Together At Last

Julian Alum grew up in a slum in Uganda. She dropped out of school to sell sweet potatoes in the market with her mother, but the family ate scraps retrieved from a trash bin. In their two-room shack, furniture included only two chairs -- one which was jammed against the door of their two-room shack to keep out drunken men from the brewery next door; the other served as the bed of the night's lucky family member.

A different Julian Alum visited Bentonville last week. She had grown into a beautiful young woman, with long braids and stylish clothes. She is a college graduate, currently pursuing a master's degree in social work at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

What made the difference?

Jo and Norm Jones of Rogers. They sponsored Julian through Compassion International, sending the organization $40 a month to feed and clothe Julian and send her to school. Julian received their support from age 10 to 18.

Last week, when Alum, now 29, came to Northwest Arkansas, the members of this extended family finally met.

"After the death of my father, life turned around for us," Alum said. "My mother was a housewife with five children."

Alum further explained that her father had three wives, but her mother -- married to him at 14 -- was from a different tribe, so she garnered no respect. Her father's other families came to their home in the slum and took everything they had but the chairs.

But her mother heard about Compassion from a friend, and Alum and two sisters were invited to become a part.

With the Jones' support, Alum was able to enjoy daily meals and to finish her education at a special school run by Compassion. She also enjoyed full medical coverage for herself and other members of her family.

"And I received Christ as my personal Lord and Savior," Alum said. "Through Compassion, I realized God's love for us -- a child in a program miles away saw how (the sponsors) loved and cared for us. It was a great example of how God loves and cares for us."

"Norm heard about (Compassion) through Focus on the Family," Jo Jones related. They lived in Oregon at the time, with two daughters.

"We wanted to expose them to more," Jo said. "We asked (to sponsor) two girls the age of our girls."

"And God chose them," Norm said.

Priceless to the Joneses are the letters Alum sent them, telling them of her progress. The family kept the letters and shared them with Alum on her visit.

"It's amazing she wrote them herself in English. Look, it's in her own hand," he said, sharing the letters.

For Alum's birthday and Christmas, the Jones sent money to pay for gifts Alum requested.

"In Uganda, we don't celebrate birthdays," Alum said. "We were told that's for the wealthy, and we don't have the time or money to waste.

"But the Joneses thought I was worth it," Alum continued. "They told me (on a birthday card that) they loved me. That was the first time anybody had ever said that to me."

"She would always tell us or send a picture of the gifts -- she always picked things like a dress and shoes," Jo said. "We are not wealthy, but we were able to have what we wanted. When we heard what she chose, it was sobering that these things were important to her."

Both of the Joneses' daughters, Elizabeth and Christine, studied abroad and have served in mission fields. Elizabeth remains in Africa.

"I really believe they connected with Julian," Jo said of their choices.

When Alum finished high school, the Joneses no longer were able to sponsor her, but another sponsor helped her get through college in Uganda. But when the Joneses' support ended, so did that extended family relationship -- at the request of Compassion.

Ten years later, "out of the blue, some Compassion people called and asked if we wanted to meet," Jo said. "It was sad after we got a letter for the last time. But I was endeavored to track her down. I told everyone I thought could help."

In September, Alum was asked to "walk with Compassion" and become a part of a tour. "God planned it all out," she said. "I got to meet my sponsors."

First, Alum and the Joneses connected on Facebook. Then Alum flew in several days before her local schedule with Compassion, and she stayed with the Joneses. Jo confessed she shed some tears when they picked her up at the airport. And it seemed as if no time had past.

"It's like we gave her up for adoption," Norm said. "She's our daughter."

"We lost her, but now we got together again," Jo said.

"When they say I am beautiful, I know they see what God sees," Alum said.

"God is good. All the time," Norm concluded.