New Year!

I begin 2015 with 7 sponsored children.  Three through World Vision, three through Children International, and one through United With Hope.
I've developed a nice ongoing sponsorship routine with 7 kids.  I'm not planning on adding any new kids in 2015, as 7 seems to be a good number for me to keep up with long term.  I write every 5-6 weeks, sometimes online, sometimes a real paper letter with pictures, etc.  I am able to send extra financial gifts with only 7 children, as well, and that is a plus for me, because it's pretty important to me.
There have been several times during the past few months that I worried I'd need to drop some or all of my sponsored children, due to looming bills that seemed huge.  But everything always seemed to work out.  Either the bill was much smaller than anticipated, or we somehow had the money.
I think back to when I returned to sponsorship in August 2013.  I remember thinking I'd have time to write twice a month.  Ha!  The good news is, I don't even feel a bit guilty.  Sponsorships through World Vision and Children International don't have kids coming into a center each week, so to get a letter to the child, either the family has to come and pick it up, or center staff have to deliver it to the family.  Writing twice a month would create a lot more work!   I feel I've struck a nice balance with writing every 5-6 weeks.  The kids still get regular letters from me, but I'm not overwhelming the system.

Welcome Bhuvana!

I just realized I never posted a picture of Bhuvana, the little girl I sponsor through United with Hope.  When I received word that Jayaprakash was leaving the program, I chose to sponsor  Bhuvana.  Isn't she adorable?

Goodbye Jayaprakash

I received sad news yesterday, as my newest sponsored child, Jayaprakash, is leaving the program due to school and family commitments.  I sponsored Jayaprakash through United With Hope, which runs an after school tutoring program.  The children are helped with their school work (tutoring is a big thing in India), and given an evening meal.

The good news is, there are three girls who are waiting for a sponsor through this program.  I have asked to sponsor one of those girls now that Jayaprakash has left.  Once I get confirmation, I will share her picture here!

Thank you from Barsha!

I received a response about the gift I sent to Barsha, my child in India sponsored through Children International!  

Here's what was purchased:

2 sets of clothing for Barsha, 2 sets of clothing for her siblings, 1 sari for her mother, 1 box of health drinks for Barsha, many grocery items for the family.

Another letter from Willy!

Wow, I just mentioned how I was expecting another letter from Willy relatively soon, and one arrived in the mail today!
This makes 10 letters received from Willy in less than 14 months of sponsorship!  I am so impressed with how correspondence has been going with the Simbi ADP in Rwanda through World Vision.

Willy's 2014 Progress Report

This is sweet Willy, my very best writer, from Simbi ADP in Rwanda.  Willy is 4 years old, and apparently now has a younger brother, who he helps babysit.  Willy does not attend school yet, so his progress report did not have as much information in it.  When Willy grows up, he would like to be a driver.  His community grows lots of beans, and his favorite food is rice.  They eat meat on special days like Christmas day.  Willy helps at home by fetching water and babysitting, and his bedtime is 8:30pm.

My last letter from Willy arrived on August 13, so I am expecting another one any day now!

Alphonsine's 2014 Progress Report

This is the cute photo that accompanied Alphonsine's 2014 progress report.  I love it because she is wearing the dress she purchased with gift money I sent at the end of 2013!  

Having never received a progress report from World Vision before, I had no idea what to expect.  It's meant to be a cute design, but it's a lot of information spread out over a huge piece of paper that is folded up.  This blog post is really helping ME get all of the information together in a nice, organized list ;-)

Alphonsine will turn 5 on October 2 this year.

Alphonsine is in nursery school, and she goes to school at 8:00am by foot.  School is about 1/2 km from her house.  She is in school from 8:00am until 11:00am, and her best subject is English.  Alphonsine wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

For lunch and dinner, Alphonsine eats sweet potatoes.  Her favorite food is rice, and her community grows a lot of beans.  On special days like Christmas, they eat rice and beans together.

Alphonsine likes to sing and play with friends at school.  She helps at home by fetching water for her Grandmother.

I haven't received a letter from Alphonsine since June 12, so I am hoping one is on the way to me.  I believe I can place an inquiry on October 12, which isn't that far away!  This has been the longest stretch without a letter from Alphonsine during my entire sponsorship of her.