The Price of Education

Sandra Day O’Connor once said, “We pay a price when we deprive children of the exposure to the values, principles, and education they need to make good citizens.” Over the years, we have equated international development with child sponsorship, sending money through our church donations or supporting missionaries overseas. They served as noble causes to meet the needs presented on our television screens and missionary days on the church calendar. Today international development has evolved. Missions have evolved because missions are no longer defined by what we send but by what we do. While visiting Zambia, we saw that the mandate was greater than saving “the” children. We realized that “our” children have the creativity, ingenuity, and resilience to change their future and communities. Our investment is priceless, and we have a greater obligation because we are investing in our own. Our Young Ambassador Alexis met a young student who dreams of becoming a surgeon one day. At ODG, we are not only committed to seeing his dreams become a reality but helping him to become the change that affects his entire village. Proverbs 3:27 tells us to not “ withhold good from someone who deserves it when it is in your power to do so.” It is in our power to pay the price of his education and the children we serve. When we do, we have the opportunity to transform a life and change the world.