Letter from Lovson

In this letter, dated 1/13/2014, Lovson is answering a letter I wrote in August, where I talked about visiting a friend who lives on a farm and who has two sheep, named Periwinkle and Zinnia.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Today I am so glad to write you this letter.  How are you?  I am doing very well, thanks to God.  What's the weather like where you are?  It's cold in my country.  Do you like hot weather?

I took part in a nice party during December at the project.  My school is going well.,  I had an average of 55.47 for the first term exams.

Thank you for the gift in December.  I bought a t-shirt with it.

Zinnia and Periwinkle are two beautiful names.  I will name my children like that.  I will give them those names.

Thank you for the photos you sent me.  I ask you to pray for me to have better grades.  May God bless you!

Lovson

Letter from Anjali

This has no date, but it was written before Christmas.

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  I received your photo.  It is very beautiful.  Your photos all are very beautiful.  How are you? How is your family members?  [I love that she puts little hearts over her dotted letters!]   My family members are all fine.

Now we are in winter season.  I like this season very much because this season I like we celebrate Christmas.  Also December 12th we celebrate Swanson's Day.  He is the founder of Compassion. 

My project given a beautiful Christmas dress.  In this dress I look like very handsome.  I am very happy.  I celebrate Christmas very happily with my friends  How is your Christmas celebrations and how is your country's weather.

Every day I am going to school in this year.  I enjoy so much Christmas day and new year day.  I love so much Christmas because Jesus was brn on Christmas so I love Christmas very much and here also the weather is cooler.  I like snow.  We wish you a Happy Christmas and Happy New Yearl  Thank you for your sponsorship.

Your loving child,
Anjali

New Kiva Loan

To celebrate my 71st birthday, I've made a new Kiva Loan,continuing to build my herd of cattle in Kyrgyzstan. Besides, who could resist that cute grin.

Anipa is 61 years old and a widow, who raises three children by herself. After the death of her husband, Anipa for a long time thought she would not be able to survive the loss of her loved one. She had to raise and support her children, and Anipa decided to take on the financial and household responsibility by herself. Anipa has secondary education.

As a main source of income for her family, Anipa works with livestock breeding and field crop cultivation, after having started 14 years ago with the purchase of livestock for 7,000 som (KGS). Thanks to Anipa's persistent work, her farm currently has four dairy cows and 10 sheep. She also has a plot of land of 1.56 hectares, on which she grows barley, wheat and hay. She has all conditions for breeding cattle, having harvested 200 pieces of pressed hay and 1.5 tons of barley. The monthly income is 10,000 som (KGS).

With an aim to further develop her business, Anipa turned to the bank "Bai Tushum" for a loan to purchase cows to fatten and subsequently resell at the market at a higher price. Anipa plans to invest the income from the loan in further increasing the number of livestock, and intends to save money for repairing her house.

First Letter from Banesa

I took Banesa on to sponsor in August and finally received my first letter from her, dated 11/21/13!  The first part answers questions about her learing, and then there is a personal message

My Project Learning:  In my project I'm learning about God's word and many important things.
About my emotions I have learned not to let the world change your smile, but your smile changes the world.
About being polite and kind I have learned that we have to be honest and respectful of others.
About my community I have learned we have to take care of our community

Dear Bevery.  Hello!  How are you?  I hope you are fine.  I'm fine, thanks God, because every time I read your letters I feel I was living those moments with you.  I'm happy because in December is my birthday and I'm planning to spending with my family.

You asked me if I know of baseall, well, I do, a little.  In my country from October to January we have baseball season. I always think of you and pray for you so that God gives you everything you need, like in Philippeans 4:13, "I cn do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."  Merry Christmas.

Banesa

Letter from Fred!!

This letter, dated November 23, is the first I've heard from Fred since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines.  I had received word from Compassion that he and his family were all right but it took this long to get word from him.  I love how matter of fact he is about the storm.

 Dear Auntie Sykes,

Christian Greetings!

Thank you for praying for me.  We had a typhoon here but we are okay.  My health is okay.  My weight is 24.3 kg and my height is 132 cm.  I always go to Sunday School.  I like horses.  We are 30 students inside the classroom.  My teacher is Mrs. Arroyo.

thank you for the pictures.  How are you there?  Do you have storms?

Please pray that I will be farfrom danger and sickness.  Please send my regards to your family.  Thank you for the Lion King story book.  Good bless you!

Love,
Fred Cardinal

Letter from Samuel

In this "fill in the blanks" letter, dated 11/23/13, Samuel tells me about how he has fun. 

During free time I like to play soccer/football.  My favorite activity is swinging.  When I am outside, I like to play.  When I am inside I like to read.  One sport I like to play is soccer/football.  I usually play with my siblings. When I am bred I will visit friends.  One fun thing I like to do is playing.

The person writing for Samuel adds this note:

Receive much greetings from your friend Samuel.  He says that he is doing very well and his family too.  He says that he received your letter and was so happy about it.  He wants to thank you for your support.  He wishes you a happy new year and a merry Christmas.  Bye!

Letter from Wainaina

Hello, Bev!  I hope that you are all well, you and your family.  I hope that you still pray for me, as I do for every day before I go to sleep.  I say a word to God about you and the entire family.  I hope now you are preparing yourself for the coming Christmas, as we are preparing ourselves.  I hope that it will be a good and enjoyable Christmas.

Here in Kenya we are receiving much rain, which is a blessing from God.  What about your country?

I'm working hard in my studies and I believe that God will bless me.  Have a good and enjoyable Christmas.  It's my prayer that God will bless you and your family.

Read 2 Samuel 16:5-16

Letters from Briana and Miché

16 November 2013

Dear Beverly Sykes,

It is a real pleasure for me to write you this letter.  How are you?  Your activities? and your family?  As for me, I'm not too bad, thanks to God.  To answer your questions, I passed, thanks to God, with average of 799 out of 1200.  Now I'm in Grade 7 and all of those things were possible thanks to your prayers.  Please pray for me so that I can be more intelligent and patient in everything I do.  I am praying for you, too, so that God can bless you more.

Briana

22 November 2013

Dear Beverly Sykes,

Today I am pleased to write to you this letter.  How are your labors going on? I am very well, thanks to God.  I am glad to receive your letter and picture.  I am very well, thanks to God.  There are 25 students in my grade.  My teacher is named Milord.  I wear my school uniform.  I like to ride bike very, very much.  I play soccer during my school recess.  Please help me to pray for my school club and for my church.

I wish you a happy new year 2014 and a happy end of year 2013 with joy, security, good health, and lots of love.

Miché

Letter from Shallon

(this is also a new photo of Shallon)

My mother in Christ, Beverly Sykes,

Let me take this opportunity to say hay to you, my mother/friend.  I thank God for 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 form 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 f riends.  I want to send you a verse in the Bible.  It is in Daniel, Chapter 4:2:3. "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,
Katusiime Shallon

Letter from Emmanuella

Dear Beverly Sykes,

I thank you for the letters, pictures and prayers.

The name of my class teacher is Mr. Aanso.  We are 21 pupils in my class.  We wear uniforms to school and the colour of our uniform is orange and cream.  My best subject is science.  I am now learning bead making

How is your work going?

I pray that God will bless you and your family.  Pray that God will bless me and my family.

Memory verse:  Romans 3:23.  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Letter from Henrique

Dated 10/24/13

Hello, dear sponsor Beverly,

How are you?  I am doing well.  This year here I am in 1st grade, my favorite subject is sciences.  Answering your letter, I can ride bike and my favorite color is red too.

Kisses,

Luiz Henrique

New Kiva Loan

 

 Janet is a twenty-nine-year-old married woman with two children, living in Kasese, Uganda. She sells cosmetics and she started the business after realizing that the meager salary that she earns as a teacher can hardly meet her family's needs. Inadequate capital and the high cost of rent are her major challenges, while her dream is to trade in wholesale. Janet intends to use the loan to buy cosmetics to sell. 

I chose this loan because my Compassion daughter Shallon recently gave up a year of education, preparing to be a teacher, because she needed to earn money to help her sister, who was sick...so she went into the cosmetics business.  I felt Janet needed encouragement.  (And Shallon will return to her studies to be a teacher)

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.