Where Am I Giving: A Global Adventure Exploring How to Use Your Gifts and Talents to Make a Difference

23Sponsor a Child, Save the World? (Zambia, 2017): The realities of child sponsorship / Stories versus stats / Psychic numbing / Aid and dependency

ROBERTA SPONSORED TIMOTHY EVEN WHEN times were tough.

Over the past 10 years there have been plenty of challenging times for Roberta, who is a friend of a friend and lives in my hometown. She got divorced, and, as a single mother money was tight. Her son left home to join the military. There have been moves, broken relationships, job changes, financial difficulties, and starting over in a new town.

But through all of life's inconsistencies, there was one constant: every month over the past 10 years Roberta sent $35 to World Vision to sponsor Timothy in Mbala, Zambia.

“This is my tithe,” Roberta said, putting her hands on the framed picture of Timothy that typically sits on her desk. “My connection to God.”

We sat in the corner waiting area of the computer repair office where she worked.

Roberta sponsored Timothy for her son Evan, who was 10 at the time. She thought the letters back and forth with Timothy would teach Evan gratitude and expand his world a bit beyond our small town in Indiana. But long after Evan lost interest and the learning opportunity was exhausted, she continued to send Timothy money. She did it for Timothy. She did it for herself.

Giving Rules: You can't teach gratitude. You can only demonstrate it.

Roberta doesn't do many things for herself. She volunteers at a summer camp for adults with developmental disabilities. ...