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Jayshri Chavan-Valu
I went to Catholic schools and at a certain time each year we were given a paper coin box to take home to collect change for children in third world countries. I always felt so good turning my money in because I hoped that maybe somewhere there was a 10 year old girl like me finally getting that doll she didn’t even know she wanted all her life. What I don’t think I fully grasped was that the little bits of change that I gathered would be used to feed and water that same little girl, not to buy her toys.
Years later, after having a child of my own, I was reminded of that paper coin box and those nickels and dimes I dropped in. The faces of the children on that box, children whose eyes seemed as empty as their stomachs, haunted me. I would look at my son and wonder how in the world a mother kept her heart from shredding each time she heard her child say, “Mommy, I’m hungry” knowing that she had no way of feeding her. I would look around my house and see all that I had and know that none of it mattered if I didn’t share what I could.
So as part of a homeschool project when Jacob was around 5 years old, I sat down with him and talked about those children. I told him that he should never feel guilty for what he had, as long as he shared some of his blessings with those less fortunate. That day we went online to World Vision and I asked Jacob to pick a child to sponsor. I thought it would be a good idea to pick one who shared his birthday so that there was an immediate connection.
As we scrolled through the many faces of the children, I wondered how in the world I could pick one over another. They were all in need of so much. Jacob decided he wanted to sponsor a girl, so that narrowed our choices down.
We settled on a little girl in India who was Jacob’s age and shared his birthday. Jayshri Chavan-Valu. And she was so beautiful. I began to imagine all the ways we could help her by sponsoring her. We still sponsor Jayshri and we get updates on her every couple of months.
In addition to our monthly sponsorship we are able to send her letters and gifts. Unfortunately, there are regulations and we can only send things that fit in a small envelope. I’ve gotten very creative over the years and perfected the art of folding clothing very small. We’ve sent toys, candy, jewelry and arts and crafts. I try to picture Jayshri as she opens up her treasures and shares them with her brothers and sisters.
We got an update on Jayshri recently – a picture and a card that detailed a day in her life. She sleeps on a mat on the floor and eats rice for breakfast. She goes to school from 10am – 5pm and her favorite game is hide and seek. She is a child like every other child in the world.
I hope to meet her one day. She wants to be a teacher. Maybe she will come to America. But even if I never get to meet her face to face I will always consider her my faraway daughter.
