By Natalie Barentson & Melissa Bolton
One of our favorite things to hear is how God brought specific people to Remember the Children. Why are they involved? What ignites the passion in their hearts?
We were excited to hear from Melissa Bolton, a long-time supporter of RtC who has gone on mission trips with us. She’ll share why she is involved in this ministry. We hope it’s an encouragement to you!
Why do you support Remember the Children?
The reason I choose to financially support RtC is Integrity. I support RtC because of the consistent integrity shown in the execution of its mission and vision. I support RtC because of the consistent integrity shown in the management of financial donations. In the years that I have partnered with RtC, I have never once questioned what is being done with the financial support I am contributing. I know with confidence that if I specify that the funds I donate should go to a specific project they will go to be used for that project or if I contribute to the general fund, those funds are being used to forward the mission and vision of RtC. I also support RtC because it is an organization that never walks away when there is a need. The first response is never “that’s not our responsibility”, it’s always, “what can we do to make an impact?”. I’ve seen RtC consistently rise to the challenge and make a difference even when its outside the original scope of plans.
Why have you gone on multiple trips to Romania? What did they mean to you?
I’ll be honest, that first trip I went on, I only went because a friend of mine kept bugging me about going. At the time, I had three elementary aged children at home. I had a long list of reasons why it wasn’t a good time. I’m so thankful that the long list of reasons to not go didn’t keep me from going! So much so, that I’ve been back three more times. It was amazing to see for myself the impact that RtC is having in Romania. This is not an organization that takes people on missions trips for a week here and there and then leaves and does nothing until the next trip. Even when there is not a team from the United States present in Romania, RtC’s Romania partners are there day in and day out. Impact is made daily, not just on the 7-10 days I’m there on a missions trip. I know when I go, I’m not only there to minister to the people, I’m there to support those ministering each and every day. It has been a few years since I’ve been able to take another trip to Romania due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions, but I’m waiting with great anticipation for the time that I will be able to participate in another trip to Romania with RtC.
Why is child sponsorship important to you?
Child sponsorship provides me a way to connect to RtC’s mission on a deeper level. It allows me to continue a specific mission in Romania even when I’m not there. My family sponsors 5 different children in Romania. It’s roughly $1.17 per child per day. Approximately $5.85 a day in total. It’s the cost of a bougie beverage from Starbucks. The cost of a bagel and coffee from the local coffee shop. It’s less than the cost of a meal at Chick Fil A. I’ve seen the bare feet of toddlers in the middle of December. I’ve seen the tattered clothing, the lack of food, the need for medical attention. I’ve held children shivering without a jacket while it is snowing outside. Surely, I can go with one less of those things in order to facilitate life-changing impact in the life of a child.
I have had the amazing and awesome privilege of meeting each child we sponsor. A few of them I have been able to interact with multiple times, sometimes multiple years in a row on the trips I’ve taken. I know that my sponsorship is providing food, shoes, school supplies, medicine, and more. I will continue to sponsor as many children as I can because I’ve seen the impact my sponsorship is making. If every child in a community is sponsored by someone, imagine the all-encompassing change that would occur within that community!