So Many Letters!

In the month of October alone, I have received 30 letters. I have just been amazed at how many emails I've been receiving for letters. It's been such a blessing! Now, I really have to take some serious time to respond to them all!

I'm not sure how many letters I will be sharing in this post. It's officially 10:30 p.m, as I start this post. I'm basically going to type letters until I get tired and want to go to bed. :)

We'll start the adventure out with a letter from Joel, who lives in Mexico. This young man has such big plans for his future and I just hope I can encourage him to pursue his goals. He seems pretty committed to them. Joel is 17 years old. His letter is dated August 26th, 2017.

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Hello Dear Sponsor, 

I am writing you this letter. Everything is going well with my family at this moment. My sister just came back home after being in University. We celebrate Mexico's Independence Day on September 16th. It was in 1810. We also celebrated some other events apart from our Independence, like our annexation of our State of Chiapas to Mexico. Those are some important events in our country. I want to tell you also that a new school year has already started. This is going to be my last year and then I will go to University. I would like to become a lawyer and take some photography courses too. I hope you are doing well. Please pray for my schooling, my sister's schooling, and for my family. I would like to ask you, what do you do on vacations? Where do you usually go? I want to thank you for being a good friend. 

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Now a letter from Muuo. He is telling me all about his school in this letter. I think out of all of the countries I write to, Kenya has some of the best templates! I like how many questions they have and how most of the questions are open ended. Many other templates have 2-4 choices for a child to choose, not leaving much wiggle room for young kids, as they think they have to choose one of the options. I'm not really complaining, just noting. 

Muuo is 7 years old and wrote this letter on October 3rd, 2017. 

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Dear Kayla, 

1. I am in: 1st grade 

2. My school is 1.5 km from my house. 

3. The name of my school is: Kyongingara Primary School 

4. I go to school: On foot 

5. The color of my uniform is: Orange and blue 

6. My class teacher's name is: Mrs. Mwsyoka

7. My best friend at school is: John

8. The games we play in school are: Football and group games

9. The other activities in school this term are: Drama and sports

10. What I like best about my school is: The building 

11. My favorite subject in school is: Math 

12. After school I like to: Ride my bicycle 

Muuo says Jambo. He hopes and trusts that you are doing well over there. He says he is well here and is continuing with his education. He says this term has been short and will close the school to embark on December holiday soon. He says he has been very active in Sunday School activities and has participated in Sunday School Choir regularly. He says bye for now and wishes you well always. 

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Now, I'll repeat the same letter template, but with another child. :) This time from Hillary, who is also 7 years old and lives in Kenya. His letter is dated October 7th, 2017.

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1. I am in: 1st grade 

2. My school is 1 km from my house. 

3. The name of my school is: Gift School

4. I go to school: On foot 

5. The color of my uniform is: Gray and brown  

6. My class teacher's name is: Rosemary

7. My best friend at school is: Edward

8. The games we play in school are: Football

9. The other activities in school this term are: Learning

10. What I like best about my school is: We have good teachers 

11. My favorite subject in school is: Christian Religious Education 

12. After school I like to: Play football 

Hello Kayla. I hope you are well. I am also well with my family. I like wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I ate rice and beans today. My house has two rooms. At our project, we have a big church and many classrooms. We also have a kitchen and an office. My friends make me laugh. We had an eating competition. My best friend's name is Edward. 

Yours,

Hillary

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Next up, a letter from Rujikorn. It has been quite awhile since I last heard from her, which is odd for her. My guess is she missed a letter writing day at her project and had to wait for the next one. Her letter is great, though, as always! 

Rujikorn is 13 years old and lives in Thailand. Her letter is dated August 14th, 2017. 

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Dear Kayla, 

Hello! My family and I are fine and we hope that you and your family are also. I'm so glad and excited to write you. What season is it there now? It is now in the rainy season here. It rains here every day. It is raining a bit when I go to school in the morning. The weather is nice. The project ran Mother's Day activities for all the kids on the 12th. We all paid respect to our mothers and it was a great moment. I was so happy when hugging and cuddling my mother. Have you paid respect to your mother yet? 

The rice in a field is a beautiful green color. It brings a good atmosphere. The rice that my mother grows is so beautiful. I wish you could see it. I go to school Monday-Friday and attend the project Saturday and Sunday. My friend and I are the leaders of the 153 group. I'm so glad about it. We lead the worship on Sunday and clean the church. I wish you would visit me and see the atmosphere here. You are welcome always. I believe that God will provide us with a chance to meet each other. 

Finally, I am wishing you happiness and good health. Please pray for my studies and health because I am sick now. Please pray for my parent's work. You are in our prayers always. May God guide you. 

Love and regards in Christ, 

Rujikorn

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Onto a letter from Prity. This letter is written on the My Dreams template and then she attaches an extra page for her own message. She writes very well for her young age, in my opinion. 

Prity is 8 years old and lives in Indonesia. Her letter is dated September 8th, 2017. 

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1. Someday I would like to see: Snow 

2. Someday I would like to: Speak English 

3. When I grow up I would like to be: A Doctor 

4. Someday I would like to meet my because: To thank you for being my sponsor 

5. Someday I would like to help my family by: Taking care of my sibling

Dear Sponsor, 

Greetings in the love of our God. I'm so happy to receive all of your letters and I will reply and answer some questions. I'm so happy to hear the news that I have a new sister, named Airin. I will pray for her. I would like to ask, in what part of Indonesia does she live? At home, I have a big sister, a big brother, and a little brother. Now I have a little sister in Airin. Thank you. 

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Five Letters from Five Beautiful Girls

As you can tell by simply looking my blog's sidebar, I could be considered a "Boy Sponsor". I have more than double the amount of boys as I do girls. It wasn't really planned that way, but it has come to become that way. If I financially sponsor a child, I'm always drawn to the boys. And most of the time, when I get a correspondent children assigned to me, it's a boy.

However, I do have several lovely girls that I just love to death and I've heard from five of them recently. I will share those five letters with you today.

First up, a letter from sweet Rebecca, who is 10 years old and from the Philippines. Her letter is dated September 2nd, 2017.

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Dear Ate Kayla, 

Good day! How are you and your family? Thank for your time in writing a letter to me. I hope you will not get tired of writing to me. Last Thursday we celebrated National Language Month in school. I joined in activities like the folk dance contest and choral contest. We do not yet know who the winner is because it will be announced next Monday. Here in our center, I am continuing to learn about the Word of God with my friends. This coming September 4th will be my 10th birthday and I will celebrate it with my family. My memory verse is in Genesis 1:27-28, "So God created human to be like himself ; he made man and woman." Please pray for the skin allergy on my hand to be healed. Thank you so much and God bless you. I love you! 

Love,

Rebecca

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Next, a long letter from Mariela. I love all my kids' letters, but the long, detailed ones are the best! Mariela is 12 years old and lives in El Salvador. She wrote her letter on September 27th, 2017. 

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Dear Sponsor Kayla, 

I want to greet you with love. I hope you are well in health, close to your family and friends. I always pray for you and your family, so God will always bless you and keep you safe. This time I want to talk to you about your hopes for the future. In the future I want to be a teacher. I like to attend the project because I like to learn the world of God. Let me tell you that I attend the workshops of music and computing, so in the future I can use it well, with no mistakes. What studies do you have? I want to thank you for the letter. Here are some answers. Today I ate peppers. My home has two rooms. In my project there are four classrooms. We have one hour free to play with friends. My friends make me laugh. It is so funny to eat with them. Please pray for my family. Bye with love. 

Mariela

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Now, a letter from Maria. This girl cracks me up because I can absolutely tell if/when she doesn't feel like writing a letter. Sometimes her handwriting is really large, so she can fill up the page faster. My guess is that when you're done writing letters at her project, you get to go do some fun activity. I predict that when she is excited about the activity, she writes far less. However, today's letter is long and detailed. I wonder if the next activity after letter writing was something boring to her. :) 

Maria is 13 years old and is from Brazil. Her letter is dated September 4th, 2017. 

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Hello Dear Sponsor Kayla, 

How are you? My family and I are fine. My baby cousin was born and he is called Heitor. He is already one month old and he is very big. I was happy to receive your letter. I loved the drawing that you sent me. Answering your questions: I like to wear light clothes the most, because where I live it is very hot. Today I ate rice, beans, and meat. My house is medium size. It is made of bricks and it has 3 rooms. Our project has 12 classrooms. In my free time, I take an advanced course in computing. My family makes me happy. The funniest thing that has ever happened to me is when I got stuck in an elevator with my cousin. The last party I went to was my friend Tiffany's. I have four best friends; Laisa, Andressa, Raissa, and Eduarda. My advice for younger kids is to not give up studying, respect their parents, and that they be happy children and enjoy every moment. I say goodbye with love. 

Your Friend,

Maria

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Then, I receive a letter from Prity, which she wrote on the My Christian Learning template. I love hearing about some of the specific things that she is learning at her project. 

She certainly has an interesting favorite Bible verse? 

Prity is 8 years old and from Indonesia. Her letter is dated September 7th, 2017. 

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1. I learn the most about God from: My project 

2. My favorite Bible story is: Esther

3. My favorite song to sing at my project is: I Love God's Family

4. When I pray to Jesus, I pray for: My Family 

5. My favorite Bible verse is: Matthew 1:1

6. It says: "The is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham." 

Hello Dear Sister Kayla, 

I hope you and your family are in healthy condition. I'm so happy to receive your letter. I will answer your questions. I am in healthy condition right now. We just celebrated our National Independence Day on August 17th. We have been free from terrifying colonialism. 

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I will end this post with a little from Sunrei. Let's call it a sunset. ;) Sunrei writes such wonderful letters for a girl her age. It's such a blessing to be able to communicate with her. 

Sunrei is 10 years old and lives in Peru. She wrote this letter on October 4th, 2017. 

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Dear Sponsor Kayla, 

Greetings in the love of Christ. I thank you for the nice letter you sent me. I like to wear dresses. I liked to eat spicy cream chicken. My house is small, but nice. It has 2 rooms. My project is huge. It has 4 classrooms. In my free time, I like to draw. Tickles make me laugh. I went to the beach and I swam. The last time I went to a party was my little sister's birthday. My best friend is Charlotte. In my country, we celebrate Flag Day on July 28th. I like having 2 sisters. How nice is your country flag! I'm happy for you that you are well. In September, we celebrated Sponsor's Day. There were Bible contests, presents, and presentations. I ask you to read Psalm 91. I tell you that next year I will be in 5th grade in elementary school. At my school, I get good grades. I have many friends and God is with me. How old will you turn? I ask you to pray for my family. I say goodbye with a kiss. 

Sunrei

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From the Field Friday: Rwanda

Another week is coming to an end, so it's time to share another letter from a Compassion country director. This time, we hear from the man in charge of the program in Rwanda.

I have one sweet boy in Rwanda; Kwizera Yves.

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Dear Kayla, 

I am John Nkubana, country director of Compassion International Rwanda. I joined Compassion 2012. Compassion started in Rwanda in 1980 and opened its first office in 1984. Today, we support 87,000 children through 320 local church partners. 

John Nkubana

I would like thank you from my heart for the support you give Kwizera Yves. Individual sponsor contributions are the building blocks of this ministry to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. 

Children feel secure at the child development center because of the love given to them by center staff and church leadership. Because of the sponsorship program, churches have been able to evangelize communities that otherwise would have been impossible to evangelize without Compassion's work with the children. 

Children Dancing and Worshiping in Church 

Most of our children are from very impoverished families. These people struggle to secure basic necessities and this affects them immensely. In 2014, we opened a center in the western part of the country. At this particular center, they had a feeding program for malnourished children, who were given porridge twice a week. The numbers of hungry children were so big that the church was overwhelmed. Today, when you visit the center, you can't believe that the children who were there in 2014 are the same children who are there today. They look so healthy and full of life! 

Children Drinking Healthy Porridge at Their Project 

Rwandan children receive a lot of attention and protection from the government and there are systems in place to monitor child welfare - we have a strong policy on children's rights. Medical struggles are minimal, because most Rwandans have access to medical care. Most of our children attend government day schools, but many of these schools can't afford quality teaching staff and laboratories and other materials are insufficient. 

Children Attending a Local School

The area where are children struggle the most is the socio-emotional trauma that is consequence of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Most of the sponsored children are children or grandchildren of either genocide perpetrators or genocide victims. The are all traumatized equally. 

When a sponsor picks a child to sponsor, it is a long-term commitment. Children get excited when they are told they received sponsors. After that, they wait with a lot of anxiety for the first letter from the sponsor. I am sure sponsors wait anxiously for the first letter from their sponsored child, too. I can attest to this, because I'm a sponsor. What I have witnessed over time is the bond that the letters create between sponsors and children. When a child doesn't get a letter but sees friends getting letters, that child is devastated. Please write to your child as regularly as you can. The more letters children receive, the more they feel close to the sponsor, despite the distance. The physical you is enshrined in letters written to your sponsored child. 

Children Writing Letters to Their Sponsors 

We always uphold you in prayers here; may the Lord continue to replenish your stores and granaries. We need your prayers as we continue to disciple the vulnerable children in partnership with the church. It is not an easy assignment, given the level of need. Stand with us in prayer as we strategize on how the church can raise support locally to supplement Compassion's work. And Rwanda being a mountainous country, visiting children's homes is a challenge for staff and volunteers. 

Children Walking Home in Rural Rwanda

With heartfelt gratitude, I want to thank you for the love and invaluable material support you give to Kwizera Yves. The support you give is not in vain. I give glory to God; it is because of who we are in Jesus Christ that you are able to extend generosity of that magnitude against all odds - thank you! 

Happy, Healthy Children! 

Sincerely, 

John Nkubana

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From Favorite Things to Project Learning and Everything in Between

I sure do love these template letters from my itty bitties. I swear the template themes get better and better. The people in charge of planning these letters do a great job, I think!

I have four letters to share with you today, each a different them. Enjoy!

Let's start off by hearing about my boy Hillary's typical week. Hillary is 7 years old and lives in Kenya. His letter is dated September 2nd, 2017.

He wrote this letter completely on his own and has the most adorable, loopy handwriting!

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1. I usually wake up at: 7:00

2. In the morning I usually: Take my breakfast 

3. The days I attend school are: Monday to Friday 

4. The name of my school is: Gift School Academy 
5. In the afternoon I usually: Take my lunch and sleep 
6. In the evening I usually: Play with my friends
7. I go to the project on: Saturday 
8. I typically go to sleep at: 9:00
9. My favorite day of the week is: Sunday 
10. The day I go to church is: Sunday 
11. The name of my church is: Changawe Baptist Church 

Receive greetings from your friend Hillary. I am well with my family. I have never seen a solar eclipse before, but it seems to be a good experience and it comes from God. 

Yours,
Hillary

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Next, a list of favorite things from one of my favorite girls, Brisa, who is 6 years old and lives in Nicaragua. She wrote this letter to me on September 9th, 2017.

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1. My favorite sport is: Basketball

2. My favorite activity is: Playing with dolls 

3. My favorite animal is: Cat 

4. My favorite friend is: My mom 

5. My favorite cartoon is: The Powerpuff Girls 

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Now, we get to hear all about what Mor-Mi-Say has been learning about at his project. I love getting these glimpses into my kids' classroom and see what kinds of things are being taught. I find it so fascinating! 

Mor-Mi-Say is 7 years old and lives in Thailand. He wrote this letter on August 25th, 2017. 

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1. My favorite thing I have learned in my project is: Listening to stories 

2. About being with others at the project, I have learned: To extend help 

3. About taking care of myself I have learned: How to clean my hands before eating and how to brush my teeth twice a day. 

4. I cannot yet say a short prayer by myself. 

5. About being polite and kind I have learned: To say "thank you" to others when receiving something. 

Dear Kayla, 

Hello! May God bless you and your family! My name is Paw Eh Wah, a child worker, and I am writing on behalf of Mor-Mi-Say because he cannot write well. He is very happy and thankful for your kind support. He lives with his grandmother because his mother died and his father has gone to work in another area. Does it rain with mud and flooding over there? How are you doing? He wants to know. May God be with you. Love in Christ. 

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The last letter for today is from wee Baraka, who is 8 years old and lives in Kenya. He is writing this letter on the My School template. It's dated September 30th, 2017. 

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1. I am in: 1st Grade 

2. My school is 4 km away from my house 

3. The name of my school is: Ndungoini Primary School

4. I get to my school: On foot 

5. The color of my school uniform is: Green and Yellow 

6. My class teacher's name is: Mr. Ngoma 

7. My best friend's name is: Sila 

8. The games we play at school are: Athletics 

9. The other activities in school this term are: Games 

10. What I like best about school is: The lessons taught

11. My favorite subject is school is: Mathematics 

12. After school I like to: Go grazing 

Baraka greets you in Jesus' name. He also says he is doing well and appreciates your letters and support to him. He wishes you God's grace. 

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From the Field Friday: Philippines

I knew that I received a lot of these country director letters back when I started posting them in June, but I guess I didn't realize how long this series would last. And we aren't done yet! This will continue until the end of November. Thanks for hanging in with me!

Today we hear from the country director of the projects in the Philippines. I currently have three kids in the Philippines: Nikko, Jhonrex, and Rebecca.

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Dear Kayla,

I am Noel Pabiona and I have been the country director of Compassion in the Philippines for 12 years now. I am a proud father of two boys. My boys constantly remind me to be a patient and responsible father, which in turn reminds of my Heavenly Father's love and amazing patience for me. 

Noel Pabiona

Compassion has worked in the Philippines for more than 44 years. Today, we have about 345 child development centers, reaching out to around 81,000 children across the islands. This seems to be a large number, but it is small compared to our country's total population of 102 million, with 12 million people still living in extreme poverty. My vision is to reach out to even more children. 

An Urban Slum in the Philippines

Thanks to sponsors like you, thousands of Filipino children now know God, live responsible lives, and have hope for the future. Your faithful support and care for Jhonrex, Rebecca, and Nikko has eternal impact. Thank you. 

Our country is made up of 7,100 islands and this is a challenge for traveling. Yet, whenever I can, I visit our centers to meet as many children as possible. I have personally talked with many of the sponsored children and their families and have seen how sponsorship truly works. Several teens have told me that, if not for their sponsorship, they would most probably be like many of the unsponsored teenagers in their community - unschooled, drug dependent, or pregnant, and without hope. Our teens have hope, study hard, contribute to society, and respect their parents. They are on their way to escaping poverty and becoming responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. 

Teens Playing Basketball at Their Project

Although public education is free, not all Filipino families send their children to school. A handful of impoverished families would rather have their children work so they can earn even a little for their families, even if it means working in harmful conditions such as scavenging, quarrying, and fishing. Other parents simply do not care to encourage their children to study or do well in life. 

In 2017, my focus is on giving child the chance to be a disciple in the way of our Savior. This, I believe, is what makes Compassion stand out. Not only do we give children hope, but we also give them eternal hope in Jesus. Not only do we equip them for life, but we also challenge them to give back and touch the lives of others. 

Children Praying at Their Project

Our church partners are doing a remarkable job in ministering to the children. Most of our staff and volunteers serve the children beyond what is required in Compassion's program. The need and vulnerability of the children compel them to do so. They reach out to the families and communities, and often initiate community development centers to support the local government. In most cases, our churches are more equipped, reliable, and successful in their initiatives than the local government is. 

A Girl Outside Her Rural Home

Finally, I would like to let you know that each letter a sponsor sends to a child is not just a piece of paper. It is a reminder that the children are important, that they matter because they are loved. I have not met a child who didn't value letters from the sponsor. They keep the letters in special boxes and most read them over and over. Children who don't receive letters wonder why not. I encourage you to write to your children as much as you can. 

Boy Writing a Letter to His Sponsor 

With God's grace, let us continue to work, pray, and hope together. Thank you again for your love and the hope you give to Jhonrex, Rebecca, and Nikko. 

In Jesus,
Noel Pabiona

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Just Several Lovely Letters

As the title suggests, I will be sharing several letters today. Let's get started....

with a letter from my daughter Faith. Love this girl so much.

Faith is 11 years old and lives in Kenya. Her letter is dated September 9th, 2017.

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Hello Kayla! 

It's my hope that you are fine. I'm fine too. God has taken care of me and all my other family members. I received the letters you sent to me and I'm so thankful for your remembrance. I am going to answer the questions you have asked me. 

I like wearing dresses mostly, red and white in color. Today for lunch, I ate rice, cabbage, and meat. My home is made of bricks and concrete and it has 3 rooms. In the compound of our project, there are flowers, trees, and many buildings. There are offices and classrooms. If I had a free hour I would go to the field to play. I like playing football very much. I last attended a party in May this year. My best friend is Monanie and we go to school together. I would advise other people to be obedient and love one another. 

I will be in primary school for the next two years. In Kenya, students go to secondary school at the age of 13 or 14. We experienced some drought in our place, but we thank God for he has kept us. In our country, the general elections were conducted, but due to some issues, the presidential election is to be repeated on October 17th. Just pray for us. Otherwise, thanks so much and have a nice time. 

Good bye! 

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Now a letter from another one of my preteens, my wonderful boy Daniel, who is from Colombia. Who wrote this letter on August 18th, 2017. 

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Hello Dear Sponsor, 

I am glad to say hello to you and I hope you're doing fine. I want to tell you about my friends. They are Jesus, Santiago, Buitrago, Sofia, and Camila, but my best friend is Jesus and I met him at school. What I like the most about him is the fact that he is friendly, responsible, and intelligent. I like to have friends because they always help me, they are friendly, they play with me, and they don't disappoint me. I want to give thanks to you for your letters and your sponsorship because it is a great help to me and my family. I want to tell you that I am doing well in school. I ask you to pray for God to continue to help me. I would like to ask you: Do you have many friends? Do you like to have friends? The Bible says, "A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity." I say goodbye for now with lots of hugs and kisses. 

Juan Daniel

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Next, a fantastic letter from Acram. He sent a template about his home and also answered all of the questions that I have asked him in letters. I tell you, sending lists of questions is the way to go! 

Acram is 6 years old and lives in Tanzania. He wrote this letter on September 23rd, 2017. 

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1. I get water from: The tap

2. I get food from: Our farm 

3. My house is made of: Concrete blocks 

4. My house has a cement floor. 

5. My house an iron sheet roof. 

6. In my house I do have electricity 

Acram is so thankful for your letter again. He is very happy. He likes to wears pants, shorts, and t-shirts. Today he ate spiced rice together with the other children at his Compassion center. He lives in a house with three bedrooms and a sitting room. There is also a place for keeping animals outside that is made of wood from trees. Their goats stay there. He uses his extra time to look after his goats. At home, he lives with his two aunts Sanifa and Saufa, his grandfather Hashimu, and his cousins Nansi and Nickson. Acram laughs a lot when watching cartoons. He has a problem with his nose that makes it hard for him to breathe. The last time he attended a celebration was in July. His best friend is Rama. He would like to advise children to study hard. Tanzania last saw a sun eclipse in September 2016, but Acram did not see it because it was far from where he lives. Acram lives in the Kilimanjaro region. 

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I have another template letter to share with you now. This time, from Bryan, who shared with me some of his favorite things. 

Bryan is 8 years old and lives in Nicaragua. His letter is dated September 9th, 2017. 

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1. My favorite sport is: Soccer 

2. My favorite activity is: Reading 

3. My favorite animal is: Dog 

4. My best friend is: My mom 

5. My favorite cartoon character is: Spiderman 

Hello dear sponsor Kayla, 

God bless you. I am the teacher of Bryan. The boy expresses that he goes to the park to play ball with other children and enjoys visiting with his parents. He says he feels happy sending you this letter. He says goodbye with a hug and kiss. 

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I think I'll end this post with this letter from Brian. The post opens and closes with letters from Kenya. Brian is 16 years old. His letter is dated September 16th, 2017. 

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Dear Kayla, 

I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, hoping you are fine together with your family. My family and I are fine and God has been our protector. I am happy to write you a letter again. I received the letters that you wrote for me. I read the letters and they were very inspiring and I am happy to know more about your country. I am working hard in school, where I expect to have good grades by the end of the year. Before I wind up, I have a memory verse to share. It comes from the book of Psalm 125:1, which says, "Those who trust in the Lord they are like Mount Zion, which can not be shaken, but endures forever." Thank you for your support. May God bless you. 

Good bye.

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October Manna Mail Call!

Even though I just received letters from all of my Manna boys last month, I have heard from them again! Last month's letters were in response to letters/folders from sponsors. This month, they were written by our kids on designated letter writing days.

These letters are from the five Manna boys I had before sponsoring my new boys.  I got some pretty great artwork, as well!

Let's get the ball rolling with a letter from Jarlen. I have been referring to him as Jarlin this whole time, but he wrote his name as Jarlin twice in this letter, so I think his named was written down wrong when he was registered. Guess it's time to make that change in my mind.

Jarlin is 11 years olds. His letter is dated August 27th, 2017.

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Dear Kayla, 

Hello, my name is Jarlen. I like soccer and my favorite food is pizza. I like to participate in choreography at church. I like to lead in church and I am grateful to God and you for the help that we receive. 

Jarlen

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Next, a letter from Anthony and his mother. Anthony is 3 years old. His letter is not dated. 

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My Dear Sponsor, 

How are you? I hope that you and your family are well. I liked the photo album that you sent to my son Anthony. I really really really liked the letter. I hope our friendship is never lost. I love you very much. 

With Love,

Anthony 

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Now a letter from Brayan. He wrote part of the letter by himself and I can tell he worked so hard on it. His handwriting is so cute. The rest of the letter was written by an adult, but I don't know who it was. 

Brayan is 8 years old. His letter was written on August 20th, 2017. 

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My Dear Sponsor Kayla, 

I tell you that I am in 2nd grade at school. I love being with my classmates at school. My favorite subject is math. I am very good with my elders and I listen to my parents when they ask me to listen. I would love to meet you very soon. I pray to God for it. I thank God for you being my sponsor. I love you very much. 

Blessings,

Brayan

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This next letter is from Noel He has been in Kindergarten this year and is clearly learning well. He drew me a wonderful picture and wrote all of the words himself! 

Noel is 5 years old and his letter is dated August 27th, 2017 .

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Dear Kayla, 

Hello sister. I hope you are well, along with your family. I thank God I am well. I am in a preparatory school. My dad has me at a private school. I am very happy for that. 

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To end, my sweet, oldest boy wrote me two letters. I love that writing one just wasn't enough! He drew me some fun cartoons and an amazing drawing of an eagle too! 

Ivan is 14 years old and presumably wrote both of his letters on August 27th, 2017. 

Side note: As awesome as that video would be, I am NOT going to send him my phone number. 

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Dear Kayla, 

Hey! How are you? I'm happy to send another letter to my sponsor. I would like some day to meet you. We can meet if God wants. I'm in an organization from the church called Castillo del Rey. I thought you were coming when the other sponsors were coming. I saw your family in the photo. Your family is awesome. You are so pretty. Can you send me your phone number so I can send a video from Castillo del Rey dancing. I will pray for you, if you have any problems. On September 10th we celebrate the Children's Day. Thank you for all. God bless you. Bye. 

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Dear Kayla, 

God bless you. How are you? How is your family? I think good. I am glad to write you. Thank you for choosing me. I feel happy. I wish you a successful spirit. I am an adolescent of 14 years old. I go to a Sunday school and I go to a church called Emanuel God's Assembly. I study in a Christian school called Abundant Life Christian School. I'm in 8th grade. My father, with much effort, has me there. I don't know if would continue in that institution. One hobby that I love is football. I play football when I have free time. I have two brothers. I am so glad with God. Because of him there are programs that help assist children. We need God's attention every day! I say bye to you. Thank you for sponsoring me. I wish you blessings. Amen. 

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