Letter from Theresa

Dated November 23, 2012

This is another check-off page, because Theresa is so young.

My favorite food is rice and stew, Banku and Okra stew.

My favoritecolor is red

My favorite sport is ampe (this is a game popular in Ghana.  These are the rules: The leader, or "it", and another player jump up at the same time, clap, and thrust one foot forward when they jump up. If the leader and the other player have the same foot forward the leader wins a point. If they are different then the other player become "it" and plays against the remaining players. If the players are in a circle, the "it" moves along the inside of the circle, playing against others in turn. If they are in a line, the "it" moves on down the line. If only two players are playing, they keep score until a certain number of points determines a winner.)

 My favorite friend is Martha and Gijamah.

Things happening in the family:  a new birth (this was a surprise to me!  I must get more information!)

Thank you for your pictures.

Child's prayer request:S  Theresa says pray for her to get strength.

Theresa and Martha play ampe in front f her house every day after school. 

Letter from Josphat

Dated Octber 27, 2012

This the kind of "check-off" kind of letter that young children send to their sponsors.

My name is Josphat.

In my house I sleep on a mat.

I get food from a shop.

My house is made of wood.  It has an earthen floor and a tin roof.  I do not have electricity in my house.  I wash my clothes in a bucket.

The report from his representative states:

Josphat is greeting you and your family in Jesus name.  He is so much glad for the letters and pictures you send to him.  He says that the thing he likes best in school is academic, since he found himself reading most of the time.  He says he loves you so much and requests for prayers.

Letter from Wainaina

Dated November 12, 2012

Dear Beverly Sykes,

First of all is much greetings from me.  I hope that you and your family are all well.  My first thing is to thank you for the letters that I have received.  I also thank the most high God for giving me strength to serve him.  I hope that you and your family are well and you are enjoying living in God's word.

I and my family are still doing fine.  I hope that you are still praying for me as I do, asking God to protect you and your family from the evil.

In school, I am performing well.  I am studying as hard as I can.  Pray for me to perform well in my K.C.P.E. (Kenya certificate of Primary Education) in this year.  I thank God for putting us together as friends from different countries.  May God live in your life forever, Amen. 

Letter from Murugi

Dated November 2012

Greetings in Jesus Name!

I am well in the Lord.  Are you fine too?  I am very happy for the many letters I have received from you.  How is Ned faring?  I have been praying for a quick recovery.  (Not sure what that means!)

It's great to have a great family as that of yours where you have many generations meeting once in a while to make merry.

I was happy to hear that your mother celebrated her 93rd birthday.  This is great and we give thanks to God.

I received the letter with my photo as you had asked in your last letter to me.  I realized I look beautiful, as you mentioned, and I gave thanks to God.  You all look beautiful too.

I am excited to hear how you take care for the less fortunate people and givethem fod.  This is how God expects me to be kind to his people.  Keep up the good work.  I always thank God for you and ask him to meet all the desires of your heart.

I am preparing to celebrate Christmas by serving the old people.  I will visit them and assist them with work at their homes.  I will also go to Church and after my service I wish you well and thanks for being a wonderful friend.

Your loving friend,
Dorvin Murugi

Letter from Emmanuella

This is dated 11/2/2012

Dear Beverly--

I thank you for all your letters, pictures and your words of encouragement.  God bless you.

No, I have not eaten cherry before.  Yes, Istill remember my poem, "I wish for Peace in Africa" (she took me literally when I asked her if she still remembered it--I was hoping she would share it with me!)

At project I am part of the culture dance and we perform during the inauguration of our dining hall.

Question for my sponsor:  How old is Brianna?

I pray that God will bless Lacie and let her grow up to be a good girl.  I want you to pray for my parents' business to go on well.

Letter(s) from Esther

There were two letters from Esther in Indonesia, both dated the same date, October 8, 2012.  Not sure why there are two, but they were very nice to receive.

To Beverly Sykes,

I thank God for his blessings, which flow over on us.  I was happy to receive the gift from you, Susan Jane Hagelstein Memrial.  I spent it on new clothes.  My 17th birthday was different from the last ones.  It's because I had many new things to do.  Seems at age 17, things are more difficult.  I'll do the exams, to.  Please pray for me to do the exams well. 

God bless you.  Sweet regards.  Thank you for the gift.

And now for letter #2

To Beverly Sykes,

I really thank you and because He loves and protects me until I am 17 now.  Because of His grace I can grow well.  I hope that I'll be more mature and be closer to God, be a useful child for parents and nation, more diligent to study. 

I love reading.  I usually read novels. 

What did you feel when you were at 17?  I think at 17 we get some changes.

Thank you for the letter, the photo and the stickers which you've sent for me.  May God bless you always.

Thank you from Fred

What a great letter I received from Fred today, thanking me for his birthday gift, which he used to buy a basketball.  I've been hoping he could get a basketball since he loves the sport so much.  The nicest thing  was that the letter came with a great photo.

 Dear Auntie Sykes:

Christian greetings!

Hi!  Thank you for your letter and stickers.  My height now is 127.5 cm and I weigh 22.4 kg.  The baby in my mother's tummy is bigger now.  My father is still not here because he is on vacation.  I never ate cherry.  We have more durian here.  Do you like to eat durian?

In our school I like to learn more about places.

Belated happy birthday to your son.  Briana and Lacie are beautiful. 

Please pray that I will be far from accident in our school.  Also, for my mother's delivery. 

God bless you!

I received an amount of 1,071.50.  I bought chess board, more clothes and basketball.  I wore the clothes when I go to church.  Thank you.

Love,
Fred

Meet Miché

I received a packet about Miché today.  He is a new correspondence child, to replace Somai, who lost his sponsor. 

Miché is from Haiti.  He is 10 years old and lives with both parents.  His job duties include carrying water and caring for animals.  His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother is sometimes employed as a seller at the market.  There are six children in the family.

Soccer, playing with marbles and playing group games are Miché's favorite activities.  In primary school his performance is above average (the first of my children ever to be above average in school) and he also attends church activities and Bible class.

I look forward to getting to know him better.

A Thank You from Anjali

I got a nice thank you letter from Anjali for the money I sent for her birthday.  This little girl has grown SO much from when I first began to sponsor her.  Then she was very somber and sober and I just love the smile on her face now.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings.  I bought cooker and iron box with the birthday gift which I received in the month of August 2012.  Cooker save the gas and time.  This is essential for my family.  Iron box is using to keep my dresses in iron and neat.

My family members are very happy about this gift.  They send their regards to you and your family members.  I thank you for your loving gifts.

Your lovingchild
M. Anjali

New Kiva Loan

Rose's story obviously appealed to me on many levels.  She's in Uganda, where Shallon lives, she is "chunky," she has six kids and is taking care of 2 orphans, and she sells gin.  How more perfect for me could she be?  She sounds like someone who has really made something of her life and is determined to make the world better for her children.  I think I would like her in person!

Rose lives in Kampala, Uganda. She is married and has six children. Four of her children are in school. She also has two additional family members she looks after (two orphans).

Her business is to buy and sell local gin. She has been in this business for three years. She sells her goods both at retail and on a wholesale basis. She works seven days a week. She has houses for rent, as another source of income. Rose applied for a loan of 1,800,000 UGX to enable her to buy jerrycans of local gin in large quantities. Her major business challenges are seasonality and transportation.

Her goals and aspirations are to raise more capital, and to start brewing the local gin by herself. She says she decided to work with MCDT, because services are brought near to the members and the interest rate is low. Rose owns the house where she stays. She has no access to electricity or to piped water. Her greatest monthly expense is school fees.

New Photo of Briana

I received a new picture of Briana, in Haiti today.

Someday I am going to get a picture where she is actually smiling.  That will be a happy day.

It hurts my heart to see those thin-thin-thin arms and legs.

I also discovered that Somai, from East India, who is a correspondent child, lost his financial sponsor.  Unfortunately, I can't afford to sponsor another child, so I had to tell them I could not take over the sponsorship, and thus I will lose him.  Makes me feel guilty, since now he goes back on the waiting list, but I can't do any more.

Letter from Anjali

I don't know the date this was written, but I received it today.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.  I am fine.  I hope same from you.  I received a letter from you, also celebrated mother's day and father's day.  How you celebrated Tom's birthday?  How old to him?  What is he studying now. 

Your photographs are very nice and beautiful.  When I am reading your letter about Ned's cook it made my mouth water. 

We celebrated our Independence Day on 15th of August.  We celebrated Teacher's Day on 5th of September.  That day I honoured my teacher. 

I am studying well.  I am praying for you.  I thank you for your sponsorship.

Your loving child,
M. Anjali

Letter from Theresa

This is the kind of "fill in the blanks" that the little kids send to sponsors. Theresa is only 5.  This letter was written September 14, 2012.

On the back she adds:

Theresa prays that God should help her to be intelligent and lead her class in exams.

She loves singing songs about Jesus at project on Saturdays during project devotion time.

Theresa says she is fine.  Theresa says yes, she wants to know how to read so that she can be a news reader.  Theresa says she has never eaten a cherry.

Letter from Wainaina

Written September 20, 2012

Dear Beverly Sykes,

First of all is much greetings from me.  How are you and your family? I hope you are fine, and your family as well.  How is the weather in your country?  In our country it's sunny, but some parts it does rain.  I am studying very hard in school and my performance is better.

I also helped my parents in those holiday that is going to end on 31st August, 2012.  The holiday was fantastic as ever before.

My favorite game is soccer.  I am a fan of football since I was in class one.  I like playing football with my team where I do play in defense side.  Pray for our team to win a match between us and Isinga team on this Saturday on 1st September.

May God answer all the prayers I use to pay for you.  May God be with you.

Read Revelation 18:6

Be blessed.

Wainaina makes the most interesting drawings.  Here is his bee hive.

Letter from Murugi

This was written September 6, 2012

Dear Beverly Sykes,

How is everybody in the family?  We are doing well here at home.  I thank God for keeping us safe all through.

I was so happy to receive your letter and seeing the pictures of your wonderful grandchildren.  I have never eaten cherries before, but I hope that one day I will.

It is now sunny and people are now preparing land for the next season of plantation.  Though the previous season was not so good, we hope that the next season will be full of God's blessings and that we will harvest much from our gardens.  How is the weather in your country?  When do you plant?

I would like to thank you for all the support you have given me.  May God bless you abundantly.  I love you a lot.

Good bye!

Letter from Shallon

I received such a beautiful letter from Shallon today:

My mother Beverly Sykes,

Let me take this opportunity to thank God who has given me this golden chance to greet you.  How are you, my mother?  I have taken a long time without talking with you and I thank God for this chance.   Really, my mother, I am happy to see my photo copy.  Thank you very much for the gift you sent to me.

I have read your letters but I was not happy with your knees.  I want a story about what happened to get that damage?  But I thank God who has given you that cane which help your knees to feel better. Really that is a good thing.

How is your husband, Ned, Brianna, baby Lacie and your friends?  Tell your friends that I love them.

We are in wet season where we are planting millet and beans, which you have said that beans some people call it a super food.  You have asked me whether I have ever eaten a cherry.  Surely I have never eaten it.  Which color does a cherry have?

My mother, I got the position which is the same with last term's position.  I was fifth out of eighty one students in our class.  I don't know whether next term I am going to get a new position.  If it is a new position I am going to increase because our class has many students like two hundred and above students.

I am happy with the verse you sent to me because it has improved me to have love with my friends.  I thank God and you very much because you have helped me in many things.  When my mother died, I didn't know that I was going to get another mother like you.  Praise the Lord.

I think that I will write to you soon.  I wish you nice time.  May God bless you.

From your daughter, Katusiime Shallon.

New Picture of Fred

I got a new photo of Fred today.  He looks like has has grown so much since the last photo I received!  I love this little guy so much!

First Letter from Josephat

Some information about Josephat from his letter, before the actual letter.  Josephat is from Kenya.

Caregiver:  Sister and Maria Loipokopeny
Josephat is an orphan

My brothers and sisters
Eliza (F) 15 yrs
Lemayian (M) 3 yrs
     (sister's children)
Lpenilas (M) 4 yrs
Najipo (F) 10 months

My best friend
Leo (M) 7 yrs

Best Game:  Soccer
Best Song:  "Depend on the Lord"
Best Food:  Rice stew
Best School Subject:  National Language (Kiswahili)
Best Bible Story:  Joseph
Best Color:  Red

Message for my sponsor:
Josephat says Hello!  And he hopes you are well.  He is also well together with his guardian.  He stays with his sister, who is his guardian.

Josephat also says he is in class two (2) of Milimani primary school now.  And the name of his village is called Yamo.

Your sponsored child thanks you for being his sponsor.

Josephat requests you to pray for his sister and her children.  He says he will pray for you too.

Letter from Esther

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I was happy to hear all your stories you wrote me on your letter, Beverly.  It's July now.  I am studying in grade 12, high school.  I will be sitting for final exam soon.  There are many things I have to prepare.  I usually spend my time studying in school, helping around my home, and sometimes taking care of my nephew/niece.  I know when to wake up:  when the sun rises.  Then I tidy up my bed and sometimes I pray.  I will write you again.  God is with you!

Thank you for the photo and letter you sent me, Beverly.

Letter from Anjali

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am fine.  I hope same from you.

I received 2 letters from you.  How are you?  How are your children and grandchildren?

We are in rainy season.  All the plants and grass are looking very green.  We have corn in this season.  Watermelon is not available in this season.

On the mothers day our church gave roses for children to give their mothers.  I gave my rose to my mother and I told wishes to my mother. 

I am studying well.

Photos are very nice and beautiful.  I am also playing with kite.  I am praying for you and your family members.  I thank you for your sponsorship.

Your loving child,
M.Anjali

A New Kiva Loan

I learned that I had a Kiva credit, enough to make a new loan, so I went searching for a loan in Kenya.  Not only do I sponsor two children in Kenya, but I just saw an interview about an upcoming PBS special, "Half the Sky" about the oppression of women in Kenya and so I wanted a new loan to be for a woman in that country.

When I saw this woman, I felt a kinship, of sorts, because of the size of her family and because she seems to be a devoted grandmother.  I also hurt for the pain on her face.

Mukombogo, 50, is a widow. She lives in her own house that has electricity but no piped water. Mukombogo has seven grown children, three of whom are still under her care.

She started raising and selling local poultry more than 15 years ago to earn income and support her family’s daily needs. It has been a profitable business, which sustained her even before her husband passed on. She is also thankful for her children's contribution to paying her expenses.

She has requested a 50,000 KES loan to buy chicks and chicken feeds. She hopes her sales will increase so that the business will grow. She enjoys this business because it is not too involved and gives her time to spend with her grandchildren.

Letter from Emmanuella

Written 8/19/2012

This is kind of a fill-in letter, where they give the child a topic and she writes about it.  I'm printing it here in letter form.

I thank you for your prayers and your love for me.

I and my parents are doing well, by the grace of God.  I am on vacation for three weeks.

I was the sixth person in this term promotional exams and I am happy I have been promoted to class six.

How is Lacie and her sister doing?

May the lord protect you and your family.

Pray for my parents' business to go on well.

Memory verse:  John 3:16.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  Amen,

She included this drawing:

Letter from Somai

Written 6/30/2012

Dear Beverly,

Loving greetings to you in Jesus name.  How are you?  Thank you for your letter.  I am studying well.  My parents are OK.  Pray for good rain.

I love you

Your loving child
Somai

Letter from Fred

 Written 7/25/2012

I do miss the letters written by Fred's parents, which give a better picture of his life, but it's also fun to hear from Fred directly.  This is a form about his favorites, where he either circles his favorite things or draws a picture.  So I know his favorite game is hide and seek, his favorite animals are dogs and birds, his favorite cartoon character is Spiderman, and his favorite sport is basketball.

 

His letter reads:

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian greetings!  I am always praying for you.  How is Brianna?  Is she feeling well?  Please pray that I will not get sick.

Love, Fred

He also included another picture.  On the book is written "A friend loveth all the time."

 

Letter...sort of...from Henrique

One thing about Brasilian kids, they don't write much!  I got a letter, sort of, from Henrique today.  It is a check-off page telling about his house:

It's brick
The floor is cement
The roof is tile
They have electricity
They get water from the river
He sleeps in a hammock
His clothes are washed in a bowl

And he has a question for me:  What is your favorite animal?

That's it.  But he did include a drawing.

Meet Josephat

Michelle of Blogging from the Boonies is a shamelessly bad person!  I simply MUST stop reading her blog! Wainaina from Kenya is a result of one of her posts, Theresa from Ghana is a result of one of her posts, Kwagala from Uganda, with whom I share sponsorship (a whole bunch of us help sponsor her) is a result of one of her posts.  The other day she posted photos of orphans who are waiting for sponsors.  I was just going to look.  You know how that goes.  It's like going to the store for milk and coming home with nothing but milk.

I truly was NOT going to sponsor another child, but look at this face.

This is Josephat, who is 7 years old, an orphan being raised in a home with his sister and three others. I looked at the pain on that little face, with puffy dark circles under his eyes, and my heart melted.  So I am now sponsoring Josephat.  I don't have his information yet, other than his age, that he's from Kenya, and his picture, but I will be writing more about him in the coming months.

This is really the last.  I absolutely, positively cannot afford another child!

Letter from Anjalli

 Written 6/18/12

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.  I am fine.  I hope same you.  I had summer holidays.  I went Srisailam in summer holidays. [This is a dam across the Krishna River in the Kurnool District]. I saw tiger, rabbit, deers, peacock in Ashram after I went dam.

I completed 3rd grade and promoted to 4th grade.  Our family members are hydrated also [I wonder what THAT means!].  I saw Nagarjuna Sagay dam.

How are your pets?  How is your weather?  Our weather is getting cool.  How is your granddaughters?  I am praying for you and your family.  I thank you for your loving sponsorship.

Your loving child,
 M. Anjali

Letter from Theresa

The Compassion kids in Ghana, especially the young ones, write letters on a certain theme, when they write.  Two letters ago, Theresa wrote about her house, last time she wrote about her project.  This time she is writing about her dreams (though since she is only 5, I suspect there is a lot of prompting about what to write.  The front page of the letter was just multiple choice questions to answer.  She would like to visit America. She wants to help expand the family business, she wants to give me a gift, she wants to be a teacher.  On the back there is more detailed information.

Theresa says God should help her to get money to help her family when she grows up.  Theresa says her dream is to visit her senior sister at Kumasi in the Ashanti region some day [I am assuming this refers to a sister who she says is 30]

Theresa says her favorite thing to do during the day is to fetch water and wash the utensils for her family.  She says the song she sings with her friends is  ABCD, EFGH, IJKL, MNOP, QRST, UVW, XYZ, XYZ.  She says the special thing to do is draw for her mother.

Letter from Anjali

Dear Beverly Sykes

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ.  I am fine here.  I hope same with you there.

I received two letters from you.  How are you?  How is your health?  I am also like spring season.  I am also like read books, like to read story books.  My belated birthday wishes to you and your husband.  How is your mother's health?  How is your little puppy and his new family?  In the picture the flowers are very beautiful.

I went to my mother-in-law's town.  [maybe she means grandmother]  I went Nagarjuna Sager and saw the dam there.

I am enjoying in holidays.  School reopens on June 12.  I am praying for you and your family.  I thank you for your loving sponsorship. 

Yours loving child
M. Anjali

This post links up with Michelle at www.bloggingfromtheboonies.com on her Mail Call Monday!

Letter from Esther

Beverly Sykes -- The weather in May was indeed hot enough.  I felt that swimming was freshing enough for my body.

On last 21 April to be exact, my country celebrated Kartini day.  It's a symbol of Mrs. R.A. Kartini, as women emancipation up-holder.  So, the women in my house area carried out choir competition.

In Easter, we had devotion at school and egg decorating and Christmas card making cometitions.  I got many things at Indonesian Red Cross, one of which the way to help people who are hurt.

Beverly Sykes' pictures are cute.  I was happy to receive them.  Thank you, Beverly, for sending me the pictures and letter.  I was so happy to receive them.

Beautiful Letter from Shallon

Written 4/26/2012.  Much of this refers to questions I'd asked her.

My mother Beverly Syes,

Hi, Honey.  How sweet are you!  Let me take this opportunity to greet you.  Hey, my mother in Christ?  How are you and how is your life?  Back to me, I am okay.  I was very happy to see your letters and how isbaby Lacie?  In which part of Uganda did your husband and his sister visited?  I don't know much about baseball in America.  I have never seen the necklaces like these.

I fetch water for a distance of one kilometer away.  I go there every day.  No, there is no well around my home.

I can be happy when you come and give me a big hug.  In our home we have a newborn kitten.  At our school we have reached a topic called British Columbia in geography.  It is very hard like we are studying fishing in British Columbia that is very hard.

We are in rainy season.  We are planting beans and ground nuts.  Have you ever eaten beans?  How was Easter?

Keep with that spirit of loving me.  I am sending my prayers to you and your family.  In our country there is Queen Elizabeth national park. That is how God is great.

I was very surprised and grateful to hear you calling me a super star student and must maintain that you stated.  I need your prayers towards my studies because I changed the position in class and last term was 6th out of 35 and now I am 5th out of 39 students.  I am sending you my love to you.

In Corinthians, Chapter 1:4 there is thirty sayings so read them.  When I am at school, I spend my day studying and when I am at home I spend my day working.  When it is time to wake up I hear the bell ring.  I wake up and I wash plates and cups and sweeping compound.

How is  Polly now?  You ask me about my health.  How I have improved.  I eat beans and bananas.  I like to make small children smile.

I remain your daughter Katusiime Shallon.

I also received an updated photo of Shallon.

New Kiva Loan

 I couldn't pass up the opportunity to help this woman buy shit!

Rugarama United group consists of 13 members, both male and female, located in the outskirts of Ibanda town in Uganda.

The members have lived and worked within the same locality for the past five years. The group was formed to support each other in meeting the needs of the individual members. They believe in togetherness in facing their daily challenges.

Margret, a member of the group, majors in agriculture, particularly in bananas and cabbages. She wants to buy manure to fertilise her garden so as to improve on her yields. At the moment, her harvests are about 500 cabbages in a good season, but with this loan, she hopes to double the harvest.

Margret started her business to supplement her husband's income. With income from cabbage sales, she with her husband have been able to pay school fees for all their children and also meet other needs.

Margret is excited that she will be able to complete her unfinished house. They have been building it for the past six years.

Letter from Fred

This letter is dated June 26,2012

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian greetings!

Hi!  My schooling is fine.  Thank you for your letter.  The dragon ball is the toy you sent me.  My sisters are going to school also.  We often go together.  Our father fetches us.  Please pray that we will be far from danger and that I will be more kind.  Do you live near the school?  Here, mothers are fetching their children from school.  Thank you for everything

Love,
Fred

Letter from Leniel

Loved this letter.  Short and to the point!

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I thank you for all of your letters and gifts.  Do you eat fried chicken?  Continue to pray for me.  I send you a hug.

Leniel

Letter from Somai

Dear Beverly,

Greetings to you in Jesus name.  On behalf of your sponsored child I am writing to you.  By God's grace Somai and his family are fine.  He is studying well.  He was promoted to Class I. 

He received your letter and beautiful family photos.  He love your photos very much.  Specially he praying for your mum and your family members.  Every Sunday he attend the Sunday School.  He love to sing a song. 

Here climate is very hot.  Somai is very excited for summer vacation.  Please continue to pray for hisstudies.  Godblessyou.

Ella
(Project staff)

Letters from Fred

 This one is dated May 21, 2012

Dear Auntie Sykes

Christian Greetings!

Thank you for the toys, the Peter Pan book and the clothes.  Thank you for giving us those things.  Peter Pan book is good to read.  What do you feel that I am writing to you now?  For me, I am feeling good.  Please pray that I will be mre intelligent.  I will be in grade 3.

My mother is the one waking me up.  I often play.  I am the one washing the dishes.  Your grandchildren are very cute.  Thank you for the pictures.  God bless you!

Love,
Fred

This one is dated May 25, 2012

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian Greetings!

I will be in grade three this opening of classes.  During the camp, I went home every night and I just went back to the camp during the day.  I was so happy.  I am so kind to my mother and father and also to the teachers here in the church.  I joined the Daily Vacation Bible School.

Thank you once again for all you give.  The clothes, bible characters, car, candy and many more.  What is your favorite story in the Bible?  I would like to know.

Thank you for everything.  God bless you!  Please pray that I will be more kind.  I love you.

Love,
Fred

Letter from Emmanuella

It was nice to receive a letter from Emmanuella.   I've discovered something, though.  I think she is not the first child who reads that my mother is 93 years old to think that she is SICK.  I have received several letters saying that they are praying for her recovery.  

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Thank you for your letters and prayers for me and my family.

Tell grandmother not to be sick.  If I am invisible I will travel to other countries to say hi to all friends of your family.  I love to hear Lacie can sit on her own.  Good job for her.

I learned a new poem last week entitled "A Wish for Peace in Africa" at project center.  Have you recited a poem before?

I pray that grandmom, your mother, will get well soon.

Psalm 24:1 -- the world and all that is in it belong to the Lord, the earth and all who live on it are his.

Letter from Fred

Fred is now writing his own letters, which is very good, though I will miss getting the letters written by his mother.

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian greetings!  I will be in grade 3 now.  I am Fred.  I am happy that I am the one writing now.  Thank you so much for the letters.  I am excited for more letters.  I promise not to do bad things for ou.  Now I will say "I love you, sponsor."  Do you have children's camp?  We will have on May 1.  Please pray that Iwill learn the Bible more.  Thank you very much.

Love, Fred

Letter from Murugi

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Let me take this chance to greet you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Saviour.  God is so wonderful for he has given me such an awesome sponsor.  I thank God for all.

This Easter holiday has been marvelous and I hope that you celebrated well too.  Jesus Christ has shown us a lot of love by dying for us on the cross.  By him we are saved and we are able to get the eternal life from him that is great. 

I attended church service and I am able to learn about the love of God who gave his only begotten son to the people of the world.  This is so amazing.  I believe that you have accepted Jesus as your personal saviour so that you may have the eternal life through him.

My family members are doing well too and they also celebrated the Easter holiday in style.  I have much to share with you next time.  Thank you so much for your good support.

Yours faithfully,
Murugi.

Letter from Briana

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Briana warmly greets you and your family in the name of Jesus Christ and she is glad to write to you, hear from you, and to know if your mother is getting better.  She thanks you for the pictures, especially the one where you left her a place at the table.  She said that if she was invisible she would go to your house and sit at the table to celebrate with your family and play with Brianna and feed your dog, the one you love a lot. 

She would like to know where you go to church and if it is a baptist or a catholic one.  She always prays for you and your family so that God could give you strength, let you be healthy and protect you and she would like you to do the same for her.  She thanks you for the gift because she bought a beautiful dress with it and she was very glad about that.

May God bless you!

A special gift

I received such a special gift today.

A couple of months ago, I heard from a woman who was going to Kenya and offered to take my child Murugi a doll or something.  It would be something she would buy because she had no room in her suitcase for me to make up a package, as I did for Fred.  I thanked her but said that as Murugi is 19, she wouldn't be interested in dolls.  But she said she would try to take some pictures of her for me.

I actually had forgotten all about that.  I remembered briefly, when I heard from Fred thanking me for his gifts, but I had not yet heard from Murugi.

Tonight I received an e-mail from the woman who had gone to Kenya, apologizing for not having contacted me sooner and telling me about her visit with Murugi.

In my talk with her, she wanted to know why you weren't able to come but hoped that you would be healthy and be able to come visit her one day as she wants you to be proud of her. Her dreams are now to be a businesswoman rather than a nurse. She is in college program and she hopes to become rich so that she can help others like herself. As we talked, she wanted to know if it was true that we Americans kept dogs in the house! She and her friend were laughing so hard at the thought.

They asked too if we Americans would call her, a black person, a dirty N---- and tell her to go away. This shocked me as I couldn't imagine what brought on this thought, but I reassured her that if she did come to the US, it might be hard but that not everyone was this way and that the church would accept her with loving arms and help her.

She mentioned the idea of becoming rich a few times - so if I were her sponsor and I tried to be her mentor, I might remind her that rich is good but gently remind her that "love of money" can quickly take over ....though I have a hard time trying to say such a thing in the face of my own wealth and such poverty around us.

She really wanted me to share email information with her, but I told her that I was sad not to be able to do so but wanted to follow guidelines. It would appear as though she does have some access to email, so that is a thought for when she graduates.

Embu is very rural and is considered a village. There are some things that you might find within a town but it takes some time to get to this project but they are taking care of their girls and boys

I loved the photos especially.  I had only seen one photo of Murugi since I began writing to her and she was so solemn.  It's so nice to see her smiling and to see her with the photos and letters I've been sending her.

It makes me feel more like she is a part of our family.

The woman who visited her promised video some time when her life settle down again.  How special that will be!

Letter from Anjali

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I am fine.  I hope same with you.  Indian food is really tasty food.  Indians' marriage is very fine.  I think you enjoyed football game.  Buddy photos are looking very cute.  I sit Buddy liking you very much! That's why he snuggles in your arm.

I am studying well.  Now we are in summer.  The temperature is very high.  We have mangoes in this season.

I am praying for your health.   I am very thankful to you.

After annual examination I will going to my mother-in-law's village.  I am not playing here because the temperature is very high.  How is your health.  I am praying for youahnd your family members.  I thank you for your loving sponsorship.

Your loving child,
M. Anjali.

Thank You from Fred

This picture brings me tears.  It is Fred, with the gifts I was able to send to him with someone who was going to the Philippines.  This is the letter that accompanied it:

Dear Auntie Beverly Sykes.

Christian Greetings!  Thank you for the gifts I received.  Thank you for the little silver heart for my mother and the little bear for my sister.  The two t-shirts are fit for me.  Thank you for the Peter Pan book, markers, stickers, jelly beans, flash cards, butterfly toys, key chain, toy cars, smiley bag tag, glitter cards, magnet, milk chocolate and magic towels.  Thank you for your letter.  We play the toys.  I have read the book.  Thank you that you love me.  Please pray that I will do right.

Love,
Fred J. Cardinal

Letter from Anjali

I can't remember when this letter came.  It was at least a month ago, but I'm not posting it until today.

Dear Beverly Sykes

Greetings to you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.  I am fine here.  I hope same with you there.  I received 4 letters from you.  Yes, the air balloons are very special to me, because we have no air balloons in our town.

How is your grandchildren?  How are Ned and Marta?  I am very happy that the empty chair at the table is for me.  I am thinking when I am sitting with you in the empty chair.

I like the fog.  I also love the fog, but here we have no fog.  I have some subject in my class now.  My favorite subject is English.  I am also like music.  I am praying for you and your family members.  I thank you for your love and kind letters.

Yours loving child,
Anjali

Letter from Fred

Dear Auntie Sykes.

Christian Greetings!!!

We hope that all is well there.   Buddy is really cute.  Here, we have lots of dogs just roaming around.  Some are free to go from house to house.  That is their way for survival.

We know that you live both in beach and mountains.  Here, we are on a flat land.  Still we have fields in our city.  We must travel also about 30 minutes so we can go to the nearest beach.

By the way how is your mother now?  Is she feeling well?

Fred's favorite team is their center,called the Jabez players.  Last year they won the game during their Chidren's Camp.

We are glad you prayed for us during the earthquake.  Now we cannot feel any of earthquake any more.

Please pray that Fred will alwaysbe in safety.  He will be in third grade son and your prayers are helping him a lot.  Thank you for everything.  God bless you!

Love,
(Fred's Mother)

New Photo

I received a new photo of Leniel, who has grown so much since I first saw his photo!

Letter from Emmanuella

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I pray that God almighty bless you and your family.  I really appreciate your Christmas gift, prayers, letters and wonderful pictures.

Yes, we also take our lost tooth and throw it on the roof, hoping it will grow again.

I have been taught how to play the trumpet.

How is Brianna and Lacie and your father and mum?

I pray that God should protect Lacie and Brianna.

I want you to pray for me to pass my coming exams.

Emmanuella Aniagyel

Letter from Theresa

Today I had a letter from Theresa, along with a photo of the things she was able to get for Christmas, with the money sent by sponsors.  While I love the photo, how I long to see a picture of this little girl smiling.

Again, I have more information about her since she is only 5 and not able to write (or dictate) letters by herself.  So I know that she gets water from a tap instead of the river or well; her house floor is made of dirt.  She does not have electricity in her house.  Her house is made of mud with a tin roof.  The comments by her coordinator are:

Theresa is living in a mud house in which all the brothers, mother and father are in one room.  She is well and today, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Theresa says she will play ampe today and will be playing with friends.  She says she will like to play ampe and making rounds with her friends. to make them enjoy their games.  She says thank you so much for your love and prayers.  She loves you too. 

Letter from Anjali

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.  I am fine.  I hope that same with you.  How is your health?  How is your family members.  My family  members are fine.  I am studying well now.  We are enter into summer season.  The weather is getting hot.  We are in Lent season.  We have prayers on Wednesday and Friday at night times.  Recently we celebrated harvest festival.  All family members went to church to take the blessings of food after we take part in auction.

I am preparing for my annual examinations.  Pray for good results.  We will be preparing for Easter.  We will be celebrating watermelon in this season.  How is your weather?

How is your family members.  I am sending advance Easter greetings to you and your famiy members.  I am praying for you and your family.  Remember me in your prayers.  Once again, I thank you for everything.

Your loving child,
M. Anjali.

Message from Murugi

Murugi is 19 years old and lives in Kenya.  The other day I received a package from a guy named Greg Birgy, who had led a sponsor tour to Kenya.  They visited Murugi's center and took this picture:

They also had each child trace around his or her hand, decorate the paper, and put on each finger something they are asking you to pray for.  Birgy writes, "The hope was that you could symbolically "join hands" in prayer with your sponsored child by placing your hand over the traced outline of your sponsored child's hand as you prayed."  He also said he hoped this would be a tangible reminder to pray for our children.

I was very touched by this "gift" from my Compassion child.

First Letter from Somai

Somai is a new correspondence child from India.  It seems that his first letter got here very quickly.  He's only 6, so this is more "about" him than "from" him. The first page gives the name of his parents (who are 35 and 30) and his favorite food (rice, dal, egg) favorite color (red), favorite game (football), and farorite song ("Hindi Song").  Given the choice of city, town, village, riverside or mountain, he checks that he lives in a town.

On the back side is the "Message for my sponsor":

Dear Beverly,
Warm greetings to you in Jesus most holy name.  I am writing to you by God'sgrade.  Somai and his family are fine and doing well.  Somai is belong to Malto tribe in ?Therkland, India.  Generally they are very poor and non-literate. Literacy rate is very low.  Somai is the first generation to attend the school in his family.  By God's grace his family members are accept Jesus Christ.

His parents are very happy and thankful to you.  Thank you so much for your love and concern for this child.  God bless you.

Yours in Christ,
Ella
(Project staff)

There was also a drawing by Somai.

Letter from Wainaina

I was amazed to receive a letter from 14 year old Wainaina, who almost NEVER writes.  He is obviously not a writer, as I can tell from this letter, but it is still nice to hear from him.  Ironically, in this week where we have lost not one but TWO of our good friends, he sends me the psalm that is generally read at funerals.  :(

Dear Beverly Sykes:

First is greetings from me.  I am fine and I believe you are fine too.  For know I am happy because of writing this letter to you.  I hope you and your family are fine.

I am very happy for it.  I am informing you that now our school is a boarding school.  When I am in school, I usually pray for both you and your family so that God may protect you.  In school, I am doing well and my performance is now improving, so I thank God for this.  I am working hard to pas my (?kere?) well.  May God bless you.

Read Psalms 23:1-6

He is, however, a wonderful artist and includes these drawings.

New Kiva Loan

Mlongo Civunde is a married woman in Kenya with two children, both of whom attend school. She owns a house that has neither electricity nor piped water. Her greatest monthly expenses are food, clothing and medical bills.

For the past six years, she has operated a tailoring business, selling from home to her neighbours and passersby. She faces the major challenge of increased prices in her business. Mlongo dreams of expanding her business in the future.

With the Kshs 50,000 loan, she wants to purchase cloth materials for her tailoring business.

Letter from Esther

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I would like to tell you about last year's Christmas.  It was quite impressive for the birth of our Savior were the same as the birth of my pastor's grandchild. We celebrated Christmas and also the birth of a cute little baby of our Pastor.  But, besides the happiness, my grandma's older sibling died.  I was so sad to hear the news.  Maybe, God has a wonderful plan behind all this.

We had a lively New Year's celebration in my town, Salatiga.  I saw very beautiful fireworks, although I saw them in the crowd, I was still able to see them.

I am happy to be able to receive all the letters and photos you have sent me, Beverly.  I thank you for the stickers you have sent me.

Last January, on 27-01-2012, to be exact, I went on a study tour to Bali Island.  That island is very beautiful.  It's even famous all over the world.  Beverly, have you heard of the beauty of Bali Island?  I am happy that I have been there twice.  The very impressive things are the b eauty of nature and its cultures.  Maybe this is what people call as beautiful God's creations. I believe that as I see the nature which I think cute/beautiful -- the beaches as we cn see the huge beautiful nature from the beaches we can also express all we think and feel.

Oh yeah.  I got quite satisfying results in my last exams.  I was grateful to be able to get 6th rank in my class. Beverly, did you ever get any rank in your class?

Beside that I had a quite good grade in red cross class in my school report.  I only got B.  I will try to get B next time.  From the red cross class I learn many things like helping accident victims and natural disaster victims and many more.  I make all of these skills if there is a little accident, etc. which needs a help.

Many things make me laugh when I think they are funny.  We have a blood donor at my school.  In fact, I want to participate but I am still afraid of getting hurt.  I only coordinate snacks and drinks for the donors and medical officers.  Please pray for this to go well.

I will write you again in some other time.  I send my love to you.  God  bless

Letters from Fred

Two letters from Fred, one written by his father and one a form filled out by Fred himself.  For the letter:

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian Greetings!

We are so thankful that we could write to you.  I am Fred's father, Mr. Frederick Cardinal.  Thank you for the family gift we received.  We received an amount of 1,079.50.  We bought new clothes and groceries.  The children have new clothes to wear at church.  We are so happy for the foods.  Thank you for your goodness.  Please pray that we will be protected from danger, especially Fred.

Love,
Mr. Frederick Cardinal
(Fred's Father)

There was this drawing by Fred:

The second letter contained a form with multiple choice answers where sponsors can learn more about their child's living situation.  Fred's answers show that:

My house is made of bamboo, palm frond and wood
I get water from a well
In my house I sleep on a bed
I help in the house by cleaning the house
I have electricity in the house.
My house is 0.5 km away from the center.


He drew this picture

He added the following note:

Dear Sponsor.  I love you.

Sponsor, thank you so much for the dragonball that you gave me.

Letter from Shallon

Isn't this a beautiful photo of Shallon?  I have been so concerned about her because she has not written in a long time and in her last letter she complained about some health problems, but yesterday I received an explanation of the health problems from Compassion, and then this great letter, thanking me for the money I sent for her birthday (we have the same birthday).

My mother in Christ, Beverly Sykes,

Let me first thank God who has given me this chance to write to you and greet you.  Hey, my friend.  I am very glad to hear that you have a newly born baby, Lacie.  How is Brianna?  I hope that God is amazing that he can do everything.

Thank you for the gift you have sent to me.  In this gift I bought the following items:

Shirt and Blouse
shoes
sweater
sandles
Thanksgiving

Thanks be to God.  I like puzzles.

My dear, this is bad news!  Our banana plantation has got banana wilt and we have famine in our home, so, my dear, I need your prayers.

I want to celebrate my birthday party on 17-02-2012.

My mother, I like to watch birds.

Your mother celebrated 92 years. Really this is a great thing.

I want to send you some verses because God has done something in myself.  It is in:

1 Timothy 4:6 and Psalm 37:3:6.

My dear, how was Christmas?  Back to me, Christmas was colourful.  I hope you have a good week.  May the Almighty God bless you too.

Your loving, faithful Katsuiime Shallon

Comments

I've just discovered that people are leaving comments on these entries!  For some reason I have not received notification of them.  I'm so sorry!  I promise to do better in responding after this.  Thank you for all the comments, suggestions, etc.  I get notification on my other blogs when people leave messages.  Anybody know how to make that setting on Blogger?  I've looked and can't find a setting!

Letter(s) from Henrique

Well, it sometimes happens that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.  After no mail in awhile, I received TWO letters about Henrique in Brasil, written by two different center monitors, a week apart.  They say essentially the same thing, but I will print them both...

Dear sponsor Beverly Sykes -- how are you doing?  I am Clara, the Projector's monitor, and I write on behalf of Henrique. He is a happy child who likes very much to play.  He doesn't know to read and to write (he's 5), but soon he will be writing a letter to you with his own handwriting.  Right now, he is on school vacation and he will be back to school in February.  He is attending our vacation Bible School and he said he enjoyed everything -- the games, puppet theater, and activities.  He thanks you for the gift you sent him -- he got a police car, a tractor and a ball and on recreation days he brings his ball to play with his friends.

Thank you for loving him and for believing in his future.

Love, Clara on behalf of Luiz Henrique

Hello, dear sponsor Beverly Sykes -- how are you doing?  I am Iolanda and I write on behalf of Luiz Henrique.  He is a happy child who likes to come to the Project and to attend the activities, especially recreational ones.  He is learning to copy things from the board and he is very interested in his studies.  Our vacation Bible school happened this month of January and he attended it and its theme was "we must spread love, peace and respect."  He and his mom are thankful for the gift you sent them -- he got a police car, a tractor and a ball.  Thank you for loving Luiz.

Iolanda, on behalf of Luiz.

New Picture of Emmanuella

Compassion sesnt me a new photo of Emmanuella (after I requested it several times!)

As it turns out, I like the picture that came with her thank you letter better, so I am printing this one here, but using the one in the orange dress (with the hint of smile on her face) as the one that identifies her here on this site.

Thank You from Emmanuella

I received a thank you letter from Emmanuella in Ghana for her Christmas gifts.  Each year, all the children received gifts, whether their sponsor has sent money or not.  I send one check and it gets divided among all of my sponsored children.  I love this picture because I chose Emmanuella because she was dressed in raggedy jeans and looked like a sullen little boy.  To see her dressed in a new dress, with a hint of a smile is wonderful...and her letter (which she wrote herself, in English) was more personal than letters I get from many of my other children.

Dear Beverly.

Thank you very much.  May you receive everything you have spend on me in many folds.

My siblings are Felix, 2 years, and RoseMarie, 17 years.  Yes, I see butterflies in Ghana and Ilike its colours. Mavis' house (her friend) is far from my house, so we only meet at school.

Say hello to Brianna and Lacie and a big well done to your son and his wife.

I had a terrible experience two weeks ago when our house got flooded by heavy fain fall.  I had all my learning materials spoiled.

What are the names of your siblings and son?

I pray that God will protect Lacie from every sickness.

I want you to pray for me to be a good girl for God and my parents.

Emmanuella.

She also included a drawing of a computer.

 

A Letter from Fred

Dear Auntie Sykes,

We are so happy for your new grandchild.  We are so excited for the time to be allowed by God that Fred could sit on that empty chair. (I'm not sure what that refers to, but probably something I said in a letter)  We wish to ride on that balloon someday. (I told him about my experience riding in a hot air balloon)

We like trees too.  They are very beautiful.  Here we hate windy season because many worms are eating those leaves but we have very many fruit trees here.  Do you have a lot of butterflies there now about worms?

I asked him what happens to his baby teeth when they fall out and told him about the practice of putting a tooth under the child's pillow.  We have also a practice here for tooth replacement.  The tooth just pulled must be put into the hole of the post of our house, then wait until a happy small mouse can see it.  As a reward she will give an exchange of brand new, strong tooth and she will let that appear on the exact location where the tooth had been pulled.  This will ease our fear for tooth extraction.

Please pray that Fred will pass his second grade.  Thank you for your goodness.

Love,
Fred's mother

As usual, there was a drawing by Fred of his house.

Somai from India

Compassion put out a call for more correspondence sponsors, to write to children whose sponsors don't write to them.  I decided to take on another child. 

Somai is a 6 year old boy, living with his mother and father in the Northeast section of Ranchi, which is in the northeast corner of India. 

He is responsible for gathering firewood, buying or selling in the market and  cleaning.  Both of his parents are farmers.

Walking and running are Somai's favorite activities.  In pre-school, his performance is below average.  He regularly attends church activities.

He shares a birthday with Peggy, February 18.

Letter from Anjali

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Warm greetings to you in the sweet name of Lord Jesus Christ.  Ireceived three letters from you.  Iam fine here.  I hope same with you there.  How is your husband's sister?  How is your grandchildren?  She is looking very nice.  Brianna also very cute.  I don't know about Friendship day.

We celebrated Independence day and Thanksgiving day very grand.

How is your daughter Jeri?  Iam very happy about your children.  How is Tom?  How is little Lacie?

We had retreat on (can't read the date).  That day we enjoyed a lot.  That day Ilearnt new action songs, played Bible games.  Every day I am remembering you in my prayer.  Thank you for your loving sponsorship.

Yours lovings child
Anjali.

TWO MORE LETTERS

Compassion seems to finally be getting letters out.  It is so good to start hearing from the children again, today from Fred (my favorite) in the Phiippines, and from Murugi in Kenya

Letter from Fred

I haven't heard from Fred in almost 2 months, which is VERY unusual for him, so I was pleased to get such a positive letter from his mother today.

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian Greeting!!!  We are so happy to receive your letters.  Fred is having his school vacation now.  We just had a good service during our anniversary and we had a good dinner.  How about your church, how do you celebrate your anniversary?  Thank you also for the pictures and the toy that you sent.Please pray that his cough will get well soon.  He is improving in mathematics.  Our family is okay also.  We are always in our house and we will spend our new year celebrating here.

His siblings are okay.  He is obedient to us especially in running errands.  He love teaching his siblings.  Thank you for your prayers.  They had a good party in school.

God bless you all until here.

Love,
Fred's mother

Letter from Murugi

This letter is dated December 19.  Murugi is 19 years old and writes letters in English herself.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I salute you in the name of Jesus Christ.  Hope you are fine together with your family and friends.  Here I am fine and our family is well.  I am thanking you for the letters and photos that you have sent for me and I'm saying sorry for losing your beloved cousin.  May  find comfort, you and her family members.

I wish you a marvelous Christmas.  May God continue to bless you and grant you a long life.  Have a happy new year and it is my hope that God will continue doing wonderful things.  May God bless you with your family.

Your loving friend
Dorvin Murugi