Letter from Anjali

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I send greetings to you in the Almighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am fine. I hope same with you there. I received your letters and pictures. Dandehi (not sure what that means) is very nice and beautiful. How is your grand daughter? I am very happy. How felt your son and son-in-law? Your grand daughter is very cute.

I celebrated Children's Day on the 10th of November very well. We celebrated suppose Christmas. Also I am praying for you and your family members. Thank you for your loving sponsorship.

Your loving child,
M. Anjali

Finally, a new letter from Fred

Maybe it just SEEMS like it has been an extra long time since I heard from Fred. In today's letter, he is answering my letters of August 5 and August 11.

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Greetings from the Philippines!!! We hope that you have a blessed day. All is well here. Fred is enjoying his second grade. He just took a Division Achievement test today. Please pray that his grades would increase. His highest subject was English.

God is so gracious to your husband with the strength he had given. (I'm not sure what this is about, but on 8/5, I did answer a question about what Walt did for a job).

Fred is playing soccer but he likes basketball more. He is not fond of parlor games.

Thank you for the dog stickers and the paper money. We are sure that no one can get it because they can't spend it. (I sent a pad of tiny dollar bills--and I DID explain that it was play money). They had lots of programs last Vacation Bible School.

Fred's new teacher is Mrs. Ortega. Can you remember your favorite teacher's name? Fred is so thankful for his teachers.

Thank you for all of your concerns.

God bless you. Until here.

Love,
(Fred's Mother)

A New Kiva Loan

Lucy Kosimbei from Kenya is my 39th Kiva loan.


Lucy has been in active mixed farming for over 18 years in her home area of Litein, South Rift, Kenya. Her farm currently produces milk, tea and poultry for the local market with the help of one farmhand. She reiterates that farming is her only source of income.

Lucy has requested a loan of 28,000 KES from Juhudi Kilimo to help build a zero grazing unit for the animals. She is optimistic the business will be better with the loan and hopes to be able to improve her family's living standards. She is, however, apprehensive with the poor market for the produce.

Letter from Anjali

It seems like forever since I've had a Compassion letter, but one finally arrived from Anjali today. After being nearly mute for so long, she's become a real chatterbox!

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I am fine. I hope same with you there. I received written letter in your letters. Teluguin my note book (not quite sure what that means!) My teacher translate the letter, then I written in the letter. My new teacher name is Siromarii. I am studying new subjects in my new class very well. I received book marks. Thank you for your bookmarks. I also love music. How is your family members? I am praying for you and your family members, that all you will be well.

I thank you for your loving sponsorship.

Fresh Water - See Your Impact

Having come to understand the need for fresh water in so many different places, this "see your impact" story brings tears to my eyes.

Kavin and her family have access to clean water!

Dear Sterling and Melinda, Dennis, Dean and Julie, Beverly, Lisa, Tom, and Ken and Sharon,

Speaking to Divine Waters Uganda staff in the village of Aloborom in Northern Uganda, 20 year old Kavin said that she used to hear people talking a lot about Divine Waters Uganda and how they were helping provide clean water in nearby communities.

Meanwhile, her community continued to drink dirty water that was white in color and often full of sand. With no other option, Kavin and her family collected this water anyway.

Thank to your combined generosity, Divine Waters Uganda was able to provide a well for this community. Families are now able to wash clothes and bathe whenever they like, and are no longer suffering from water related diseases.

Loan made through See Your Impact.

2 Letters from Anjali

There were two letters from Anjali, in India, today. the first was a thank you letter, which came with a photo attached:

I bought Mixi with the birthday gift that I received in the month of September 2011. In my house we have essential the mixi. It is use for many pastes to made. My family members are very thankful to you.

I remember you in my prayers. Once again thank you for your love and help.

Your loving child

M. Anjali

The second was a regular letter.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the sweet name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am fine. I hope same with you there. How is your health? I received your letter. When it gets very hot I spend before the air cooler.

Cappy and Polly are very nice to see. They are very cute. I too like dogs.

Thank you for your appreciation. And also thank you for you, because you are showing my pictures to your friends and relatives.

I am studying well. I am praying for you.

You are my lucky sponsor I am loving so much. I thank you for your wonderful sponsorship. I am sending my regards to your family members. I am sending my kisses to you.

Your loving child,

M. Anjali

2 More Letters from Esther

I received two letters from Esther today, along with the Christmas greeting at the side--a beautifully folded envelope.

September 3, 2011

This month is the month of September. I'm now in grade 11 in high school. I'll soon do the 1st semester mid test.

I hope Beverly is able to pray for me that I can do it well.

At school I take Teens' Red Cross activity and soon I'll be inaugurated. It's going to be great for sure. What's the extra activity you once took at school, Beverly? I laugh a lot, indeed, usually because of funny things.

Around Christmas now, I have no plan yet, and maybe this letter reaches you there when it's already Christmas. My family and I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. God bless.

And there was another letter, dated a month later.

October 3, 2011

I like to laugh too, maybe if there's funny stuffs. Friends support it too. I can read English magazine but don't master it well. In Indonesia there are so many kinds of magazines and I usually read the magazines at school.

On the Eid holiday yesterday I just went around the family to greet the relative's place, help auntie to make foods. Oh, the dragon in Indonesia, we have one, but rarely find it. Do you have many dragons there? Do you like dragons, Beverly?

That is all from me. Next time I continue again.

God bless you.

Letter from Esther

Hi, Beverly Sykes

How are you? Here, my family and I are fine. I'm glad to receive the birthday gift which amounted to dp. 127.500. I spent it on clothes. Please also pass my thanks to [her financial sponsor] for the birthday gift.

I'm going to do the mid-exams soon. Please pray for me, Beverly. Please pray that I'll do the exams well.

Love regards from me to you and your family, Beverly Sykes.

Compassion was very upset that she had included the account number of her financial sponsor--I am her correspondence sponsor. They say it was a violation of the other sponsor's privacy, but I wouldn't even begin to know how to find out who this person was from a 7-digit number!

Najesh

I have received a report on my second "See your Impact" donation.

No longer lonely, Najesh is loved!

Dear Kanwar, Beverly, Laura, Katherine, Peggy, and Jim,

Najesh was a destitute child, who was left to fend for himself in the harsh city of Mumbai, till Sahaara Charitable Society found out about him, and admitted him into Mahima Home, a home for orphaned boys.

At Mahima Home, Najesh receives English medium schooling in one of the top schools in the locality, quality accommodation and wholesome nutrition within a loving family environment afforded by dedicated houseparents.

Najesh is an energetic , physically fit and active eight year old boy today. He loves computer games and loves the outdoors as well. He is a good student in school and overall, Najesh is blossoming into a secure child, not fearing, but looking forward to his future!

Your generous donations, Kanwar, Beverly, Laura, Katherine, Peggy, and Jim, will enable Sahaara to provide three fresh and nutritious meals to Najesh for, thereby ensuring that he remains healthy and continues doing well in his studies.

Thank you all so much, for coming together in support of Najesh!

Loan made through See Your Impact.

Letter from Anjai

I had a very nice letter from Anjali today. Things seem to have done a 180 since she started writing her own letters. It's like I have found a brand new child!

Dear Beverly Sykes:

Greetings to you in the sweet name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am fine here. I hope you same with you there. I am studying well. How are you? How is your health?

We are going enter int winter season. This season is very beautiful to us. I like the winter seasn. At morning time we have see the fog, on the open place. It is looking very nice. In this season we have many fruits like jujubi, custard apple, apple, pomogranate, etc. How is your weather?

We will be celebrating All Saints Day on November 1st and next day we will be celebrating All Souls Day on November 2nd. That day we decorated our elders' tomb with flowers and candles.

I am praying for you and your family in my daily prayers. You also pray for me. Once again, thank you for your sponsorship.

Your loving child,
Anjali

New Kiva Loan

I found a way to help someone in THIS country this time around. Of course I'd be more enthusiastic if there were a few GIANTS hats mixed in among those Yankee caps! Ibrahima lives in the Bronx.


Ibrahima is originally from West Africa. He has been is the United States since 1997, and when he first arrived he became a truck driver. After a few years on the road, Ibrahima knew he wanted to become more independent and start his own business. Six years ago, he opened a store selling sports apparel and urban style clothing. He says starting a business is all about taking chances, and that’s exactly what he did. With the store, Ibrahima is helping support his wife and three children.

In view of the upcoming cold season, Ibrahima needs to stock the store with warm clothing. He will use this loan to buy inventory such as coats, sweaters, and boots.

Letter from Theresa

I had another letter from Theresa today. It took about 3 weeks to get here, which is pretty good. She's only 4, so she doesn't write letters, but I liked her hand print. The person who wrote the letter for her says that she has a cat but hasn't named her yet because she didn't know if she could name her.

"Theresa can now pray before eating her food. She also assists in house chores She can now socialize with her age mates. She now interacts well with her friends"

I sent her back a tracing of my hand, which should make her laugh, it's so big!

Letter from Murugi

Murugi is a correspondence child, which means I don't sponsor her financially, but I write to her, since her financial sponsor doesn't. She is 19 and her letter today had exciting news.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

It is my hope and prayer that you are fine under God's Care. Back at home we are fine, experiencing the cold August weather. How is the weather back there?

We are now harvesting our crops from the shamba (a garden, in Kenya) at our place. We are happy and thankful to God because we are able to harvest a lot of maize and beans.

I'm happy that I did my secondary examination well and I've joined college. (I'm so happy for her!) My grandmother is very proud of me for that.

How are you doing back there? Do you take part in church activities like I do? I usually attend the church every Sunday. I'm also a member of youth choir in our church. When I'm not in school other youth members and I take part in cleaning the church and its compound and also visit the sick in hospitals and in their homes. What do you usually do?

• This is where I get uncomfortable. These children want so desperately to know what you do in church, what prayers you say, what Bible verses you like to read. It's difficult for someone who does not attend church and doesn't read the Bible to know how to respond!)

Receive greetings from my family member. I'm grateful for you and your support and I pray that God blesses you so much. I will continue praying for you and thank God for giving me a good friend like you. Thank you for your support and may God bless the work of your hands.

Bye.
Yours,
Murugi

A two letter day

Today I received letters from both Eric Wainaina in Kenya and Fred in the Philippines. I will make each a separate entry.

Letter from Fred

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian greeting!

Thank you for the star (I sent a big star sticker on one of the letters, congratulating him on his good work in school). Fred was so happy for your appreciation.

We know that you are lonely when Walt and Jeri are not at home. We filipinos have that strong feeling also. We don't like that anybody is away. Thank you for your prayers for our sorrow. (Fred younger sister died last year)

Have you experienced a storm lately? We are experiencing it this week. Please pray for Fred's safety every time he goes to school.

He is learning multiplication and we know the difficulty. He is growing taller and he is becoming more responsible in doing his assignments.

Thank you for your love and support. God bless you!!!

Love,
Mrs Lyra C.
(Fred's mother)

Letter from Wainaina

I don't know whether to call him Eric or Wainaina. I've been calling him the latter, but this letter, the first really long, personal letter I've received from him, is signed "Eric."

Beverly Sykes,

First of all, is much greetings for a long time I haven't written for you a letter. I am happy for your support. God has protected me and our family. My family usually pray for you. I thank God for your prayers.

For now I'm happy for God has answered my prayers of becoming top ten in our exams. How areyou doing? Are you studying like me? I am doing well in home and school. For me, I like participating in many activities, even those that I'm not talented in. But I thank God for what I like doing in my leisure time. He has blessed me with the gift of playing soccer.

I love you for your help and guidance. Here in Kenya there is a lot of drought. animals in Northern Kenya are dying because of hunger. May our prayers be answered because of Kenyans for Kenya initiative to help those who are hungry.

I would like you to read from the book of Psalms 125:1 It says "those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which can never be shaken and can never be moved."

Letter from Anjali

I was very excited to receive this letter from Anjali. Not only is it the longest letter I have ever received from any of my Compassion children, but she wrote it by herself, for the very first time.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the Almighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am fine here. I hope same with you there. How is your health?

I received your letter. I feel very happy when I am reading your letter. My favorite subject is English. My favorite game is KhoKho I received your photos also. Photos are very beautiful. Badaling Great Wall is very nice to see. I like paper dolls very much. We have quarterly exams in this month. Pray for me. After examinations we have Pasara (?) holiday to schools.

But we have no holidays for Project. Project will conducting retreats in holidays. Our staff teach new songs. I like action songs. We written 1st and 2nd unit examinations. I got good marks in examinations.

We celebrated teachers day on September 5th. I given fruits and given flowers to my teachers. Teachers blessings us on that day. We celebrate teachers day because our great teacher's birthday on that day. He is our formal president also. His name is Dr. Sarre Palli Raolho Krishna.

I am praying for you and again thank you for your sponsorship.

Your loving child,
M. Anjali

Best of all, this letter did not include the same pictures she has been drawing for two years!

Letter from Emmanuella

This is my first letter from Emmanuellal in Ghana. It follows a series of categories to which she writes comments:

Response to sponsor's questions
I am with much joy to have your letter. We do not have a dog. My best subject is science. My siblings are Rosemary 17 year and Felix 2 years.

Questions from Child to Sponsor
What are the names of your children?

New Personal Information about Child.
I am the house leader of my house that is the house of righteousness.

I would like to know more about
Your new grandchild.

Child's prayer for sponsor:
I pray that God should give you strength and let your work go on.

Child's prayer request
Pray for me that God should give me wisdom and understanding so that I can learn.

2 New Kiva Loans

I chose this woman in memory of dear Nora, who died recently...and also because she is in the Philippines, where my Correspondence child, Fred lives.


Nora is 56 years old. She is married with 1 child. Nora has a piece of land cultivated with vegetables and fruit trees, which in time can be harvested with the intention to sell. She has had this business for 10 years. She requested a loan of PHP 15,000 to buy insect sprays and fertilizers. She has been a member of HSPFI since 2010. In the future, Nora hopes to improve her business.

I chose Ivone because a widow with six children needs all the help she can get.

Ivone was born in the district of Boane, province of Maputo, southern Mozambique. She is a widow and the mother of six children, of which only one still attends school. She never had the opportunity to study for lack of financial conditions. She lives with her family in a house she owns and doesn't support anyone else.

She has been a businesswoman for over 35 years and earns an income of about 6.000mt a month. She uses it to pay for home expenses and saves part of it in her bank account.
She has had loans in other banks (PROCREDIT) and has been able to pay them back without any difficulties. She first heard of Hluvuku through friends who are also clients of this institution. This is her first loan with Hluvuku. It is for 10.000mt, which she intends to use to purchase goods (oil, sugar, beans, etc.) in order to increase the volume of her merchandise.

Satyavathi now lives in dignity

Dear Beverly,

Killadi Satyavathi is a 66 year old widow who lives in the village of Brahmadevam in coastal Andhra Pradesh. She has one son and three daughters, who are are married and living with their families. Satyavathi's husband passed away 2 years ago. She works as a daily laborer earning 2$ a day whenever she finds work. Until recently, she was able to successfully manage the household chores and work as a laborer. But her vision began to drop gradually, making it virtually impossible to carry on independently. She was depressed.

Satyavathi developed cataracts in both eyes, which were operated upon by Sankurathri Foundation. However, even after the surgery, she found that she needed corrective glasses in order to see well. Satyavathi, however, had no money to pay for the glasses, and thought she would continue without glasses.

Your donation, Beverly, enabled Sankurathri Foundation to provide a free pair of glasses to her. She can now perform her household chores and work as a laborer without depending on anyone.

Thank you, Beverly, for restoring Satyavathi's eyesight and restoring her dignity.

Loan made through See Your Impact.

Vote for Compassion

Compassion has been nominated to be one of the organizations that is on the receiving end of donations coming from One Million for Good. I was thrilled to see Compassion made the final list of nominees.

I need your help.

More specifically, I need your vote. VOTE HERE

I also need your voice as you can help spread the word. Would you help me? If each one of us spreads the word, more and more people will have the chance to vote for Compassion.

Here are some things you can do:

• post this on your blog
• email your friends and family
• post this on facebook
• tweet
• whatever else you can think of

Thanks!

Letter from Anjali

Today came a new letter from Anjali, including another drawing. The strange thing about this child is that she draws the same thing every. single. time! This is her drawing today:

And this is compared to the last three drawings she sent:

At least this time she labeled what the various things are (though that looks suspiciously more like a "flag" than a "fig"!

The Sponsor Relation Assistant writes the letters for her:

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Anjali sends greetings to you in the Almighty name of Lord Jesus Christ. She says she is fine. she asks how you are? She asks how is your health? She says she is fine. She says she received your letter. She says American Princess stickers are very nice to see. She says photographs are very nice and beautiful. She says she is celebrating Friendship Day on August 7th. She says she will celebrate her Independence day on the 15th of August. She says her project celebrated "Thanksgiving Day" on July 1st. She says her project given Net, chair, and writing pad. She says she is praying for you and your famiy members. She says thank you for your love and support.

On behalf of M. Anjali
K.H.L. Patricia
Sponsor Relation Asst.

First Letter from Theresa

There was a great move to adopt all of the kids from Ghana Project #232 last month. Compassion had posted videos of the center and many of the kids. I hadn't intended to take another child, but when I saw Theresa's face, I had to adopt her (check her picture in the right hand column).

We all have been waiting for the first letters to arrive, and mine did today. She is only 4, so she can't really write, but her social worker fills in a form for her and writes a brief letter.

My family: Esi Ariguamah (mother), Kwesi Essuman (Father) and brothers Kwame Essuman and Kojo Essuman.
My Home: Village
My Favorites: color: blue; food: rice and stew; Song: Gospel; Game: Ampe (this is apparently a popular game in Africa, since many of my children from different African countries list this as their favorite game. I have seen a video of it and I can't make heads or tails out of it!); Toy: Car; Pet: Cat (Well, she can't be ALL good! LOL!)

Message for my sponsor: Theresa and her family welcome you warmly into their lives. They say thank you for your presence in their lives.

Question for my sponsor: Do you have brothers and sisters? (I will lie and say no. Four years old is too young to know that my sister was killed in 1971!)

Prayer for My Sponsor: Theresa prays for a healthy living for you and your family.

Prayer Request from child: Pray for her to love school and learn seriously.

A drawing was also included, but it was so light it was almost invisible. Fortunately, thanks to PhotoShop, I was able to darken it so I could see what it looked like. Not bad, actually for 4 years old!

Two Letters from Fred

There were two letters from Fred today, the first a thank you for his birthday gift. It is always amazing to me how much they are able to buy in their own country. I sent him $25.

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian greetings!

Thank you so much for loving my son. He was very happy during his birthday. He appreciates the gift very much. H received an amount of 1,055.50 We bought long pants, polo, sandals, underwear, t-shirt, short pants, biscuits and chocolate drinks. Fred is so excited to wear the new clothes for our coming church anniversary. Please pray that Fred would be growing into a grateful child. Until here.

Love,
Fred's Mother


The second letter was written three days later.

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian greetings!

May this letter find you in good health. Thank you for loving my child. We are so grateful for your effort, especially for the little book.

Fred is in school now. They had vacation last month of April and May. They started classes on June and they had the Vacation Bible School last May. We are so happy that we know someone like you who knows how to appreciate even small things.

Fred also likes funny jokes and he smiles whenever his classmates are making funny stuffs. He is smiling upon receiving a letter from you. I also smile whenever they are doing good at home.

Please continue to pray that Fred would improve more in his character.

Are you also fond of watching television? That's our pastime here.

Thank you for all support and prayers. God bless you!

Love,
Fred's mother

New Photo of Anjali

When I went onto Our Compassion today, I noticed that Anjali's photo had been updated, so I called Compassion and asked for a .jpg. She looks so pretty!

So much more grown up than the little girl I first agreed to sponsor!


I chose her originally because she had a fat looking face and as a fat kid myself, I knew that they were frequently the last chosen, so she found a spot in my heart. But she certainly is a slim and beautiful girl today!

Letter-Writing Day

I held off answering the four letters which had come in in the last two weeks because I had been having such a great time sending baby pictures to my Compassion children using Compassion's new email stationery. But today was the day I wrote to all of them, except for Wainaina, in Kenya, because I sent him a long letter via e-mail with football pictures included.

I started writing at about 10:30 a.m. and it was nearly 3 before I finished. It doesn't always take that long, but this time I had letters to answer, so a boilerplate letter wouldn't work. I also had gifts to send, each child getting something different, whether a coloring book, stickers, games, flash cards, or whatever, suited to that particular child. I sent one girl a Bingo game. I hope it goes through!

It also takes longer because of the age difference. The three little guys get short, simple letters, but the older kids, especially Shallon in Uganda, are writing long interesting letters asking probing questions and it takes longer to answer her.

By the time I finished I had a fat flat rate package to mail, which I can't mail until tomorrow, since today is Columbus day.


I'm good on snail mail letters now for a month, though I'm sure there will be one or two e-mails between now and then, if I get interesting photos to send.

This is what one of the new e-mail letters looks like.


You choose the particular design you want to use for writing, write your letter, include 1-3 photos and press send. Compassion takes the letters, translates them, prints them and sends off to the field office (or maybe they are printed at the field office; I'm not sure!). Eventually they get to the kids. I haven't had feedback from them yet--probably not for another month, at least--but I'm curious to see how the kids feel at the other end, receiving these pretty new letters!

Briana

Today there was a very nice letter from Briana in Haiti. I think it's a little confusing for her to keep all of our family relationships straight!

Warm greetings to you, Beverly Sykes. How are you doing with Jesus. Briana does not feel too bad, thanks to God. She was happy to get your letters. She was glad to see your children's photographs. One is 3 years old, the other has the same name as she does. She says Happy Birthday to Brianna with good appetite too!

She asks you to tell her what did you see in China? Is it a beautiful country and what do you like there? Did you visit the entire China.

The child got a good average. She advances to grade 6. Please pray that God may always guide everything.

Briana has a favorite song saying: What a friend we have in Jesus... She likes gospel music best.

The child always prays for your family. She thanks you for the letter and photographs. May God in His love bless you more!

Her dad wrote this on her behalf.

Happy Mail Day!

It's always nice to have a mail day like this!

Shallon

I hadn't heard from Shallon in a long time, but there is a drought in Uganda, which may make lots of things difficult. The letter a wonderful, long, chatty letter.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

With mercy of God I am happy for this day because I have got time to write to you. Really it's great thing to me and it is real pleasure to you my dearest mother in Christ for having respected moment to let my mind to think about only and only about you.

My family members are greeting you and they are praying for love and mercy from God upon you.

Sorry for the loss of your mother-in-law. Let me tell you that may she rest in eternal peace.

I am moving in anther step. 2010 I was in primary, but surely now I am in senior secondary school.

Sorry about Kathy's lungs and you about your mother-in-law.

On the photo of your president there is the word Washington, DC. Write in full D.C.?

As you know that I prefer young children's smile.

We get water from river.

Let me thank you very much for sending me some photos and a child's photo. But I want to communicate with you face to face. and I want to send you a song. It is in psalms chapter 27:1 to where you want to stop. And I want to send you some verses to you and those are Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 and in the same book 11:9 and read Ecclesiastes 7:1.

For you mutual love of you with me. I am very glad to hear that you like walking. And how is library now? In Uganda we are in dry season. We are going to start sowing millet. How is Ned? But my mother could tell me more about your president. How is Bella, your dog? Thank for sending me a paper of verses and thank you for my scanned photo back.

My mother in Christ, be blessed by God and have a nice time.

Your loving daughter Katisiime Shallon

Fred

Fred's letters are always written by his mother, which is also nice.

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian Greetings!

We hope that our letter makes you smile long this day. By God's grace, Fred is in grade two now. He attended their nutrition month celebration and he got also the Division Achievement test. Fred really likes to draw and talk with friends. He got lot of improvements in his social life.

Please pray that he could find more godly and nice friends.

He has brown much in height and he is growing into a cheerful guy. Fred is active in going to church. Our church anniversary will be on the last Sunday of August. Please pray for our church.

By the way, have you also visited a baptist church in China? We are happy to know it. Until then, God Bless you!

Leniel

Leniel (Dominican Republic) writes (with assistance from Dariana, his tutor)

Dear Beverly Sykes,

The child Leniel is well, and at the same time he is very grateful for the letters, the photos, for the book, and the rest of the things that you have sent him. He says his mother washes the clothes. He is older than his brother. He and his mother wash the baby bottles together. He says he likes to play ball and with toy cars, and he has good friends. He hasn't seen any panda. They sing and dance at school and his best friends are Joelvin and Carlos. They play marbles. What are your best friends' names? He asks you to pray for Gabriel, who is just a few months old. Receive kisses!

Yours,
Leniel


(the picture is of his mother washing clothes)

Theresa from Ghana

I recently completed sponsorship of a woman through Woman to Woman International. I'm rather selfish in that I did not enjoy this experience since it included zero interaction between me and Clarisse. I had hoped I would know something about her and perhaps we could become friends, but the women are not required to communicate with their sponsors, and lord knows they are trying to recover from hellish experiences, so I don't harbor any ill feelings about my own hopes being unfulfilled.

But at the end, knowing how many children there are at Compassion waiting sponsors, I decided to put that money into another sponsored child. I recently saw a video about Center #232 in Ghana and there seems to be a rush by other sponsors to add children from this center, since we all now know it looks like now.

Just on a whim I looked at the children available for sponsorship from Ghana and my eyes immediately locked on this little sweetheart. How can you resist that face? I checked and learned that she is, indeed, from center #232 and so without thinking twice, I added her to my list of sponsored children.

She is Theresa. She is 4 years old (5 in January). She lives with her father and her mother. Her duties at home include running errands. There are 3 children in the family. Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother is sometimes employed as a farmer.

Theresa is not presently attending school. Playing house and playing group games are her favorite activities. She also attends church activities and Bible class regularly.

I look forward to getting to know her. (And now that my other female sponsored children are getting older, I have another child to send all those little girl things I've been buying over the years!)

A Letter from Fred

A wonderful new letter from Fred today:

Dear Auntie Sykes

Christian Greetings!!!

Thank you for the postcards you sent. We are sure that you enjoyed your trip. The Great Wall of China is beautiful. We have no river here like that green river. We have also many rivers here but most are narrow rivers. Praise God for that boat company. We're sure that they sponsor lovely children like Fred.

In Fred's classrooms they also talk about their dreams in the future. Fred wants to become a policeman in the future. He will help keep the country free from danger and crimes.

Fred likes the panda very much. He hopes to hug one too. By the way, do you also have more pandas in your place? Here we have none.

We have also pictures of dragon here.

The story of Joseph is very beautiful. We had a great lesson that humbleness is very important. Thank you for the book. Fred likes it very much.

Please pray that Fred will love to eat more healthy foods. Please continue to pray for his health. Until here.

God bless you!!!

Love,
[Fred's mother]

Getting Organized

Michelle from Blogging from the Boonies wrote an entry about how she keeps track of her Compassion kids. Like me, her family has 10 children too, a combination of sponsored and correspondence kids.

I keep all the incoming letters in individual binders for each of the kids.


The letters only go in the binders after they have been answered. All incoming letters (Compassion and otherwise) go into a holder until they are answered.

It is easier to track my letters because I type them. Each child has a format that I use. The ones who speak English have a regular looking letter because they don't need translation. The ones that need translation have a 2-column format, with a lined column on the right for the translation. All letters have all the information and account numbers on the top.

Since I am writing on the computer, I have a folder for each of the kids. I keep copies of all letters in that child's folder, along with things like photos and anything else pertinent. When I'm writing a new letters, I pull up the old one to see what I said the last time. After the letter has been answered, I punch holes in it and add to the binder.

I also have a file for each child in their folder called "stuff sent" and I record what I included in each letter, so I can avoid duplication.

It's a pretty simple system, but it works very well for me.

Latest Kiva Loan

Luisa Barbor from the Philippines.


Luisa is 31 years old and married, with 7 children. With 4 children in school, Luisa works very hard to provide for them.

She runs a sari-sari store in the Philippines and requested a PHP 12,000 loan through NWTF to buy additional items to sell, like sardines, groceries, etc. Luisa has been in this business for 6 years and sells a variety of items such as soap, shampoo, milk, curls, etc.

In the future Luisa would like to save enough money so she can afford to send her children to college.

Any woman with 7 children who is trying to earn enough to send them to college definitely earns my respect, and my Kiva loan!

Esther

Got a wonderful new photo of Esther today.

Fred and Emmanuella

Yippee...letters from Fred and from Emmanuella. It was my first letter from Emmanuella, who actually filled out a special form that helps her write. I learned the names of her family kembers and her best friend. I know she lives in a town and that her best game is "amps" and favorite color is blue.

Then she writes, "thank you for sponsoring me. I am the second born of my parents. Are you also a second born? I pray that God will lift you high and bless your work. Pray that God should give me knowledge and understanding in my studies."

As for Fred, his mother's letter reads:

Dear Auntie Sykes:

Have a blessed day, hope and pray that you are doing great in the Lord. We're thankful for the post card that you have sent for Fred. He likes very much. They have many colors.

Right now Fred is enjoying his schooling. He is excited to go to school every day. But it said that first day of his school, Fred's cry because his pencil, crayon get the other student. But in spite he continue to go to school.

By the way, what is your favorite book in the Bible? Fred was so happy to go to the center every day to learn bible stories and characters. He is faithful every sunday. Kindly pray for his schooling this year.

God Bless You!

Love,
Lyra Cardinal

Guess I'm going to have to find a favorite bible book!

Anjali

How delightful to receive a letter from Anjali today!

This was the first letter she's written by herself, though it contains all the same pictures she draws every time. The letter reads.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the almighty name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I am fine. I hope you are also fine there. How's your health? We are in summer season. How is your season?

Her part ends here and the translator's part begins, some of it clarifying what Anjali had written:

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Anjali sends greetings to you in the Almighty name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. She says she is fine. She asks how you are? She asks how is your health? She asks how is your family members? She says she is in summer season. She says she draws some pictures above. She says she completed her academic year, and now she is in new class and new teacher. She says which you sent her finger paint photo that is very nice and beautiful. She says she is very happy for her photo. Her words are very cute to listen. She says thank you for your loving letter and support.

On behalf of M. Anjali

Mail Day!

I wrote letters to each of my 10 compassion kids today, adding a little thing for each of them, whether a book or stickers or soccer cards or whatever seemed appropriate for the child. I decided I want to get a small story book and send a chapter a letter to Shallon in Uganda, since she reads English (and is 18 years old).

Esther

There were two letters from Esther, one a day after the other. The first promised photos which were not included in the envelope. But when the second envelope came, there they were!

With her 10 month old nephew

With her cousin

With her school friends

With her sister and brother
(or it might be her cousin and brother; not sure!)

To Beverly Sykes,

I am writing to tell you how I am doing. Within 2 days after I write this letter I am going to do the 2nd semester exam. I hope I'll do it well and I also pray that God will be with me. It will end next wee. Then we will celebrate the 60th school anniversary.

Before the exams I got a task to be one of the Red Cross member in the flag ceremony on May 2nd. You can see my photo - I enclosed photos with my family, too. It was after Church in Jakarta.

My favourite music is pop. I like a song with title Rainbow of His Love (Pelangi Kasth Hya) What is your plan on this holiday?

My love regards. I am happy to receive your photo, letter, the bible marker, and the colouring paper.

May God always bless you.

And the second letter

To Beverly Sykes.

I'm glad to receive your letters. Today is the fifth day I have been joining the final exam. I have been joining the final exam on this last (2nd) semester. I'll complete it in these next two days. I wait for it.

The school holiday is coming soon. It's my favourite thing. We plan to visit mother's sister, who is ill. Her house is quite far from our town. It is in Bandung. We need 10 hours to get there. It will be exhausting. Please always pray for me that I'll pass to the next grade on good marks.

Regards with love from me to you.

Henrique

I was surprised to hear from little Henrique so soon. He is only 4, so he doesn't write letters, but he did make this nice picture for me.


The letter also included information about him -- he's 4 years old and wants to be a doctor when he grows up. He likes playing with cars, his favorite food is spaghetti, his favorite thing in school is drawing, his favorite animal is a cat, his favorite color is orange and his beat friend is Pedro.

There was also information about his family, which consists of two parents, two sisters and two brothers.

His message to me (which I suspect is not his message to me!) is "Thank you for sponsoring me! God bless you!"

Latest Kiva Loan

Atta is the woman in Ghana to whom I have made my latest KIVA contribution.

In the picture, Atta has some fried donuts which she sells in the community of Dompoase near Elmina in Cape Coast. She is married and has two children. Her husband is a teacher.

She has been selling donuts for nine years. She assists her husband in providing for the basic needs of her family. Her loan will be used to buy flour, sugar, cooking oil, and other ingredients to fry donuts for sale. She wishes to use the new profits from her business to save towards the university education of her children.

Hey...I won't pass up an opportunity to support ANYBODY who sells donuts!

Fred

I had two letters from Fred:

May 20

Dear Auntie Sykes

Have a blessed day!!! Hope that you are doing fine well. We are so blessed that every time Fred have a letter come from you. We are enjoying reading your letter. Well thank you for all the post card that you have send for Fred. We enjoyed seeing.

He likes to play drum, and his favorite song is "Jesus Loves Me." The subject that is easiest for him is Filipino language and the hardest is "mathematics."

You know, Auntie Sykes, in ever since we have ever seen a tree that we seen in the picture that the car passed under it. (I sent them a picture of a giant Sequoia with a car driving through it). And also the place of Santa Barbara. It so very nice even though we cannot go there, but through this picture it seems that we are there.

By the way, what is the work of your husband? We still praying for you that God will guide you and protect for you. So continue to pray for him specially his father that God would really change his life.

God bless you!


May 21

Dear Auntie Sykes.

Christian Greetings!!! We are still praying for you that God will pour out his blessing for you. Well, about Fred, he's still doing good at home. He is responsible to his sisters. He is doing also at school. This coming June he proceed to the second grade level. He is excited to see his classmates and his friends.

This month he attended Children's Camp at Bible Baptist Church. He sleep at church with his fellow children. He enjoyed very much, because he join in ball games and parlor games. Their group won and received many prizes at the last day of their program. Is your church also having this activities such as this? Next week he have a DVBS (Daily Vacation Bible School) so please pray for Fred that he will grow in the Lord.

May God Bless You!!!

Love,
Lyra Cardinal (Fred's mother)

Murugi

I'm amazed that my first letter from Murugi came so quickly.

"She says thank you for picking her for sponsorship and wishes you God's blessing in all you do. She asks you to pray that she asses her forthcoming exams."

She also says that she would like to be a nurse when she grows up and includes a couple of puzzles that she did on the backside of this page.

Anjali

Today I got a list of words written by Anjali. An interesting assortment of words. Click on the picture to see it larger and read better.

It also came with an update about her.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Anjali says greetings to you. Matchless name of Lord Jesus Christ. She says she is fine, she asks how you are and your health? She says now she is writing annual examinations for next class. She asks to pray for his examinations and for results too. She says after examinations she had summer vacations. She says she enjoyed a lot in summer holidays with her friends and relatives. She says she had holidays on 23rd of April. She says school reopens on June 13th. She asks how is your family members and what are they doing. She says her (portion? not sure if that is the right word) She says she will be going to VBS in summer holidays. She asks how you are spending. Once again I am very thankful for your kind support and affection on me. Thank you.

Henrique

I was able to get Compassion to send me an updated picture of Luiz Henrique. No additional information about him is forthcoming yet, but I have the photo.

He's such a cutie, but I worry about the circles under his eyes. Hopefully being in Compassion will get him an upgrade to his nutrition and maybe put a smile on that face.

Fred -- Finally

I've been so worried about Fred, but there was a letter from him/his mother today, finally.

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian Greetings!!! We are still praying for you that God will pour out his blessing for you.

Well, about Fred, he's still doing good at home. He is responsible to his sisters. He is doing also at school. This coming June he proceeded to the second grade level. He is excited to see his classmates and his friends.

This month he attend Children's Camp at Bible Baptist Church. He sleep at church with his fellow children. He enjoyed very much. because he join in ball games and parlor games. Their group won and received many prizes at the last day of their program.

Is your church also having this activities such as this? Next week he have a DVBS (Daily Vacation Bible School) so please pray for Fred that he will grow in the Lord.

May God bless you!!!

Love,
(Fred's mother)

Shallon and Wainaina

Well, after a long dry spell, I've finally had two days of very nice Compassion mail. Today it was my two oldest kids, both sponsored kids (not correspondence kids), both kids who write in English. The first was from Shallon, in Uganda, who writes:

My Beloved Friend, Beverly Sykes.

Let me take this opportunity to thank God who has given me this golden chance to talk with you in this letter. Thank you for your prayers in my exams. I did well in my exams with no problem faced in my exams. In my exams I scored the following - 6 English, 4 Math, 8 Science, 5 Aggregates, 23 Division two (I don't have a clue what any of this really means). That is in my exams.

Let me thank you because you have given me another photo and letters. I would like you to send my greetings to Ned, Jeri and Tom. Sorry about the death of Paul and David. May God rest their souls in eternal peace.

You have told me to tell you whether snow was around us in our country. Yes, it was near to us.

I joined the secondary school so pray for me to pass exams in the senior one.

So I wish you the best Easter day. After Easter day we are going to go back to the holidays. In senior I have made many new friends. Those are Moreeen and Phionah. In our school we have scripture union. This scripture union teaches us reading Bibl and singing Jesus songs. On last Saturday we enjoyed scripture union club at our school. We eat, dance and sing many songs.

When I saw your letters and photos I was very surprised because I take long time wihout talking to you. In the Bible I have a verse which helps me in my studies which is in Psalms 9:1-16. I want to send you a verse Psalms 13:16. It says I will sing to you, O Lord, because you have been good to me.

In our school I have already started to sing. I have a song to you. It is in Hosea 14:1. It says Return to the Lord x3. The lord is calling. We have sinned, Lord, against you but we call upon your presence. We are back you.

Let me stop here. Your loving daughter, Shallon.

That is the longest letter I have received from any of my children since I began this project.

Wainaina from Kenya also sent a very nice letter:

Dear Beverly. I am glad to write this letter to you. First is greetings from me. I am happy to know that you are doing well and you are healthy. I am writing this letter to inform you that I am doing well in school and Compassion. I always pray for you to God to bless you and your family to be protected. I hope that you are praying for me.

For now we are preparing for Easter celebration. That is death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I request you to pray for me to pass my exams. May God bless you.

Read Isaiah 60:1: "Arise Jerusalem and shine like the sun. The glory of the Lord is shining in you."

He also included a wonderful drawing.

Pedro and Anjali

Today I received a note from the project where Pedro was, letting me know that he "is being departed." I had to laugh...should I send flowers and a sympathy card? But it was nice to get a thank you for my sponsorship for the past 2 years.

I also had a letter from Anjali in India which reads:

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Anjali sends greetings to you in the Almighty name of Lord Jesus Christ. She says she is fine. She asks how you are? She asks about your health? She says she received your letter. She asks what kind of book you are going to write next year. She says she loves so much you. She says she is very lucky on behalf of you. She says she promoted to next class. She says she is studying well. she says she loves her project and project staff and children. She says she is praying for you and your family members. She asks you also pray for her cute future and family members. She says thanks for your love and affection

--on behalf of M. Anjali [name], sponsor relation assistant

(I had to smile about being asked to "pray for her cute future." I wonder what that means!)

Emmanuella

To replace Victor, I chose Emmanuella from Ghana.

I don't know much about her, but she has 2 siblings and lives with both parents.

I chose her because (a) she lives in an AIDS affected area, and (b) she has been waiting more than 6 months for a sponsor. I tend to prefer children who are less likely to be chosen. Little Henrique was assigned to me; my preference would have been for an older child, but when I saw his picture, my heart melted and I said yes.

But I hope to begin getting to know Emmanuella. I should get a packet with her information in about two weeks.

Victor

I received the sad news today that Victor's parents have removed him from the program. I will miss him, though I never really got to know him very well. He was a 10 year old boy from Bolivia and I don't think I've sponsored him a full year yet. I never got a letter from him.

Dulcisima Lopez

This is a Kiva loan and how could I not loan to this lady!

Dulcisima is 67 years old and lives in Sinacaban. She is married with 8 children. She has a motorcycle repair business and earns approximately $230 each month doing this type of work.

She has requested a loan to purchase materials for her motorcycle repair business. Dulcisima has been a member of PMPC for 2 years.

Kwagala

No, I haven't agreed to sponsor another child...nor did I take on another child as a correspondence child, but Michelle of "Blogging from the Boonies" put out a call for help the other day.

She explains, "Two weeks ago, as I was looking through children awaiting sponsors on the Compassion International website, a face caught my eye. It isn’t unusual, as I scan through the pictures and pray for the faces, that some of the sweet children pull at my heart. But this face… I don’t know if I can fully articulate, but once I saw Kwagala Deborah's face and read the story behind this young lady, I could not get her out of my mind. Several times a day, I would find myself looking at her profile. I posted her link here and there and mentioned her on my blog. I thought for sure that one of my family members or friends would also be captivated by her and stand up to sponsor her. But days passed and no one did."

She continued to be drawn to this girl, she could not afford to sponsor her herself. Then she had an idea. She decided to see if anybody would be interested in joining a group sponsorship.

"In the last week, thirteen people (and their families) have joined together to shower one beautiful girl with support, love and prayers. Enough donations have rolled in to pay for Kwagala Deborah’s sponsorship through May of 2012. ... Kwagala means love. This experience has shown me the power of love and I pray that Deborah in Uganda can soon feel the love we have for her."

I'm one of the group, though I couldn't send much. But I now consider her as part of my Compassion family too.