I mentioned before how, through Worldvision, I sponsor a child named Ruben who lives in Bolivia. Worldvision sends me several letters during the year about Ruben, but more often these envelopes contain requests for additional money. For the most part, in all honesty, I discard these envelopes unopened (unless of course they are in appeal of aid for catastrophic events like December’s tsunami). I have my account with Worldvision set up so they withdraw my monthly payment from my credit card, so there’s no reason for them to mail me.On Monday night, however, I opened one of the letters — and was caught off guard to read their warning that if I did not send them a payment for Ruben they would be forced to find another sponsor! Evidently I’d only paid a total of $52 for all of 2004! The only thing I can think of is that one of my credit card accounts changed last year, when it was bought by MBNA. I swear my Worldvision payment was not on that card, but apparently it was. I had been blissfully thinking the payments were taken care of, and meanwhile Ruben was forced to go a full year without his monthly stipend!
Feeling like a heel, I filled out the form to reflect my current credit card number. I also added an additional amount, in guilt money. But sadly I can’t afford a year’s worth, however. I can’t believe Worldvision never tried to call or e-mail me when the problem first arose. And I can’t believe Ruben sent me another picture last year. After being ignored by me for so long, I’m surprised the picture wasn’t full of anti-American sentiment and featuring a caricature of me being shot with arrows or something.
