Pastor's Letter: Tanzania (TZ-678)

We received some more pastor's letters! I am looking forward to sharing them over the next few weeks. This letter is from Fabiola's pastor. And the photos are from Compassion's Tanzania page.

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Dear Eric and Hannah,

I am Paul C, pastor of the [TZ-678] Church in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We minister to Fabiola at the [TZ-678] Student Center. We give thanks for your sponsorship and support for Fabiola!

The community my church ministers to has a big population of Muslims. As a matter of fact, 50% of the sponsored children at our center are Muslims. This is a low income community and for some of the people, their income is so low that they can't pay for schooling for their children. Most of them belong to the Zaramo, which is a tribe along the coast of the Indian Ocean with very little income-generating activities.

The major challenge of teh community is the lack of safe water for drinking. Most of the people drink unclean water and by so doing, they expose themselves to various diseases like diarrhea, bilharzias and cholera. As a church, we face a lot of challenges in ministering to the surrounding area. The parents love the sponsorship program for their children because we pay their school fees and provide them with uniforms and materials but they do not like their children to become Christians or even to sing Christian songs at their homes.

Despite these challenges, we have seen a great impact on the children who attend the program. They are able to go to school and receive medical treatment and check-ups. They are able to interact with others in a positive way and they have more hope for the future. The church is committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in the surrounding community. We always have house to house campaigns to witness to the church members and non-church members. Our main target is to reach al the families of the sponsored children and the community which surrounds us. We also plan for street outdoor meetings to testify about Jesus as Savior.

These children area always so excited to receive letters from their sponsors, as they feel loved and cared for, something many of them have never experienced before. These letters build and strengthen the relationship between sponsors and children as both sides get to know more and more as they communicate. It helps these children so much to read every word of love and encouragement from their friends from another country and they are always excited to share these letters with their friends and families. They are motivated to do their best in all things.

Please help pray for our program and that God may provide funds for us so that e can accomplish the construction of more rooms at the center.

Thank you again for all that you do on behalf of Fabiola. May God bless you!

Sincerely,
Paul C

Pastor's Letter: Rwanda (RW-369)

We received some more pastor's letters! I am looking forward to sharing them over the next few weeks. This letter is from Niyinsaba's pastor. And the photos are from Compassion's Rwanda Rural Region page.

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Dear Eric and Hannah,

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus Christ!

I am N Fancois, pastor of [RW-369] Church of Rwanda-Byimana and also [RW-369] CDC where we minister and care for Niyinsaba.

I thank you so much for your great love and kindness you have demonstrated by sponsoring Niyinsaba through the Compassion supported program. The ministry that you are a part of has had a positive impact in the lives of so many needy children.

In this community, children's needs are multifold and vary according their age group. Young children need healthy food to give them a good start in life. Unfortunately, some in this category already show signs of malnutrition. Primary school age children need school uniformas and supplies in the right quality and quantity. children studying at secondary schools levels need assistance with school fees and other financial support. We are grateful that children benefit from different forms of support through this Center. Some children in the community are orphans as many of their parents are widow or widowers. Others are suffering from HIV/AIDS, which renders them unable to work or carryout everyday activities. This leads to a vicious cycle of poverty as many children from these poor families cannot afford school fees in order to continue their secondary education and those who have not completed their education are unemployed. This is why the Center is so important. We are able to change the situation for them. We transform their lives and release them from poverty in Jesus' name.

Children in this community are of great concern and interest and their wellbeing is our preoccupation. Our community has a great vision to boost the capacity of poor families and provide them with means for economic self reliance through the development of the small income generating activities in order better serve the children.

The Center has many positive outcomes for the community. Not just the children are changing, but so are families. Children and their parents are being baptized. Teh number of church goers has increased and our children now know how to play musical instruments and actively participate in the choir. We hope that more children will be baptized in due course. Caregivers are encouraged to organize themselves into associations to facilitate their engagement in income generating endeavors in order improve their livelihoods. Working through these cooperatives, they are able to afford health insurance. Some children have also successfully passed their national exams and are now enrolled in secondary schools.

The sponsor-children relationships are of an inestimable value to everyone involved in the partnership. Sponsors and their sponsored children exchange photos and send each other birthday wishes. They share family information with each other, pray for each other and share Biblical verses as well. This creates a special bonding between them, which boosts the children's morale and their performance in school. Letters also encourage the children to learn English to enable them one day write to their sponsors. Many children receive novelty items from sponsors which are a delight to them. Please play this role for Niyinsaba and send letters and photos often.

We thank you once again for the love and generosity you have showed Niyinsaba, our church and our country.

We pray for your good health and may God's protection and blessings be with you in the name of Jesus.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor N Francois

Pastor's Letter: Dominican Republic (DR-407)

We received some more pastor's letters! I am looking forward to sharing them over the next few weeks. This letter is from Yeremy Orlando's pastor. And the photos are from Compassion's Dominican Republic Southeastern Region page.

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Dear Eric and Hannah,

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

I am Pastor Braulio P, main Pastor at [DR-407]. We are ministering to Yeremy Orlando at the CDC associated with the church.

In our community, there are gangs of all types. Many children, teenagers, youths, and even their parents are a part of gangs and the vicious cycle of poverty here. Some of the challenges we face are teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, child neglect and, abandonment by the parents.

As a church, our vision is to impact this community through the gifts God has given us. With such, we want to plant Jesus Christ in every child and teenager's heart, through a holistic formation at the Center, and then reach their families, and eventually the entire community.

Our sponsored children may a difference in the community, because in spite of the delinquency that surrounds them in the community and at home, they continue and finish their studies. One of the many meaningful ways in which we have impacted our sponsored children is through community church, which is located at our Center. Said church has encouraged them to get prepared on singing, music, dance and theater, so they it can be developed in services and other activities.

When our children receive letters from their sponsors, they get happy. It's like their sponsor is there, right at that time, showing them love and affection, and that they are cared for. Those who don't receive correspondence, express sadness and long to receive communication and words of encouragement. It is for this reason that we encourage you to communicate with Yeremy Orlando often.

Please, pray for the work God has given us in this community, and so we can continue making a difference in the sponsored children's lives!

I say goodbye, thanking you for your attention.

Truly yours,
Pastor Braulio P

Pastor's Letter: Ghana (GH-754)

We received some more pastor's letters! I am looking forward to sharing them over the next few weeks. This letter is from William's pastor. And the photos are from Compassion's Ghana Rural Region page.

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Dear Eric and Hannah,

My name is SK Arhin. I am the leader of the [GH-754] CDC attended by William. This Center is situated in the Central Region of Ghana in the Western part of Africa..

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to you for the sponsorship, support, and care you have shown to William and his family. There are few people in this world that will do what you are doing for William. I really appreciate your efforts, and I thank you very much in the name of the almighty God.

At the Center site, various activities are done to ensure that William benefits from and acquires knowledge that will not only help him now but also help to solve future problems. These activities include teaching the Compassion National Curriculum (which covers the physical, spiritual, cognitive and the socio-emotional well-being of the child) and the Ghana Education Service Curriculum (which also includes Mathematics, English and Natural Science). Extra activities such as income-generating training like bead making, crocheting, leather works and graphic designing are also organized for children in the adolescent age.

Hoever, the Center has also provides various sports materials such as football, skipping rope, and local games like "ludu" and "oware" to enable the children to have fun as they learn. The Center also has football teams for both boys and girls. These games help prevent children from boredom, and boost their interests as they come to the Center.

Also, throughout the year, various programs were organized to equip the Center workers with new ideas, caregiver training, health education and even embarking on picnics and other celebrations.

Children who were not attending school prior to registration in the Center are now regular and also punctual at school and are doing very well. Morally, the Center children are obedient, respectful, kind, and more responsible than others. Most Center children have avoided many negative social behaviors since they now know the impact of such behavior. This has compelled most parents within the community to bring their children to the Center for registration even though they know we cannot register them now.

My personal interaction with parents and other elderly ones in the community have proven that the Center children are very helpful and supportive at home. They help their parents in doing house duties, they go on errands and are law-abiding due to the teachings of the Center.

Furthermore, communication established through sooner letters really encourages the children to put much effort in the performance at home, school and the Center, as well as within the community. These wonderful children are moved by the words of encouragement, prayers, Bible quotations and other stories which are shared through letters. It makes them feel very happy and responsible hearing from their cherished sponsors on a regular basis. Please write to William as much as you can.

Last but no the least, I humbly request that you remember William and others in your prayers. Pray for God's wisdom, understanding and protection for them.

I once again thank you for the care, support, prayer, kindness and time you give William. It is my prayer that, the almighty God will make his face shine upon you and your family. Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
SK Arhin

Pastor's Letter: Tanzania (TZ-834)

We received some more pastor's letters! I am looking forward to sharing them over the next few weeks. This letter is from Nuraisha's pastor. And the photos are from Compassion's Tanzania General Region page.

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Dear Eric and Hannah,

My name is Francis JC. I am senior pastor of [TZ-834] of Tanzania at Mtwara-Smirna. Together with teh [TZ-834] CDC, we minister to and care for Nuraisha. We work with Compassion International to care for the neediest children in the community and release them from poverty in Jesus' name.

Thank you for sponsoring Nuraisha and for supporting our precious ministry. Our center serves the children in the community in the four areas of spiritual, physical, social-emotional and cognitive growth. Our children are always taught the Word of God and this has a very positive impact. Their parents are testifying about the spiritual changes of their children. The physical changes are apparent too in that the children are healthier and stronger from good food and medical checkups.

They are learning good behavior and respect and are interacting well with other people in the community. they are attending school and learning well also for their cognitive growth. This influences the other children and people in the community, as our children serve as role models. The establishment of this program has also benefited the community by providing employment for the staff.

Letter writing brings excitement and pleasure to the children and is a very important part of our program. The children are all so happy to receive letters from their sponsors, and also to write letters back. They feel loved and cherished, important, and motivated to continue at the Center, in school, and at church. They are eager to respond with news about their lives too. For this reason, it is important for you to write letters to Nuraisha.

Thank you again for your kindness to sponsor Nuraisha. We know that through this sponsorship program, the work of the Lord is transforming the lives of the children at the Center. God bless you for all that.

Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Francis JC

Pastor's Letter: Haiti (HA-709)

Whenever we're assigned a new correspondent, we're sent a pastor's letter! I like sharing them here both as a record and for others to read. Enjoy!

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This letter is from Daniella's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Haiti Northern Region page.

Dear Eric and Hannah,

My name is Josier R, I am the pastor of [HA-709] of TN. We minister to Daniella at the CDC. I take advantage of this occasion to thank you for your sponsorship of Daniella.

Our community of TN is very disadvantaged compared to other districts concerning access to primary services and healthcare for the population. Our environment is generally not clean but we are able to provide fresh water and produce mangoes. However, we have few economic activities, no recreational places, and no vocational school at this date.

Those who own mango trees do not have sufficient means to trade in other cities. Due to lack of this opportunity to run this wealth, this district is known for poverty. TN contains also some various mines for marble limestone, copper, gold, zinc, and lead. Most of people depend on the agriculture although there is no irrigation; the farmers are just waiting for rain. Due to that, the parents are not able to supply their children's needs especially in terms of education.

Our roads are not in good condition and during rainy times, the roads are not usable and we become isolated from other towns. In spite of many initiatives, the local authorities are not able to improve life condition of the population. This increases the church's goal to evangelize the community in action and in word.

We cherish the dream that our church will grow in number and be more involved in social development. We would also like our auditorium construction to be achieved so we can minister to more than 300 children.

This center has been established here for 14 years and many people testify its great impact in the community. There is a big difference between the children of the center and those of the community. The children of the center go to school because they receive financial aid from sponsors while most of the other children in the community do not go because their parents cannot pay the school fee. In spirituality, the children of the center love God and His word while other children do not benefit from such special training. Moreover, the children of the center benefit from medical care when they are sick and they have good relationships with each other. We see the children of the center are accustomed to meditation on God's word and leading worship service at church. Such actions are the restful of Bible teaching at the center.

Our church positively influences the community through this program, as well as through evangelism and other spiritual and social activities. When we organize an environment cleaning. we show that the Gospel is not only about spiritual affairs but social also. The sponsored children's parents love the living and true God. This permits everybody to see that the God from the Bible is the God of mercy and love.

The sponsored children are very happy when receiving the letters and the photos their sponsors send and they are proud to show their friends this love. The children are very pleased for these letters and their sponsors' prayers; it means so much to them to know that someone cares about them and they never cease to pray for their sponsors.

We pray God to bless our loving sponsors and grant them strong health. We ask you to please pray for the construction of our auditorium and the temple.

Finally, we sincerely thank you for contributing to the spiritual, economic, and physical growth of Daniella. May God always be with you!

Sincerely,

Josier R.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Haiti, please consider sponsoring adorable Rose Darline! She is 4-years-old and her birthday is October 14.

Rose Darline lives with one sibling and her mother, who is not employed. She helps her mother with cleaning and Rose Darline's favorite activities are playing with dolls and hide-and-seek. To sponsor Rose Darline, click here.

Pastor's Letter: Kenya (KE-901)

Whenever we're assigned a new correspondent, we're sent a pastor's letter! I like sharing them here both as a record and for others to read. Enjoy!

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This letter is from Sanaipei's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Kenya Rural Region page.

Dear Eric and Hannah,

I am Rev. Samuel O K, pastor of [KE-901] in the EN division of K County, in the Rift Valley of Kenya, that ministers to your sponsored child at the [KE-901] CDC. I wish to express my sincere appreciation and thanks for the sponsorship and support that you give to Sanaipei. Positive changes have taken place through your intervention, so be blessed!

In the church where I minster, most of the members are Maasai. They are mainly "pastoralists" who raise livestock, and they heavily rely on this practice as their main economic activity. The land is rocky and rarely receives rain, thus does not support crop farming.

This community faces a lot of challenges -- for instance, high poverty levels from long droughts that take the lives of cattle the depend on for a living, a high level of illiteracy, and traditional practices like female genital mutilation and polygamy, both of which the community has long been promoting and still practices to date, even as the church continues to enlighten them. Sometimes there is a lack of full participation of our church members, as they keep moving from one place to another in search of green pastures for their animals. Despite this, the church has been able to achieve a lot in terms of educating the community about the Word of God.

Our church vision is to serve all people as Christ did, without favor. We strive to emulate this as the greatest service to our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our center exists as an advocate in releasing children from all scopes of poverty. Personally, I have seen an impact of the center on the children attending compared to other children within the community. Children attending the center tend to develop good morals because of the way they are taught the word of God. They also know how to relate well with others and benefit from skills they are taught as they apply to their future lives.

The other way the church ministers to the community is through youth conferences, fellowship conferences for men and women, and through the church school/junior youth conferences which remain outstanding events in the church calendar. The number of sponsored children's families that attend the church is impressive, as many have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior.

The sponsor-child relationship is of great value. When sponsors communicate with children, their joy cannot be hidden. Our children love to share their sponsor's information with their teachers, peers in the center, and their families. This reminds them that there is somebody somewhere who loves them and cares for them. When children do not receive a letter, they are not able to learn anything new from their sponsors. You can see these letterless children reading from their friends' letters and wishing they had one as well. Communication from a sponsor is the most vital thing for children, as they get information about their sponsor's country and family, as well as much-needed encouragement.

I request that you sponsors pray for your children's lives, that God may accomplish their plans in the future, and that they may continue to love the Lord with all their hearts. Please pray also for their families, that God may give them strength and good health.

Finally, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you for choosing to make a difference by sponsoring Sanaipei. May God bless you richly.

Faithfully yours,

Samuel O K

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Kenya, please consider sponsoring 7-year-old Kanana, who has been waiting over 6 months for a sponsor!

Kanana's birthday is November 9. She lives with one sibling and her single mother, who is sometimes employed. Kanana enjoys art or drawing, dolls, playing hide-and-seek, singing, doing arts and crafts, learning about God and singing songs. At home she is responsible for carrying water, child care and gardening or farming. To sponsor Kanana, click here.

Pastor's Letter: Haiti (HA-306)

Whenever we're assigned a new correspondent, we're sent a pastor's letter! I like sharing them here both as a record and for others to read. Enjoy!

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This letter is from Kamplos' project! And the photos are from Compassion's Haiti Southern Region page.

Dear Eric and Hannah,

My name is Louinel G; I am the pastor of the church of P, N. We minister to your sponsored child at the CDC. How can we possibly thank you for your sponsorship of Kamplos? Because of sponsors, lives are changing in an amazing way.

You could not imagine how important the center is in this region; for the parents cannot afford to pay their children's school fees. Thanks to the center, many children get to go to school. So, I cordially thank sponsors for their support towards the children.

My church is located in a valley. the main activity of the folks is agriculture. They grow rice, bean and corn. It does not rain regularly for years; so it is difficult for the peasants to survive. Our community is facing some challenges: lack of infrastructure, shoes, vocational schools, unemployment, spare time center, the school buildings are too small, and we don't have enough materials. Also, the church is unable to build a meeting space.

The church and the center deeply impact the community. My aim is that the center can try harder in order to develop the community and that more people can come to Christ through the center. The children of the center are exceptional compared to other children because they are involved in church activities and they get to learn a trade such as tiling, Floral Art, or sewing class. The church influences the community through open air activities, evangelization and other programs with the leaders and parents of the area. Thanks to the center, many parents go to church.

I want you to know that the letters and photos mean a lot in the relationship between the sponsored children and their sponsors. It permits them to share piece of information each other. The relationship between a child and a sponsor is so important and capital. A child is always excited to receive a letter from their sponsor. I think it is similar to the sponsors, too. I exhort the children to write good letters to their sponsors. I make sure that I am present by the time the letters are being written because I love to see the children's faces as they write. I hope you know the importance of your letters to Kamplos and will write often.

I sincerely want to assure you that your child is in good hand because I work in close collaboration with the employees in order to change the life condition of the children. We have a good staff that consists of teachers and instructors to teach the children Bible verses and stories.

I cannot stop thanking you for your supports toward Kamplos through Compassion International. At church, we are praying for you a lot so that God can bless you much more and give you good health. Please, pray for the children so that God can make a way for them and do efficient work in their lives and that they can always remain in Jesus! Pray also that we can build a bathroom space, a playground, and find a welder to open an ironwork class. We also need a cement mixer to finish our construction projects.

I pray God blesses you.

In Christ,

Pastor Louinel G

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Haiti, please consider 4-year-old Orlindo (who is from Kamplos' project!). Orlindo's birthday is April 17 and he has been waiting over 250 days for a sponsor.

Orlindo lives with his father and his mother. At home, duties include carrying water and cleaning. His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother is sometimes employed as a seller in the market.

Playing with marbles and playing group games are Orlindo's favorite activities. In pre-school his performance is average and he also regularly attends church activities. To sponsor Orlindo, click here.

Pastor's Letter: Sri Lanka (LK-405)

Whenever we're assigned a new correspondent, we're sent a pastor's letter! I like sharing them here both as a record and for others to read. Enjoy!

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This letter is from Navodya's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Sri Lanka Western Region page.

Dear Eric and Hannah,

Blessings!

I am H Susil J, director of M church at D, Sri Lanka. I run the [LK-405] DCD attended by Novodya at our church. I strongly consider the Center among the children very important; therefore, the Church is being conducted full time.

[LK-405] is important. We were in continual prayer about the suburb villages, families and children and in much consideration about how to conduct classes free of charge, to establish a play area for children and to support their economy. We had to those things up to certain level, but we could not go further due to some financial issues. By this time we came to know about Compassion in Sri Lanka. We had several friendly discussions with officials of Compassion and as a resulte we were able to commence a CDC with 125 children in December 2012 with sponsorship of people like yourself.

From this we are able to accomplish our goals to a satisfactory level and I think you on behalf of my church for your support of Navodya through Compassion.

Families are connected to the [LK-405] Center. When we look at the family background of the children they are in extreme poverty. IN some cases the mother or father is not living with them or families have been abandoned by the parents. Within them there are some insecure children. Therefore, the children are not getting enough food or security properly.

There are challenges. However as we continue this work there is a revival among the children and their parents. Our vision that through this Center many people will come to know God's love. And also our vision is to develop thees children by good behavior and their education. Our goal is to raise 50 graduates from the children by the year 2030. So we are focusing on this goal and continuing our work with these children.

The sponsors are valuable. Your letters and gifts are encouraging our children and they are happy to keep your letters with them and they really love the gift you have sent and they are early waiting to listen from you.

In addition to this Center our church is involved with social work among the community doing projects like distributing wheel chairs, helping among widows, self employment training and distributing food and cloth to people in need.

We began this Center with 125 children and it has increased up to 175 children. Please pray for our Center that we may be able to continue this Center and we will achieve our goal. By the year 2020 our goal is to have 500 children with us in this Center. Than you for your love and concern for Navodya.

May God bless you,

H Susil J

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Sri Lanka, please consider 6-year-old Buddhini who's birthday is April 17. She has been waiting over 200 days for a sponsor.

Buddhini lives with her mother. At home, duties include carrying water, teaching others and making beds. Her mother is sometimes employed as a laborer. There are 2 children in the family.

Playing a musical instrument, rolling a hoop and ping pong are Buddhini's favorite activities. In primary school her performance is average and she also regularly attends church activities. To sponsor Buddhini, click here.