Jeremy Camp shares more about Compassion International.

From Suzie: I receive a lot of questions about waiting to have sex. I received an e-mail from a girl named Caitlin who is 14 this week asking a similar question. I’m in South Bend, Indiana today interviewing on a cool TV show called Harvest, so I’m sharing this post from last year to answer Caitlin’s questions.

~Real Question~

I know sex is wrong, but I can’t stand it everytime when my friends tell me how good and fun when they have sex with their bf and say it is very common that people have sex b4 marriage. They tell me that sex is not wrong when you do it with your loved one even b4 you are married. Is it true? J.T.

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What Can One Teen Do?

Erica Savage and her mom just returned home from a trip to El Salvador where she got to meet a very special little girl, 3-year-old Yessennia. This is the child that Erica sponsored through Compassion International, a ministry that feeds and educates children all over the world through small monthly donations from sponsors. She and 35 others traveled on a Compassion Intl. trip.

Erica is 17 and works at a part-time job and several weeks ago she decided that she would sacrifice some things to sponsor a child for $32 a month.

Check out the pics of Erica meeting Yessennia, and of her reading a children’s book in Spanish.

Erica arrived home yesterday. According to a blog about the trip, it was amazing how different the care was for a Compassion International sponsored child versus many of the other children in the community.

From Suzie: I’ve been to San Salvador, El Salvador. I love traveling on missions trips, but this was one of the hardest because I saw many children in the streets begging, or worse. . .

I’ve been a guest in the homes and seen the poverty and hunger. Thank you, Erica, for making a difference in the life of one little girl. You are awesome. What can one teen do? Change the life of a little girl.

Your Opportunity: If you are interested in sponsoring a child, click here to find out more about Compassion International.

Every other week RTF will highlight a teen who is changing the world. Do you know of someone? Do you have a great idea on what teens can do in their community, school, world? E-mail us!

Summer Haze

by Maddee Schrader, RTF Staff Writer

Seniors: pay attention. Most of you have a month until that glorious day when you’ll fling off graduation caps. By now you’ve probably made plans about college. As summer sets in, invading your mind with thoughts of sand and sun, it tends to overwhelm those university-related musings. After all, it’s the last summer. Next year you’ll be worrying about dorm rooms and fall schedules.

That’s okay – enjoy summer. Take a trip with your family. Relax. Remember to slather on that 30+ SPF sunscreen. But don’t forget that your life is changing in a few months. You might consider setting aside a day each month to check on college-related stuff. There are a few issues you should check on. (more…)

A Very Good Idea

by Catey Yuen, RTF Staff Writer 

It all started with a very good idea. Isn’t that always how it starts? At the beginning of the school year, I told God, “I’m really excited about school this year. I want to learn everything you have to teach me.”

He took me seriously. (more…)

This is for you, Mr. Yost

by Willie Collins, RTF Guest Writer 

I came to school
Ready to work
When I got there I saw
Not a smile or a smirk
Everyone was sad
Some people were crying
Then I heard them speak
Of somebody dying (more…)

Skydiving

by: Debra Weiss, RTF Staff Writer

Senior year has ended for me. I have no plans for life after high school. Right now, life feels a lot like skydiving without a parachute. After twelve years of structure, I’m officially an adult. I’m allowed to make my own decisions and (gulp) my own mistakes. It’s exhilarating and terrifying. (more…)

A friend, Darrin Ballard, has started The Timothy Project. It’s a blog for anyone who want to learn how to stay away from porn or how to make a different choice when tempted. It’s also for youth workers, or parents who want more information on how to prevent, or talk about, this issue with their teens. It’s definitely for teens who say that porn is a full-fledged problem in your life and you don’t know where to turn. (more…)