Official Manna 4 Lempira Backpack Photos: 2018!

The last week or so has been so exciting as photos from the latest Manna 4 Lempira trip were slowly posted; first candid photos and then official backpack photos, one community at a time. It was so fun to check the Facebook page every day and see which new photos had arrived. Here are the official photos are each of my boys. Let's go from oldest to youngest, to keep it organized.

Ivan looking so grown up! He seems to favor his new soccer ball. 

Carlos also appears to have gone through a growth spurt. Such a handsome guy! 

Jarlen received his backpack and shoes. Then a few days later, while receiving his folder from me, was seen sporting one of the new shirts that I sent to him in his backpack! And the shirt fits him perfectly! 

Yesbin has such a great smile! And, as a friend pointed out, it's pretty fun how perfectly his shirt matches his new soccer ball. :) 

Such a serious boy! But he also seems to love his new soccer ball! 

Tiny Defer who, if you an believe it, will turn 9 years old soon. He's so little! 

Every time I see a photo of Angel, I am just so grateful that I get to be his sponsor. I had to, unfortunately, lose a sponsored child to gain Angel into my family, but when I see his sweet face, I know it was all meant to be. I love him so much! 

I love Levi's little grin! 

My sweet, chubby-cheeked Noel! He also EVERYTHING taken out of his backpack in the 2nd photo. I guess he couldn't decide which item he liked the best. 

My littlest guy, Antony! I always forget how little he is, until I see him next to something. For example, the backpack is nearly half his size! 

There is just something magical about seeing my children holding backpacks, holding toys, and wearing clothing that I had in my possession just a few months ago. Sponsoring with Manna 4 Lempira is truly a miracle. I am thankful for the organization every, single day.  

From the Field Friday: TH-715

Today's letter comes from the pastor from project TH-715, which is located in Thailand. It's the project my boy Tle attends.

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Dear Kayla, 

Greetings in the mighty name of Jesus. I am Boonlu Kotcharat. I'm a pastor of a partner church with Compassion International in the Prakun Kud Yang Child Development Center. We minister to your sponsored child. Thank you for your sponsorship of Thanathip Chinban. We're located in the Northeastern region of Thailand. 

Thank you for your valuable support. The center is doing ministry in six communities near us, which causes many changes as we seek to develop the children in need. We share the Gospel, help the children get an education, and encourage a good family life. 

The sponsored children have a chance to join in the center. They get to hear about the Gospel and get to take care of their spiritual suggestions. Many children have accepted God and their lives have been changed for better. They have good responsibility, they love others, and are willing to help people who are weaker than them. 

There was a child in the center who accepted the Lord and he is no strong in serving in the church ministry. From being a shy person, he is now a leader. He leads younger children and teaches them to sing and leads them in Sunday worship. He had invited his younger brother to come and play the musical instruments with him too. People in the community have accepted his ability, his good behavior, and good manners. His family has accepted the changes that have happened within their own family so they trust in God to take care of him more and always support him in all activities.

The ministry that we're doing with the community at present is developing the career skills for the parents of sponsored children and set up various groups such as a credit union saving groups and career groups. The aim is to increase the income and savings of the families so they can better support their children. 

The letters from the sponsors are the very important thing that helps the children to get to know the sponsors. When they've received a letter, they are happy and they are always waiting for sponsor letters. It's important that they receive encouragement so they will grow in God's ways. I hope you will write soon. Please write Tle a letter as it makes each child so very happy to receive mail. 

Please pray for us. Thank you supporting us with your prayers and finances. May God bless you and may the peace of God be with you forever. Amen. 

Regards, 

Boonlu Kotcharat

_______________________________________________________________________________

Manna Backpack Distribution Candids: 2018

I am so excited to be posting this today! Just a few weeks ago, a team with Manna 4 Lempira traveled to Honduras to distribute backpacks, school supplies, school shoes, and other assorted goodies to all of the children. There were games played, celebrations to be had, and all around fun!

I will have official photos of all of my Manna boys soon, with their new items, but until then, I have some other wonderful photos to share with you! There were hundreds of candid photos taken during the time spent in Honduras and I was able to spot some of my boys in several of the photos! It's not all of my boys, some seem to be more camera shy. ;) I'll post them by individual boy:

Sweet Antony before and after receiving his goodies! 

Angel admiring his soccer ball and spying on what the other kids received. 

Noel is a little shy after receiving his folder

My Jarlen with his younger brother; waiting for backpacks to arrive. 

Serious, handsome Ivan after receiving his backpack. 

Yesbin all smiles (and even a wave) before receiving his backpack. Then all serious afterwards. 

Levi's sweet smile and, again, seriousness after receiving his backpack. 

First Sunday Advocate: February 2018

It's time to share another list of beautiful children who are currently waiting for a sponsor. Each of these children attends a project that one of my children attend. Each month, I tend to pick kids based on a theme of some sort. This month, I decided to choose children that had names of people I know in real life. I was surprised by how many I found, to be honest. 

If you want to learn more about any of these children, or would like to sponsor them, the information under each child is a link to that child's page. You can read more about their interests, their family, their schooling, and even click the happy yellow button to sponsor them! 

4 Year Old Ebenezer from BF-129

10 Year Old Georgina from BO-805

11 Year Old Emanuel from BR-322

7 Year Old Keyla from EC-271

7 Year Old Meron from ET-163

10 Year Old Chris from IO-595

5 Year Old Samuel from KE-235

4 Year Old Yeison from NI-293

5 Year Old Ian from UG-906

From the Field Friday: TG-661

It's February! This month, we get to find out if the groundhog sees his shadow or not and if we get to get away from this cold weather or not, because, you know, that's how weather works. ;) Either way, I hope that winter ends soon. I want to be warm!

But alas, it's Friday morning, so it's time to share another letter from the Compassion field. Today, we'll hear from project #661, located in the country of Togo. My boy Djimitri attends this project:

______________________________________________________________________________

Dear Kayla, 

May the peace of the Lord be with you! I am Fiadeva Koffi Tonougba, pastor of New Creation Missionary Church, where New Creation Child Development Center is located in the maritime region of Togo, and where we minister to Djimitri. 

I am so grateful to you for your support of Djimitri and for the various support you give him. You are precious in your Djimitri's life. 

The community where the church is settled is made up of different tribes and ethnic groups of Togo, such as the Watchi, the Akposso, the Ewe, Muslims, and pagans. Our community is especially facing problems like extreme poverty, lack of clean water, unhealthiness, unemployment, ignorance, and illiteracy. 

Our center develops the children holistically in four areas: spiritual, socio-emotional, cognitive, and physical. We are committed to use love and excellence to build a world where all children's rights will be respected and their living conditions bettered. 

Our center must become a center to welcome, listen to, and protect the children of our community. It is a joy for me to see children receiving gifts and donations, to see a number of children's parents come to worship with us, and to see these children transformed and bloomed at the image of Christ. Thanks to the center, the church has an open door for evangelism in the quarter. 

You can't imagine how glad children are when they receive their sponsor's letters. In fact, the letters the children receive from their sponsor make them confident that they have someone from afar that loves them, thinks of them, helps them financially, prays for them, adores them, and that gives them particular attention. If they don't receive any letter from their sponsor, they feel forgotten and abandoned. For this reason, we ask you to write letters. 

I would like to ask you to remember us in your prayers. May God protect children and grant them His grace. May He protect the center workers and may He work on people's hearts in the community for repentance. May other doors open so that the church can help the street children in the quarter! 

May God bless you for your kind support to Djimitri. May he grant you good health and may your ventures be fulfilled in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Yours in the Lord,

Fiadeva Koffi Tonougba

_______________________________________________________________________________

A Whole Group of New Girls!

Over the last month or so, four new girls have joined my Compassion family! I am so excited to introduce you to:

Keyla from Ecuador

Mariza from Nicaragua

Yeraini from Dominican Republic 

Nicol from Dominican Republic

I am so excited to get to know these sweet girls!