Letters From The Newest Three

What is it they say about the best of intentions?

Well, I'm not going to give anybody any long excuses for how long I've been absent from this blog... I can only promise with all sincerity that I WILL try to do better in the future!

I recently realized that although I've shared many letters from my kids since I've started my blog, I haven't shared any of the letters from my newest correspondent kids! That will change today!

Let's start off with Elijah in Kenya, who was assigned to me in February of last year. It took a while for the letters to get flowing back and forth, but I've received 4 of them so far!

In his most recent letter, he says:

"First and foremost I greet you in Jesus' Name. How is you with your family? I am doing well, in my studies I was promoted to the next class. Pray for me next year I will be candidate for national exam. I hope you are doing well in all activities. How is the weather in your country? In our country the weather is cool and wet. How is your holiday? Mine is good. I hope to see you in future. Thank you for your support. May God blessed you and reward your work. Have a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.

Elijah also drew me this great picture of a ball, house, and tree!

Next up we have Gifty in Uganda! Gifty has been a fun one to get to know... she has great tutors who help her answer all of my questions, and I have even gotten a personal letter written by the project director on her behalf, telling me all about her!

This letter was on the "What I Like Best" template. She says:

What I like to do best with my family is: I sweep the house, fetch water and wash dishes.

What I like to do best with my friends is: Fetching water and playing skipping rope.

What I like best about the project is: Food, prayers and singing.

The teacher I like best in school is: Teacher D. because she loves me and teaches well.

The place I like best to visit is: The United States of America.

Hello my special sponsor Hannah. I am fine and my families are doing good. I had a wonderful Christmas this year. Yes in Uganda we have turkeys. (I had told her about eating turkey at Christmas, and asked if they have turkeys in Uganda.) I am thankful for taking time to pray for my father. God bless you. I have not heard about Luke in Bible but I'm happy that you told me about him now. I love the photos you send for me. You and your parents looks wonderful. I think you look like your mother. I also look like my mother. (I sent her a picture of my parents and asked her which parent I looked most like, and then asked her which family member she looks most like.) You did a great work to award me with special certificate. (A "good job for showing love to others" award.) You are the best. Thanks I love you.

Gifty also drew this picture for me, labeled, "This is me wearing my best outfit."

Last but of course not least, we have a letter from Jessica in Ghana! I have received two letters from Jessica. Her second one was written by a project worker since she was unable to be present on letter-writing day, so I will just share the first one with you! Ghanaian letters are also written on a type of form letter, so I will type it out as it's written.

Dear: Hannah

Thank you message for sponsor: I'm thanking you for your sponsorship. God richly bless you and your family.

Child's new experiences at project/home/school/community, etc: I'm now promoted to J.H.S. two now and I'm the class prefect in my class. And I'm still the elderly sister in my family house.

Child's response to sponsor's questions: My friend's names are R., E., and C. Things I enjoy doing together with them are reading some storybooks and singing together with them. I'm in J.H.S. two now.

Prayer request from child: I want you to pray for me to understand whatever they teach me in my class and project too.

Prayer for my sponsor: I pray that God should give you the understanding and the knowledge to understand whatever you are doing.

Memory Verse: Psalm 103. Praise the Lord, my soul! All my being, praise his holy name!

And Jessica drew this beautiful flower for me!

I'm so thankful to be hearing from my precious children! 

When God Says Yes

There is a saying that you may have heard me repeat from time to time. It's just this... when God says Yes, don't say no!

What this means to me is, when God decides that He has a "mission", or something that He wants you to accomplish, He will make sure that you do it! There's no point in saying "No", or "Not now Lord", or "I can't afford it", or "it's too difficult"... believe me, God will find a way of gently nudging you (or hitting you with a thunderbolt, whichever you prefer).

I'm sure He chuckles at us.

Anyways, I have felt for a long time (more than five years, in fact) that God was calling me to sponsor in Ghana. And it just didn't happen right away for whatever reason... I ended up taking over the financial sponsorship of a couple of my correspondent children, and then requested other correspondent children from different countries, and Ghana just kept getting overlooked for whatever reason.

A few of my friends sponsor in Ghana, and some of them have had difficulties in building a close relationship with their children there... one of my friends has gotten the exact same drawing from her child over 20 times! I'll admit, that saddened me a bit. I'm a relational person... I'm all about the personal relationships.

"But God," I argued. "I have children in Kenya and Indonesia that write me amazing letters. The need is so great in so many countries. I have friends in Rwanda. I speak some of their language. I feel connected to my kids there. Why Ghana? I don't know anybody in Ghana. I don't know anything about the culture. Why Ghana?"

And my heart continued to be broken as I read about how common the practice of child slavery is in Ghana, and as I saw how rampant the poverty and how dire the need. During this time, my heart was really moved by the account of another Compassion sponsor who has traveled to Ghana several times to meet her children and raise funds for a library in her children's community... here's the link if you want to read for yourself. Compassion Can ~ Beyond Measure

And still I felt God wanted me to sponsor, or correspond, with a child in Ghana. "I'm having a hard time coming up with letter ideas now," I told God. "I have already replaced the two of my children that are graduating with new correspondents. Surely You don't want me to go back on the waiting list again?" And I put it off yet again.

And then, I checked my Compassion account to see if there were any letters on the way to me... and I saw a new face!

A 15-year-old girl. From Ghana.

Wait a minute... I wasn't even on the waiting list! Then it must be a mistake... she must be meant for someone else.

I refused to get excited. The office was already closed for the day, so I had to wait until the following day to find out if she was actually my child and if I could actually keep her. I told myself I wouldn't get attached to her... she may have been assigned to me by accident, maybe through a computer glitch or someone entering the wrong account number, and perhaps she already had a loving sponsor who wanted to write to her themselves.

And as I continued to tell myself I wouldn't get attached to her, I tried to ignore the fact that I had already fallen head over heel in love with her sweet, patient face. That night was a difficult one... I got about two hours of sleep as I tossed and turned, trying to convince myself that she might have been assigned by accident and knowing I would be heartbroken if she wasn't mine. I have never spent a more restless night in my life!

Of course, you already know that the news turned out to be good, or I wouldn't be writing this post! She was indeed mine... after my last child, Gifty, had been assigned back in March, someone simply forgot to remove my name from the waiting list. And of course, they were overjoyed when I begged (yes, I was desperate at this point lol!) to keep her!

So, I have my long-awaited child in Ghana... who has had only one sponsor for her entire time in the program and has never received a letter or gift. That has already changed, of course!

So without further ado, please meet Jessica, who sometimes goes by the nickname "Sister" at home. I have all of her photos since she was registered in the program.... isn't she precious?

Welcome home Jessica!