Project Director Letter: EI-618

It's time to hear from the Project Director from EI-618, which is the project that my boy Indresh attends. I've only been writing to him for a few months, so I don't know much about him, yet, but it's good to know that he attends what sounds like a great project!

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Dear Kayla, 

Greetings from our Child Development Center! 

I am Binoy, partner of the child development center that your sponsored child attends. Our center is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. 

I want to thank you for making a difference in the life of Indresh. This journey has been a wonderful experience with the help of invaluable sponsors like you, without whom this program could not have been possible. 

We are working in a slum community where most people are laborers and earn through daily wage, which is not sufficient to meet their daily needs. The hygiene around the slum is poor and this exposes both children and adults to various kinds of sicknesses like malaria, jaundice, and diarrhea. Major issues in this community are lack of sanitation and shortage of potable water. Women have to travel far in order to get water. 

Since the inception of the center, we are able to see some changes in the outlook, behavior, and lifestyle of the children enrolled in the center. The workers help children with their studies and monitor their progress. We conduct regular sports activity that helps a child to become physically healthy. 

Our children are healthier compared to their peers in the community. They have improved in maintaining hygiene and their appearance is different from when they come in first. Children wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet. We have trained our staff in such a way that they can monitor the health and hygiene of each child. We provide regular training to our staff to help them stay updated with issues that relate to child development. 

Our vision is to develop children in all the areas of their life and enable them to come out of poverty. 

Children are showing improvement in their behavior. We are monitoring every child to ensure they choose a career wisely. We want them to be free from any poverty-related diseases and stay away from the influence of alcohol. We conduct parents' meetings regularly to educate them on the social issues of child labor, drinking, and domestic violence that is quite common here. 

When writing letters to their sponsors, children feel special and cared for by their sponsor. Children value their sponsor and love writing to them frequently. Children's families are also grateful to their sponsors for the small gifts they receive because it helps to address their financial challenges at home. Your words mean a lot to your child. They are filled with love that you express towards their needs in life. Thank you for all that you do. 

Please pray for the good health of our children and their studies. Also, pray for the development of the slum community that they may experience the love of God through the center. 

We want to thank you for your continuous support and love to Indresh. We pray for the sponsors and we request your prayers for our children. Thanking you. 

Regards,
Binoy

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Three Photos Updates to Share

It's been a wonderful month for photo updates for me! Three of my boys are growing up fast. I love them all so much.

Enmanuel from DR-161

Jonatan Caleb from CO-384

Daniel from CO-384

Project Director Letter: HA-844

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, I share the project letter from HA-844, which is where my young man, Wendjy attends. Wendjy will be graduating at the end of the year, so hearing the things that go on in his project makes me very happy. I know that Wendjy will be going out into the world prepared for a great life!

Wendjy has just recently transferred to this project and is one of the oldest, by far. The project just opened in 2011, so the oldest kids are just now in their early teens. Wendjy is 21 years old, so I imagine he is more of a helper at the project than a student. What do you think?

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Dear Kayla, 

My name is Eliot Norestin. I am the Project Director of the Child Development Center attended by your sponsored child in the Evangelical Church in Sainte-Philomene. Thank you for sponsoring Louis Wendjy. 

Actual Community Photo when Wendjy Lives

Let me tell you that the center has been here since 2011. We already have a total of 430 children. The center is located in a very bad area. There is a lot of criminal activity and juvenile delinquency in Sante-Philomene. 

We have different activities revolving around the four areas of development that are: spiritual, physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive. 

Since the ages of 2-11 years, the children have participated in some social activities to awake their abilities. Most of these activities give them a strong understanding of the Word of God. 

Reaching their teens, they show a sense of responsibility and maturity. We offer them classes to awaken their skills and abilities, according to their lessons in their notebooks called My Plan for Tomorrow. They can choose between courses like sewing, leatherwork, painting, macrame, music, videography/photography. 

We have five young people in our church who who have been sponsored through Compassion. They are really successful and have become responsible leaders in the community.  They are all at the service of the church. There are many other sponsored children who serve in the community. 

One family was very poor and the parents had no way to help their children succeed in life. The family was assisted by Compassion International. Two children have succeeded in life thanks to the intervention of the center in the area. I believe the whole family will succeed, thanks to the sponsors of Compassion. 

The girls have benefited from a sewing class established with a Complementary Intervention gift. They can make clothes for many people in the community. They have begun to earn money. Other children received cosmetology courses and lessons in electricity through another such gift. They are all able to generate money for their services. There are tangible and visible results in all the areas which we operate in. 10 parents were graduated lately in the sewing class. Some children have great responsibility in the assembly either as musicians, hosts, choir members, service leaders, youth committee members and so on. 

The value of the relationship between the sponsor and the child is very important, not only for the child or for the center, but also for parents. This is why sponsors' letters are so important. The children love to know about their sponsors and they enjoy writing to their sponsors to tell them all about themselves. I hope every sponsor will write to their children. 

People in the community consider the center as a gift fallen from heaven. They have seen the positive impacts in the lives of children. I must tell you that sponsors' cooperation, economic support, and prayers are not without effects on the lives of the children. 

I am asking you to interceded for the staff of the center so that God gives them more wisdom, motivation, common sense, and spirit of collaboration to carry out their jobs. Remember to pray for the people of the community, especially for the parents and some children who do not know Christ as their Savior. I pray for you and your family that God bless you and fill you wisdom. 

Thanks again for sponsor Wendjy. 

Sincerely, 
Eliot Norestin

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Written at the end of April?!

Yes, you read that correctly. I know it's not a very exciting title, but I am so happy! That's because today, on my account, two letters showed up, from my CO-384 boys and they were written at the end of April. That is less than a month ago. Maybe I will stop saying it soon, but I am so happy with this new system. I know that some people are still having glitches and errors, but my account seems to be running smoothly. As far as I can tell, anyway!

Both of my boys wrote letters about school. First up, Jonatan's letter, which is in template form.

Jonatan is 8 years old. His letter is dated April 28th, 2016.

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1. I am in: 3rd Grade

2. My school teacher's name is: Vilma

3. My favorite thing about school is: the playground

4. My favorite subject is: Mathematics

5. In school, I would like to learn: Advanced mathematics

6. My school uniform is: Blue pants and a white shirt

7. My school is 20 minutes away from my house. 

8. I get to school by: Bus 

Dear sponsor, 

I am doing very well. I feel happy playing with my brother. We play on a computer that we have in our house. I am scared of the dark. I look like my father. I write with my right hand. My desire is that my family will always be well. I would make a law in my country that needy people would be able to get their groceries once a month. I dedicate the following bible verse to you: Psalm 110:1. Kisses to you. 

Jonatan 

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Now a similar letter from Daniel. He is 10 years old. His letter is dated April 29th, 2016.

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Dear Kayla,

May God bless you, my dear Kayla. This is Daniel greeting you. I write you this letter with the desire of telling you my school's name is Benposta. My favorite teacher is named Abida. My favorite subject is mathematics. The color of my uniform is white and black and it has orange stripes. About your questions and the letter of how I am, thanks to God, I am well. What makes me happy is my dad tickling me and my mom's hug also makes me feel better. I'm scared of my dad scolding me. I look a lot like my mom. My desire is to get lots of presents. If I could make a law for my country, it would be to preach the word of God in all the schools at the national level. I give you this bible verse: Philippians 4:13. I say goodbye with lots of hugs and kisses for you and your family. I will always pray for you and your family. 

Blessings, 

Juan Daniel

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Letters (And a Photo!) from Africa Rolling In...

The new letter system on my account seems to finally be kicking into to high gear. After several weeks with very few letters, I have received two letters, so far, this month and there are seven other letters "In Transit" to me. Whoo hoo! So far, the letters I've received are from two of my African boys.

Mulwa's letter is written on the My Project Learning template. Typical fill in the blank letter for my little guy. Since Mulwa writes in English, from the time the letter showed up as "in transit" on my account to the time that it was readable, only two days had past. Gotta love that.

Mulwa is 8 years old and lives in Kenya. This letter is not dated.

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1. My project's name is: KE-783

2. The number of children in my project is: 326

3. I go to my project 1 day a week. 

4. My project is 3 kilometers from my home. 

5. I get to my project: on foot

6. Some activities I do at my project are: singing religious songs, learning about God and Jesus, and playing games. 

7. My favorite activity to do at my project is: Playing soccer.

8. My favorite thing about my project workers is: They are kind to us. 

9. When I am at my project, I typically eat: Maize & beans, rice, bananas, meat, and green beans. 

Mulwa salutes you in Jesus' name. He appreciates you for your care and support in his life. He says he is still attending the project and is continuing to learn about Christ Jesus. 

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Next up, a letter from Derrick. He is responding to letters that I wrote at the end of the summer and early fall. I am so excited to know that letters will be going much faster now. They are already coming faster to me. This letter was only written about 6 weeks ago! 

I wrote a letter awhile back about rules and how important they are to follow. Poor Derrick seems to think he has a lot of them. Hahaha. 

Derrick is 13 years old and lives in Uganda. This letter is dated March 29th, 2016. 

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Dear Kayla, 

Kayla, I greet you. How are you? I was very happy to receive your letters. I am doing well. My parents are okay. Ricky is fine and Jackline is fine too. I was no able to see the eclipse. I loved the lunar eclipse pictures that you sent to me. I loved to see the pictures of the children at church camp too. The photos of fireworks and the United States facts were interesting also. I received all of your letters on the same day in December, last year. And in January, I got another letter, with pictures of Gage and Chloe, the children you take care of. Say hello to them. I also received your letter last month, in February. Yes, sometimes I like to follow rules. We have school rules, project rules, and even rules at home! Pray that I'll follow all the rules. Thank you for all your letters. 

Derrick

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Also, I FINALLY received a photo update from Taye! After waiting just shy of three years, I was emailed this photo today. Not only has Taye grown a ton since his last photo, his hair has gotten taller too! :) 

Project Director Letter: HO-352

The more letters that I read and share, the more I fall in love with them. These letters are seriously just so great. I love getting a sneak peak into the lives of my sponsored kids. It's great to hear about the activities they spend their time doing. Compassion really reaches out to these kids in fun and helpful ways.

This letter is from HO-352, which is the project that my boy Carlos attends.

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Dear Kayla,

Greetings and blessings! May God Almighty pour rich and abundant blessings upon your life and your family. I'm Erika Patricia Armijo Maldonado, Project Director at Mi Esperanza Child Development Center. Thank you for sponsoring Carlos Alexander. We are part of Monte Calvario Baptist Church in El Progreso Yoro, Honduras. 

Actual Photo of HO-352 (It's huge!)

It's a blessing to show you and our other child sponsors our gratefulness for what you are doing for our boys, girls, and young people. We as a church recognize that despite the distance, our Lord Jesus Christ's love unites us. 

I would like to tell you about a boy in our center who was born with eye defects. When he came to our center at age 4, we began to investigate what we could do. The doctors said he would be blind for life, but God said differently. Currently 11, he's an honor roll student in 6th grade. He goes to all the activities in church, he's learning to play guitar, and his goal for next year is to learn to play drums. He's very good at soccer and cycling. We and his parents thank God for his life. 

It was a very special event when we helped to physically restore the heart of a girl who had been diagnosed with a heart murmur. Now she's growing very healthy, thank God, and she's also growing in a spiritual way, along with the members of her family. She is still receiving medical checkups with support from the center. Thanks to help from being sponsored she can count on receiving regular medical checkups, as well as the benefit of nutritious meals for her normal growth. 

The relationship between children and their sponsor has a great impact on their lives and their families. Letters from their sponsor motivate children to keep going to school and the center. I'm amazed by the joy the feel when they get a picture and letter from their sponsors. The children wait for it every month. This is why I encourage you to write, as it makes a big difference. 

We work with the help of God and our church so that our children can know there's a God who loves them, and who cares for their well-being spiritually, as well as for the other areas of their life. Personally, I have seen this center as a blessing. I'm motivated to keep working as a part of this center, knowing that God uses us to instruct the children and to be a part of assisting their spiritual, physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. Seeing the change they receive from participating in the center brings us a great satisfaction. 

Thank you again for sponsoring Carlos. We ask for your continued prayers and your valuable support as we seek to guide children and young people and their families to come to Him. I especially ask for your prayers for the construction of new classrooms on the land we already have. 

We are most grateful for your support. May God bless your life and your family. 

Sincerely, 
Erika Patricia Armijo Maldonado

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Project Director Letter: RW-339

I think this may be one of my favorite project letters. Ever! It sounds like  wonderful project. They do so many fun and beneficial things for the children. Plus, every child at the project has a sponsor! How great is that?!  Also, how beautiful is the project building?!

This is the project that my boy Kwizera Yves attends.

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Dear Kayla, 

I am called Manasseh Buhire. I am the Project Director of the Child Development Center attend by your sponsored child at the Matyazo Pentecostal Church in Huye District, in the Southern province of Rwanda. Thank you for sponsoring Kwizera Yves. 

Actual Photo of RW-339

We have 247 children in our center and all of them have sponsors. I have seen the children come regularly with great pleasure and enthusiasm to attend services and to follow different activities prepared for them, especially on Saturdays. They learn how to obey and to serve God. They are taught about health, sanitation, hygiene issues, and good behavior in the community and family. We have classes every Saturday to supplement what they learn in school. 

All of them have medical insurance. They are supported in terms of funds for school and scholastic materials like books, pens, and other needs. The families are cared for as well. Surely, they live a better life than before. We appreciate each of our sponsors. 

It is amazing how these children can be creative when their hope in life and living in general is restored. They have created their own worship choir and have formed a traditional and culture dance troupe featuring Rwandan traditional dance. 

Our vision and thoughts as a church are to continue serving the committee in general, giving advice to all people; especially in the area where the church is located. Our focus is for the well-being of our children, encouraging them to serve the Lord in all their activities. We have encouraged the children and families in the community to attend church services, Bible study, and other activities. 

The sponsor-child relationship, established through letters, prayers, and gifts, is very important. The sponsor and child share news through letters. They are connected and draw closer through letters. They get to know each other and learn to keep each other in prayer. The children who have received letters, gifts, photos, and other things from their sponsors remain fully engaged and encouraged, knowing that someone out there cares and prays for them. 

We have an 11 year old girl who joined us about 4 years ago. She was very shy and fearful at registration. When she was visited by her sponsor, she would always be encouraged to at least smile, but instead she would cry. Today, she is one of the most vibrant children at the center, as witnessed even by her sponsor who regularly visits her. This change in her came because of the love she receives from her sponsor through letters and visits. She is very promising in the way she is now growing and we believe she has a bright future. 

Another girl joined at a time when she only lived with her mother. Many family problems hindered her growth and development. The years she has spent in the center have changed her into a very intelligent girl. She successfully completed high school with high grades that scored her a national bursary to the University where she is now pursuing her bachelor's degree in finance. 

We are thankful for our sponsors' kindness and love to our children for all the period they have been sponsored physically and spiritually. We pray God grants you peace and joy that is above human understanding. Thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ who has connected us to Compassion International. We will continue to encourage sponsored children to obey God through preaching them the word of God. 

Remember us in prayer, that we shall continue to do our work diligently and in accordance to God's standards. 

Thanks, again, for sponsoring Kwizera. 

Yours Sincerely, 

Manassah Buhire

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Letters to My Kids: March 2016

I posted my January letter on Tuesday and today, I was all ready to post my letter from February. But...it turns out that I didn't write at all in February. Umm...it's a short month? I forgot? Oops?

Really, I am a little surprised that I missed a month, but it's not the end of the world. I wrote in March, already twice in April and I'll write twice this month, so I'm not extremely worried about it.

Anyway, now I'll share what I wrote in March. Other people have also written about this to their children and shared the idea with me. And I passing it onto you.

Clubhouse Magazine put out a short article/story/message about God's Teen Squad (Click on the link to be taken to it). Basically, it's about how most of Jesus' disciples were teenagers or young adults. I sent to this all of my kids over the age of 12. I used the text from the magazine, but changed it up a bit, adding and subtracting my own things. Basically, I told my kids that they are never too young to follow Jesus, share about him, and lead others.

(For those curious, my younger kids got some bible verses, short info about spring, and some photos of flowers. I didn't ignore them.)

Here is the letter:

Letters to My Kids: January 2016

Hi everyone! I know that I used to do posts like this all the time, but it seems that I have forgotten about them now that it's 2016. I have written several times since the year has started, but unfortunately, I don't have all of those letters available to share. With Compassion's new letter writing system still updating, I don't yet have access to all of my written letters. But, I do have January's letter to share with you. I'm just going to post the photos of the letter I wrote. You can click on the photos to enlarge them and read them.

My January letter is a list of five questions that I sent to my children, about why sponsors are important and why it is important for sponsors to write to their sponsored children. My friend Teresa sent the same questions to her children, in the hopes of sharing their answers with potential sponsors. I liked the questions so much, that I stole them and sent them to my kids.

Project Director Letter: CO-607

Happy May, everyone! Are you ready for a new project letter? I am!

Today, a letter from CO-607, which is located in Colombia. My young man, Ronaldo, attends this project.

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Dear Kayla, 

From my heart, I hope you and your family are enjoying the wonderful blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

This is Edmundo Castellon, pastor of Dios con Nosotros Church, which is located in the town of Sincelejo in Colombia. We are ministering to Ronaldo at the Child Development Center. 

Actual Community Photo

We see the children's interest in following the Lord and helping their families. I am very grateful to you for praying for us and for supporting the development of Ronaldo. For us as a church, the work we are doing for the children and young people is a great challenge and at the same time, a dream. 

The community sometimes fails to hear the message of our Lord because it seems that they are interested in other things. There are dysfunctional families due to the conflict at home and with society. Our responsibility is to show God's love in a context of unconditional love. We are very motivated to continue with our Lord Jesus Christ's work entrusted to us, bringing the message of love and salvation to all children and parents in our community. Every day we see the Lord's blessings and support in the work we do with these children. Seeing the children's smiles and young people's effort increases our faith and we know that our work is not in vain. We can see many children and parents coming to the Lord's feet, and I know we will continue to see more families being released from that spiritual poverty in which the world has been submerged. 

Thanks to the efforts of the church, right now we have a children's restaurant which feeds 50 children in the community. Parents and children are being blessed through these foods. I know this is a great tool to bring hope to the community. 

It is thanks to sponsors that children smile, through the letters, photos, cards, and gifts that are sent to them. I am glad to see children's smiles and their satisfaction when they get letters or when they are going to write letters to their sponsors. Children want to know their sponsors and they are happier knowing that people far away love them and are praying for them. 

Thank you very much for everything that you do for Ronaldo. Thank you for praying for our children and for our church so that the Lord gives us more faith and the strength we need for this work with children every day. Our church is praying for you and your family so that the Lord fills you with love and passion for the lost, for those people who need to hear the message of hope and salvation that the Lord Jesus gives us.

Best Regards, 
Edmundo Castellon

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First Sunday Advocate: May 2016

I don't have as many kids to share with you as I usually do. I only choose to share children, on my blog, that attend the same projects at my kids. This month, there aren't many to choose from. Typically, I have like 20 kids to narrow down and share. This time around, I only have 6 kids to share with you.

If you're able to add one of these kids to your sponsorship family, I would love to hear about it! We can tell our kids that we know each other!

Under each photo, I put each child age, name, and the project they attend. In parenthesis, I put the name of the child that I sponsor there. If you wish you, you can click on that child in the side-bar, to be taken to letters from that child and more information about their project.

All, but one, of these kids are older teenagers or even older. These would be shorter sponsorships than most, if you are looking for just a few years of commitment. If you want something quite a bit longer, check out that precious 3 year old. :)

Here's this months kiddos:

17 Year Old Esteban from EC-261 (Veronica)

19 Year Old Temesgan from ET-439 (Taye)

Vanaessa has found a sponsor! 

3 Year Old Stella from TZ-215 (Emanuel)

Zawadi's wait for a sponsor is over! 

Judith has been sponsored!