Farewell to Meena

On Tuesday, I got a phone call from Compassion. I was at work and I was not able to answer it. They left a message. During my lunch break, I checked the message and got something along the lines of:

"Kayla, I was hoping to speak to you personally (uh-oh, never a good thing). I wanted to let you know that you will no longer be able to correspond with Meena because her project will be closing. Call back if you have any questions."

Any questions?! I had a lot!

After both calling and emailing, all of my questions were answered for me. Aren't the people who work at Compassion just wonderful?

It turns out that Meena's project is closing because the community no longer needs Compassion's assistance. The email I got from them said this:

"Project termination; DPT IN-556 Prj Term FL/FG: Y/Y; The community has seen a decrease in poverty and the church partner leadership no longer requires Compassion's support for working among children. We met with the church partner and can see the direct impact within the community. Children may continue to attend regular church activities and will receive direct benefits from the church partner without the assistance of Compassion. Child completed grade 10; will continue school"

It was explained to me that FL/FG: Y/Y means "Final Letter/Final Gift: Yes/Yes." It means that I am able to send both of these things to her. I think I'll only be able to send her a final letter, but I for sure am going to make it a good one. Compassion told me that I have to have the letter into the office by September. It won't take that long for me to write it, but I do have a lot to think and pray about before I sit down to write it.

I am so happy to hear that Compassion has done it's job and Meena's community can now be self sufficient, the church helping out the community on its own.

Still, it's bittersweet. I was hoping to have more time with Meena (is there ever really enough time?) I've only been corresponding with Meena since October, but I've written so many letters and got seven letters in return. I feel like we have really gotten to know each other. I'm going to miss her long, wonderful letters.

I am very happy that is going to continue going to school. Her dream is to become an archaelogist, which I know she can do if she keeps up her good work at school! Meena is also a wonderful Christian and loves God with her whole heart.

I know she is going to be okay.

God Bless Meena!

Touching Thursday

None of the children I posted last week found their sponsors. I know that God has a plan for these children and that they will find their sponsors in the perfect time. I can't help but feel a little disappointed though.

However, it is a new week and I have three more children to share with you!

Ezira has been sponsored! I hope his new sponsor can put a smile on that adorable face.

Keila has been sponsored!

7-2-12 Elmer has been sponsored! He'll get to start going to school again!

Letter From Eric!!!!

After almost five months, I have received a letter from Eric. I am just beyond happy! He truly sounds like a wonderful young man. He is almost 17 years old, but he is only in primary 4th grade. He told me how he is struggling with his school work and would like some prayer.

Part of the letter is written by Eric and the other part is written by a project worker.

Dear Kayla,


I am greet you in the name of the Jesus Christ. How are you and how is your life? Back to me, I am okay. My family members are greeting you. I have on brother. I am in primary four. I like two subjects, eg: mathematicas and science, only I don't have a lot of knowledge, but I do know Jesus.


Eric




From Project Workers:


Eric is a good boy struggling with handwriting and English language and hopes for improvement. He says he is glad for the concern and all the love you have for him and that he enjoys receiving mails from you.


Eric says that in Uganda, people do not ice skate because we do not experience winter season.


In Uganda, we are experiencing raining weather but we are just coming to the long dry season from mid-may to mid-september.


Eric says that he prays to God so that one day he will look at your face to face as well as his whole family.


He adds that you pray for him so that he can acheive success in school and in academics. And that his brother Moses is in school and is primary one.


He says that he is praying that God blesses you so much and he wishes you God's favor.


All from you loving son, Eric

My Beauty Queen, Celeste

I was going to wait until I got all of the pictures from Amanda to do a post like this, but I just couldn't wait. Amanda took two pictures of my wonderful girl in Honduras. A different group of people went to visit her in home and they have many more pictures of her that I will get from Amanda sometime soon.

Also, her name is not Iris, she actually goes by Celeste, her middle name. I've gotten so used to Iris, haha. I'll have to work on changing that.

Here are two pictures of Celeste:

Just seeing her holding my picture is just amazing. My heart is so full right now.

Here is Celeste with Amanda. Two gorgeous girls!

Amanda also told me a story. She said that as the group of people were leaving Celeste's home after her home visit, Celeste came running after them and said "Please tell my sponsor Kayla that I love her."

Be still my heart...

Amanda and Iris

Amanda over at Our Compassion Adventure has been in Honduras since Thursday. I've been thinking about her and praying for her and her group since the very moment I woke up on Thursday morning.

Today, Sunday, I woke up literally jumping up and down, with butterflies in my stomach. Today is Child Visit Day on this particular Compassion trip.

Amanda is not only visiting the beautiful children that she sponsors, she is also visiting the precious children she found sponsors for when she was advocating before her trip.

One of those children is my beauty queen, Iris. Amanda gets to see her today. She gets to hug her, pray with her, show her my picture, love on her, and even give her an amazing gift. I just can't even contain myself.

I know that when Amanda comes back she is going to have endless stories and lots of pictures to share with me and everyone.

I am constantly amazed and in awe of what God does when I choose to follow his will for my life.

Because of God working through Amanda, I get to love and be friends with this adorable 10 year old girl.

Six Word Saturday

"Praying for Amanda in Honduras Today"

Importance of Letter Writing

I know that most people that read this blog are already dedicated sponsors. I know most of you already know how important it is to write letters to your sponsored children and you do so on a regular basis.

I also know that there are sponsors out there who know how important letter writing is, but they have gotten busy and haven't written their sponsored children recently, or only write every few months. This is okay. However, I want to encourage you to write more. It seems that most sponsors choose to write to their children once a month, especially younger children. I sponsor all older children and I strive to write them 2-3 times a month. This may be too often for some kids, but all of my sponsored children have proven to me that I do not write too often and that they are able to keep up, and love receiving so many letters from me at a time.

Sadly, I know there are sponsors out there who have never written their sponsored children a letter. Not even one. I want to help put things into perspective for these sponsors, and hopefully help change their minds a little bit.

Imagine you're a child in a 3rd world country. You live in a slum, you have two rooms in your house, one bedroom where you sleep with your mother and four siblings. Your father is off living in the city trying to make money to support the family. He comes home to visit a few times a year. Your mother goes off everyday to work leaving you in charge of your four younger siblings, who you are in charge of getting fed (if there's food) and off to school (if you were able to pay your tuition that month) in the morning.

One day, you get wonderful news. You've been sponsored! A wonderful young person in the United States has chosen your face, out of thousands, to sponsor. This person whom you have never met has agreed to pay for your food, your clean water, your education fees, and your healthcare. You want to thank this person! You want to get to know this person! You can't wait to receive a letter from them to learn all about them. A few months pass by, no letter. That's okay, it hasn't been that long, you write your sponsor a letter thanking them for their support and you ask them to write you back because you wish to know more about them. A year letter...still no letter. You continue writing to your sponsor, telling them about your school work and your family, but you know longer ask them to write you back. Writing becomes a chore. You're forced to write to a person who shows no interest in you.

Why did this person sponsor me if they don't love me? Maybe I really don't matter.

This is the norm for so many sponsored children in the world. They long to hear from you. Write your sponsored child! It's never too late to start developing a relationship with them. If it's been awhile, apoligize to them. Let them know how much they matter to you and to this world!

Look at the joy that comes from getting letters from their sponsors!

Be still my heart. Too much cuteness!

Touching Thursday: More Boys (Haha)

Oh you guys, I'm always drawn to these boys. They are all just so precious to me. I just want to see them all find sponsors, especially these three this week.

7-7-12 Vipin has been sponsored! After a long wait, he's found his wonderful sponsor, just a few days after his birthday. So happy!

6-23-12 Johan has been sponsored! I always feel an extra spurt of joy when an older boy gets sponsored. I just can't help it.

August, 2012. Henock has been sponsored!

   

More Letters!

I have been so blessed with letters in the last few days, 7 from Kalpesh on Saturday, 2 from Abu yesterday, and today I received 2 letters from Xhuliano.

This little 11 year old boy from Albania is really one of the sweetest boys I now. He writes wonderful letters and everything he says is full of so much love.

His first letter needs a little background information and some explaination. Awhile ago I wrote to Xhuliano about my best friend Kristin. I told him about how she is working in Nicaragua, helping to teach children about argriculture and health. I told him about how I love Kristin and how I miss her very much. I told him about how she came home to visit in April and how that made me very happy. There was clearly an error in translation somewhere along the because he wrote all about my husband, Kris. Hahahahaha. You have to just read the letter. He's so sweet! But it just cracks me up.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Dear my wonderful friend,


I was very happy to receive your letter again, not only me but the all family.


Are you healthy, my friend? How about your family?


We do celebrate the feast of ABC, and the whole school gather and sing, dance, and recite.


I have a good relationship with my father and we hope to celebrate his birthday on 23rd of September. We want to do a surprise for him.


I wish you to have lucky days in your life with your husband Kris, who by the way has a beautiful name. I want to thank Kris for giving you love, support, and for making you happy. God bless you both to be together forever. I hug you both with love.


Xhuliano

___________________________________________________________________________

Dear my friend Kayla,


I was very happy to receive your letter, your gifts, and the picture of the students that you teach and educate. You must be a very good teacher. I like the letters that you write to me. I am very happy that you think about me. Now, the weather is hot. I pray everyday for Marsela, even for you my dear friend, to have luck and health in life. I still cover myself with the blanket that you sent and I think of you everyday. We share the same opinion about your favorite animal, the sea turtle. I was happy to learn about the sea turtle from you, you are so smart. Thank you from my heart for being an amazing friend and a smart girl. God bless you!


Hugs from Xhuliano

______________________________________________________________________________

Holy Super Sierra Leone, Batman!

I got two letters from Abu today!

I just got four letters from him less than two weeks ago.

The letters were both written last month. I have never gotten a letter from Sierra Leone in just a month. They must be in super speed. I like it!

I feel like 2nd letter needs some clarification. I wrote Abu a letter about how my family likes to bake and decorate cookies. I thought it would be fun to take a picture of each step in the baking process and send them to my kids. As it turns out, that's not allowed. Abu didn't receive any of the pictures I took. While I can understand that it's like showing off food, and it would probably be mean to show him this. I didn't even think of that. I feel bad for even sending them to him. And all of my kids.

Sometimes my head doesn't think through things that may hurt my sponsored children.

Anyway, I really am happy to receive these two letters. I'm not trying to be a downer. Here they are:

Dear Kayla,

Your child is happy to receive a card and the stickers from you. He appreciates your kindness so much that he says thank you and your family. He says you are changing his life better as you have earlier said. (I think I told him that he was changing my life for the better). He spends his free time with his friends whilst talking to them about you and your family, telling them about your goodness to him. (It sounds like we are the same, talking to our friends about each other). He teaches his friends to jump for joy everyday because he has learned it from the card you sent to him. (I sent him a card with a frog on it that said Jump For Joy. This is too cute). He shows the stickers as well. Once again, he says thanks and remembers you all day long.

____________________________________________________________________________


Dear Kayla,

Abu received the letter dated on April 6th on the 8th of May. He says many thanks for the wonderful explainations about the way you make and bake sweets and cookies. He has to understand everything as he continues to attend school. Maybe his teacher will teach him more. (I am super confused on what these two sentences mean). However, he says he did not see the finished cookies picture but it appears as he was there too. (I told him about how I made a cookie look just like him. I wish he would've been able to see that little boy cookie). He does not know how to bake, or even cook. His grandmother cooks for them but she too does not bake, even bread, which is common in the community. (I wonder where the bread comes from, or if they even eat it at all). Abu hopes that he will get some cookies so he can have and eat them. (I wonder if I'm allowed to bring him some cookies when I go visit him next summer). Once more, Abu says thanks and appreciates your kindness.

____________________________________________________________________________


I just love this little boy. I wish I could even put it into words.