Join our campaign to change a life this Christmas

My family and I first started writing to Brandon in 2015. He was just seven years old and lived on the edge of Lake Victoria, in Kisumu, Kenya’s third-largest city. In his first letter, he told us that December was his favourite month and that he loved to sing. ‘Joy, joy, joy in my heart is ringing’ was his top pick. Ten years later, Brandon’s letters still bring joy to our hearts, too.  

When our family learned about how Compassion lifts children out of poverty through practical support, education and loving care – and all in Jesus’ name – we knew we had to get involved. But we never could have imagined how much richness exchanging letters with Brandon would bring to our own family life.

When they arrive, we all gather round to read his latest update, which never ceases to make us smile. In many ways, he’s grown up alongside our own children. Born shortly after our youngest, Sarah, his journey through childhood and into the teens has marched alongside hers. When he writes to tell us how he did in end-of-year exams or to report on a choir competition, it is half the world away, but strangely similar to what’s going on in our own household.

Over the years, as the drawings taped to our kitchen cupboards have graduated from primary school scrawls to more sophisticated imaginings, Brandson’s, too, have changed. He draws us a map of Africa, alongside a man smoking a huge spliff and the caption: “Don’t do drugs”. My two daughters laugh – it’s just what they’re learning in school, too.

He tells me that he would like to be a journalist. That he is the children’s pastor at his Compassion project and gets to “preach the word regularly”. That he is working hard in school to maintain his grades and has ambitions to go to university to study music and film production.

The girls write to him too: over the years confessing their own struggles at school with friends, to which he responds with joy when our eldest, Kate, updates him that things are better now. “I am so happy!” he exclaims. When she says that she hopes to visit him one day, he responds: “I will be waiting for you at the gate.” 

His letters are written with an impressive mastery of formal English. Sometimes the seriousness of his young hand makes me laugh out loud – but it also reminds me that his is a serious life. To be part of a Compassion project means that he has endured hardships I cannot imagine. 

This Christmas, if you’re struggling to think of a present for the family member who has everything, or you’re just finding it hard to reconcile the amount of money spent on food, drink and presents in this season, why not join our new campaign to sponsor a child with Compassion? 

We’ve set ourselves the goal of ensuring at least 50 children are supported in the coming months.

To join in, just visit compassionuk.org/premier. If you believe in sowing into the next generation, I couldn’t recommend a better way to do it.