Daneisi's SNG from her "Special Sponsor"

This is Daneisi. She is 8 years old and lives in the Dominican Republic. Her family is very, very poor, making only $150 a month to support at least 9 people. When I began sponsoring Daneisi, her parents could not afford to send her to school. I inquired with CI about costs to get Daneisi enrolled in school, and they sent me a reply memo- the cost would be $280. I wrote about this on the CI social network website, LiftOne, and a few days later I received an email from CI saying that an anonymous donor had donated the money for Daneisi's education! (You can read more about this here: http://bammertheblue.blogspot.com/2010/09/gracias-del-fondo-de-mi-corazon.html )

I since did find out who this anonymous donor is, but since s/he prefers to remain anonymous, I will not share his/her identity.

Yesterday, I received the follow-up photos, letter, and memo from this wonderful gift! Since Daneisi is just now beginning school, she does not yet write her own letters. So far her father has written for her, and he also wrote the thank-you letter. Mr Z writes: "Dear Sponsor, Hello! I greet you with gratitude for the donation that you sent to my child Daneisi Z. She received [list of items]. Thank you very much!"

Daneisi received: 3 pairs of shoes (two black pairs, for school, and one pair of white and purple sneakers); 1 backpack (bright pink and orange, so bright it hurts my eyes, but she clearly adores it); 3 school shirts and t-shirts; 1 pair of school pants (blue jeans); 1 pair of sport pants (black nylon pants, like warmup pants); 1 sport t-shirt; 7 underwear; and 1 school payment. Also listed in her dad's letter, and visible in the photos, are one skirt and two pairs of socks.

The photos...the photos are wonderful. I keep picking them up, looking through them, setting them down, and then picking them back up a second later. They just make me so happy! I'll be able to get them scanned tomorrow, so you all can see them, but for now I'll just describe them.

In the first photo, Daneisi's standing behind the table full of gifts. She's holding the bright pink and orange backpack and smiling. You can see that she's smiling, even though she's holding the bag so it partially blocks her face.

In the second photo, she's holding a pair of school shoes in one hand and the sneakers in the other hand. She's standing with her elbows down and her hands up by her ears, and she has a faint smile. I just love how she's holding the shoes- you can tell she's posing a little, and it's really cute.

In the next photo, she's holding up a blue plaid shirt, and in the fourth photo, she's holding the check for the school payment- right in front of her face! I forgot how kids do that. I wish I could see her cute face, but it's a good picture anyways.

In the last photo, she's standing behind the table with one hand on her hip, her hip kinda cocked, looking spunky and happy and extremely cute.

I love the different facial expressions the kids have in the photos with their SNGs and direct packages. Some, like my Padmashree, have HUGE grins. Others look bewildered or overwhelmed, though happy. Daneisi falls more into this latter category. She has a look on her face like "I know what's happening, and I like all these gifts...but WHY is this happening?"

On the memo, there's a section asking "What were the child's/family's comments when the gifts were delivered?" It says "The child was very happy for the donation. She said: 'I am so happy because I had not received so many gifts before.'"

Under "Additional Comments" the memo says: "The child's father was very excited for the special donation for helping the child with her education. They gave thanks to the special sponsor who gave the donation."

I just have to say again, to the Mystery Donor: THANK YOU SO, SO, SO MUCH. This is such a kind, generous, and caring act. My opinion of you as a person was already very high, but this just makes it even higher. You are truly a wonderful human being.

News From Constanza in Chile

I was very impatient when it came to waiting for Constanza's first letter! I began sponsoring Constanza because she reminded me a lot of my friend Betsy, a wonderful person who passed away from cancer at age 20. In the time between when I sponsored Constanza and when I received her first letter, I had kind of constructed this personality for her in my head...I know that sounds strange, but I was like "Oh, I'm sure she's -insert personality trait here-, just like Betsy was!" Which is, of course, ridiculous. Constanza is her own person with her own personality, and when I received her CW letter, I was reminded of that. I think it's a very human thing to do and a natural mistake to make, though. We assume that because someone reminds us of someone else, they will be just like them in all ways!

Anyway, here is what Constanza wrote in her welcome letter to me.

"Dear Sponsor,

I want to thank you for having sponsored me. I do more or less well in school. At my school there are grills every Thursday. On September 18th we had a great time since my family and I went to the hills and beach. Today is a holiday so we took a walk and went to the beach. I would like to ask you for a reply and picture. I have a lot of friends at school such as Javiera, Claudia and Constanza, we get along and go out together; we help each other with homework. I send you a big hug. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely yours, your sponsored child,

Constanza Nicole C. S."

This is one of those cases where I'm glad I have a background in Spanish! (I used to be fluent, but I'm not anymore.) At first I thought the part about the "grills" was a typo, and Constanza meant that she attends a girl's school. But I looked in the Spanish that she wrote and no, it definitely says "grills", like to barbecue on. Also, in the original letter it says something about Thursdays that wasn't translated, so I checked it out and what I think she's trying to say is that at her school, every Thursday they cook on grills.

I also received Constanza's Education Report the day before her letter, so I got to have that fresh in my memory while I was reading her letter. Constanza attends a school with new facilities. About 14 sponsored children go there- I don't know if that's the number in just her class, or the number in the school total. The report doesn't say how many children attend the school in total.

Constanza takes public transportation to school, and it takes her about 30 minutes to get there. She is in the 8th grade (she's 13), and her progress is normal. Her grades are fair, and she is not receiving any special help with schoolwork. Her favorite subjects are math and social studies/history. Some of the educational benefits she has received from CI include school shoes and a school supply kit. The report actually lists every item in the supply kit, but I won't bore you by describing each item.

Lastly, Constanza does plan to continue her education, which is, of course, exactly what I hoped to hear!

Wonderful Letter from Padmashree!

On Thanksgiving Day, after our family gathering, on our way home, my husband and I stopped to check the mailbox at the house we just moved out of. I found a letter from Padmashree! What excellent timing. You see, Padmashree was the first child I sponsored- the one who started it all! So to get a letter from her on this day of giving thanks was very appropriate, because I am very thankful to Padmashree for helping to change many parts of my life.
Here is what Padmashree, 12, had to say:
"Dear Nicole,
Please accept my best wishes. Hope all of you are well. I am glad to get your letter and know about you. Please accept my best wishes for your birthday. Many many returns of your birthday. On my birthday I ate cake and lozenges and got 2 new frocks and a pen. I enjoyed my birthday. My school is going well. I study in grade VII. Stay well. I have drawn a picture for you for your birthday. Hope you will like it. I will remember a friend like you for ever.
Yours lovingly, Padmashree"
The part where she says she will remember a friend like me forever gets me a little misty-eyed every time. I will remember her forever, too, and I'm going to tell her in my next letter to be sure she knows it!

Happy Birthday, Diony!

This handsome young man is Diony De Jesus R. P. He is from San Pedro Sula, Dominican Republic. Diony just turned 13 years old on November 24th.

Diony is 4'10" tall and weighs 81 lbs. He attends school, and his favorite subjects are social studies, science, and math. At home, Diony's chores are washing dishes, taking out trash, and running errands. In his free time he likes to paint and play with toys and cars. (Or at least he did when he was younger!)

Diony lives with his father and four brothers. Father Bernardo is an office worker who makes about $215 a month. Older brothers are Ariel, 19; Roni, 17, and Yordi, 15. Younger brother Ayinson Bernardo is 9 years old. Mother Cristina is separated from Diony's father and does not live with the family.

The home the family lives in consists of a dining room, a kitchen, and one bedroom. The walls are wood, the roof is corrugated metal, and the floor is concrete. Cooking is done on a gas stove, and Diony sleeps in a bed. There is running water in the home, as well as a toilet, and electricity is available.

Getting Mary Joy Back in School

This is Mary Joy, who is from Tabaco, Philippines. She'll be 13 years old next month and is not in school at this time. I sent an inquiry to CI asking what I could do to help get Mary Joy back in school. I received a lengthy reply.

Basically, Mary Joy is not in school at this time because her parents cannot afford to send her and all her siblings to school at the same time. Her older brother Ryan is a first year college student, and her parents are concentrating on his studies so he may finish college and then help his younger siblings and the rest of his family.

The family's only income comes from Mary Joy's father, who is a cock cord maker. Okay, STOP. Let me explain. Cockfighting is legal in the Philippines. A cock cord is a cord or string that is used to hold or restrain or guide the roosters. At the present time Mary Joy helps her father make these cords, and she helps him sell them at the cockfights.

According to Mary Joy, if possible, she will continue her studies next school year (June 2011-March 2012). She will be in first year of high school. However, this will only be possible if the family's economic status improves OR if I make a Special Needs Gift. CI breaks down the costs for me:

Transportation allowance: $10/month for 10 months: $100.00

Food allowance: $18.40/month for 10 months: $184.00

School uniform: $35.00

School fees: $50.00

Contingency fee (10%): $36.90

TOTAL: $405.90

If I can do this, and I'm pretty sure that I can, I will be overjoyed. Education is my priority when it comes to my sponsored children. If they're not able to attend school when I first start sponsoring them, it's my goal to make it possible for each and every one of them to begin or return to school.

I'll also be extremely happy to get Mary Joy into high school and away from the cockfights. Now, being from the US, I've never seen a cockfight, I've never been to a cockfight, I don't know much about cockfights outside of what I've read about in books and online. But I sure know that I don't like cockfighting. I think it's cruel and wrong and that it shouldn't be done, and I am less than thrilled that Mary Joy is spending time in that kind of setting.

BUT I also know that it's really easy for me to sit here, all American and middle class and comfortable, and condemn something that provides a livelihood for Mary Joy's family. Do I wish the family made their living in a different way? Definitely. Would I prefer Mary Joy stay away from the cockfights in general, since I doubt it's a great environment for a 12-year-old? Hell yes. Is it my place to make a big deal out of any of this? Hardly. But of course I will be much, much happier when Mary Joy is back in school as opposed to at the cockfights.

Amanda Jhamile

This little cutie-pie is Amanda Jhamile H. C. She is four years old and lives in Quito, Ecuador. She's my first sponsored child from Quito- all my other Ecuadorian children are in Guayaquil.
I decided to sponsor Amanda because, when I saw her listed on the website, it said she lived with her mother, didn't have any siblings, and the family's monthly income was just $40! So I called CI and added Amanda to my account. However, at the same time I was doing that, Amanda's information was being updated! So, when the detailed report appeared on my account, the family's income now read $240! I was very confused and actually emailed CI to ask what happened. They responded and explained it to me, which made me very happy. That is just one thing I love about Children International- when you call or email them with a question, they will find out the answer. If they have to get back to you, they DO get back to you! They are very professional and efficient.

Anyway, here's some more about little Amanda. Her birthday is July 1st, 2006. Amanda stands just 2'11" tall and weighs 33 lbs. She already is in school, which surprised me, but it's good to get an early start! Her favorite class is art. At home, she is too young for chores, but she enjoys playing with dolls, toys, and cars, and she also likes to sing and dance.
Amanda is an only child, and lives with her mother, Ana Lucia, a homemaker. Father Wilson Santiago has abandoned the family. The family's monthly income is about $240, and there are seven people in the home.
The home consists of one multi-use room, with walls and a roof of concrete and a floor of wood. They cook on a portable gas stove and sleep in metal beds. There are 5 beds in the home, for 7 people. There is also running water, regulated electricity, and a toilet for sanitation.

Tatiana's Chicken!

Tatiana is eight years old and lives in Cartagena, Colombia. Her cousin wrote this letter for me- it's a response to the letter I wrote to Tatiana right after I began sponsoring her. The unnamed cousin writes
"Dear and appreciated Nicole A,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well in health. We are well thank God. This is the girl's cousin. We live very happy, the girl, her father, mother, and siblings. She has a chick as pet. It is named Serafin. She is doing well in school and she is happy to have received your letter. She would like to know you at least in picture. It would be nice if you can come over our city, it is wonderful. She likes to go to the beach and to the historic downtown.
With affection and love,
I say goodbye on behalf for Tatiana P.
God bless you and give you long life.
Bye
Her cousin"

How I wish I was able to just buy a plane ticket and zoom down to Colombia to visit Tatiana! Maybe someday I will be able to see her in person. That would be a wonderful thing.

Kanan's CW Letter

Kanan is 6 years old, from Kolkata, India. She doesn't write her own letters yet, because she's so young, so her CW letter was written by a volunteer. Here's what she had to say:
"Dear sponsor,
Kanan and her family welcome you to this sponsorship programme. Kanan studies in class II and likes to study Hindi. She likes to play with dolls and likes to watch cartoon on TV. She also likes to colour pictures. Kanan and her family also wants to know about you. They send their love and regards and looks forward to your reply.
Mousumi for Kanan"
A nice little letter! I can't wait until Kanan is able to write to me herself!

Joanne, Chess Champion and Future Nurse

Joanne, 12, from Tabaco, Philippines, wrote me a wonderful Welcome letter. In my experience, the children from the Philippines write really excellent letters. Maybe it's because they write in English, so no translation is needed for English-speaking sponsors, or maybe it's just because the kids seem so warm and loving. Whatever it is, it's a treat to get a letter from one of my 3 Filipino/a kids.

Joanne writes:

"Dear Sponsor,

Hello to you and to your family before anything else my name is Joanne B. I'm 12 years old. I was born on October 29, 1997. I am 1st year high school at Tabaco National High School. My ambition is to become a nurse. I will do my best to help the people have a sick. My mother is Jennifer B. she is 32 years old. My father is Santos B. he is my stepfather he is 39 years old. My sister are Sunshine B. she is 7 years old while Jennlyn B. is 5 years old.

My favorite food are vegetables, fruits, fish and meat. My favorite subject is Math. My favorite color are sky blue and orange. My hobbies are watching TV, playing badminton and chess, especially singing at the church. My favorite toy is chessboard.

Thank you for sponsoring me. I hope that God gives you a good health and God bless you always.

Respectfully Yours,

Joanne Buasan"

I think it's great that she wants to be a nurse. Nursing is an excellent profession, and I know that if Joanne works hard, she can reach her goal!

Jairo's Letters and an Educational Hurdle

Since Jairo, 5, from Guayaquil, Ecuador, just began Kindergarten, he doesn't write his own letters yet. Instead, his mother Paola writes for him. In the CW letter, she writes:

"Dear Mr. Sponsor, [heehee]

I'm your sponsored child's mother. I thank you for choosing him as your sponsored child. Let me tell you that he's a very cute and sweet child. He's healthy. Due to his short age he's very restless and playful. He's attending Kindergarten. He's learning his first letters. He learns everything because he has a good memory. As his mother I feel very proud of my son. He likes drawing, painting and playing with puzzles. He forms figures and has fun playing. He also likes sweets, such as: chocolate cookies. He likes juices, soda and ice cream. Says good-bye with affection,

Paola P. A."

I love the part about "due to his short age" he's playful and restless. I bet Jairo is a very fun little boy to be around! And the news about him attending school is great, because when I first began to sponsor Jairo, the report said he did not attend school because the family lacks money. (Jairo's family is extremely poor, poorer than even many other CI families- they live in Ecuador and the monthly income is just $37, which must support 11 people.)

Jairo's mother also wrote his reponse to the first letter I sent. I received it a few weeks after the CW letter. Paola writes:

"Hi Nicole A!

This is your sponsored child's mom and I'll tell you a little bit about him. He's a cute boy and he likes to play with his 8 siblings. He's also happy because he'll be 6 years old soon. He asks a lot of questions and I'm always near him so I can take care of him and protect him. I love him because he's smart and he's always active at school. We live in a small sector with cane made houses and we have a grocery store nearby. We love you a lot. I hope you're in good health and God bless you. I deeply thank you for being a wonderful sponsor. I say goodbye with a big hug.

Paola P. A."

A few weeks after I received the second letter, I also received a follow-up from CI regarding questions I'd asked about Jairo's education. I wanted to make sure he was able to attend school regularly regardless of his family's financial status. It's a good thing I did, because CI sent me a memo stating that, while Jairo had been able to start Kindergarten this year, it was only because his father had a job at that time. Unfortunately, the father lost his job and the parents were not able to buy Jairo and the siblings all the supplies they needed for school. CI sent me a list of items, and the associated costs, and I made a Special Needs Gift on the 18th or thereabouts.

However, that only covers costs and supplies for this year. The school year in Ecuador ends in January, and the family is not sure if Jairo and his siblings will be able to continue in school next year, because their father is currently unemployed. Also, a new baby was just born, so there's another mouth to feed! Currently, Jairo's mother is the only one who works. She washes clothes, which is not a steady job. That is why the family income is very low.

CI is going to look into what is necessary for Jairo for next school year, but for now I am very happy to know that he and his siblings will have the supplies they need to finish up the school year.

Akshay Explains Cricket

This bright-eyed little guy is Akshay Kumar, age 9. He lives in Kolkata, India, in one of the slums of that city. On all the CI records, his first name is listed as "Akhya", but he's signed both of his letters "Akshay", so I am assuming that is what he goes by. So that is how I will refer to him from now on!

Akshay wrote his own letter, in Bengali, except for the greeting "Dear Sponsor", which he wrote in English.

"Dear Sponsor,

I am feeling glad to write to you for the first time. Hope all is well with you and your family. I am doing well with my family. I read in Grade II. I like to read Bengali. We have 5 members in our family. I have a younger brother and sister. I play hide and seek with my friends. I watch TV and draw picture in my spare time. I am extremely thankful to you for sponsoring me.

Yours,

Akshay S."

In the "drawing" area, he drew a very nice picture of four people playing soccer. He's pretty much better at drawing than I am, and I'm 27 and he's nine.

In my first letter to Akshay, which I sent just a few days after I began to sponsor him, I asked him about cricket. One of his favorite pastimes is playing cricket, and I do not understand cricket at all. So I asked him to please explain a bit about it for me, since in the USA we don't really play cricket!

Akshay writes:

"Dear Nicole A, [In English]

I've received your letter and I am glad to know about your family. Your writing is very nice. Hope all is well with you and your family. I am doing well with my family. I live in a city named Kolkata. It is the capital of West Bengal. have you ever watch cricket match in TV? There are 2 teams with 11 players in each team. One team does batting and another team does fielding. Sourav Ganguly is my favorite player of Indian cricket team. I am thankful to you for your help.

Yours,

Akshay S."

How wonderful! Obviously, I could just google "Cricket" and learn all about it, and I did do that. But it's so much more interesting and fun to hear Akshay explain the sport in his own words. I will have to tell him that no, I have not ever seen a cricket match on TV, nor in person.

Education Reports from India

To the left is Akshay, who is 9 years old and in Grade II. He comes from the Disha project in Kolkata, India. Akshay attends a 4 story school that provides education through Grade X. There are 600-800 children in the entire school. (I wish the reports said how many teachers there were for the school!) Akshay walks to school, which takes him about 10 minutes. His grades are fair and his educational progress is advanced. His favorite subject is Bengali, and he is also interested in Drawing. Akshay dreams of becoming an Engineer when he grows up.

Above and to the right is Anjum, 14, from the Sahay project in India. Anjum studies in Class VII. The school she attends is a two story building with about 1000 students. Anjum walks to school, which takes her about 15 minutes. Her grades are fair, and her progress is normal. Her favorite classes are language classes. From CI she has received school fees, a school supply kit, school shoes, and a school bag. Anjum plans to continue her education, and is working hard to improve her grades.

Education Reports for Javiera and Mirian

I recently received a whole bunch of Education Reports for some of my CI-sponsored children. If a child is in school when I begin to sponsor him/her, I always request an education report right away. I want to know how they are doing in school, and if they might need any special help that I could provide for with a Special Needs Gift.

First comes Javeria's Education Report. (She's above, at left.) Javiera is 11 years old and in the 5th grade in Valparaiso, Chile. She attends a school with about 29 other children (I'm not sure if that's the number in the school or in her class). Javiera walks to school, and it takes her about 10 minutes. Her grades are good and her progress is average. Javiera has trouble with math, and she is receiving help from students of math from local universities. From Children International, Javiera has received a school supply kit and school shoes. She plans to continue her education.

Mirian Yesenia (above right) is 14 years old and in the 5th grade. She lives in rural Guatemala. She attends a private school where about 1000 other students attend. Approximately 20 of these children are sponsored. Mirian walks to school, and it takes her about 20 minutes. Her grades are good and her progress is normal. Mirian is especially interested in grammar and math, and from CI she has received school supplies, clothing, and school shoes. Mirian received an average of 82 points (out of 100) in the 5th grade.

Javiera's News

In Javiera's second letter to me, I learned some awful news: she told me that her younger brother had just died of leukemia. Worried about her well-being, I send an inquiry to CI asking them to check on Javiera and her family, and asking for a little more information about Javiera's living situation in general. I also knew that Javiera's mother has abandoned the family, and it just seemed like so much for a young girl to be going through. I wanted to make sure Javiera was okay. I also sent her a special letter telling her how sorry I was about her brother, asking her if she'd like to talk about him, telling her that whatever she was feeling was okay, etc.
Here is what I received back from CI a few weeks ago regarding Javiera's situation:
I learned that Javiera's brother, Cristobel, passed away on July 18, 2010. Javiera has not seen her mother since before Cristobel got sick. The mother wasn't living with the family even then; she was just visiting sometimes, but she stopped visiting when Cristobel became sick. Javiera considers her grandmother to be her mother. A step-mother, Javiera's father's wife, is also present. The step-mother moved into the home after Cristobel passed away.
After Cristobel's death, Javiera was seen by the school psychiatrist, who determined that Javiera is well, but of course extremely sad. Javiera and Cristobel were very close- she is 11 and he was 9- and losing such a close family member might cause her to have some problems at school. (Academic, not behavioral.) Javiera is receiving help with the subjects she is struggling in- mostly math.
So, overall, Javiera is all right. She's grieving, of course, but on a basic level she's going to be okay. I was worried about her, but I'm glad to learn that she did see the school psychiatrist. I was concerned that Javiera didn't have much support in this difficult time, but I can see that she has the support of her extended family. I am much relieved.

Samuel's Success!

Samuel, 14, from Legazpi, Philippines, wrote me another wonderful letter! He's had a triumph at school- let me share the letter with you.
"Dear Sponsor,
Hello! How are you? I'm always praying that you and you're [sic] family are always fine. Our teacher was already gave us our first periodical exam in all subjects. I feel very nervous when I'm taking the exam because others are difficult but I'm happy because I answered all the questions especially on my favorite subject. My favorite subject is English I love studying English that's why I got the highest score in English in our exam. I'm so happy and thankful. The next event in our school is Intramurals. I'm so excited and preparing myself because lots of activities will happen. I will join in my favorite sports like badminton and volleyball. I will also join in singing contest. I love to sing and I have lots of favorite songs. I'm so excited because I love sports.
Thank you and God Bless.
Your sponsored child, Samuel J."

What great news! I'm so proud of "Chao" (as he likes to be called). I'm not sure if he got the highest score possible on the exam, or if he got the highest score out of all the students in his class, but either way, he did extremely well! I can tell that he likes to study English- he always writes in English and his command of the language is impressive. Aside from a few very minor mistakes (ones that native English speakers make all the time, like your/you're) and a couple of awkward or unusual constructions, his English is nearly perfect. I'm very glad that Samuel's English is excellent, because in the Philippines, English is the language of school, business, etc. Filipino is the language spoken at home. (Of course, that's vastly oversimplified, but it's basically true.) So, having strong English speaking and writing skills is very important for success in the professional world! I hope Samuel is on his way to that success! (I feel confident that he is!)

Egda Wishes Me a Happy Birthday!

About two weeks after my 27th birthday, I received a CP letter from Egda, 7, in Ecuador. In my last letter, I'd shared that it was almost my birthday, and told her a little about what I'd do on my birthday. (Celebrate with my husband and friends, have a meal together and cake, blow out the candles, be very happy to be with my family and friends...emphasis on non-material things.) Egda wrote me this nice reply:

"Hola Nicole A!

Receive my greetings. My family and I are so happy for your letter. We also have animals in my town, such as cows, rabbits, and horses. I am so happy because you love animals. I am so happy because I have a new brother named Bryan. He is in good health and he has a light brown hair. I wish you a happy birthday in the distance and I am sending a kiss. I wish you have great moments together with your husband and friends. Receive lots of blessings. I hope you continue turning more years. [I hope so, too!] I also wish God keep you healthy and give you lots of joy. Yes, I am learning many different things at school. I am so happy because I have new teachers and friends with whom I play, dance and sing. I deeply thank you for being a wonderful sponsor! I say goodbye with a big hug. Egda Karina P. V."

Isn't that sweet? And I love the part about playing, singing, and dancing with her teachers and friends. Egda seems like quite an outgoing girl. In my mind, I have this picture of her dancing around with her friends, and it's so cute.

Letters from Child Hope Zambia!

Child Hope Zambia, the smaller sponsorship organization I sponsor with, has the children write four times a year, but they can write more often if they want! It looks like two of my sponsored children, Hachita (14 years old) and Lavenda (9), are writers! On November 11, I received two letters from Hachita and one from Lavenda.
In a fill-in-the-blank letter, Hachita writes:
"Dear sponsor,
My favorite subject in school is English. I will tell you a bit about my teacher, classmates, and school house: Mrs. Mayanda, classmates 52. My best friend's name is Miyoba. What I like best about her is: I trust her because she is good. I would like to tell you about my family: in our family I have two brothers and two sisters. I know my family loves me because we used to live together with our parent. One day I would like to be a teacher at school. I also want to tell you that I received things that you sent to me. Thank you very much God bless you every time.
Your sponsored child,
N. Hachita"

In the second letter, which was not a fill-in-the-blank letter, Hachita writes:
"Dear Nicole,
How are you with your family? My family is well. We have three seasons here: spring, winter, and summer. We have just started another season which is summer and the previous season was winter. I like summer too, because it is warm.
I live on the farm with mum no father and we keep ducks and we also have chicken. We are 4 in our family and am third. I am 10 years old. [But she's 14. I assume she got her numerals mixed up. Normally I'd believe what the child said their age was, but I've seen photos of her and there's no way she's ten.]
I like schooling and am in Grade 4. At school I enjoy studying creative and social studies and English. I like playing netball, drawing and playing with bicycles. Thanks for your letters and am happy that you are my sponsor.
Your friend,
Hachita."

Lavenda writes a template letter as well:
Dear sponsor, My favorite subject in school is English. I will tell you a bit about my teacher, classmates, and school house: My teacher is friendly to each one, classmates are good and kind too. My best friend's name is Annitah. What I like best about her is: she helps me in school academic work. I would like to tell you about my family: we are six in our fmaily and both of my parents are still alive. I know my family loves me because I am responsible in the family. They trust me and I do well at school. One day I would like to be a female doctor.
I also want to tell you we live in a village called Simwaba in Mazabuka district in southern part of Zambia. I am very happy to be your sponsored child and my family is also happy too.
Your sponsored child,
Lavenda M."

Also along with those letters, I received a health report for a child I sponsor with two other sponsors. Private, the child, was thought to be suffering from a specific serious health problem- a terminal illness, in fact. However, tests done during the health checkup revealed that Private is not, in fact, suffering from this specific illness! I was SO happy to learn this. There are some other health issues that Private is dealing with, but the big one, the one that I know I was most worried about, is NOT one of those issues. Hurray!

Update on Updates...

Well, I haven't updated in a while, because I have been busy moving! Yes, my husband and I finally moved out of the house we had been renting. It was in a very, very affluent neighborhood, but the house itself was very run-down and, well, weird. We decided to move after some issues arose between ourselves and our landlords. We've now moved into a (much smaller) 2-bedroom apartment in another suburb of DC. So far, we love it! But since we were packing and moving, I haven't had a chance to update my blog here much. So today and tomorrow I'll be adding a LOT of entries: mostly letters I've received this month.

New Photo of Mirian!

This afternoon when I checked my Children International online account, I found a new photo of Mirian! I'd been waiting for this photo, since her last one was taken on 11/24/09 and CI updates the photos at least every 365 days...so I knew a new picture was coming!

Mirian is from rural Guatemala. She lives with her parents and five brothers and sisters- that's at least 8 people in the home, maybe more- and the family income is just $78 a month!

I'm really glad to see that Mirian appears happier in this photo than she did in her last. And she looks more grown-up, too!

AND of course I won't forget to mention that Mirian's 14th birthday is TOMORROW! Happy Birthday, Mirian! I will be spending her birthday moving to a new apartment, but I will definitely be thinking of her on her birthday!

My Antonia

My excuse for not writing an introductory post for Antonia is, um...yeah. Kind of embarassing. I did, however, write a blog post about her on LiftOne, which is a great website that everyone should check out! (http://www.liftone.org/) However, I completely neglected to even mention Antonia here...I am sorry, Antonia!

Antonia S. O. A. is eight years old and lives in Valparaíso, Chile. She was another child whose photo I saw on the website and couldn't stop thinking about. It was the scarf, you see. I had myself convinced that Antonia was/is fighting cancer, hence the scarf. However, once I calmed down a little bit, I realized that that was an awfully big conclusion to be jumping to. There are, after all, other reasons a girl might wear a cute scarf on her head! But I still couldn't stop thinking about Antonia, so I sponsored her.

Antonia will turn 9 years old next August 23. She stands 4 feet tall and weighs 75 lbs. Her hair is brown and her eyes are a striking green! Unusual!

Antonia attends school- her favorite subject is Art. She enjoys playing indoor games and dancing. At home, her chore is sweeping. Antonia lives with her mother, Ximena Patricia, a homemaker. Her father, Rodrigo Antonio, is working in another city. The family's monthly income is about $240. Antonia has two older sisters: Dasty Marcela is 12, and Melanye S. is 11.

The family lives in a home consisting of four bedrooms, a dining room, and a kitchen. The walls and roof are made of wood, and the floor is tile. They cook on a portable gas stove, and Antonia sleeps in a bed. There is running water in the home, a toilet for sanitation, and electricity is available.

So that's Antonia! I've been sponsoring her for almost a month now- since October 19th.

Meet Jessica Maribel!

As promised, here is the introductory post for Jessica. After sponsoring Omar, I realized that I might as well ask CI if they had any older girls who fit the same criteria as Omar: nearing graduation, difficult for them to find a new sponsor because of their ages. I just didn't want these kids to be wondering, "Will I ever find another sponsor?" I wanted them to know that someone far away cares about them very much!
So, the CI rep shared with me the information about Jessica, and I added her to my account on the spot! Jessica Maribel M. O. is 17 years old. Her birthday is April 5th, 1993. She stands 5'1" tall and weighs 107 lbs. She lives in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with her father and four siblings. Her mother, Lorena, has abandoned the family. Jessica has one older brother, Carlos, who is 18. Her other siblings are all younger: Johnny, 13; Steven, 10, and little Ruth, who is just 2. Jessica's father, Adolfo, is a street vendor who makes about $150 a month.
The family lives in a home consisting of two multi-use rooms. The floor is concrete, the walls are brick, and the roof is corrugated metal. Jessica sleeps on the floor with a mattress. Cooking is done on a portable gas stove, and water is delivered by truck in a barrel. There is a septic tank for sanitation, and electricity use is regulated.
As for Jessica herself, she loves to play soccer. She also likes to sing, dance, and draw. At school, her favorite subjects are grammar and science. At home her chores are cooking and general housework. I'm sure with no mom around, and the only other sister just a toddler, Jessica has taken on a "mom" role with her younger siblings.
As you can see, Jessica has a beautiful smile! After looking at her past photos, I saw that in many of them, she looks SO sad. From the age of about 10 until about 14, she looks just miserable in every photograph. It just about breaks my heart. BUT I am very happy to say that in her two most recent photos, Jessica has a huge smile again!

Incredible Good Fortune! (Also, Oil.)

My mother's side of the family is from Minnesota, and I'm the first person in several generations to move out of Minnesota for a substantial period of time. I tell you that to tell you this: my mother and other relatives on her side own shares in an oil well in Texas. I don't exactly understand all the ins and outs of it, but it has something to do with my mother's father, who abandoned the family when she was very young. He apparently ran off to Texas and bought part of an oil well, and then willed the shares to my mother and others when he died. I know, it sounds made-up, doesn't it? I swear it's true. Anyway, my mother periodically receives a check from the "Oil Well People", and now, so do I! It's an incredibly fortunate thing, and since I'm on really solid footing financially (for the first time in my adult life), I decided that I wanted to sponsor two more children with the money I'll be receiving. I'm not doing anything to EARN it, after all.

So...I decided to sponsor two older children, a boy and a girl. (More about the young lady later!) I called CI and asked if they had any older kids, ones who were even older than the oldest youths on the website. I asked specifically if they had any young people who were nearing graduation (which occurs after the 19th birthday) and did not have sponsors. I wanted to sponsor a child who otherwise might have graduated from the CI program without ever finding another sponsor. (It's harder to find sponsors for older children, especially boys, it seems.) The helpful rep. introduced me to Omar Vicente G. I.! That's him above- isn't he handsome?

Omar is 17 years old. He will turn 18 on December 11th. He is taller than me at 5'4" tall, and he weighs 112 lbs. He is still in school, which made me happy. I was afraid that an older child might have had to drop out of school in order to support his/her family. But Omar still attends school. His favorite subject is History. His favorite pastime, of course, is playing soccer! He also likes to dance. At home his chores are running errands.

Omar lives with his parents and five siblings. Father Vicente is a street vendor, and mom Dayse is a laborer. Omar has FOUR older sisters and one younger brother, all of whom live in the home. Lorena is 28, Olanda is 27, Alexandra is 25, Yenny is 22, and brother Bryan Stiven is 10. The whole family must survive on an income of about $220 a month.

The family lives in a home consisting of one multipurpose room and three bedrooms. The walls and floor are concrete and the roof is made of corrugated metal. Omar sleeps in a wooden bed. The family has a gas stove for cooking, and there is running water in the home. There is a latrine, and electicity use is regulated.

So that's Omar Vicente...next post I'll introduce you to the lovely Jessica, also from Guayaquil. (I have fallen totally in love with Guayaquil and with Ecuador in general.)

Wendy Johana, Age 13

This is the first photo of Wendy that I ever saw, and it captivated me immediately. Who wouldn't want to get to know, and want to help, this young woman? She looks so happy and full of fun- like she's right in the middle of a big laugh.
Wendy Johana is 13 years old. She comes from Cartagena, Colombia. Her birthday is October 3, 1997. She is 4'10" tall and weighs 77 lbs. Wendy attends school and especially enjoys art and science classes. In her free time she likes to listen to music, play with dolls, dance, and sing. Her chores at home are sweeping and running errands.
Wendy lives with her parents and two younger siblings. The family must survive on an income of $125 a month. Father Wilman earns a living as a street vendor, while mother Martha is a homemaker. Younger brother Camilo is 9 years old, and younger sister Loraina is ten.
The family's home consists of a living room, one bedroom, and a kitchen. The walls are concrete, the floor is tile, and the roof is "corrugated tile" (I'm not sure what that is). Cooking is done on a gas stove. Electricity is available, and there is running water and a toilet in the home.

Dalia Zoila, Age 8

Guayaquil, Ecuador called my name once again...I saw Dalia and thought, "I want to put a smile on her face. I want to be her sponsor!"

Dalia Zoila is eight years old, born on February 4, 2002. She is 3'6" tall and weighs 42 lbs. She likes to dance and play with dolls. Dalia lives with her parents and two sisters- one older, one younger. Father Segundo Angel is a street vendor, and mother Gala Esmereldas is a homemaker. Older sister Johanna Julissa is 17, and younger sister Kerly Kimberly is 7. The family's monthly income is about $160.

The home they live in consists of one multi-use room. The walls are split cane, the roof is corrugated metal, and the floor is wood. The family cooks on a gas stove, and Dalia has a bed to sleep in. There is running water and a septic tank at the home, and electricity is available.

Dalia attends school, which I was very happy to see. She enjoys art class most. I was a little afraid that, due to her special needs (she appears to have Down's Syndrome) and her family's limited financial means, she would be unable to attend school at all. I have requested an Education report so I'll know more about that, and I've also requested a health report. I don't usually do health reports, but since Dalia is a special needs child, I decided I would like to know more about her health. Of course, if the parents don't give consent, I won't receive the health report.

So that's Dalia, my latest Ecuadorian cutie.

Vilma Susana, Age 3

First of all, I have to let people know that if I didn't know better, I'd say this was a photo of ME at age 3. It's the hair, really- when I was young I had the same curly red hair as Vilma. I don't know how my mother managed it. Anyway, when I saw Vilma...that was it. I had to sponsor her!
Vilma Susana is from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Judging by the photo backgrounds, it looks like Vilma and Sandra attend the same community center.
Vilma is almost 4 years old- her birthday is December 19, 2006. She is 3'1" tall and weighs 31 lbs. She likes to dance, sing, and play with dolls. She is too young for chores or to attend school.
Vilma lives with her mother, Nicolasa, a factory worker. Her father, Walter Eliseo, abandoned the family, so Vilma's mom is raising Vilma and her two older siblings on her own. Vilma has an older sister, Andrea Nicol, who is 8, and an older brother, Eduar Antonio, who is 10.
The home that the family lives in consists of a kitchen, living room, and three bedrooms. The walls are concrete block, the floor is concrete, and the roof is corrugated metal. They have a gas stove for cooking. There is running water in the home, electricity is available, and there is a latrine for sanitation purposes.
I'm excited that Vilma and Sandra are in the same area. It makes it more likely that they are friends, though I know CI helps thousands of children and it's possible that Vilma and Sandra will never even meet. BUT I like to imagine that they are best friends and play together at the community center all the time!

Sandra Michell, Age 3

I've recently had a change in my financial situation (a change for the better!), so I of course decided to use some (okay, most) of it to help out some more needy kids!

The absolutely-so-adorable-I-could-die child above is Sandra Michell. She is 3 years old and she comes from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She was born on August 14, 2007. Sandra is just 2'7" tall and weighs 25 pounds. She doesn't attend school yet, since she's only 3, and likewise she's too young to do chores at home. She likes to dance and play with dolls. (I bet she's even cuter when she's dancing- if it's possible for her to get any cuter!)

Her family's monthly income is about $105. Father Milton Ernesto is a daily worker, and mother Gloria Maritza is a homemaker. Sandra has one older brother, Milton Josue, who is 5.

The home Sandra lives in with her family consists of a living room and one bedroom. The walls are concrete block and the floor is concrete as well. The roof is made of corrugated metal. There is running water in the home, and electricity is available. A latrine is used for sanitation. The family cooks on an earthen stove, and Sandra has a bed to sleep in.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know Sandra. I sponsor one other very young child, Henry, who is 2 years old, turning 3 on November 12th. He's also from Honduras. So far I've received two letters from him, both written by older sisters. I really feel like I'm sponsoring the whole family with Henry, and I think it'll prove to be the same feeling with Sandra and my other new "baby", Vilma, who I'll write about next.

Meet Vivian Carolina!

I decided to make my budget ssssstretch so I could sponsor Vivian Carolina. Why? Well, first of all, her family's monthly income is just $17! I called to ask if she had ever been sponsored before- if she had, and had lost her sponsor, she would still be receiving benefits. But if she never had a sponsor before, she would not be receiving benefits yet. The answer? Never sponsored before. So I had her added to my account.
Vivian Carolina A. P. is seven years old. Her birthday is March 10, 2003. She is 3'5" tall and weighs 32 pounds- she's just a teeny little girl! Vivian lives in rural Guatemala, with her parents and two brothers. Father Mario Alvaro is a farmer, and mother Florencia is a homemaker. Vivian has two older brothers- Byron Estuardo, 8, and Mario Enrique, 11. How they manage to survive on $17 a month is beyond me!
Vivian's family home consists of three bedrooms and a kitchen. The floor is concrete, the walls are brick, and the roof is corrugated metal. Cooking is done over an open fire. Vivian sleeps on a metal bed. Electricity use is regulated, and there is a toilet for sanitation. Water comes from a neighbor's faucet.
Vivian attends school, where her favorite subjects are art, languages, and mathematics. At home her chores are washing dishes. In her free time she enjoys playing with dolls, singing, and dancing.
I definitely didn't plan to add Vivian, but I'm glad I did!

Back to the Beginning

In late April 2010, I went on the Children International website and requested information about a child in need of a sponsor. I specified that I was interested in sponsoring a child from India- didn't mention age or gender. A week or so later, I received an information packet in the mail. I also received Kanai's photo and family record. At that point, I was really torn. It wasn't that I didn't want to sponsor Kanai- I did. But on the other hand, I was really looking to sponsor a girl, and at that time I was only thinking about sponsoring one child. So I wanted "my" child to be one I really felt a connection with. I ended up going on the CI website and choosing Padmashree instead of Kanai.
But I never forgot about Kanai, and I never threw out (or lost!) his family record and photo. I assumed he'd found a sponsor, because I never saw him appear on the CI website. Then, last week, I decided that I would call and check, just to make sure that he actually did have a sponsor. And, surprise! Kanai did NOT find a sponsor. I guess not a lot of people are eager to sponsor a teenage boy. So I did what I should have done in April, and added Kanai to my account. So now, just six months late, here is All About Kanai D.
Kanai is 16 years old. He was born on August 19, 1994. He's my height- 5'2"- and weighs 92 lbs. He speaks Bengali. Happily, Kanai still attends school, where his favorite subjects are languages. At home he helps out with general housework, and in his free time he likes to play soccer and draw.
Kanan's family has a higher income than most of the CI families in India that I've seen. Kanan's family's monthly income is $127. His father, Keshab, is a factory worker, and his mother, Manju, is a homemaker. I suppose that the higher salary is due to the type of work the parents do. A factory worker is certain to make more than a day laborer. Kanan's sister, Sipra, also lives with the family. She is 22 years old.
The family lives in two multi-use rooms, with a roof and floor of concrete and walls of brick. They cook using a gas stove, sleep on wooden beds, and use a latrine for sanitation. Electricity is available, and water is obtained from a private pump.

Joanne's Situation

Along with her education report, which I'll also share, I recently received some good news about Joanne in regards to her living situation. When I sponsored Joanne, she was listed as living in an orphanage. To be honest, this is what made me want to sponsor her. I wanted Joanne to know that no matter what, there was someone- her sponsor- who cared about her very much. After sponsoring her, I requested an education report and more information on Joanne's living situation. I just received the reply, and the news is good! Joanne has been reunited with her family! She's living with her mother, stepfather, and siblings. Joanne's mother is a "plain housekeeper" and also "sometimes she is busy in packing of candies which gives extra income to the family." Joanne's stepfather runs the small store- the family's main source of income.
Then there was this confusing paragraph: "Joanne sometimes visits and sleeps in her maternal auntie's house which is their neighbor and she [Joanne's mother] added that Joanne is in her custody." So I'm not sure if Joanne is in the aunt's legal custody, and spends time with her sometimes, but mainly lives with her mother, or...I don't even know. I'm not going to ask for further clarification because it's kind of none of my business, and also I think CI has better ways to use their time and resources.
Anyway, here is Joanne's education report. Joanne attends Tabaco National High School which has more than 5400 students. The school serves 34 sections, from first year to fourth year. The school has less than 100 classrooms and offers complete electric and water facilities. There is a library, computer room, canteen, and recreational area. Joanne is in the first year of high school.
Joanne takes public transportation to school- in her case, a boat! I think that's so cool. I walked to high school...Joanne takes a boat! It takes her about 30 minutes to get to school.
Joanne's grades are good and her progress is normal. She is not receiving any special help with schoolwork at this time. Through CI, she's received school supplies and GIK books. (I don't know what those are. I assume some kind of text book.) Joanne especially likes math class. She plans to finish secondary school and take up a nursing course of study. She wants to one day be able to offer financial support to her parents and siblings.
All in all, very good news!

A Mailbox Full of Letters- Part 2

The other three letters I received last Monday were from three of my younger children: Daneisi, Jesus, and Elizabeth. These were all responses to the first letter I sent to each child.
Daneisi is 8 years old and lives in the Dominican Republic. She does not write her own letters yet, as she's just started school. Here is what her father wrote on her behalf:
"Thank you for writing to my daughter Daneisi. We are very well and happy. Her mother is named Juliana Z. and her father is Juan I. M. Thank you for the letter and the pictures. She likes to study and she likes to play with dolls with her friends."

Elizabeth just turned 6 in October. She has not been to school at all yet, so her brother wrote for her. "Dear Nicole, Greeting from your sponsored child. The family is fine the child is very happy to receive a letter and a picture. She has really admired your face. She has really liked the photo. Elizabeth lives in a town called Lusaka. She has liked your husband's name [Adam]. The child likes the blue colour and the her favorites. [?] Also Elizabeth is proud to have you as her sponsor. Yours Brother for Elizabeth"

I love the part about Elizabeth really admiring my face. It's kind of a self-esteem booster, ha ha! But seriously, this letter actually gave me a lot of information. I didn't know that Elizabeth had a brother- her family report lists her as living with 0 siblings. I did assume that she had siblings, but I didn't know for sure, and now I do!

Lastly is Jesus. Jesus is 6 years old and lives in Mexico. He, too, does not yet attend school, so his aunt has written his CP letter for him. She writes: "Dear sponsor, Hello! I am the aunt of Jesus Salvador, he is six years old and he likes to play toy cars and soccer. His favorite meal is egg, soup and vegetables and his favorite fruit is mango, orange and bananas and he lives with his grandparents and his two siblings and he likes to go out to the park and also he likes animals like cats and dogs and he likes the circus a lot and when he attends to the circus he is very happy and he likes a lot to go out and he likes to play with his siblings and he sleeps on his own and he knows how to clean up his room and organize his stuff. I thank you a lot for sponsoring him, I hope that you keep on doing it. Sincerely, Maria de Jesus R. M."

What a lot of information! I love the part about the circus. It just makes me happy to know that, poor or not, Jesus is able to have fun and do things like go to the circus and the park. I also did not know before that he lives with his grandparents, in addition to his parents. (I know that his parents are both present.) So that's really nice.

I'm so happy with my letters! And...more arrived TODAY! So I'll be writing about those soon, too.

A Mailbox Full of Letters! Part One- Mirian

Last Monday I received FIVE letters from my sponsored children: Two (CW and CP) from Mirian in Guatemala, and CP letters from Elizabeth in Zambia, Jesus in Mexico, and Daneisi in the Dominican Republic.
First are Mirian's letters. Mirian is 13 years old and lives in rural Guatemala. In her CW (Child Welcome) letter, Mirian writes:
"Hi Dear Sponsor, I thank you for sponsoring me and for the support you give me, it is a great bless for me and my family. I want to tell you that my family is in good health and I want to tell you that I like to study and to spend time along my friends and I want to tell you that I like English and I like to listen to music and to dance and I want to tell you that on Sundays I go to the church along with my family. With love, Mirian Yesenia G. J."

Mirian's CP letter (a response to the first letter I sent, shortly after sponsoring her in late July):
"Dear Nicole A, I greet you with a lot of love wishing you are in good health along your family. I thank you for the correspondence and the photo you sent me, I am very happy to receive it. I know there is someone who is worried about me. [Literal translation can be funny!] I want to tell you that I am doing very well with my studies, thank God, I am in fifth grade, and I am learning a lot. My favorite animal is the rabbit and I want to tell you that I go to the church along my family. I say goodbye with a lot of love, may God bless you. Mirian Yesenia G. J."

Mirian also drew a nice little scene on the second letter- a countryside with a bunny and a sun and a hill and a river. It's extremely cute.