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!