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Ten Questions Kids Have about Africa

Are your kids curious about Africa? Every time we have a meal packaging event at a school, the kids have tons of great questions about the way children in Africa live. Here are ten questions the third- and fourth-grade students at Montverde Academy in Florida asked our Orlando staff member, Laura Cook, during a recent meal packaging event. Maybe they’re the same questions your kids are asking.

by Heather Ostalkiewicz, COTN–USA Staff Writer

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Why Do You Give?

Confession: I am a guilty giver.

For most of my life—especially after I visited Uganda for the first time—my financial gifts were motivated by an overwhelming sense of guilt. Guilt over how much I had, compared to how little the children there had. Guilt over the luxuries I enjoyed just by virtue of living in the United States, compared to the struggle that was daily life for an orphaned child in Uganda. 

by Cassia Burke, COTN–USA Staff Writer

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God Looks at the Heart

As a child in elementary school I don’t recall ever being chosen first for the daily kickball games that took place on the playground. My less-than-amazing running and kicking skills led to my demise, so it made sense why I was usually chosen last. I guess I just kept holding out hope that someday maybe someone would do the unimaginable and choose me first. 

by Jeff Lander, COTN-International Spiritual Care Director

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The iPad Versus the Mud Hut

The following is an excerpt from a blog Fraser kept while leading a "Visit Your Sponsored Child" Venture Team to Uganda last summer. Click here to read his earlier post from Malawi.

by Fraser Ratzlaff, COTN-USA Seattle Area Community Representative

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Excess is Not the Enemy

The following is an excerpt from a blog Fraser kept while leading a Venture Team to Malawi and Uganda last summer.

After arriving in Malawi and getting things up and running with the team, about day three, I started asking God, “OK God, what do you have for me on this trip?” The answer came on Friday night, August 10. It was after the team had all gone to bed. I found myself unable to put down our 96-page debriefing book, Unearth. Near the end of the book there is a paragraph entitled "Excess is not the enemy."

by Fraser Ratzlaff, COTN-USA Seattle Area Community Representative

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