Letter from James

James, who is 10, is the 4th of the 7 Kenyan children I received as correspondents at the end of the year.  This is his first letter.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I salute you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, hoping that you are fine and doing well.  How was your Christmas and new year?  I hope you had a wonderful time too.

What special things and activities do people do on Christmas holiday in your country?  Here in Kenya we go visit game parks, orphanages, prisons, hospitals, some just worship in the churches among others.

Would you please pray for me and my family, as I also pray for you.

Your loving son,
James

3 from the Kenya 7

I received the first three letters from the 7 Correspondence Kids I took on from Kenya

First LAVENDA, who is 9 years old

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Receive much greetings in the Lord.  I hope you are fine in Christ.  I am fine also together with my family.   I thank you for the support that youare giving onto me.  It has made me know who God is and how to serve Him.  I also t hank you for the Christmas gift hat you sent for me  Sh 1143.29 bought cups and I enjoy using them with my family

At school I am in grade 6 this year and my best subject is English.  During church services every Sunday i like to memorize verses from the Bible.  I love you so much and I keep praying for you.  please pray for country and my studies as well.  God bless you.

Yours, Lavenda

Next is MICHAEL, who is 6.  He  filled out a form letter about his typical week.

I usually wake up at 6:30 a.m.  In the morning I normally wash my face and go to school.  The days I attend school are 5 days.  The name of my school is King Model Academy.  In he afternoon I usually watch cartoons.  In the evening I normally help with washing the plates. I go to the project o Saturday  I typically go to sleep at 8:30 pm.  My favorite day of the week is Saturday because I go to the project.  The day I go to church is Sunday.  The name of my church is Deliverance.

Dear... [name left blank]

How are you, begins Michael.  Michael says he is grateful for the Christmas gifts you send to him.  He says he received a pair of long trousers and a shirt.  He adds that he is much happy that the project has once opened and now he's meeting his friends and enjoying their Saturday program.  He ends that you should always remember him in prayers for he wants God to give him good health and understanding in class work.

 NOTE:  The kids thanked me for Christmas gifts I did not send, but every child receives a Christmas gift at the centers they attend, and it was logical to thank me.

Finally is BRIGHTONE, who is 8.  He also shares a form letter about his typical week

I usually wake up at six.  In the morning I go to school.  They days I attend school are five.  The name of my school is Mayenje Primary School.  In the afternoon I usually help my parent with work.  In the evening, I normally play.  I go to the project on Saturday.  I typically go to sleep at 8 p.m.  My favorite day of the week is Saturday because I go to the project.  The day I go to church is Snday.  The name of my church is A CK Anglican Church of Kenya Mayenje.

Brightone says happy new year 2015.  He says that he wishes you a prosperous year ahead.  He says he is praying for you and your family for a long life  He says he looks forward to meeting you one of these fine days.

Letter from Brayan

Dear Beverly Sykes,

How is your health going?  I wish you are doing very well with your family.  My family and I are enjoying a very good health.  I am very grateful for the letters and pictures you sent me.  I tell you I do not know the story of "The Wizard of Oz."  I will be waiting for your pictures.  Thank you for talking about Malala -- I can see she is a warrior.  It is good that God gave her a 2nd opportunity.

I received your letter and saw your mom by the Christmas tree with the lights.

I tell you in my project I learned more bible verses and songs.  I go to CDC every Friday and I always get a 100.  I also learn many beautiful things about God.  I like to go to the project so that i remain away from evil ways.

Have you ever visited my country -- Honduras?  Have you heard about it?

I always keep you in my prayers to the Lord will give you great health.  I ask you to pray for me.  I am now going to 6th grade.  I need the Lord to give me wisdom.

I say goodbye to you with many hugs and with great love and many kisses.  I would like to know from you soon.  See you!

Brayan

Letter from Anjali

 A beautiful long letter from my first sponsored child. The English isn't always perfect and there are some things I'm not sure about, but this is the longest letter I have ever received from any of my 25 kids!

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ.  How are you?  How is your health?

I received your letter.  I am very happy about that.  I like summer but my favorite season is winter because every day early morning we go to carrels.  I also love buy fresh vegetables and fruits.  I like strawberry so much.  I like sunflowers  We have sunflowers field near our house front side.  Sunflowers are very useful in our society.

Psalms:23 chapter I like so much.  The lord is my shepherd, because in lord have everlasting love.

I like July month because so many people birthdays on that month.  Every year on my birthday I invite friends and neighbors my house and I give cake.  I like cake so much.  Tom's cake looking very nice because the cake like a football field.  I like small childrens.  Your grandchildren are so sweet.  I like Lacie the little one very much.  I like books.  And read them and understand so many new important things in our society.

In July we are in rainy season.  Rains are used to grow crops very well.  Thank you for your daily prayer.

Yours wedding photos are so nice.  I wish you a happy wedding anniversary.  Your dress is so nice.  I like your veil looking very nice.  I like your church  I like music and songs very much.  I sing songs very well.  I wish you a happy wedding anniversary to next year.

Every day I pray for you and your family. Please pray for me and my family.  Please pray for my studies.  Thank you for your lovely letters.

Photos very nice and beautiful.  I am very happy to write this letter.  Every day I pray for my project and also you god saved problems  You also pray for my project and also you god saved problems.  You also pray my project and I am proved your sponsoring.  I am preparing annually and unit 4th exams.  i will try to write lettersto you in English.  You also special time.  Thank you for your prayers.  Cow dog is very beautiful.  Dog is faithful animal.  It [?watded] away with us.

Santa Barbara city State Street is very beautiful.  Three postcards canaries is very beautiful.  Santa Barbara's very beautiful.  Thank you for love and letters.  How is tom uncle [i don't know what that means...she uses it twice]

How is Tom?  How is your friends Gabi, Alec and Steve?  What about their jobs?

I remain every day in my prayers.  My family also also pray for your family.  I learned many songs and bible stories in my project.  Project given Christmas dress.  I wish you tom uncle.  I am studying well.  We are entering summer season.  Thank you love, concern, letters, your blessing and precious sponsor.

Your loving child
Anjali

New Kiva Loan

Margaret, from Kenya

 Adding to my cattle herd!

Margaret is 44 years old and married to Monubi. They are blessed with four children aged 23, 19, 16 and 13 years old. She has been a dairy farmer for the last 12 years and earns a monthly income of KES 10,000.

She has applied for her first loan of KES 25,000 from VisionFund Kenya to buy a dairy cow and stock of napier grass feeds for the dairy cows in order to increase milk production. This will satisfy her customers' demand for milk.

With the anticipated profits she will be able to repay her loan and educate her children.

Her hopes are to be financially stable and start a milk shop.

Letter from Miché

He has the soul of a poet, obviously!

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Today, I am so pleased to be writing to you.  It is like a water spring running in my heart.  How are you doing and family?  I am doing well and family and my friends too.  I was glad to get your letters and all your pictures.  We are ding very well.  The day is sunny today.  I am great in the hot moment.  Please, pray for me and family, for my school and my church and my club.  I wish that God blessed you.

Letter from Venkana

Venkanna's English is not perfect and his handwriting is difficult to read sometimes and he uses no punctuation, but I appreciate that his messages don't go through a translator, but that he writes them directly in English

My dear Sponsor, Beverly Sykes,

I am fine here.  I hope you also fine.  Here winter is started,, very cold and I had written 3rd unit test.  I got good marks and we decided to go about to Hyderabad and Nagas.  I am in my school.  I am so happy for celebrated your 49th wedding anniversary and I am attending to the church. We are praying for Christmas and here that's grown.  We put tomatoes.(he spells better than Dan Quayle!)

I am praying for your family also.  How are you?  How is your family?  I am studying very well.  I am playing with my friends.  I am so happy to see and to read these beautiful letters.  I wanted to convey happy belated birthday to Tom.  I was also very much blessed by the verse which you have sent me, i.e., Isaiah 110:8.  I am also very glad to see all your family photos.  I prayed that God will shower his blessings and happiness in your family always.

Your loving
G. Venkanna

Letter from Theresa

MY FAMILY

My siblings:
Joshua, 20 yrs
Peter, 20 yrs
Daniel, 18 yrs
Samson, 8 yrs
Theresa, 6 yrs

I spend most time with my parents
My family lives in a village
My family's faith Christian
My favorite way to help my family Cleaning

Thank you for your prayers and sponsorship

Child's prayer request - Pray for God's protection against the family

I would like you to know more about my family:  The family have a farm that they farm on every Saturday.

Letter from Henrique

Dated 10/31/14

How i have fun

1 - play with my friends
2 - to watch games on TV
3 - Math
4 - Soccer
Bible Verse for meditation:  Matthew 5:8 (Blessed are the poor in heart for they will see God)

Dear Sponsor:  Hello.  How are you?  My name is Caroline.  I'm Monitor at Project and I will write on behalf of Luiz Henrique.  He's an active, happy and healthy child.  His family's well.  He likes to come to project, to fly kite and to play with his friends.  Keep praying for him.