This week, I added three more items to the gifts I’m bringing to Esteban and Jose: backpacks, baseballs and gloves. In less than three months, my son Aidan and I will be in Nicaragua meeting our boys!
Backpacks, Baseballs and Gloves
Category Archives: Compassion International
Comforting Words from around the World
Riley (1996-2013)
Last September, we lost a treasured member of our family. After 16 years of loving and enjoying our cat Riley, he died from kidney failure complications.
Riley came into our family one year before we had our first child. He lived to see us bring home six babies in all. He moved with us four times. Two of these moves were fairly short, but two were more than 400 miles. Through each change, he adapted to his new situation. He mellowed with age, and toward the end of his life, the once-spunky kitten had turned into a calm, old cat who shockingly was known to groom our pet bunny once in a while.
My love for Riley surely showed through in letters to my sponsored children because I received quite a few condolences regarding his death.
These responses ranged from compassionate and simple: “It is sad to hear that your pet Riley has died,” from Daniel, 14, in Bolivia, to downright funny: “Sorry for the dead cat. I hope you get another one,” from 14-year-old Seline in Kenya.
Some children, like 12-year-old Jhon of Colombia, offered more philosophical words of comfort: “It is sad that your cat has passed away. He left you good memories, and they will not die.”
Others, like 8-year-old Aurel in Albania, empathized due to their own love of animals: “I am so sorry for your cat because I do also love cats.”
Still others were eager to make things better by suggesting we adopt a new pet right away.
Jose, 10, of Nicaragua wrote, “I am very happy because I got your letters, but feel very sad because of the death of your cat, and I am praying for you. Don’t be sad. After the cat’s death, do you get another pet?”
And 14-year-old Camelia of Romania wrote, “I’m sorry for your cat. If I could send you one, I would send you three, not one.”
These sweet children definitely lifted my spirits with their kind words, and I’m sure many of them were happy to find out months later that we did, in fact, adopt two new kittens, whose photo I have shared with them in letters already.
The following are more caring words from around the world:
“You have told me sad news that your cat Riley died, and also me, I am in sorrows with you. But I am praying so much that you can pass through it, God will bless you and you will get another one.” – Edwin, 18, Uganda
“I am very sorry to hear that your cat has died. I am praying for you so that you get another one.” – Swalehe, 14, Tanzania
“I was sad to learn that your cat died. I know it’s hard to depart from a dear friend. I wish you strength, and I asked God to give you another one.” – Jimmy, 14, Haiti
“I am very sad to know that your pet cat Riley has died.” – Boidyanath, 14, Bangladesh
“I pray for your children and for you, Kerri, to pass over this sad moment from your lives.” – Dragos, 14, Romania
“I’m very sorry for your cat, especially because it was so beautiful.” – Andrei, 13, Romania
Soccer Balls for Our Boys!
Aidan and I are visiting our boys in Nicaragua in October, and we recently bought them each a soccer ball. We can’t wait to play soccer with our boys!
Who Will Sponsor?
Who will sponsor one of these beautiful children from Nicaragua?
I am traveling to Nicaragua in October, and will take a package from you to your new sponsor child if you choose to sponsor one of these children. This is an exciting offer because Compassion sponsors are limited to sending paper products to their sponsor children due to customs restrictions. But when a sponsor carries a package to the country for you, the package is then delivered to your child.
In the past, I have been lucky enough to be able to send packages to my children with several generous sponsors, and my children loved receiving the items I sent. As an added bonus, I had a lot of fun shopping for my children. I have sent items like colored pencils, pens, pencil sharpeners, journals, Hot Wheels cars, marbles, small teddy bears, hair clips and head bands, and even t-shirts.
The general request is that you be able to fit the items for your child into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag, and you’d be surprised what you can squeeze into a bag that size.
These are the children for whom I am trying to find sponsors:
Jervin was born Sept. 11, 2004. He lives with his parents, and there are two children in the family. He enjoys soccer, playing with cars and singing. Average income in his area is $120/month.
Elizabeth was born Aug. 21, 2005. She lives with her parents, and there are three children in the family. Elizabeth likes playing with dolls, ball games and running. The average income in her area is $60/month.
Teofilo was born July 14, 2004. He lives with his parents, and there are two children in the family. He loves playing ball games, hide-and-seek and playing group games. The average income in his area is $45/month.
Yarely was born Feb. 11, 2005. She lives with her parents, and there are five children in the family. Yarely enjoys bicycling and playing group games. The average income in her area is $41/month.
Jordan was born Sept. 9, 2007. He lives with his parents, and his father is employed as a laborer. Jordan enjoys singing, bicycling and listening to music. The average income in his area is $100/month.
If you are interested in sponsoring any of these children, please contact me. If you’d rather search for a child on your own on Compassion’s web site, please click here.
Financial Gift through Compassion
Boidyanath, 14, of Bangladesh, with items he purchased using a monetary gift I sent to him. He wrote that he purchased shirts, pants and sandals.
Art Spotlight: Brazil
Eleven-year-old Pedro in Brazil usually attaches a separate paper to my letters with his drawings, and he draws to fill every space available. Below is some of his recent artwork.
If you would like to sponsor a child from Brazil, please click here and set your search for Brazil.
Sponsor a Child in Nicaragua
As the countdown continues for my trip to Nicaragua, I will be looking for sponsors for children from the area. If you choose to sponsor one of the five children for whom I am advocating, I will take a package from you to Nicaragua to be delivered to your new sponsor child.
Compassion’s mailing guidelines allow for sponsors to send flat, paper items to their children, but this would give you the opportunity to fill a gallon-sized ziploc bag with other items. Popular gifts to send include small stuffed animals, journals, pencils, t-shirts, toy cars – really anything you can fit into the bag.
These are the children for whom I am looking for sponsors:
Heydi is five years old. Her birthday is Dec. 18, and she lives west of Leon with her parents. Her father is a laborer, and there are two children in the family. Heydi enjoys art, playing with dolls and playing ball games. She is in Kindergarten.
Randall is six years old, and his birthday is Feb. 14. He lives with his parents in Northern Managua, and there are seven children in the family. His father is sometimes employed as a seller in the market. Randall likes soccer and playing with marbles.
Jeisni is seven years old and lives in Chinandega City with her mother, who is employed as a laborer. There are two children in the family. Jeisni enjoys playing house, art and bicycling. Her birthday is June 20.
Juan is five years old, and his birthday is Dec. 29. He lives east of Managua with his mother, who is employed as a laborer. There are two children in his family. Juan likes playing with cars, art and running.
Marco, 11, lives southeast of Leon with his parents. There are three children in the family. Marco’s birthday is May 7, and he likes soccer and playing with cars.
Compassion has been working in Nicaragua since June 2002. Currently there are more than 21,765 children attending more than 105 child development centers in the country.
Nicaragua, Not Ireland
I’ve wanted to travel to Ireland ever since I was a kid. Something about the green, rolling hills, stone castles and friendly people just seemed to call to me.
I knew my ancestors came from Ireland, and I was always told my red hair came from there, too. I knew that one day, I would go there.
So last month as I waited for passport photos with my sons, it occurred to me that my first trip out of the country would not in fact be to my beloved Ireland. Apparently God has other plans for me, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
In fact, I am so incredibly excited about the first time I will use this passport that I’m not sure how I will survive the wait.
This October, my 14-year-old son Aidan and I will travel to Nicaragua with Compassion International. We will visit Compassion’s main office in Managua the first day, then we’ll see some of Compassion’s projects during the next two days of our tour.
Finally, on the fourth day, we will meet our two sponsor children and spend the day with them. We’ll have a translator with us, so we can really get to know these boys in person.
By the time we meet them, we will have sponsored Esteban, 8, for almost four years, and Jose, 11, for one year.
I’m already collecting items to bring to my boys. I have teddy bears, Uno games and children’s Bibles in Spanish so far. And I have a list of other gift ideas that continues to grow.
So the countdown is on. In just seven months and a few days, I will hug my Nicaraguan boys tight, my son and I will shower them with love, and all of us will share wonderful memories of being together.
I may not be headed to Ireland yet, but I can’t think of any place besides Nicaragua that I’d rather visit this year.
Bolivian Smiles
I always enjoy receiving photos of my sponsor children, and this great shot of Daniel was no exception. It’s not possible to look at that smile without smiling yourself! In this photo, Daniel is holding several letters he has received from me.
Art Spotlight: Colombia
In continuing my “Art Spotlight” series, these are some drawings from 8-year-old Paula in Colombia. She always takes the time to fill the drawing space in her letters and to color everything neatly. I especially love it when she adds a “te quiero” (I love you) to her drawings, as she did in the fourth one.
October 2013
September 2013
June 2013
May 2013
September 2012
Compassion Bloggers visit Uganda
This week, the Compassion bloggers are visiting Uganda. It’s only two days into the trip, and these talented writers have already shared many wonderful stories.
You can follow along by clicking here.
You’ll read about a young girl who is able to smile again after growing up on the run from the Lord’s Resistance Army. You’ll follow along as another young girl gives a condensed and humorous presentation of her daily life. You’ll meet a young boy who, despite a tough first impression, has a heart for leadership and ministry. You’ll be exposed to poverty, but more importantly, you’ll see Compassion making a difference in the lives of children and families, bringing hope, faith and love to the area.
Compassion’s goal is to find sponsors for 400 children in Uganda this week, and already 109 children have been sponsored. Would you consider partnering with Compassion to provide a child with education, healthcare, nutrition and the gospel? Would you consider bringing hope to a child in need?
Please click here and select Uganda to sponsor one of the 602 children waiting to hear they have been chosen.
Love in Letters: Big Hugs and Lots of Love
I’ve fallen into the habit, when writing to my sponsored children, of using the same closing to my letter every time. I always write, “I send you big hugs and lots of love.”
So when I received this letter from 18-year-old Edwin in Uganda today, I was touched to see my own familiar closing.
Edwin ended his letter:
“God bless you and your family. I send you big hugs and lots of love.”
Edwin, 18, Uganda
Edwin writes in English, and often shares many interesting details of his life. In this letter, I learned that Edwin’s grandparents celebrated “Golden Jubilee” in August, which was their 50th wedding anniversary. A church service including all the grandchildren was part of the celebration, and Edwin composed a song on a keyboard and sang it at his grandparents’ party.
Edwin also let me know that Manchester United is his favorite soccer team, and he listed some of his favorite players.
This young man is serious about his studies, and always asks for prayers that he do well in school. I look forward to seeing where God leads him in the future and am thankful to know him.
If you are interested in sponsoring a child in Uganda, please click here and enter Uganda in the search window.
From Serious to Smiles
This is Pedro from Brazil. I’ve been corresponding with this boy for about two years, and had only seen his very serious, solemn face in the first photo. It was a wonderful surprise when I logged onto my account last week and saw his beautiful face smiling back at me!
Pedro is 10 years old, and in his most recent letter, he wrote: “We have many things in common since history is one of my favorite subjects. History speaks of peoples who lived in a different time before us.” It has been a lot of fun getting to know this boy.
Giving Thankfully: Love in Letters
There isn’t much that delights me more as a sponsor than receiving a letter from one of my faraway sponsored children. Today, though, I think I found something that tops even that.
My 12-year-old son, Logan, became a sponsor earlier this year. I wrote about it here. Since February, Logan and the boy he sponsors, Osmar, have exchanged several letters.
Osmar, 11, of Guatemala
Logan was excited to receive another letter from Osmar today. As usual, he opened the letter quickly to see what his friend in Guatemala had to say, then he handed the letter to me, so I could read it, too.
I am so touched by Osmar’s affection for Logan, that I have to share his letter here:
Dear sponsor Logan,
I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ hoping that you are in great health. The weather is rainy. I want to tell you that in my town, we harvest corn, potatoes and beans. We have a lot of things in my town. I love you. I ask you to pray for everyone in my town and for my family. We are going to finish the school year. I am going to pray for you. I thank you for the letter that you sent me. I love you. What is my favorite sport? Soccer. What’s the weather like over there? I say goodbye with love and hugs. I hope that God continues blessing you and your family, and that he gives you blessings because you are my sponsor. Thank you.
Osmar
Yes, this sweet 11-year-old boy in Guatemala just told my son “I love you” – twice.
And that is why, in this month of thanks, I am thankful for love in letters.
Giving Thankfully: Compassion and World Vision
In the wake of the recent destruction in the Philippines, I am so incredibly thankful for Compassion and World Vision, and their responses in aiding the people affected.
Typhoon Haiyan is being called possibly the strongest storm in recorded history, and the Philippine government today reported a death toll of 2,275, while officials on the ground have said they fear as many as 10,000 might be dead.
Please click here to view a short video of the typhoon’s destruction.
About 9.5 million people are affected, according to World Vision. Residents of the hardest-hit areas are dealing with lack of clean water and available food, blocked roads, loss of electricity and, in some areas, looting.
You can help Compassion’s relief efforts by clicking here. Your gift will make possible interventions including emergency food and water, temporary shelters, trauma counseling and spiritual support, replacement of clothing, school supplies and household items, and restoring supplies families need for earning income.
You can help World Vision’s relief efforts by clicking here. Your donation will provide essentials such as blankets, mosquito nets, hygiene and food kits, emergency shelter and clean water. World Vision is seeking to raise $20 million for this effort.
Please consider reaching out to these people who so desperately need help.
Giving Gratefully 