Sad news from Fred

My heart is breaking for Fred and his family. I sent them a donation for Christmas and thought it strange that I had not heard back in a longer time then usual. Today I received 2 letters and the first one told the tale:

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christmas Greetings!!

We would like to say to you that thank you very much for the family gift that you had sent to us. We received [amount]. It is a big help because we bought one sack of rice that we used for the burial of Fred's sister. We bought us some of our clothes to wear every Sunday and also groceries for the Christmas eve and for New Year, so our family really appreciate your kindness and generosity to us. Hope that God will continue to bless your work and your family circle.

May God bless you!!

Another letter, dated the same date reads:

Dear Auntie Sykes

Christmas greetings!! Hope this letter will find you wel;l. Auntie Sykes, thank you so much for the stickers, pictures and Christmas card. We are so blessed because of your life.

Auntie Sykes, we're so sad on this Christmas because Fred's sister died last December 6, and she buried last December 15, 2010. Our family experience lonely because one of our family was gone away, but in behalf we are so happy, because April Lyka is in the hand of our almighty God. He doesn't want to suffer her sickness. We love her so much but God really love her.

From our home to the school of Fred, 1 kilometer more or less. Fred sometimes he walk and sometimes he rides. This is the name of Fred's sister: April Lyka. She already died. Danica and Diana. Does your children will spend with you on this Christmas?

Our family asking your prayer that God will able to heal our loneliness. Once again, thank you and God Bless you!!!

Love,
Lyra (Fred's mother)

Letter from Pedro

Hello, dear sponsor Beverly Sykes,

It's a joy for me to write you this letter in this special time. I'm doing well. It's summer here and Christmas is coming. It's very beautiful. Thank you for the Christmas gift of R$24.58. I got a shirt and a car and liked it a lot.

Now I'm on school vacation and I'm happy because I'll have lots of fun and play with my friends.

In school I hope to pass to 5th grade.

I got your letters and pictures of Russia and stickers. Thank you a lot. I'll answer your questions with love: I'm doing well, I have cousins and visit my relatives often.

Sponsor, I'll tell you something that you don't know. I use my right hand to write and use my right foot to score goals in soccer. I like to sing and love reading.

I got your post card from Sacramento and band aid.

I finish this letter missing you. I hope to write you again soon. Warm kisses from me and my family, until next time!

Love, Pedro.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 2011.

Shallon

Today I wrote to Shallon to tell her that I will now be her "real" sponsor and not just a "correspondence" sponsor. This week the two of us share a birthday (February 17) and it was just a year ago that I received her information and became her correspondence sponsor.

I'm starting to feel like a Compassion hoarder...but it's all for the good.

New Picture of Pedro

There was a new picture of Pedro in the mail today.

But the interesting thing is that he's wearing the exact same shirt he was wearing in the picture I got of him last year!

2010 ----------------- 2011

To Shallon

Today I made a collage of a walk that I took yesterday and printed it on high gloss paper to send to Shallon, who says she likes to walk.


(I print on high gloss paper because my printer does a lousy job on regular paper, but a lovely job on high gloss)

To Pedro

I absolutely LOVE this poster I put together for Pedro today!

And I am thrilled with how this magazine cover turned out for Anjali.

Fun Photo Box

I found this site for making special effects on photos and tried out a couple on Fred's photo:

A letter about Anjali

I don't think I can strictly say that any of the mail I get from India is from Anjali. It is more about her, with some drawings thrown in.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

She sends greetings in the sweet name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. She asks you how you are? She tells that she is fine, and she hopes the same with you. She says that she prays every day for you and she says that she studies well.

She says she celebrated Everett Swanson day on the 12th of December (Everett Swanson is the man who started Compassion, Intl.) and she says Project given honey cake pieces on that day. All children went to church, girls sung a song in the church. After her staff run a canteen on that day.

He says her family members are praying for you and your famiy members. He once again thanks you and your, and kind letters.

On behalf of Medam Anjali [name] Sponsor Relation Asst.

On the horns of a dilemma

I wrote a bit ago when I took on sponsorship for Erick that I had been saving the last "can afford" slot for Fred, in case his sponsor dropped him. But I saw that the need for an older boy in an AIDS area (where the sponsor contribution is higher than other areas) was great and so I decided to go for it and I agreed to sponsor him.

I have had his paperwork for a week and today got a call from Compassion saying that Shallon's sponsor can no longer sponsor her. Arrrgggh! Shallon and Fred, the two correspondence kids are the two that I feel the closest contact with. Can I possibly afford a fifth sponsored child? I have until March 2 to decide. She will also have the same problem that Erick does--an older child is harder to place than a younger one.

I must do something that, despite my association with Compassion, I rarely do. I must pray about it and hope I can come up with the decision that is right for everyone.

A Packet to Erick

I finally got together an introductory packet for Erick and sent it off to him today. It included a letter about our family and then sheets with pictures of everyone in the family.

About Erick

I got the paperwork on Erick yesterday. I'll be writing him a long letter today.


"He makes his home with his father and mother and 2 siblings. Carrying water and gathering firewood are his household duties. His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother maintains the home.

For fun, Wainaina enjoys soccer. He attends church activites, Bible class and Vacation Bible School regularly and is in primary school, where his performance is average."

Kiva

The latest borrower to whom I've made a micro loan through Kiva is Naomi, in Kenya, who wants a loan to buy carrots, potatoes and "farm inputs." This is my 29th Kiva loan and the first loan to someone in Kenya.

Naomi is a married lady with two children. For twenty years, she has been operating a food stall so as to earn a living. She also does dairy farming for extra income.

Naomi is a God-fearing lady who believes in hard work. Hence she puts a lot of effort in her business. She is a member of Githunguri Neema group in Faulu Kenya. In the group, she is able to save her money on weekly basis. The members of the group also guarantee each other's loan. She has requested a loan of 50,000 Kes to buy carrots, potatoes and farm inputs.

About Faulu Kenya:

Faulu Kenya aims to empower Kenyans by providing relevant financial solutions. Faulu is a sustainable and profitable microfinance institution that offers savings and credit services to over 225,000 Kenyans. Faulu recently became the first MFI in Kenya to be licensed as a Deposit-Taking Micro-Finance Company, which will enable Faulu to better serve its clients.

Another Letter from Fred

In September, I wrote to ask Fred's mother to call me something other than "Mrs. Sykes." I was thrilled when she finally came up with what she wanted to call me, though it takes a little adjusting to!

Dear Auntie Sykes

Have a blessed day! May God continue to shower you a blessings every day and I hope as you read my letter you are smiling.

It seems so nice to call you Auntie Sykes and I am very happy to call you that. It sounds that we are one family that have a strong relationship for both of you and to our family.

Where d id you spend your Christmas vacation?

Fred is really studying hard and one of his inspirations is you "Auntie Sykes." That's why he is doing so good to his school activities, especially to his lessons to increase his grade.

Thank you for the calendar you send here. Fred and I like this place so much. It has a wonderful view and we believed that California is one of the most beautiful place in the world.

We always pray you and your family, Auntie Sykes, hoping that you are doing good in your business. Don't be too stressed, Auntie Sykes. Take care of your self! We love you and thank you very much! Pray for my whole family for the safety and good health.

Love, Lyra Cardinal (Fred's mother)

A Letter from Fred

Dear Mrs. Sykes,

Christmas greeting!! Hope that you are in good health. By the Grace of God. We would like to tell you the improvements of Fred in his schooling. He is doing well. He knows how to read, he can know how to spell it. He study very well because he want to get a high grade and passed in this year so that he can practice reading to become a good reader at the center.

He always excited to go to the Center every Saturday to learn something special. Gospel songs and Bible stories. He is faithful every Sunday. He goes together with his younger sister.

Fred is a very good child. He is responsible and lovable to his sisters. He is helping with me if his father has work. He's the one to taking care of his sister Lyka.

What preparation do you have this coming December? Here in us we are also excited for the next year for what God has done in our lives. So please pray for family to become more faithful to God, especially Fred.

Once again, God Bless you.

Love, Lyra Cardinal (Fred's mother)

Meet Erick

I read the blogs of several people who also sponsor children through Compassion International. That's how I learned about Erick.

It was a woman named Michelle who had written an entry about the plight of older boys in finding sponsors. The desire is for younger children, and for girls rather than boys.

She printed this picture of Erick, from Kenya, who was born in 1987 and who looks rather stern. He is the kind of child who is more likely to be passed over in favor of a cute young little girl.

My heart went out to him instantly and I knew I would take him on as a sponsored child. I have figured all along that I could afford to sponsor four, but that would be my maximum. Thinking ahead to the possibility that at some point Fred's sponsor would stop sponsoring him, I saved that fourth slot for Fred.

But I know nothing about Fred's sponsor and for all I know he or she will follow Fred through until he graduates from the program. So I decided to use that fourth slot for this boy, who may need me now.

So I will be sponsoring Erick and I will eventually be adding more information about him, as it becomes available. Right now I'm just excited to get his information and to write that first letter to him.

Letter from Esther

I had a letter from Esther in Indonesia today. Esther lives in one of the countries which prints colorful stationery for their children to write on. Esther's letter reads:

To: Beverly Sykes

I'm doing well here and so glad to grow up as a 15 year old person. I hope to be a better person than before. I have been 2 months being in grade 6 at school and soon I'll be facing the middle semester examination. Please pray for me so that my marks will turn out good.

By the month of September my country just celebrated the day of Idul Fitri (the celebration marking the end of Ramadan) and I spent my holidays at home along with my family, though not all my relatives were there, but we had a great time.

This is my letter for this time. God always be with us. Thank you for the birthday gift.

God bless,
Esther

Thank you from Anjali

I sent a check to Anjali for her birthday and this is the response I received. As usual, the translator presents it as if she is transcribing an interview, which removes a level of "intimacy" from it, but I loved the photo, and Anjalil did write a little bit in English. I suspect writing is not her "thing."

She wrote:
Two frocks with the birthday gift that I received in the month of October 2010
Your loving child,
M. Anjali

and the translator wrote:
She sends greetings to in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. She asks you how you are? She tells she is fine, and she hopes the same with you. She says that she prays every day for you and she studies well.

She is expressing thanks for your gift. She says she bought two frocks for the gift. She says that she likes white and yellow colour. She once again thank you for your love and support.

On behalf of M. Anjali, [name] Sponsor Relation assistant

Fred's Answers

In August I sent a letter to each of the Compassion kids suggesting that they tell me 5 things about themselves. I sent 5 things about myself (like being left handed, loving to read, and stuff like that). Today I got Fred's answer from his mother, Lyra.

Dear Mrs. Sykes

Have a blessed day!!!

Greetings from Fred and his fasmily. How's your business going on? We always pray for you and your family, especially to your mother's health and her condition. We hope that she felt better now and she can do what she did before.

Fred have eight cousins but only three of them he played with. The rest live in from afar of.

Thanks for sharing the photos of matryushka dolls, Mrs. Sykes. It's really cute and I hope someday I have it.

Here are the little things about Fred:

1. Fred is a friendly kind and naughty person with his friend and he like to play with his friend outside.

2. Fred like a small spider. If his never have friends to play with his finding a spider to play.

3. Fred is good in dance, Mrs. Sykes, and I wanted him to join to the school dance activities so he can enhance his talent in dancing.

4. Fred know how to take care of his sisters. If his friends don't want to play with him his three sisters he played with.

5. Fred really scared in horror movies.

That the things you way know about. Fred thanks a lot, Mrs. Sykes. Please pray for Fred's studies. Once again thank you very much.

Love,
Lyra (Fred's mother)

New Photo of Shallon

Today, I received a new photo of Shallon. Doesn't she have a beautiful smile?

Letter from Anjali

Anjali never writes her own letters. Whoever writes them always writes them as if transcribing an interview.

Dear Beverly Sykes

She sends greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. She asks you how are you. She tells that she is fine and she hopes the same with you. She says that she prays every day for you and she says that she studies well.

She says that now at present the weather is very cool, because she is in winter season. She says that she likes winter season very much. She says she likes custard apple. She says that she have many fruits like custard apple, jujubi, guava, etc.

She says that she participated in Talents Day. She says project conducted Talents Day. She says she sung a song in Talents Day competition.

She says her family members are praying for you and your family members. She once again thanks you for your love and kind letters.