Bright is his name; Bright is his mission. Knowing that he loves to draw, the Wa, Ghana site staff asked him to draw what his Chalice sponsorship means to him, Bright drew this festive Christmas spruce bedecked with tinsel and balls, surrounded by wrapped gifts.
“This art depicts how sponsorship blessed my life,” 14-year-old Bright says. “For me, being helped by a sponsor feels a little like being born at Christmas, just like Jesus. Because of sponsorship, I have moved from my dark life to start a new brighter life.”
He explains that the tree stands for sponsorship, and the decorations are all the children. The star on top “reminds me of the hope and dreams my sponsor helps me reach for. They represent the amazing opportunities I now have because I can go to school and learn.”
The gift boxes are “all the good things my sponsorship provides and — not just school supplies, but also food, clothes, and medicine when I need them. They represent the security and stability I have now, which helps me to focus on my studies and future. The entire tree represents a hope I can hang on to and thrive.”
Over in the Bulacan site, just outside of Manila, Mark Julian was also meditating on the light in his life. He chose to draw a “Belen” scene of the nativity.
“In the background, there is a merry family that’s all together an exemplifies the unity and love of the season,” says Mark Julian. “The warmth and peace felt in the Christmas season are shown by the scene as it defines togetherness, faith, and hope. It reminds us of the real sense of Christmas – the celebration of Christ’s birthday and the graces it brings forth to all people.”
The Grade 12 student hopes that his artwork “encourages us to reflect on what is important – family and community, during these sacred times.”
Order your pack of 10 Christmas Cards illustrated by sponsored children by November 14 to receive them in time for Advent.