Neil Patel, a regular donor, shares how his life changed when he met his sponsored child.
One day, I went to visit El Shaddai in Goa with my mother, Tara Patel. She told me that she liked to visit, and to be with Matthew and the children in the afternoons. As soon as I arrived, a very small girl began to play with me, and took an interest in my camera! She then followed me to the garden, and then everywhere I went! Her soul spoke to me, and it asked me to look after her. So I asked Pastor Matthew who she was – and what her story was. I was so taken by her story and her soul. I decided then and there that I would look after her for the rest of my life.
After becoming her sponsor, I went back several times to take more interest in the whole El Shaddai project. I run a yoga school in London and have hundreds of students and trainees. So I regularly talked about how wonderful the project was, and showed them, in detail, about me and my sponsored child, to inspire them to do the same. Many people came forward to sponsor children after that. And we also managed to raise sums of money for school, house and garden requirements. We made a playground, bought digital screens for the school, acquired school books, uniforms, tables and many more things.
Then, during Covid, I saw the valuable work El Shaddai was doing to feed those who were hungry. So, I used my social media platform to set up regular donors to go and feed with El Shaddai. Many people came through, donating thousands to this great project. Over the years, I have grown to see the El Shaddi community as family and friends. Their work is invaluable. The plight of the children they save is incompatible with anything many of us endure in the west. These children are the heroes, just for making it through another day.
My pledge to all people is the same: sponsor a child. It does not cost a lot. Please get involved. I know how much my sponsored child has benefited from my commitment, loyalty, reliability and love for her – as well as the strong financial support she has. It has built her heart and self-confidence. Imagine if you could do that for a child too. There is no greater thing you will do in your life. I could write for hours about the children and El Shaddai and I will continue to spread the word, and introduce people to El Shaddai. And so must we all….