A Sponsor Lives Out the “Greatest Moment of Her Life”

Taylor still remembers the remarkable moment that God called her to bring hope to a child living in poverty. In 2021, she attended James River Church in Springfield, Missouri, and learned how OneChild’s sponsorship program transforms lives. She also heard Child Champions describe how inspiring it was to meet their sponsored children face to face.

That’s when it clicked.

Before the church service, God had given Taylor a strong passion for helping kids in Kenya. She realized what God was asking her to do — sponsor a child in Kenya and travel to the country to meet her child.

Taylor faithfully answered God’s call and said, “Yes” to giving a child a new beginning.

Despite being surrounded by poverty, kids in Kawangware are discovering hope.

As soon as Taylor visited OneChild’s website, she noticed Rachael, an adorable 9-year-old girl with a cheerful smile. From the moment she clicked the “sponsor” button, Taylor started dreaming about traveling to Kawangware, a suburb of Nairobi, to meet Rachael and her family.

While Taylor was planning the trip, she also felt God prompting her to sponsor one more child. She discovered that Rachael had two sisters: Teresa, who had graduated from the program, and Tabby, 4, who needed a sponsor.

“I was excited to sponsor Tabby too,” says Taylor. “I thought it would be special to sponsor sisters and meet their family!”

In August 2023, Taylor’s dream came true. She had the opportunity to travel to Kenya with her mom and visit her sponsored children.

A Life-changing Moment: Meeting Rachael and Tabby

After a long trip, the day Taylor had been waiting for finally arrived.

“The girls were so excited when we arrived that they ran down the alley to meet us,” says Taylor. “They gave me the biggest hugs!”

“Sponsoring them has blessed me in so many ways that I never expected,” she says. “Seeing the smiles on their faces was amazing. It was the greatest joy that I’ve experienced in life so far.”

“I had written them so many letters, and being able to hug them took my sponsorship to a whole new level,” says Taylor. “I hope my visit reaffirms that I do really care about them. I traveled across the world to see them because they mean so much to me!”

Their entire family was overjoyed to meet Taylor, who is helping bring hope to their entire household. “Their mom was ecstatic,” says Taylor. “Their dad even took the day off from work to meet me. It was such an exciting day for all of us.”

Taylor was also inspired to find out that Rachael has kept every letter that Taylor has written. She treasures her sponsor’s words of encouragement.

Write your sponsored child a letter today!

Children love receiving encouraging messages from their sponsors.

It also meant the world to Taylor to discover that their family has faithfully prayed for her, especially while she was in college. Each night, they asked God to help Taylor excel in school and succeed in life. “It felt amazing to know that they include me in their prayers,” she says.

When Taylor took a walk with Rachael and Tabby, she was pleasantly surprised that they were both eager to hold her hands.

“That gesture was so special to me,” says Taylor. “As the girls held my hands, it showed that they trusted me and that we had built a real relationship. They were super open.”

“I’ll never forget the love that Rachael and Tabby showed me that day,” she says. “It was the greatest moment of my life.”

Interested in meeting your sponsored child? Learn more!

Unwrapping Joy: Stuffed Animals, Bubbles, and Lollipops

During the visit, Taylor also presented Rachael and Tabby with special gifts.

From the moment they saw the stuffed animals — just like kids all over the world — they were delighted and couldn’t stop smiling.

“They wouldn’t put them down!” says Taylor. “It was fun to see how much they loved the stuffed animals.”

Taylor also gave them bubble wands, games, lollipops, pens, and notebooks. The girls were especially excited about the notebooks, which will help them in school.

See Rachael and Tabby’s smiles as they open their gifts in this heartwarming video!

Since the family lives in extreme poverty, they can’t usually afford to purchase gifts. This made the presents extra meaningful.

 In return, Rachael crocheted a beautiful bag for Taylor, which she cherishes.

Experiencing the Realities of Extreme Poverty

Although meeting the girls filled Taylor with joy, seeing the impoverished conditions that they lived in was an eye-opening experience.

Most families in Nairobi barely make enough to survive — that’s why sponsorship is critical.

“You see poverty on television, but you don’t realize how difficult it is until you see it first-hand,” says Taylor.

The family’s home, which has no running water or electricity, only has three rooms — a living area, a kitchen, and one bedroom.

“I saw the water buckets outside of their home that they use to fetch water,” says Taylor. “And I noticed their toothbrushes hanging by the door since they have to go somewhere else to brush their teeth and use the bathroom.”

“When you think about what we have in the United States, it really puts things in perspective,” she says.

Bringing True Hope to Hard Places

Although it was overwhelming to see severe poverty first-hand, Taylor knows that the OneChild program — and her sponsorship — are giving kids tremendous hope.

Because Rachael and Tabby are enrolled in OneChild’s sponsorship program and attend the World Academy Hope Center in Kawangware, they receive life-changing care like nutritious food, mentoring, medical support, and the opportunity to receive an outstanding education.

“I was able to visit their Hope Center and see the classrooms where the children learn, the area where they eat breakfast and lunch, and the gym where they play. And I know that they are learning about Jesus and how much He loves them,” Taylor says.

Take a tour of Rachael and Tabby’s Hope Center!

The church that is connected to the Hope Center also installed a much-needed water well. “I found out that the well, which is used by the entire community, is helping the church staff engage with families and share the hope of Jesus,” says Taylor.

“When it was time for me to go back home, it was so hard to leave the girls, but I know that they have many people who love them and are working hard to give them life-changing opportunities,” Taylor says. “OneChild is making such a difference in the community.”

Hopes, Dreams and Prayers for the Future

Taylor is excited to see God’s plans unfold for Rachael and Tabby in the years to come. “Those girls are so smart!” she says. “Rachael is also very mature for her age and well-spoken.”

Rachael and Tabby both expressed that they would like to be teachers when they grow up.

“I pray that they will have opportunities to thrive and pursue their dreams,” says Taylor. “And I pray that they will continue to grow in who God has created them to be.”

Taylor also asks God to keep Rachael and Tabby healthy and safe.

“When I was in Kenya, I saw a list of the reasons that kids in the area drop out of school, and the number one reason was that children have died,” says Taylor.

“That was very eye-opening for me because that wouldn’t be a top reason here in the United States,” she says. “So that’s one of my main prayers — that the girls stay healthy.”

“I’m confident that if they ever got sick, they would be taken care of through the program,” Taylor says. “I was happy to see that they looked healthy and nourished.”

Please pray for kids in hard places. Be inspired by this video! 

Finding Her Purpose in Life: Championing Children in Poverty

After graduating in 2023 from Evangel University in Springfield, Taylor is now thriving as an accountant.

But it’s through sponsorship — and her trip to Kenya — that she has discovered her God-given purpose in life.

“Sponsoring Rachael and Tabby has impacted me in so many ways and has given me such a passion,” says Taylor. “At first, you may think sponsorship is just sending money each month. But it’s so much more. It will change your life too. The relationship that I’ve built with their family has blessed me in ways that I never could have imagined.”

Taylor is so eager to make an impact that she’s already planning her next trip. In the near future, she’ll travel back to Kenya — this time with her dad — and help teach kids for two days at the school that Rachael and Tabby attend.

The Remarkable Impact of Child Sponsorship

“A lot of sponsors may not get the chance to meet their child this side of eternity,” says Taylor. “But please know that you are bringing your child hope for the future!”

She encourages anyone who hasn’t sponsored a child yet to find a girl or boy who needs you today.

Taylor also invites current sponsors to bring hope to one more child.

When you sponsor, you help a child believe that a better future is possible.

“There are so many kids who still need sponsors,” says Taylor. “If telling my story helps one person sponsor another child, I’ll be overjoyed because it will mean that one more child’s life is changed!”

“I firmly believe in OneChild and the amazing work that the ministry is doing,” says Taylor. “I’ve seen the program first-hand and it’s really helping kids thrive. The cost could be one dinner out a month. It’s something so small that makes such a huge difference.”

Raising Up the Next Generation of World Changers

Taylor’s compassion, humility, and determination are incredibly inspiring. At 23, Taylor chooses to spend her time and resources speaking up for those who can’t speak for themselves.

She’s witnessed the impact that child sponsorship makes — and she’s committed to seeing more kids across the globe overcome poverty and flourish.

Extraordinary young women like Taylor give us hope that the next generation will transform lives, share God’s love, and change the world.

If Taylor’s passion for helping kids in hard places encourages you, please pray about following her example and sponsor a precious boy or girl.

Because the child you sponsor today may turn out to be the next Taylor!

You can help kids like Rachael and Tabby reach their God-given potential. Give a child a new beginning!