New Kiva Loan

Adding to my cattle herd in Kyrgyzstan.

Elmira is 44 years old, married, and raising three children with her husband. She has a specialized-secondary education and is involved in animal husbandry, an activity which provides her family with its main source of income. She started in this business 16 years ago with the purchase of livestock for 20,000 som (KGS).

Thanks to Elmira's hard work, her farming business now comprises two dairy cows and ten sheep. She makes a monthly income of 5,000 som (KGS).

In order to further develop her animal husbandry business, Elmira has turned to the microfinance bank "Bai Tushum & Partners" and requested a loan of 80,000 som (KGS). She will use this loan to buy some cows for breeding.

Elmira plans to re-invest some of her profits back into her business by purchasing additional livestock. She is also planning to save enough money to buy a car.

THREE Letters

I received letters from three of my kids today.  It was a banner day!

 FROM Luiz Henrique in Brasil

This is a check off sheet where I learn that he wants to be a policeman, he would like to go to Paraiba, he wants to help his parents buy a car, he would like to celebrate his birthday with a party, he would like to meet me because he thinks I am nice.

Under the section "Questions to my sponsor" he asks "do you have any dog?"  (Apparently he never reads my letters!!!)  He also includes this drawing:

(The thing on the left looks like it might be a fire, so I'm wondering if this is a camping scene)

FROM Samuel in Kenya

Another check off sheet where I learn that the thing he likes to do best with his friends is play.  The game he likes best is football, the work he likes best is looking after cattle.  What he likes best about the project is playing.  The subject he likes best in school is mathematics.  His favorite teacher is Miss Lydia.  The place he likes to visit best is Mombasa City and what he likes to do best with his family is playing together.

His case worker writes a "message to my sponsor."

Receive much greetings from your friend Samuel.  He says that he is so happy to write to you today.  He is so grateful for the letters you send to him.  He says that he is fine.  His family is fine too.  He wants to thank you for your support towards his life.  May the Lord bless you today and forever.  Goodbye!

FROM Wainaina in Kenya (who is 16 and writes in English)

Hello!  I greet you in the name of the Lord.  How are you?  I hope you are doing well.  How about your family?  There is another joy God has granted to us.  I'm praying so hard for you and your family to be saved.  I'm doing well in school and at home.  I live near the school where I learn.  It is about 1/4 km from where I live.  It is a mixed day school and no boarding.  I enjoy being in school with my friends.  My teacher's names are as follows:  Mr. Francis, Mrs. Kupere, Mr. Artan, Mr. Gathanga and Madam Mercy.  In lour class we are about 50 pupils in one class that is form one.  In our school we wear uniform, according to the rules of the school.  We don't wear the way we want.

Thanks you for your letter.  May God bless you.

Read Isaiah 54:17

Letter from Shallon

Dear my mother in Christ, Beverly Sykes.

Let me take this opportunity to say hey to you, my mother and friend.  I thankGodfor the life you have and I praise God.

I pray that I keep on communicating with you through letters.  In the last letter I wrote to you I told you that I joined vocational school in salon and hair dressing because in second term my sister was sick and there was no one who could take care of her.  So I will go back to school next term such that I can add on my studies and become a teacher.

We are in dry season.  All trees are shedding off their beautiful leaves.  We are planting beans but the seeds are going to be dormant because of heavy sunshine.

I am sending my regards to Ned, Lacie, Brianna and your friends.  I want to send you a versee in the Bible.  It is in Daniel, Chapter 4:2:3

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

 How great are his signs,
    how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
    his dominion endures from generation to generation.

I will continue to praise God because he is merciful and loving to me.  Let me wish that you have a wonderful day.  I love you.

Yours, 

Shallon

Letter from Anjali

This is the longest letter written by Anjali, and I am amazed by the observations she shares (which are sometimes difficult to read because of her handwriting).

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  I am fine here.  I hope same with you.  I received your letters.  I am very happy to read your letters.  I saw your photos.  Your photos are very beautiful.

My future dream is to become a doctor.  I would like to do helping poor peoples. 

I like coloring books.  I am very happy that I am studying 5th grade. My studies are very well.  My family members? [she doesn't follow through with that question!]  We are in rainy season,  The weather is cool. In this season we have many fruits like apple, pomogranate, corn, etc.

We are going to celebrate our 67th Independence day on the 15th of August in our state.  There are three regions.  Now our state government divided into two parts.  One is telangana and the other one is seemandhra.  Now the entire seemandhra people doing protests against the governmeent for the purpose.  We are not agree to divide the state because we are all talking Telugy.  Please pray for my state.

How is your country weather?

Please pray for my health, studies, and my family members. 

I and my family members going to church every Sunday.  I remember you and your family members in my daily prayers. My family members also praying for you and your family members.  Thank you for your supporting.

Your loving child,

M. Anjali

Letter from Fred

My heart skipped a beat when I saw this letter from Fred, because I have not had official information about him and his family following the typhoon.  But then I saw that it was dated September 27, 2013, when nobody knew what horror was about to descend on his country.

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian Greetings!

Thank you for the birthday gift that you gave me.  I received an amount of 1,032.25 [in Philippine currency].  I bought biscuits, clothes and a watch.  I wear my clothes when I go to church.

Please pray that my family will be more faithful in church.  Thank you for everything.  God bless you.

Love,
Fred

...and you, too, little Fred.  Be well.

Letter from Miché

Dated 9/16/2013

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I'm pleased to write to you today in Jesus' name, the Almightly.  How are your activities?  I'm very well, thanks to God.  I was glad to get your letters and photos.  On my birthday, I and my family always get together to eat together.  My favorite subject is math.  Yes, I have more than one goat.  I usually milk them.

All my brothers and sisters are older than me.  I don't know that Bible story.  I like the hot weather.  Thanks for the letters, the information, and the great scriptures you sent me.

May God bless you!

Letter from Anjali

Anjali is now writing her own letters in English, but because of some problems with English it's not easy to always know what she is writing, though she prints very clearly.  She seems to leave out verbs and punctuation, for one thing!  But this is what it looks like she is saying in this letter (which I love for its length!)

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.  I have received 4 letters from you.  I am very happy.  Our project staff explained [thileten] (she printed that word very clearly,but I don't know what she meant to say!) How are you.  How is your work.  Belated many many happy returns of the birthday to you.  I pray for your happy life.  Family photo is very nice and beautiful.  Thank you for your mail letters.  Our mail letter [deieveled] twor three days in our country.  Letters also.

Brianna birthday cake is very beautiful.  All one fine all photes one fine. Brianna is very very beautiful.  I don't know Pinata, computer.  Postman gives letters in our church. Christening baptism also same our church.  Congregation sang this song deva shisumala the chithime.

Thank you for all information.  I am very happy to write this letter.  My family also fine.  Promoted 5th grade project game.  Notebooks project staff also fine project conducted children in prayer.  All children divided groups. Pray for prayer request.  I pray for you and your family once that you for your letters.  I am very happy.  Thank you for your love, concern and support.

Your loving child,

M. Anjali

Letter from Josphat

Here is the form letter from Josphat about weather in Kenya

The season now is  Rainy

It is now cold

Around this time the farmers are planting.

When the weather is sunny I like to play

When the weather is rainy I like to shelter.

My favorite kind of weather is sunny.

On my last birthday the weather was sunny.

Last Christmas the weather was sunny.

There follows a Message to my sponsor

Receive much greetings from your child sponsor. He is doing well with his family.  He says that he loves you and your family.  He says that he is much glad for the letters he received.  He says they planted in their garden and are about to have a plenty harvest.  He asks whether you have Compassion in your states and also he requests for prayers from you so that God will continue blessing them.  "Goodbye," he adds.

Letter from Fred

Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian Greetings!

I like our Division Achievement Test in school.  My favorite subject is math and I got 26 scores out of 30 items.  My schooling is fine.   What was your favorite subject when you are still a student?

Please pray that I will be more intelligent.  My health is OK now.

Thank you for your letters and pictures.  Brianna and Lacie are growing.  Thank you for praying for me.

God bless you!

Love,
Fred C.

Form Letter from Henrique

 

This form tells me he wakes up at 6 a.m., has breakfast and lunch at home. Everyday he reviews his studies, and before bed he reads the Bible and talks to God.  His favorite day of the week is Friday.  He includes a Bible passage, "the Lord is my shepherd, I lack for nothing."and ends with May God bless you.  This is pretty much the same thing I get from him each month.  I wish there were a little something personal in it, after sponsoring him for all this time.

New Kiva Loan

Mirzaim is a 62-year-old widow from Kyrgyszstan. Following the death of her husband, she alone raises her 6 children and tends to her farm. She has a high school education, and the brunt of her income comes from raising livestock, having started 10 years ago with 12,000 somoni worth of animals. Thanks to her persistent efforts, her farm currently has 1 dairy cow, 1 bull, and 1 calf. Her monthly income is 8,000 somoni. To further develop her farm, Mirzaim is seeking a loan in the amount of 120,000 somoni from Bai Tushum & Partners to buy more cows for her farm. She plans to reinvest the additional income that the loan will allow her to buy even more livestock.

I admit to choosing her because she has a nice face--and I LOVED the cow!

Final letter from Esther

Esther is now 18.  She's from Indonesia and I have been writing to her since February of 2010.  She was one of my best letter writers, and I will miss her, but I am happy to know that she has completed the program and is starting her adult life.

Dear Beverly,

I thank Beverly for giving a lot of impressions and good messages to me, for the help, attention, gifts and prayers all this time.  I just want to say goodbye to Beverly because I'll depart from Project now.  My goal after the departure from Project is to work to help my parents and siblings.  There are actually a lot of benefit I get from Project.  Project activity now really helps the progress of teens nowadays indeed, to educate and to create in any field.

I hope Beverly understands my decision.  I ask for support and prayer for this future ahead, that God always be with me on every step I take.  On the contrary, I'll always pray for you and the family there.  I won't ever forget all your kindness.

God bless and be with you always.

New Kiva Loan

Maria Danelia is 51, married and has 3 grown children. She lives in a community in the department of Chinandega in the western part of the Nicaragua. She is the owner and administrator of several business which include: cutting up pork, sales of chicken and mass consumption products like rice, sugar, beans, oil, candy, bread, vegetables, detergents, etc. She also sells milk products and offers delicious curds, cheese, boronas [a type of bread], and sour milk [a milk product similar to buttermilk]. Maria Daniela has had this business for more than 19 years and makes her purchases from distributors. In addition, on weekends she sells pork that is already cut up as well as her delicious nacatamales, for which she is well-known. One of her dreams is to enable her little granddaughter to get a good education and to be able to have a higher income. The objective of this loan is to invest it in working capital, principally in wholesale chicken.

Letter from Samuel

27th July 2013

The season is now dry.  It is now cold.  Around this time the farmers are harvesting.  When the weather is sunny, I like to play. When the weather is rainy I like to sleep.  My favorite kind of weather is sunny.  On my last birthday the weather was sunny.  Last Christmas the weather was rainy.

"How are you?"  Samuel asks.  He says that he is doing well.  He asks how you are doing?  He is thanking and appreciating you for the letter you sent.  He says that his family is well and that during his free time he plays soccer with his friends.  He wishes that one day you will meet each other.  He's thanking you for your love, kindness, support upon his life and your being there.  You have really his life positively.  May the Lord God Almighty reward and bless you richly.

Letter from Luis Henrique

(no date)

In the first part of the letter, he checks off information about the climate of Brasil:

* In the city where I live the weather is usually cold during the winter.
* In the winter, my city (June, July, August) is hot and it doesn't rain
* I prefer all types of weather
* When the weather is sunny I like to play in the street
* When the weather is rainy I like to play indoors
* As I write this letter, the weather is hot and sunny

What is your favorite type of weather?

Dear Beverly,

How are you?  I am Lucilia, the Project Monitor, and I am writing on behalf of Luiz Henrique.  He is a healthy, happy and very active child who makes friends easily.  He also likes birthdays very much.  He thought it was really cool to learn what a pinata is.  Here in Brasil we have the custom of hanging up an enormous balloon filled with sweets and candy and the children have to burst it so that everything falls to the ground.  The children have loads of fun.

We hope to hear more news from you soon.  We are very happy about your love for Luiz Henrique.  We ask that you pray for Luiz and his family.

Affectionately, Lucilia, on behalf of Luiz Henrique.

Letter from Miché

29 / 07 / 2013

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Hello.  How are you?  This is a pleasure for me to write to you this letter.  How are your activities going?  My whole family is very well, thanks to God.  They are not sick.

I wish that God make me have a good vacation.  I play soccer.  I am part of a team to go playing in another area.

I  thank you for your prayers.  I am glad to see the picture of your granddaughter that is dancing.  The pictures you have enclosed are very beautiful.  I was glad to get the pictures and the letter where they were dancing the dance that Lacie llikes.

I have succeeded in school.  I will be in Grade 5 with happy heart.

Are all your families all right?  Aren't they sick?  I help you pray and you will help me to pray for my school.  I pray that you have a good vacation.  May God bless you.

Letter from Emmanuella

21st August 2013

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Thank you for the letters and prayers.  God bless you.

Child's response to sponsor's questions:
No, I don't know anything about fog.
We are 19 pupils in my class.
Yes, I like reading.
Yes, I like reading to younger people.
The story I like reading is Cinderella the orphan.

Child's new experiences at Project/Home/School/Community, etc.
I was promoted to J.H.S. (1) one and I am very happy.

Question for my sponsor
What are the names of your friends?

Prayer for my sponsor
I pray that God will bless you and your family.

Prayer request from child
Pray that God will give me wisdom and understanding.

Memory verse
Psalm 25:2.  To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  In you I trust, O my God.  Do not let me put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.  Amen.

Letter from Fred

June 11, 2013

Dear Auntie Sykes.

Christian Greetings!

I wasso happy for the bonfire during the camp.  I like the stories and the food.  I will be in fourth grade.  I like to carry my younger brother.  I like to know how many are in your home?

Please pray that my sibling will be fine.

Thank you for everything.  My schooling is fine.  Thank you for your pictures.  You look all alike.

Belated happy birthday!  I hope that you are very happy.

I thank that you love me even I'm far from you. 

May I learn a lot.

Thank you for everything.  Thank you for my new uniform and school supplies.  God bless you!

Love,
Fred

Letter from Leniel

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Hello!  May God bless you so much!  How are you?  I am very well and thank you for every one of your letters and for being my sponsor!  I ask you to pray for my mom and my grandma.  What is your favorite bible verse?  Blessings!

Love, Leniel

Letter from Wainaina

August 10,  2013

Dear Beverly Sykes,

"Hello, Miss Beverly Sykes."

I hope you and also your family are really doing well at home.  Me and also my family are doing good.  I still remember and pray for you and your family as you do to me.  I also thank you for the gifts you send to me.

Here in our Compassion we are preparing for our ball games which are starting on the 12th of this month.  And I hope this season we are going to take over the championship.  It has been a wonderful time f or us practicing the games that we are practicing.  And I am not a very good fan at baseball.

Here in Kenya it has been very cold since last month and I hope very soon it might change to normal degrees.

At home we live together as a family but not separate with my brothers and the little sister of ours.

The bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of God, therefore we must be honest and patient about God's plan to us.  But not what our minds tell us  to do.

I received your letters and they were so nice to me.  When I read them and aso the photos that you send about Briana's graduation.  I hope you a lucky day as mine.  May God be with you all the times.