04.14.08 Walter
Walter waited until the crowd around the Compassion table thinned before talking to me. He looked like a high school basketball coach from back home. A little thick in the middle, more than a little thin on top, face deeply creased by almost seventy years of living, a blue wind breaker on over a button up shirt and elastic waist dress pants. His voice was low and gravelly, his fingers and teeth nicotine stained.
He stuck out his stiff puffy hand and I shook it and asked his name. “Walter*,” he said.
“I’m Shaun.”
We stood there in awkward man-silence for too many seconds before I saw the Compassion packet hanging out of his bible and asked him where his sponsored child was from.
“Peru, he said. And then a moment more of silence while Walter removed the papers from the packet and held them at arms length to read more about the boy. “God hasn’t blessed me with...kids of...my own,” he said, his voice cracking before every pause. “But now-”
Then Walter cleared his throat and quickly forced himself back to composed. He slapped me hard a couple times on the back and announced, “Have a good ‘un,” as if he were wishing me “Good game.” And headed home with his boy.
Walter was just one of 70 generous Georgians who sponsored kids Sunday. Thanks to Ben for booking this weekend, Bush for working the Compassion table, driving (a lot) and being such good company. And thanks to the folks at FBC Barnesville and Liberty Hills United Methodist for giving me so much of your time and for releasing so many kids from poverty.
Good game.
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*Names are often changed on this blog to protect the transparent.
Kyle said:
I can’t wait to hear your heart and worship with you this coming Sunday at The Bridge in Anderson.
Thank you for your passion.
http://www.vagabondrunn.wordpress.com
Linda Sue said:
God Bless Walter - and you Shaun for letting us see once again - the heart is a hunter. He was hunting for someone to love and the Lord used you and Compassion to open the gates. I’m verklempt!
said:
Kyle, do you have more details about The Bridge in Anderson? It’s not on the tour section and I’d like to be there. Thank you.
said:
Shaun,
Remember that song you wrote awhile back She Don’t Know it Yet?
What ever became of that?
Josh
Shaun Groves said:
Doh! It’s not on the tour page? I gotta fix that this afternoon. It was added only last week to the schedule. Sorry, guys.
Here are the details:
WHEN: 7PM
WHERE:
The Bridge Community Church
at Highland High School
2108 E 200 N
Anderson, IN 46012
http://www.thebridgecc.org
nancy said:
WOW! Thanks for sharing the story.
said:
Thanks Shaun! Good news...you shouldn’t need a coat, it’s supposed to be in the sixties for the weekend.
Thomas said:
Cristy, you have to remember that Shaun lives south of the Mason Dixon line. Sixty degree weather for those living south of the Mason Dixon line is like twenty degree weather for us living north of the Mason Dixon line. Shaun better bring a jacket.
Thomas
Cali Amy said:
In other news, it was 97 degrees here yesterday.
Great story, I don’t have kids and often think I can help more Compassion kids right now because of it. Of course, one day I might have kids…
Russell C said:
Does sponsoring a kid really “release kids from poverty?”
What do you mean by that?
Becky said:
Shaun,
You asked on my blog how I heard about Compassion… it was directly through the big Compassion bloggers trip in February.
becky