Another Pair of Manna Boys (And a Round of Manna Letters)

It is such a blessing to be able to write this post today. I am so thankful for how things have happened over the last couple of days.

Two days ago, I was talking to a friend about how I was buying backpacks for my new sponsored Manna boy. My friend knows that I sponsor kids, but through Compassion. I have talked to her before about my Compassion kids and she knows that I can send them paper letters or emails, but she has never heard me mention backpacks before. She asked me what I was talking about.

So, I told her a brief overview of what Manna 4 Lempira was. I told her that Manna is a sponsorship program in rural Honduras that focuses on feeding children, making sure they have school shoes & supplies, and teaches them about Jesus. I told her that this organization is able to do all of this for just $15 a month! I also told her that sponsors get to write letters and send goodies to their children every two months and, at the end of each year, sends a backpack full of school supplies, clothing, and small toys to each child, for Christmas.

To top it off, Manna 4 Lempira has recently been running something special, due to kind sponsors that want to sponsor children, but not write letters. This special is that for $15 a month, a sponsor can choose a child to sponsor, as well as choose a child to correspond with. Basically, a two-for-one deal, but that sounds a little odd to say about children, I think.

Well, my friend was very impressed! She recently got a new job and wanted to do something good with her money. My friend is not a Christian, but is definitely interested in helping children eat and succeed in school. She knows that I am a Christian and love to write to sponsored kids. She decide to sponsor one of the children through Manna 4 Lempira (as well as a correspondent) and let me be in charge of writing letters to them!

I showed her photos of the children that were waiting for a sponsor and she chose precious Anthony, who is only 2 years old.

After choosing him, she decided to let me choose the boy that we would have as a correspondent child. I was so excited to be able to choose that I didn't stop smiling the whole day! 

I chose 7 year old Brayan. I love his smile! 

So, in the span of less than a month, I now have four Manna 4 Lempira boys to write to and love on! As well as pack backpacks for (my friend will help me with Anthony and Brayan's backpacks) at the end of the year. 

I am so happy! 

Manna 4 Lempira typically asks sponsors to write letters on the 5th day of every odd month (January, March, May, etc), but I have been told that they will occasionally change up the schedule when opportunity dictates. Usually, sponsors can only send items made out of paper, but will sometimes have special occasions. 

One of those special occasions arrived! 

Instead of letters being due in March, the due date was pushed up to February 15th, due to a courier that is traveling to Honduras. This courier agreed to take mail if the mailing was small. Each child can receive a greeting card with small, flat items inside. 

I sent each of my boys a card with stickers, toy airplanes, and candy. Even though these will be received in March, I chose to write about Valentine's Day, connecting it to how we are able to love others because Jesus first loved us. I told each of my boys that because Jesus loves me very much, I am lead to love them. Of course, I told them that Jesus loves them very much too! 

Another perk of being in this program, for me, is that I can write in Spanish. No, sponsors are not required to write in Spanish, as there are translators working hard to translate each letter, but if sponsors are confident in their Spanish skills (I am fairly confident. I have to look up some tenses every now and then because I am terrible with grammar) they can write and ask to receive letters in Spanish. It's so fun to be able to use my Spanish skills with my Manna boys. 

Here is what I am sending to my boys this time around: 

Ivan's Gifts 

Noel's Gifts 

Anthony and Brayan's Gifts 

Like I said, what a blessing to have these new boys!