Letters to My Kids: January & February 2018

Taking on a new teaching job last month has left me writing less than I usually do, which is unfortunate. I've made a plan to get my writing back up to two times a month starting next month.

In January, I wrote about a crazy snowstorm that we had where I live. I realized that most (if not all) of my sponsored kids have never seen snow and probably have no idea that it is possible for it to snow so much that it, essentially, traps people in their homes. They probably also have no idea that machines have been invented for the sole purpose of snow removal. I decided to send some fun photos of some of these vehicles. I sent this letter on January 6th and amazingly, I have already heard back about, with one of my boys saying seeing the trucks was great.

I also included a funny coloring page of a man shivering in the cold!

Starting this month, I got the idea that I want to share a popular children's story with my kids each month. Some of these stories may very well be popular outside of the U.S, as well, but I don't know that for sure. So, this year, my kids will hear 11 children's stories. My teens may be too old for them, but then they can share them with younger siblings, cousins, children at the project, etc. 

I started off by sharing the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. I admit, it was a bit of a challenge, as I had to "rewrite" the stories a bit in order for them to be condensed enough to fit in the limited space in a letter. 

I had fun looking up clip art photos of the story. I chose varying styles and types, to really get across the imagery in the story. I included a coloring page too. 

Last Blogged Letters of February

Three more letters to share with you for the month. Then I plan to spend the last couple of days of February responding to all of these letters. Then it's onto March. Bring it on, March!

First up, a letter from Mulwa. I long for the day that he writes on his own. I would say he's old enough to, but he must not be ready yet. I can't wait until the day he starts sharing his own details instead of the seemingly rehearsed and generic letters I get now. Gotta love that artwork, though. :)

Mulwa is 10 years and is from Kenya. His letter is dated January 27th, 2018.

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Mulwa salutes in Jesus' name. He says he is going on well with his family members. He says he is doing well at school. Mulwa hopes that you are fine. He informs you that he is working very hard at school so as to achieve his dream. He also says that he goes to the project every Saturday and participates in well in different activities. Mulwa thanks you for the support towards his life. He thanks you for the letters you've been sending him. He says he goes to Sunday school every Sunday and now he can recite different verses from the Bible. He says he likes singing and dancing to gospel songs. He wishes you all the best in your life. 

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Onto a letter from Rebecca. I love that I hear from her so often. She's such a lovely, intelligent girl and seems to always been involved in some kind of competition of some sort. I hope she genuinely enjoys competing all the time and that she's not being forced to do so. I know that in areas of the Philippines, achievement is very important and children are only accepted as good if they win. I'm not saying at all that this is the case for Rebecca, but I do want her to know that she is wonderful regardless of all these contests and results. 

Rebecca is 10 years old and lives in the Philippines. Her letter was written on January 20th, 2018. 

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Dear Ate Kayla, 

Good day! How are you and your family? We are doing well here. Thank you for your Christmas greetings. My team got 2nd place in the folk dance and choral competition. We performed by group in the contest. Last September 4th, during my birthday, we prepared some food and celebrated with my relatives. Thank you for praying for my allergy It's okay now, though. My thumbnail removed, but another one has grown. I used ointment and an antibiotic. I also prayed to God. I am continuing my studies. We recently had our third periodical exam and I passed it. Thank you for always writing letters to me so our communication continues. My memory verse is Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old, he will not depart from it." 

Love,

Becca

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I end up with a long, very detailed letter from my sweet girl Mariela. She is such a treasure! 

Mariela is 12 years old and lives in El Salvador. Her letter is dated January 23rd, 2018. 

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Dear Sponsor Kayla, 

How have you been? I hope that at the moment you read this letter, you are fine and enjoying many blessing from our Lord Jesus Christ. I want you to know that you are in my prayers. I ask the Lord to care for your life and for your family so that God will keep you all safe always. I want to tell you about my dreams. When I grow up I want to be a doctor. I would also like to know the snow. I would like be able to visit you one day and give you a hug. I would also like to know Jesus. What place in the world would you like to know? Let me tell you that in my project I learn something new every day. I thank you for everything that you do for me, for the letters you always send to me. I'm always happy to know more from you. I hope that God blesses you a lot. I also want to thank you and to thank God because I started a new school year. I ask you to pray for me so that God gives me wisdom and intelligence to understand the classes. Also pray that He protects me and my family and me always. I'm ending my letter saying goodbye to you and wishing to know about you again. May God keep you safe. I send you a big hug with love. 

Mariela

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Three Form Letters to End the Month

I don't see myself posting too many more times before the end of February, but I do have a few letters to share. Today, I'll share three template letters I've received and another day soon, I'll share some letters from older kids.

Let's start with a letter about Kelvin's Compassion project. Just some basic info was shared and then a a nice personal paragraph. Kelvin seems like a great little guy.

Kelvin is 7 years old and lives Indonesia. He wrote this letter on January 24th, 2018.

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1. My project's name is: Kabar Baik (in English: Good News)

2. The number of children in my project is: 180

3. I get to my project by: Walking 

4. My favorite activity to do at my project is: Playing with friends 

Dear Kayla, 

I was very happy to get your letter. I wish you and your family a merry Christmas. I celebrated Christmas at the project very happily. Thanks for the Bible verse. Thanks for the photo and coloring page. I will always pray for Dedilhomme. In my village there is a party held once a year. The people are grateful for the harvest of vegetables and fruits. I pray for you. God bless. 

Regards,

Kelvin

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Up next, my sweet Lenin shared a template letter about his family. Out of every letter I receive, I LOVE letters that tell me more information about my children's families. It's always so nice to know siblings names and who else the child lives with. Such precious information, to me. 

Lenin is 6 years old, from Peru. His letter is not dated. 

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1. My siblings from oldest to youngest are: Kiara (5 years old), Xiomara (3 years old)

2. My family lives in the: City 

3. At home, cooks: My grandmother Doris 

4. My favorite way to help in my family is: Sweeping and running errands 

5. In my family, I spend the most time with: My mother and my grandmother 

Dear Sponsor Kayla, 

Lenin's tutor greets you in the name of Jesus. Lenin is excited for receiving your letter. He thanks you for the photos of the trucks. He was surprised to see so much snow! The drawing was funny. It's summer here and it's too hot. I want to ask you; how is the weather in your country now? He is praying for you. Please pray for his grandparent's work, that may God continues blessing them. He says goodbye with affection and hugs. 

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We'll end this post with a letter from Tumbu, who like my other sweet Kenyan littles recently, is writing to me on the Hobbies & Pets template. 

Tumbu is 7 years old and wrote this letter on January 20th, 2018. 

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1. Some of my hobbies are: Drawing, painting, playing football

2. My favorite hobby is: Playing football and I like to do my hobby with: my friends

3. One hobby I would like to try someday is: Drawing pictures 

4. I would like to have: Many friends to play with and sport shoes

5. The name of my pet is: Dog 

6. My favorite thing to do with my pet is: To hunt animals that live here 

7. My friend's hobby is: Drawing and his pet is a: Cat. 

Hello Dear Kayla, 

Tumbu is very happy to salute you in Jesus's name. He hopes that you are all fine with your family members. He says he is fine too. Again he tells you that he had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. He says during this time, he celebrated well with all of his family members. He ate mutton and chapati. He loves you and he is glad to have your letters. He says he will send some photos to you soon. God bless you so much. 

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From the Field Friday: PE-356

Just as last week, we head to Peru again this week, but this time, to another project. We will read the letter from PE-356, which is the project that my girl Jhoyra attends. 

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Dear Kayla, 

My name is Juan Puente Bautista. I am the pastor of Nueva Jerusalem Church and also the "Sembradores del Milenio" Child Development Center where we minister to Jhoyra. 

I am so thankful that you are a loyal sponsor with a generous and giving heart to support the progress and maturing of Jhoyra. 

We are located in a community of extreme poverty with social, cultural, and financial difficulties. There are many dysfunctional families than ever before and this greatly affects the children. That is why the children need love, care, affection, education, food, etc. and that is what we provide at the center. Through the Compassion center, many children and adolescents are being benefited in their spiritual life as they get to know Jesus through His Word. At the same time, they are given a balanced diet, medical checkups, school help and training, and also recreation and socialization. The center is well-known in the community and our population really admires the church of the Lord due to our support for the children. The sponsored children are also very thankful for the attention and the blessing they get, especially because they learn about God. 

I have to tell you that the sponsored children have completely improved their spiritual life in their relationship and hope with God. They have improved their trust in God and their emotional life is better. They are not sad anymore. In difficult moments, they even take happiness to their homes. They are very happy. The center is a total blessing in our community because you can see lives that have been changed. 

The relationship that sponsors have with the children is of much happiness. Children receive letters with lots of enthusiasm, and when they receive the letters, they read them with expectations and some children jump for joy. The letters help them to feel loved and valued and encouraged. It is for this reason it is very important for you to write letters and send photos to Jhoyra. 

Please continue to pray for Jhoyra and all the children at the center, for their development and growth of their spiritual lives, and that they will be released from spiritual and economic poverty. 

Many thank. May God greatly bless you. 

Juan Puente Bautista

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Nikko Graduates from Compassion

I just received word from Compassion that my 19 year old Nikko has graduated his Compassion project early because he no longer needs assistance (great reason!).

Let me get a bit motherly for a moment and talk about how proud I am of Nikko. I started writing to Nikko nearly 5 years ago. At that time, he was struggling in school, getting bad grades, repeating grade levels, and was just all around miserable. He ended up dropping out of school, getting a bit of tutoring at his project, and he started working with his uncle, who sold secondhand clothing at a small shop.

Through the next several letters, I saw a confident young man blossom! Business was going great! In fact, his uncle and him were able to start selling clothing online to people all over the Philippines (delivering and shipping orders). They were so successful, in fact, that they were able to open a bigger, better storefront and keep selling online.

It now seems the day has come where their earnings are now enough that Nikko no longer needs the help of Compassion. I am beyond proud of him. He is just 19 years old and he is really going places. I thank God for the last 5 years with Nikko.

This, right here, is what sponsoring is all about, isn't it?

More Letters For The Week

As many of you who write to as many children as I do (some even more), letters roll in at a never-stopping pace. I think it's fantastic, of course! But just when I feel caught up with posting and replying to letters, another group of letters rushes in. It's a constantly busy and fabulous process. I am so blessed to get to love and encourage so many children!

Let's start with a letter from Muzuro. He has proven again that he is great at answering questions. When a sponsored child answers questions well, it makes building a relationship so much easier!

Muzuro is 15 years old and lives in Uganda. His letter is dated February 1st, 2018.

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Hello Kayla, 

I am fine and so happy to receive a second letter from you. You asked me if I enjoy having a large family. Yes, I enjoy it because at home we play together and work together in a group. But in a large family, food is a problem for us. When my mother goes to the farm, she comes back with greens, and that's what we eat. The second question you asked me is if any of my siblings live with me. Yes, Joyce does. Third, you asked are any of my siblings married. Yes, one of them are married. That is Gloria. Yes, I have nieces and nephews. You also said, "Did you have a good Christmas?" Yes, I had a good Christmas together with my neighbors and we enjoyed a lot of games, dancing, eating, and drinking. At home we ate lunch and we went to a place called golp ground, where children go to play and find shells. You know, playing there is enjoyable. I am doing well with my family. I am happy for the photos you sent me. They are beautiful. You know, I like vehicles very much. They are so beautiful to me. God bless you. 

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Onto a short letter from my young man Jhonrex. He has never been the most chatty of boys, and that's just fine. He tends to share a few details and then end his letter. I love his drawing that came with this letter, though! 

Jhonrex is 17 years old and lives in the Philippines. His letter was written on December 15th, 2017. 

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Dear Kayla, 

Pleasant day! How are you this time? I hope you are doing fine. Thank you so much for the letters and the family pictures. I really appreciate your effort and especially your support. Thank you also for your prayers. I will try to send our family picture. As of this time, I am not feeling physically well. Here in the center I attended our Christmas party and I had so much fun because there were lots games and I was able to hear a message about Christmas. Please pray that I will get well from my cough. What is your plan for Christmas? Thank you and Merry Christmas. Honestly, I forgot to pray for Carlos. Thanks for reminding me. 

Jhonrex

Jhonrex's family drawing. Jhonrex is the oldest of 4 children, so I assume he must be the one in his father's arms. I love his father's gentle hand on his chest. As you know, Jhonrex is 17 years old, so this must be a memory of a past time. It's really truly lovely. 

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Up next, a letter from sweet Dagim, who I just have such a soft spot in my heart for. He joined my family after somebody a long time ago was having "trouble connecting" with him and asked if anybody else wanted to write to him. I gladly took him into my family and hope that I never have to let him go. I pray his financial sponsor keeps up the commitment of sponsoring him. 

Dagim is 10 years old and lives in Ethiopia. His letter is dated January 1st, 2018. 

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Dear Kayla, 

How are you doing? I am doing very well with my family. Thank you very much for your letter. I am attending school well. The first semester is ending now. I hope that the results will be very nice. I need your prayers also. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year 2018. I wish and pray that the new year will be a year full of prosperity and growth. Bye. 

Yours,

Dagim 

He included a drawing what, I can only assume, is a naked boy playing soccer. ;) 

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Again from Ethiopia, I have a form letter to share from sweet Yohannis. In this letter, he is telling me about "What I Like Best." 

Yohannis 8 years old and wrote this letter on January 1st, 2018 (seems to be letter writing day in Ethiopia?)

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1. What I like best to do with my friends is: Playing

2. The game I like best is: Soccer

3. What I like best to do at home is: Studying & helping my mother in the house

4. What I like best about the project is: Meeting with my friends, singing songs, and writing letters. 

5. The subject I like best in school is: Science 

6. The teacher I like best in school is: Jambo

7. Because: He teaches us a lot and he also likes us 

8. The place I like to visit best is: Sodor 

Please pray for me and my family's health. Pray for me to be brave in education. I received your letter. Thank you for telling me that God loves me. Thank you for your gift. We celebrated Christmas. 

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Representing the girls in this post, we have a letter from Jhayra. It's always interesting to hear about how our children celebrate and react to certain holidays. 

Jhoyra is 11 years old and lives in Peru. Her letter is dated January 31st, 2018. 

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Dear Sponsor Kayla, 

I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you for the three letters, photos, and coloring pages you sent to me. I'm very happy to write another letter to you. I like everything you tell me about you. I spent Christmas with just my mom. We ate chicken and we prayed at midnight to thank God for all the miracles that Jesus made for us and for Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. On Halloween, we organize ourselves and everyone brings banners against Halloween because our Lord Jesus dislikes it. There is a parade and we walk holding the banners. Here in Peru, we are in summer, but it is very cold in the place where I live. It is raining a lot every day. Here is a story: 

Once upon a time there was a hare and a turtle. They competed to know who was the fastest. During the race the hare fell asleep, but the turtle kept moving until it reached the target. So the turtle won. This teaches us that even the slowest can succeed.

I ask you to pray for me and my family. 

Jhoyra

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Updated Photos: February 2018

I've been blessed with so many photo updates so far this month and it's only been 2 weeks! There could be more to come!

Fashionable Ayling from Nicaragua

My orange loving Bryan from Nicaragua

Sweet Djimitri from Togo

Little Lenin from Peru

Rujikorn, who has not worn her traditional clothing, from Thailand. 

Smiley Enmanuel from Dominican Republic!

And this interesting situation of photos of Lemayian. I first received the photo of him in the white shirt and then just two weeks later, I received the photo of him in the light blue shirt. Not sure why I got two photos in a small span of time, but I'll take it! 

From the Field Friday: PE-441

Let's read the pastor letter from project PE-441, which is located in Peru. It is the project that my lovely girl Sunrei attends.

These pastor letters are all pretty similar to each other, which is actually pretty great. It shows that Compassion has a consistent standard, regardless of country or community. However, each letter also has that bit of individualism, showing us that the projects really do grow and adapt according to the needs of the children in each particular community. I love Compassion!

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Dear Kayla, 

I am Miguel Angel Rugel Sanjines. I am the pastor of Jesus Calls You Church where the Child Development Center is attended by Sunrei. We are located in the province of Callao, a place of great need with a great population. There is a lack of moral and spiritual values. People have bad habits and there is a lot of ignorance and idleness. However, this is the best place to do the work of the Lord. There is a beautiful potential in the youth and children. There is a great number of single mothers. In conclusion, it is the right place to work sharing the Word of the Lord. 

There is a great lack of care for the most vulnerable group, the children and the youth. The children lack affection because most of the parents are absent in the families. Our volunteer staff is well trained to protect and provide emotional, social, and spiritual support. They offer them a well-structured center for their development in the different areas of their growth. We offer them our time, care, attention, effort, and prayers, and we interact with their family and encourage them to live with the Lord. We explain to them that they do not need to be indifferent to God's love for them and their families. We guide them so their children do not make the same mistakes they made. 

Thanks to the center, we have an opportunity so the children and youth grow in the path of the Lord and persevere in their devotion time. We show them videos about how they should behave. Some families know the Lord and participate in the weekly meetings we have at church. The youth have a service for them on Fridays. 

About 40 children participate in Sunday school. We take care of all the children and provide them with balanced meals. We help them with two checkups per year. We also celebrate their birthdays every six months, but every month, we celebrate them with cards and crafts that their classmates made. Now, the children are getting dental checkups thanks to San Marcos University. We help the children when they need medical attention. In some cases, we took the children to the doctor to get a cast on their arms when they had a fracture on days the center was closed. 

Every year, we take them outside of the city to have a day of recreation. During the summer, we also take them to the swimming pool with the tutors. We also take them to camp and we meet with teenagers from other centers where we have a time of fellowship. The children come back from the camps really changed. During that time, they do not only compete and have fun, but they also have spiritual lessons presented with an amazing leadership. The teenagers look forward to the next year to participate in the next camp. 

In every classroom, we have a mural dedicated to the sponsors. It is a special place where the children can express their gratitude for the benefits they enjoy thanks to their sponsors. We guide the children so they would not only pray for the sponsors, but also express in their letters their gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to enjoy the many benefits each of them receive. Please write to Sunrei as much as you can. 

We thank you in adventure for your attention to this letter. I bless your life, your family, and the ministry God has given you. 

Sincerely, 

Migual Angel Rugel Sanjines

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