeable idea which is generated here it must be help me to enhance my knowledge about footwear fashions.
Marvelous photography and a superb article too,was wondered to know the title justification and after going through the post i got a new and lovely idea behind it. Nice sharing of Crocodile Shoes.
Nice post with a great photography. Love the article on Crocodile shoes.
I’ve been a Compassion sponsor for 3+ years, but I never knew about the family gift amount. We recently got letters from the men who pastor the Compassion projects in India where we sponsor 2 kids. In one of the areas, 95% of men suffer from addiction. What are the chances that our boy is NOT touched by that? I stood in my kitchen, holding this piece of paper and thought, I’m not doing enough. We’re not doing enough.
Thank you for sharing about your day with your Hannah. Safe travels home.
I love your wife. Thank you for sharing her this week. It has truly been a blessing to room with her and get to know her.
My father has a farm full of cows. I wish I could load a few up on a plane and make a special delivery. I love your heart! I love that I see Christ in you the hope of Glory! I see him in you and all of the amazing bloggers and children on this trip.
Thank you for experiencing this with my Kristen
What a precious reunion. Hannah seems wonderful.
My sponsored child in Kenya had written about the drought but I had no idea it had such devestating effects. I will be sending a family gift soon.
Love hearing about this trip and seeing it through y’all’s eyes!!! We just love Compassion and what they do b/c it is REAL. It is life changing, for everyone involved, sponsors and children and families. and it WORKS. And I hear ya on the blubbering thing-and I can never manage to do it in a cute way either! Always need to throw some sort of snort in there or have make up running in my eyes or something equally attractive, haha! Praying for all of you on your trip that God would move so many mountains!!! And you are SO BRAVE to ride that ferris wheel-ack! so scary!! 🙂 I just LOVE Africa!!!
Found you on Compassion’s site. Am thrilled to know that you and a group from Compassion are in Kenya where our sponsored child lives! If you should be in her village by “Godincidence”, PLEASE give her a huge loving hug for us. She’s Catherine Sakwa, who turns 16 in May. I don’ t know how you’re connecting with children of Compassion. It’s amazing you found your own dear child there! Catherine is precious to us, of course, and I’d love to have her know that and hear it from another loving mom from the USA! I had just written her a letter online at Compassion’s site when I found the traveling group blog you are a part of. Blessings to you as you journey on!