As the mission team from SOS Radio Las Vegas readjusts to life after their trip to Sri Lanka, we thought we’d share the story of a Sri Lankan child whose life was changed because of sponsorship and the support she had to pursue an education.

Like many of the countries in which Mission of Mercy works, Sri Lanka is a land of great beauty and terrible trials. Overwhelmed by natural disasters like the 2004 tsunami as well as an ethnically and politically driven civil war, many areas of Sri Lanka have struggled to recover since the decades-long war ended just two years ago.

An example of the challenges many Sri Lankans faced during this time can be found in Praveena and her family.

As ethnic Tamils, Praveena's family faced discrimination on top of the instability created by the protracted civil war. In an attempt to better provide for his family, Praveena's father decided to move the family further south to find work on one of the many tea plantations or gem mines in south central Sri Lanka. 

And yet as is all too common for many of our children, the roughly $2 a day that her father’s labor produced was not enough to support the family. In hopes of finding a more significant and stable source of income, Preveena’s mother sought work in another country.

Young Praveena was then tasked with caring for her younger siblings, cooking meals, washing dishes, collecting firewood, and tending the garden outside their small home.  

Despite this outsized load of responsibility for her age, Praveena had hope. At age seven, she was invited to enroll in a Mission of Mercy-sponsored school. She quickly took to her classes and began sharing what she learned with her siblings. Soon her younger sister and brother were enrolled as well.

As she learned more about God’s love for her, Praveena grew in joy and confidence. Although she has a Hindu background, Praveena faithfully attends church and sings in the choir. She often tells the story of David and Goliath to her siblings, but her favorite is the Good Samaritan. 

Her growing heart for God has transformed her life, but the change doesn't end there. Thanks in part to the support she received at her school and church, Praveena has gone on to succeed on several levels. She excels in her classes and in debate and essay writing.

Others have noticed Praveena's abilities, as well. She recently won awards from the Ministry of Education, a high honor for a child who less than ten years ago seemed bound by her circumstances and without hope for education. Now she dreams of being a doctor and praises God for providing everything she needs in life.

From our side of the world, recognizing the fruit of sponsorship requires patience and faithfulness. But for children like Praveena, the benefits are immediate and life-changing.

We often think of sponsorship in these terms: support, educational opportunities, encouragement. In the next few days, we'll share other ways that sponsorship helps children flourish. You might be surprised by what you'll see -- and you'll certainly smile, so come back tomorrow to learn more!