From the Field Friday: Tanzania

Today's letter was a bit more of a challenge for me, research wise. As I'm sure you've noticed, I like to post official Compassion photos with the letter. I also like to search online for a photo of the specific person that runs the program in each country. Well, I could not find a photo of today's guy at all! It turns out that he goes by a different name online than he does in the letter he wrote. Mystery solved!

So, today we hear a letter from Agnes/Stanley Hotay, from Tanzania.

I have three kids in Tanzania; Emanuel, Agness, and Acram.

 

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Dear Kayla, 

I am Agnes Hotay. I have been the Tanzania country director for two years, but I joined Compassion 14 years ago. Compassion has worked in Tanzania for 17 years. We have almost 340 child development centers serving more than 80,000 youth and children. 

Pastor Agnes Hotay

Thank you for your partnership. Your kind support, love, and care for Emanuel, Agness, and Acram have made a big difference. 

Because of sponsors' ministry, children attend school with necessary schooling materials and support. In addition, they get the chance to learn at least one livelihood skill so they can support themselves in the future. They receive health care. Children also build healthy peer relationships at the center and they enjoy social activities. Children feel cared for and loved. They have a safe place to go and people who listen to and protect them. They learn about the love of God and how to share it with others. 

Children Learning Computer Skills 

Our children and families face many obstacles. Public schools often have poor infrastructure and not enough teachers. Some public health centers are ill-equipped. Unhealthy cultural practices such as early marriage and albino killings mount critical challenges to child welfare. The government is making efforts to address these issues, but it takes time to deal with such culturally rooted practices. 

Children Play in a Safe Play Yard at Their Project

My vision for the ministry in the coming year is to see that we support our churches to have stronger programs on discipleship, livelihood skills, and youth engagement. The teenagers in our program face different challenges that need special attention and greater innovation. 

In a recent youth graduation, one of the graduates moved people to tears. The girl's parents chose to enter her instead of her young brother into sponsorship because she had a serious illness and they couldn't afford treatment. Her friends carried her to the center in her early years because she could not walk. She went through six surgeries and now she can walk. She is pursuing studies in medicine and plans to become a sponsor herself. 

Children Receiving Medical Checkups

Churches have great opportunity to reach their surrounding communities with the gospel as they visit the children and families. Churches have initiated different outreach programs, social services such as nursery schools, disaster relief, and special programs for HIV/AIDS affected people, widows, and orphans. 

Children glow with excitement when they get letters from their sponsors. They feel valued and love; but some don't get letters. One child walked to the center office and asked if she had done something wrong, because she never received a letter from her sponsor. Another child almost dropped out of school so he wouldn't disappoint his sponsor. Children and their families often keep sponsor letters as special treasures. In a small mud house, they will keep the letters in a plastic bag so they are not spoiled. Please write to your sponsored child whenever possible, even just a few sentences. Some children come from dysfunctional families, broken homes, or hostile environments. No one tells them they are beautiful or smart, or no one has ever told them they are loved. A letter with such words makes a lasting impact. 

A Boy Writing a Rough Draft Letter to His Sponsor

Please help me pray for our nation to have better quality education and health services, and that our partner churches will continue to be innovative and create more youth-friendly programs. 

Sweet Tanzanian Children! 

Your support for Emanuel, Agness, and Acram comes as a gift from God to us, from a sacrificial heart. Thank you for joining hands to fulfill the Great Commission. I pray that God will meet all your needs, grant your heart's desires, and fulfill your plans. 

God bless you richly, 

Agnes Hotay

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