Norah sat on a striped couch as she generously shared her story for another Compassion video interview. As a speaker for Compassion, Norah was used to traveling across the country and sharing her experience of being released from poverty in Jesus’ name.
On this particular day, she had traveled to Newport, Kentucky, to film an inspiring video in an old church sanctuary. What she didn’t know was that her sponsors, Jeff and Bonnie, had made the same trip.
Need to catch up? Read Part 1 and Part 2 of Norah’s inspiring story.
As we shared in Part 2 of Norah’s story, she had searched unsuccessfully for the couple who sponsored her as a child in Uganda. When she mentioned looking for her sponsors during a podcast interview, Compassion staff were inspired. They planned a surprise meeting, just as Norah feared she might never meet the incredible people who meant so much to her.
On a special day in August, while Norah shared details about her life in poverty and the sponsors that had encouraged her, Jeff and Bonnie prepared to walk up the stairs of the studio. It was finally time to meet the person they had prayed for, encouraged and treasured for so many years.
Meeting at Last
As the film crew carefully prepared, the interviewer asked Norah more specific questions about her sponsors. Finally, she asked, “If you could meet your sponsors today, what would you want to tell them?”
Norah’s eyes brightened. She leaned forward, excited to share her message.
“I would like to say thank you — thank you so much — to my sponsors, Jeff and Bonnie. I hope to see you one day, I love you so much, wherever you are...”
Bonnie interrupted with a quiet, “How about today?” Her words seemed to shake the windows of the church sanctuary.
Norah turned, astonished, and saw her sponsors for the first time. Totally overwhelmed, she stood and retreated to a corner of the room, covering her face with her hands to hide the tears of surprise, relief and joy.
Jeff and Bonnie followed, enfolding Norah in their arms and thanking Jesus for the incredible moment.
Hearing the Whole Story
After hugging, crying and getting on their knees to thank God for what he had done, Jeff, Bonnie and Norah returned to the interview couch where they had gifts and stories to exchange.
Jeff and Bonnie knew some of how their sponsorship shaped Norah, but the letters they exchanged revealed little about how the Compassion center had transformed her entire family.
Before Norah was registered in the program at the local church, her mother struggled to support the family on her meager income as a hairdresser. But as Jeff and Bonnie listened in humble amazement, Norah shared how the Compassion center taught both her and her mother how to make jewelry.
Eventually, her mother became very skilled and started selling jewelry as her main business. The training she received from the center equipped her to care for her children and send them to school.
Norah also shared that her whole family came to know the love of Christ through the center. As Norah shared photos of her husband and children, and talked about her career in social work, Jeff and Bonnie marveled at how much God had done in her life.
Gifts of Gratitude
After opening Jeff and Bonnie’s eyes to the full impact of their sponsorship, Norah had a gift for them.
Many years ago, when she was about to graduate from the program, she made Bonnie a beautiful necklace, hoping she could one day give it to her as a thank you. And when Norah moved to the U.S., her mother also made a necklace that she wanted Bonnie to have if Norah ever found her.
Norah had been asked to show these necklaces during the interview, so she had them both with her. Pulling out the beautiful pieces of jewelry, she explained what they meant to her and finally, after so many years, placed them around Bonnie’s neck.
Bonnie also had a gift to give: A silver bracelet beautifully engraved with the verse she and Norah shared in their letters, Jeremiah 29:11.
Grateful to Be a Part of God’s Story
Throughout the beautiful meeting, Jeff and Bonnie kept returning in wonder to just how much their small act of sponsorship had done. But it wasn’t just them — so many people came together, from volunteers to local church staff, each doing their job to bring about this beautiful story in Norah’s life.
“It’s not just us — it’s a whole team. It’s a whole army of people that God mobilizes to effect change in the life of a child. This picture of what we’re doing is very little, but there’s so much going on in the background.” — Bonnie
Understanding the full picture, Jeff and Bonnie were filled with immense gratitude toward God, who gifted them the opportunity to be a part of Norah’s life.
Jeff, Bonnie and Norah share a story that proves that God doesn’t just promise hope and a future — he fulfills that promise.
