Fred and Esther

I received not one, but two thank you letters from Compassion kids today. Esther says that for her Christmas money she bought new clothes. She also answered one of my letters where I suggested that she tell me five things about herself (and I told her five things about myself). Her 5 things were

1. I have tan skin and my friends often mock me, but I keep giving thanks for the grace of God.
2. I also love to read. Usually I choose to read novels and teen age magazines.
3. My favorite color is white or light purple
4. I often go with my friends to make photos
5. my favorite subject is the Javanese language

Fred is telling me what his family bought with the family gift I sent at Christmas. "We bought blouses, t-shirt, shoes, shorts, sandals, umbrella. We used it for Sunday. The t-shirt and the shoes Fred used for his playground demonstrations at school. The rest of the money we bought groceries for our daily needs. Your gift is a great help for us, so from the bottom of our heart and our family we would say thank you very much. May God continue to bless you.


I'd love to know what this means. I think I'm going to send a copy of this back to him and ask him to explain it!

New Kiva Loan

Mwanasiti is a married woman from Kenya with one child who attends school. Her husband is a driver and he supports his family financially. They live in a rental house that has electricity and piped water. Her greatest monthly expense is school fees.

For the past three years, she has operated a tailoring business in a shop where neighbors and passersby are her potential customers.

With the 80,000 KES she is requesting, she wants to purchase a motorcycle and bundles of clothes for resale. Mwanasiti faces a major challenge of competition from those who sell similar products. She dreams of building her own house in the future.

This is my 31st Kiva loan. I chose her because in this photo she is obviously pregnant and I have a soft spot in my heart for pregnant women!

Briana

There is a new photo of Briana.

I saw that the photo had been changed on the Compassion web site and wrote to ask if they could send me a .jpg, since I had not received my copy in the mail yet.

Victor

I received information about Victor today. This has got to be the last child I agree to sponsor!


He was born October 9, 2000. He lives on the plains of Jaihuayco in Bolivia. Where he lives is home to ~10,300 people. He lives with his mother. While is father is alive, he does not live with the mother, so Victor's mother is a single mom and there is no man in the house. The mother is "sometimes employed" (the average employee in Jaihuayco makes ~$65 a month).

Victor has no siblings, apparently. He likes playing with cars, running, singing, playing hide-and-seek, and other group games. His school performance is average and he attends Bible School

Clarisse

I finally heard from Clarisse, the woman in Rwanda that I am sponsoring through Women to Women, Int'l. The picture is on a hand made note card. She writes:

How are you doing? May you have peace. I would like to thank you for your compassion and for helping me to improve my life. I feel so happy now and I believe that your support will help me a lot.

Thank you. May God keep assisting us.

Fred

So glad to get my copy of Fred's new pictures!

Shallon and Leniel

I returned home from Santa Barbara to find the introductory packet for Leniel (my new correspondence child) and a nice letter from Shallon, written January 1. Leniel's packet was just a repeat of what I posted earlier, but this is Shallon's letter:

Dear my mother in Christ, Beverly Sykes,

I first thank God who has given me this chance to communicate with you. How are you and how is your life? Back to me, I am okey, doing my works in these holidays. I am very proud of you and your family members of sending me another calendar, Washington and Christmas card. I think you very much because you give me a gift of Christmas. This gift I bought the following items:

Skirt
Blouse
Stockings
Thanksgiving
Photo
Sweets

I bought these items in the money you have sent to me.

How was Christmas? Back to me, Christmas was very good. I request for prayers from you because I am going in another step. I send my warmly greetings to your mother, Peach, Ned, Kathy. But how is Kathy's lungs?

I would like to ask you a question. Write in full [she has something here that looks like a Delta followed by a C--I don't know what that means].

I am very glad to hear that you and your husband attended the wedding of your cousin.

In another calendar you have sent to me I would like to ask you a question: what do you celebrate on April 19th because it is highlighted and what do you know by the word Hanukkah, 21st December.

Thank you for sending me the photo of your president. I would like to send you a verse. It is in 1 Peter Chapter 3, Verse 8. [I looked it up. It is Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.]

I thank you for everything you have sent for me. Let me stop here.

Yours loving daughter Katsuiime Shallon

Welcome Victor

I've added Victor to the family. I don't know too much about him yet.

Thank you from Anjali

I received a thank you from Anjali for her Christmas gifts. I always imagine her being tied to a chair and forced to write SOMETHING to me. She has been my sponsored child the longest and I know her the least. But this is not about me it's about helping her to have a better life...and I do have several other children who write wonderful letters.

First Letter

I've received the first letter from Wainaina (Erick). In addition to filling out the form with basic information, he adds,

I am very happy to have you as my new friend. Thank you so much. I will be praying for you. I want you to pray so I can perform well in my studies.