Agustina has 4 other siblings. \u00a0She told me that one of her sisters (Oni), was awarded a scholarship to come to America for a full year tuition, room and board, at…EDMONDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE in WA state! \u00a0I always thought that if the opportunity presented itself, I would love to meet her. \u00a0We also became friends on Facebook and I would answer her questions about Washington, etc.<\/p>\n
Well, the opportunity did present itself, and I asked if I could meet her Sunday morning. We would attend church together, then I would take her to brunch. \u00a0She was so excited, and offered to attend the memorial service with me, and even offered to put me up in her dorm room that night! I stuck with meeting her Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
I picked her up and we drove to church. \u00a0Even though Agustina, Oni, and I had communicated quite a bit via Facebook, it still isn’t the same as face to face. \u00a0When we communicate, they call me mama Leigh or mom Leigh.<\/p>\n
I asked her if she also had had a sponsor, and if her other siblings did as well. \u00a0She said, no, Agustina was the only one that had a sponsor. \u00a0When I gave a sad face and said I’m sorry, she said that is turned out all good and shared with me her family’s testimony…<\/p>\n
In the USA, public education is free, but in many other countries that’s not the case. \u00a0All education comes at a price. \u00a0The funds provided through sponsorship paid for Agustina’s tuition, books, a weekly mentor, and Wednesday evening Christian youth group. \u00a0Although the whole family attended church, it was more for cultural expectations, and not for relationship with Jesus.<\/p>\n
The parents were raised on a small island where the poverty level was high. \u00a0They committed to making sure their kids would all be educated and break the generations of \u00a0poverty in their family. \u00a0They moved to the capital city of Indonesia where the father worked as a fisherman. \u00a0The mom stayed home, but took in laundry and other odd jobs to have all five kids in school. \u00a0They would joke that Agustina was special because they did not have to pay for her.<\/p>\n
Every week, Agustina would come home to share with her siblings what she was learning about Jesus through the Compassion program. \u00a0She became a follower of Jesus, and one by one, her siblings did as well. \u00a0They started to have fellowship at their home, and within two years, both the parents came to Christ as well.<\/p>\n
She wanted me to know that it may not seem a big deal for me to send the monthly payment for the sponsorship, but that it makes a huge difference in the homes of the recipients. \u00a0And not just the individual, but the positive ripple effect through the family.<\/p>\n
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Their father now owns three pool tables and rents time on them in his front yard. \u00a0Anyone can rent them any time, 24 hours a day. All of the kids either have a college degree or are working on getting one. Oni has her Bachelors in Education and is working on her Masters. \u00a0She is also studying Project Management, the program in WA state. \u00a0Oni and another sister are looking to establish a school on the island were their parents were raised, providing a Christian education where the religion focuses on the ancestors being deities.<\/p>\n
This is a picture of Oni and I at church. During the church announcements, the pastor mentioned the the next Sunday was to be Compassion Sunday, and some information about Compassion International was to be shared, along with the opportunity to sponsor. After service, I suggested to Oni that she share with her pastor her unique perspective regarding Compassion and to see if she could give her testimony to the congregation. \u00a0He wholeheartedly agreed. \u00a0I have not followed up to see how it went.<\/p>\n
After church, I took her to Arnie’s for brunch. \u00a0I ordered a virgin Bloody Mary and when it arrived, her eyes got all big and she said the name was intense! \u00a0I asked her if she’d like to try it. \u00a0She did and said it tasted like she was drinking ketchup.<\/p>\n She ordered the quiche with salad, and asked for a side of rice. She said that a meal without rice is just a snack! So cute!<\/p>\n We walked along the pier in Edmonds for a bit, then I had to take her back so I could fly home.<\/p>\n As we were saying goodbye, she said that Agustina knew my birthday was coming up and wanted to give me a gift. \u00a0This beautiful woven grass purse. \u00a0I used to have one almost exactly like it, but it was green. \u00a0David gave it to me years ago. \u00a0I used it so much, I wore the bottom out of it and it could not be saved. \u00a0So incredibly thoughtful and sweet. \u00a0The she said that in her country, instead of saying goodbye with a hug or a kiss on the cheek, you give a nose kiss (a single swipe of noses). It’s a way of saying your family. \u00a0So, on behalf of Agustina, she nose-kissed me.. \u00a0This was a very special weekend on many different levels. \u00a0I am so grateful.<\/p>\n![\"IMG_9159\"](\"http:\/\/www.centerdeep2.com\/riverbendprep\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_9159-300x225.jpg\")
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