When Michael Langenberger became a World Vision foster parent two years ago, he had no idea he would meet his foster child face to face. It all started when Langenberger attended a World Vision benefit concert in Saskatoon.
"I had always been interested in the idea that a person could support an underprivileged child," says the 24-year-old who is working on his masters degree in biology at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Even though he lives off a scholarship, he made the commitment to share, $31 a month to improve the life of one child.
From the available picture folders, he chose a little girl from Senegal, Africa. He chose an African child because he has African friends at university, and a girl because he had heard girls in that country are often disadvantaged.
For two years, he faithfully supported and corresponded with his foster child, Dieynaba Samb, born April 1, 1993, near Bambey.
It seemed like a happy coincidence when he heard that a Christian club he belonged to was planning an mission trip to Senegal. An avid photography buff, Langenberger signed up to document the trip on film.
"I had no real hopes of seeing Dieynaba," he says. "Before I left, I phoned World Vision to ask if it would be possible, but they couldn't help me. 'They needed specifics that I didn't have, like exactly where in Senegal I would be and when."
It seemed a miracle, therefore, when he arrived in Senegal on May 29 to learn that one of the places one of the teams would be going was Bambey.
That was just the beginning. One evening a woman showed up their quarters unexpectedly. During the conversation, Michael mentioned his sponsor child.
The women said she knew a pastor in Bambey who might be able to help him. 'It turned out that pastor was the World Vision director for the region, and we were scheduled to stay in his home.
When we got there, he said he would try and arrange for to meet with Dieynaba. I had the impression it wouldn't be for some time, but the very next afternoon, June 9, two people from World Vision showed up to take me to her village." Langenberger took along a friend, Corey Porter, also a native of Saskatoon. The two expected a brief meeting with Dieynaba and her family.
They were not at all prepared for what awaited them. "It turned out, we were only two miles from her village of Bambey Serera," Langenberger says.
"We were first given a tour of the school and the medical clinic, then we headed into the village. I could see a big crowd of people in the distance, dancing. It turned out to be a welcome party. I learned that the whole village had turned out to see me." He shakes his head. "It was overwhelming."
The young men were taken through the crowd to the central compound that was surrounded by extended-family living areas, each one enclosed m in a fence made of sticks.
"The crowd was following," Michael says, the people were very excited, so a couple of the elders, took on the initiative of crowd control to keep all non-relatives out of the family compound." The Samb home was very basic. "A house with brick walls and a tin roof. No power. Dieynaba her mother had a bed, I think."
Seven-year-old Dieynaba was very shy and didn't say much, but posed for photos. After some picture taking, Langenberger and Porter were escorted back to the central compound where they found themselves surrounded by 600 villagers. "We sat down, they gave me a straw hat to wear and the village chief and Dieynaba's grandfather spoke."
"They told us through an interpreter how much better life in the village was since World Vision had come. They have a medical clinic, and all the children have been vaccinated. In fact, the whole village got vaccinations. They also have a well, and a school. When a child is sponsored, the money is used for more than just the child; the whole village benefits."
The villagers invited Langenberger to speak, "and then the party began with dancing and lots of banging on the drums." Michael says meeting his foster child and witnessing firsthand the work World Vision is doing was an unforgettable experience.
"I was glad to see how they try to help the people be self sufficient," he says. 'They work on health first. You can see the difference in Dieynaba's condition between the girl on the picture folder and photos I took. They build schools and provide education. They help the village people get established through interest-free loans to start businesses, and by teaching better agricultural practices, and giving seeds and tools for growing crops."
Concerning his commitment to sponsorship, he observes: "It seems to me everybody is called to help out a little bit, whether it is putting money in the collection plate at church or doing this. And we have the promise of God that if we give, we will receive a blessing in some form."
Visit the World Vision website
This story was originally published in the Saskatoon Star Pheonix, Saturday July 15, 2000. Chris Polachic is a freelance writer. Used with permission of author.
Related reading:
