Blessed to be a Blessing

If I haven't said it enough to you already, I am so happy to be part of child sponsorship. I truly believe that God has called me to help children and their families in this way and I couldn't feel more blessed about it. I feel as if I am fulfilling my life's purpose by being involved in child sponsorship.

I need to share that without God's help and provision, child sponsorship would not be a possibility in my life. I am so grateful that God chose to bless me in this way.

Anyway, onto to today's blessing...

For the last, probably...half a year, anytime Xhuliano wrote me a letter, he talked about how he loves to ride a bike, but he doesn't have one of his own. He told me that his cousin and him take turns riding his cousin's bike. Xhuliano talked about how his cousin always beats him to school because he gets to ride his bike and Xhuliano has to walk.

Sure, a bike isn't a life necessity. But, I feel like every child should have their own bike. I saved up enough money to send a financial gift to Xhuliano through World Vision. I sent the money at the beginning of March. Then, I sat back and waited for the picture and letter to arrive.

Today, it arrived.

 

My boy got his bike! Plus, with the leftover money, he was able to buy plates and forks for his whole family. Yay!

 

 

 

Don't you just love his smirk?

 

With this picture, I got a nice letter from him. Here's the letter:

 

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Dear Kayla,

 

I was very happy to receive the envelope that you sent for me to get some pretty gifts. My family was very happy too and we all thank you because you are such a wonderful friend. I am very happy to have the opportunity of being chosen by a smart friend that writes beautiful things about me and my family. You have always been there for me during the toughest time. I feel much better close to you, my friend Kayla.

 

I am very happy to receive your letters from time to time and I hope to hear from you again and again, because I am very excited to read them and you will always be a very special friend in my heart and in my family. Thank you very much. I hope you will have some beautiful and warm days and I wish you and your family enjoy good health. May God bless you wherever you go!

 

With the money you sent, I got a bike, 6 plates, and 6 forks. I am glad because I bought the present that I wanted and I have fun playing with my cousins and sisters. My parents also got happy for my new present because my dream came true. They thank you from their heart and you are a special friend for my family.

 

With much love from my heart, I send you a hug and I love you so much, my friend Kayla.

 

Xhuliano

 

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Letter from Karanja

I got my 2nd letter from Karanja, in Kenya, today. I last heard from him on March 30th, so it hasn't even been two months. I hope this is a sign of a really regular writer.


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Dear Kayla,

How are you? I hope you are all fine together with your family. How is work?

I want to tell you that I am still going on with my work here at school. I'm now remaining with two years in grade 8. (I'm not sure what this means, but perhaps he was held back in 8th grade?) I pray I do well. Pray for me.

I want you to know that I have spiritually grown. I go to church every Sunday and I'm in Sunday school. Our Sunday school teacher is called Moses. He teaches us songs and memory verses. John 3:16 says "For God so love the world that the gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

I usually pray for you. Please pray for me to be a good boy (He wrote the word "bug" and his tutor corrected it. Funny!) I wish you a happy year. Goodbye.

Karanja

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A Nice, Long Letter from Sandesh

The more I hear from Sandesh, the more I love him. I love all of my sponsored children and like everyone else, Sandesh has a very special place in my heart. Sandesh is my little miracle child. Through Sandesh, God has shown me exactly what it can be like to follow Him where He leads. I was drawn to Sandesh on the website and instantly knew I was supposed to sponsor him. But, there was zero wiggle room in the budget at that time.

But, I felt like to post about him on Our Compassion and see what would happen. In less than a day, people had donated 8 months of sponsorship. Then this month, when I was due to start paying for him on my own again, I was able to raise enough money (through tie-dye sales and a generous donor) to cover his sponsorship until September. That will be a full year of sponsorship for Sandesh that I have not had to pay for.

I don't want to make it sound like I am not willing to pay for this beautiful little boy on my own, because I absolutely am. However, I think that God is showing me and other people exactly what can be done when a group of people come together as one. I believe that us helping Sandesh is exactly how the Body of Christ should act together.

I would really love to see the sponsorship of Sandesh continue to be supported through generous people in the blog/child sponsorship community.

If after you read the letter, you feel compelled to help sponsor Sandesh with other readers of this blog, you can do so on this website: Sponsorship of Sandesh . My goal is to have his sponsorship paid up through the end of the year. We are already 25% there!

Anyway, here is his wonderful letter:

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Dear Kayla,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! I hope that you are all doing well by the grace of God. I got your letter. I am really happy for your writing skill. Belated happy new year! Here, we also celebrate new year and Christmas. My father is Sunil. He is 40 years old and he is working at MIDC Company. Mother Maya is 38 years old. She is in school. My brother is Sagar. He is 20 years old, also working in MIDC Company. Sister Pratiksha is 16 years old. She is learning in college 11th year. They are not in Compassion program. My friend Sharan is also 9 years old. I like to play with marbles, dancing, and singing. I am belonging to Christian family. I like to pray and sing God's songs.

How are you and your family? Give my all love to you and your family and friends. Just we all celebrate you and my favorite holiday, Easter. Easter was good for me and my family. I attended church to celebrate Jesus's Resurrection Day. We shouted "Jesus is coming soon!". I also like Daniel story. I strongly believe in Jesus Christ. Please pray for my school exams. I love my project very much. Here, I learn more about Jesus Christ. God will keep you safe too, Kayla. I hope you are having a good day. I love you very much. I like your new picture. You are so beautiful. I will pray for you often.

Your Loving,
Sandesh

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A Very Special Letter from Sadiya

Sadiya's letter arrived in my mailbox in a large envelope. We all know what that means. Something besides just a regular paper is in there! Sometimes, it's two papers, etc. because the letter went longer than the sheet provided. But, other times it's something extra special like a drawing or a picture.

Today, it was a picture! A nice, glossy photo of Sadiya and her family. It's great. I could stare at it all day!

I'll share the letter with you first and then the picture. The first part of the letter tells me about Sadiya's project and the back left room for her tutor/Sadiya to write me a message.

The letter was written December 12th, so it took A LONG TIME to get to me.


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My Project

 

 

The number of children registered in my project: 143

 

It takes me 10 minutes to reach my project from my home

 

The favorite food I enjoy at my project is: Curry Rice

 

I go to my project by: Walking

 

At my project I like: Drawing

 

 

Dear sponsor Kayla,

 

I, with Sadiya, wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy new year 2013. Sadiya and her family are doing good. Here in our project she is the girl who is regular in every activity. Her study is going on well. Upcoming month she is going for a picnic with all project children. There's wonderful preparation going on in our project for the Christmas party. She is going to dance with her team. Here attached is a photo of Sadiya's family, as for your request. Let me tell you: Back line 1. The person tallest is her father, 2. Mother , 3. Brother. Front line 1. Brother, 2. In the middle sister, then comes 3. Sadiya on the right. Here, her elder brother is missing because he is in her hometown. She like to thank you for your help. She extend her wishes towards your family. Kindly pray for her family and good study. May God bless you and use your for His kingdom service.

 

Yours in the Lord

Tutor and Sadiya

 

 

 

 

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A Letter from Celeste!

I was so happy to open my mailbox and have three letters in my mailbox! I am going to post just one letter a day. I have to hold back all of the excitement! Haha.

Today, I will share the letter I received from Celeste. She filled up the small section on the template and then she also attached a piece of notebook paper. She filled up the entire front of the paper and a few lines on the back. Go Celeste!

I can't wait to meet this precious girl in August!

Here is the letter:


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My dear sponsor Kayla,

 

I greet you with great love and affection to be able to wish you the best and to know a little more from you. I hope that the grace of God reigns in your home always. I would like to tell you of all the beautiful things you have sent me, but I am going to answer your questions. For example, my question of do I see the stars in the sky. Yes, I have seen the stars because I live in a village where we do not have many electric lights so I can appreciate all the good that God make for me to enjoy.

 

I do not know your song but I will try to learn it. I want to send you Philippians 2:14 because it says something very nice. I told my grandmother your message. She is very special to me and she pays a lot of attention when I talk to her. I am going to try to be better with her so we can both be very happy.

 

I also play with my friends after classes. I have school in the morning and in the afternoon I go to the project, where we are treated very well and they give us time to play. In school, I like free play. We play a game where you have to follow a group that gets together and runs and somebody has to follow them and touch them. (Sounds like tag to me!) Well, my best friend is Yeili. We are 20 children in my classroom at the project and 35 children at school. My teacher at the project is Zoila and my teacher at school is Ergin.

 

I want to tell you that you look very beautiful in your photo when you were only 10 years old, like me. It seems that math gives problems to everyone because it also gives me problems. (I sent her a letter and told her what I was like when I was her age).

 

Here, in our country we had a great new year's celebration, as well as Chritsmas. We had fireworks and we shared with our neighbors. We cooked baked pork and tamales and they were very tasty. And let me tell you that you need to learn more about God because he is real and my tutor says that without God we are nothing and the has given his life. (She must assume I don't know God)

 

I feel very grateful and happy to be the only girl you sponsor. I saw the boys that you sponsor and I know that they are older or equally my age. (I told her about two of the boys that I sponsor and that she is part of my sponsorship family.) Say hello to the other children for me. I am happy to be a part of this big family too.

 

It looks like I am going to be a little short (She actually wrote small in statue. Poor thing. She is pretty tiny.) I like music but I don't play an instrument. I praise God by singing. Give a big hug to your classmates (I'm thinking she means my students), the ones in the photo you sent. They are very smart.

 

I pray for you always. Please pray for me and my family. Kisses and hugs to you. I love you very much.

 

Until later,

Celeste

 

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"First Letter" from Fongwin!

I got a "first letter" from Fongwin today!

I was assigned him as a correspondent child on March 15th. The letter is actually dated March 14th and the part he wrote is addressed to Lori. The translation is addressed to me. So, they wrote it on March 14th with Lori in mind and then I'm guessing when they looked at this records during translation, they saw my name. Funny.

Either way, it's talking about things that don't really apply to me, but it's nice to hear anyway. He's a nice writer. It makes me excited to get a letter where the messages are for me!

Side note: This little guy's name is Thawatchai, but he goes by Fongwin. I'm wondering if that's a nickname, or perhaps his middle name.

Here's the letter:


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Dear Kayla,

 

Hello. My name is Phasinee, project staff. I write on behalf of Thawatchai. He is so happy to write to you again. He thanks you for your sponsorship and your care. Thank you for the birthday gift. He spent it on some study aids. His school is closed. He is asking if it is the school break there yet. He and his family are fine. It is so hot here. He likes to swim to cool down. He is asking if you like swimming. Please pray for him. He hopes to write to you again next time. Finally, may God bless you with joy and good health.

 

Love in Christ,

Staff

 

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Abu's 11th Birthday!

I cannot believe the title that I just typed. When I sponsored Abu 5 years old, he was just turning 6 years old. He was so little, had sweet chubby cheeks, and I fell in love with him the moment I saw his precious face on my computer screen. I can remember the day vividly. I was in my dorm room, I told my roommate that I was going to sponsor a child right then, and we looked at the World Vision website together. Abu was only the 2nd face that I saw and I knew he was meant to be mine.

I could have never predicted what a wonderful journey it has been to love this boy. I hope we have many years left together.

 

 

Dear Abu,

 

Happy 11th birthday, my friend!

 

You are certainly growing into a very handsome young man. I think back to how much you have grown over the years and I know that you will continue to grow as time goes on.

 

But today, I will love you as a beautiful 11 year old boy.

 

You are intelligent, kind, and extremely loving. The letters that you and your grandmother write to me make my heart soar with love.

 

I hope that today your grandmother is cooking you your favorite meal of rice and cassava leaf sauce. I hope you eat until you burst! :) After a good meal, and after your finish your homework, I hope you have some free time to play soccer with your friends. I know it's your favorite sport to play.

 

I pray that God washes his love and grace over you today, Abu and blessed you as you begin your 11th year of life.

 

I love you with my whole heart.

 

Your Friend, Kayla