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: 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

Country Director's Letter: Tanzania

Today's letter is from Tanzania, where we correspond with Maria, Elinami, Rose and Gabriel. The original letter and photo can be found here.

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Dear Friend,

I am Agnes Hotay. I have been the Tanzania country director for two years, but I joined Compassion 14 years ago. Compassion has worked in Tanzania for 17 years. We have almost 340 child development centers serving more than 80,000 children and youth.

Thank you for your partnership. Your kind support, love and care for your sponsored child have made a big difference.

Because of sponsors’ ministry, children attend school with necessary schooling materials and support. In addition, they get the chance to learn at least one livelihood skill so they can support themselves in the future. They receive health care. Children also build healthy peer relationships at the center and enjoy social activities. Children feel cared for and loved; they have a safe place to go and people who listen to and protect them. They learn about the love of God and how to share it with others.

Our children and families face many obstacles. Public schools often have poor infrastructure and not enough teachers. Some public health centers are ill equipped. Unhealthy cultural practices such as early marriage and albino killings mount critical challenges to child welfare. The government is making efforts to address these issues, but it takes time to deal with such culturally rooted practices.

My vision for the ministry in the coming year is to see that we support our churches to have stronger programs on discipleship, livelihood skills, and youth engagement. The teenagers in our program face different challenges that need special attention and greater innovation.

In a recent youth graduation, one of the graduates moved people to tears. The girl’s parents chose to enter her instead of her young brother into sponsorship because she had a serious illness and they couldn’t afford treatment. Her friends carried her to the center in her early years because she could not walk. She went through six surgeries, and now she can walk. She is pursuing studies in medicine and plans to become a sponsor herself.

Churches have great opportunity to reach their surrounding communities with the gospel as they visit the children and families. Churches have initiated different outreach programs, social services such as nursery schools, disaster relief, and special programs for HIV/AIDS-affected people, widows and orphans.

Children glow with excitement when they get letters from their sponsors. They feel valued and loved; but some don’t get letters. One child walked to the center office and asked if she had done something wrong, because she had never received a letter from her sponsor. Another child almost dropped out of school, but he received a letter asking about his studies. He decided to go back to school so he wouldn’t disappoint his sponsor. Children and their families often keep sponsor letters as special treasures. In a small mud house, they will keep the letters in a plastic bag so they are not spoiled. Please write to your sponsored child whenever possible, even just a few sentences. Some children come from dysfunctional families, broken homes, or hostile environments. No one tells them they are beautiful or smart, or no one has ever told them they are loved. A letter with such words makes a lasting impact.

Please help me pray for our nation to have better quality education and health services, and that our partner churches will continue to be innovative and create more youth-friendly programs.

Your support for your sponsored child comes as a gift from God to us, from a sacrificial heart. Thank you for joining hands to fulfill the Great Commission. I pray that God will meet all your needs, grant your heart’s desire, and fulfill your plans.

God bless you richly,
Agnes Hotay

~~~
If you would like to sponsor a child from Tanzania, please consider sponsoring

Fabiola in Tanzania

We began corresponding with Fabiola in September 2017. I will update this post as we hear from Fabiola.

We have received 2 letters, one pastor's letter and one country director's letter. Her birthday is March 3.

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Project Info and Activities:

Fabiola attends TZ-678 near Dar es Salaam
* Home to approximately 30,000 residents
* The primary ethnic group is Zaramo
* Most commonly spoken language is Kiswahili & Zaramo
* Most common work is work is market trading, although majority unemployed
* Average earning is $50 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, beans, cassava & rice
* Common Health Problems: malaria
* Typical Houses: cement floors, brick walls, tin roofs

Center activities: Bible teaching, health screenings, hygiene education, educational field trips, sports, picnics, tutoring, tailoring classes and choir. visitations.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: spending time with friends, dolls, reading, Kiswahili, rice & beans, red & yellow, hide-and-seek, ping in the middle game, David & Goliath, "Children and Angels Rejoice" song

* Dreams: to go to Sadan National Park, to be a teacher, to be like Rose Mhando the gospel singer

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Letter Highlights...

"Yes, I know the song that says my light is small. My church is sharing the gospel well."

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Artwork

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Nuraisha in Tanzania

We began corresponding with Nuraisha in August 2017. I will update this post as we hear from her.

We have received 5 letters, in addition to one pastor's letter and one country director's letter. Her birthday is May 17.

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Project Info and Activities:

Nuraisha attends TZ-834 near Mtwara
* Home to approximately 5,200 residents
* The primary ethnic group is Kimakonde
* Most commonly spoken language is Kiswahili
* Most common work is work is day laboring, fishing or street vending, but majority is unemployed
* Average earning is $56 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, beans, fish, cassava & rice
* Common Health Problems: malaria
* Typical Houses: dirt or cement floors, mud or brick walls, tin or thatched roofs

Center activities: Bible lessons, choir, health screenings, medical treatment, games and sports, uniforms, school supplies and hygiene education.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: spending time with friends, dolls, group games, reading, science, fried rice, blue, ball, Moses together with Israel people, nice flowers are beautiful, watching tv, washing clothes & dishes

* Dreams: to visit Mt. Kilimanjaro, for her sponsor to visit her, to help her family, to be a businesswoman or a doctor

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Letter Highlights...

"Please, when you get a chance come and visit us."

One fun thing I like to do is: "washing clothes, dishes, and praying to God"

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Artwork

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Gabriel in Tanzania

We began corresponding with Gabriel in January 2017.

We have received 7 letters and one country director's letter while corresponding with Gabriel. His birthday is June 28. Gabriel lives with his mother, who is sometimes employed.

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Project Info and Activities:

Gabriel attends TZ-319 in Morogoro

* Home to approximately 90,000 residents
* Primary language is Lugulu
* Most common work is day laboring
* Average earning is $8 a month
* Regional Diet: beans, maize, beans & rice
* Common health problems: malaria, typhoid, HIV/AIDS
* Typical Houses: cement floors, brick walls, corrugated roofs

Center Activities: Bible teaching, health screening, medical treatment, personal hygiene education, fieldtrips, recreational activities, school supplies and uniforms.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: soccer/football, running, art/drawing

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Letter Highlights...

"I would like to tell you about our center and now we have many studies to day we learn about the value of every human being who is created with God and we learn from Psalm 139:1-3 this studies teach us many things and my studies can go well."

"I like to play football."

"Even I like so much football, but I quit exercises because I am in vocational college, pursuing mechanics. God is good, he give me another opportunity to live."

"I like the story of David, the way he killed Goliath a Philistine."

"I am very happy to hear that you have a new baby, I pray for him to God that he will grow well and that you will be able to caring in the very nice care. I am so happy to see his picture, he is so beautiful."

"I greet you warmly. HOW ARE YOU? I thank God for this chance to write a letter to you today. I am doing well in my life. I know you are very happy for this letter I am writing to you."

"I am doing well in my studies here at the center...Your friend who loves you and prays for you, Gabriel"

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Final Letter

We received a final letter from Gabriel's project in April 2018:

Greetings in the name of Jesus. Dear Mr. & Mrs. Hinojosas. It is our hope that you are continuing well with your daily activities. We would like to thank you for your love and generosity in caring for this child Gabriel, may God bless you so much for the work done. We are sad to inform you that we can no longer be with this child because of absenteeism. Apart from all the efforts done but with no avail. We hope God will give you strength and comfort during this hard time and may you have another child to take care. May God bless you so much for your heart. Thank you for the nice loving letters to Gabriel. Thank you for the gifts you sent to him which helped to buy different things. Thank you so much and God multiply where you lack.

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Elinami in Tanzania

We began corresponding with Elinami in February 2016. I will continue to update this post as we hear from her.

We received 11 letters, one project director's letter, one pastor's letter, and one country director's letter while corresponding with Elinami. Her birthday is January 1. Elinami lives with her mother, who works selling onions in the market.

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Project Info and Activities:

Elinami attends TZ-451 in Karansi, Moshi

* Home to approximately 3,000 residents
* Primary ethnic groups are Maasai, Chaga & Meru
* Most common work is work is animal farmers, day laborers, subsistence farmers, or domestic services, although majority are unemployed
* Average earning is $37 a month
* Regional Diet: maize & beans
* Typical Houses: dirt floors, adobe walls, corrugated iron roofs

Center activities: Bible studies, Sunday school, health screenings, vaccinations, hygiene and nutrition education, community service opportunities, mentoring programs, sports, talent development, life skills training, educational assistance, remedial classes and vocational trainings.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: group games, running reading, art/drawing, jump rope, singing, listening to music, other ball games, story telling, Bible story: Adam & Eve, song: I have nothing to trust but the blood of Jesus, animals: Giraffe, elephant & zebra, color: Pink & blue, flower: Rose, food: Bread, chips and eggs, game: Volleyball & football (soccer), subject: Biology
* Dreams: to become a teacher

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Letter Highlights...

"I am thankful to you for the alot of letter you sent to me. I was glad on it and build my heart...I don't have my word to thank you for the nice messages you sent to me! I am happy to be a member of your family."

"I am so glad to see a baby Jose who was born. I am praying for God to protect him and grow well."

"I thank you for the letter you have sent to me. I am very happy. I have seen how you love me and remember me. I have seen a birthday wish letter for me. Thank you all so much. I am happy to know about snow and ice also. I am very happy to receive your letters."

"I am so thankful to God for the letters that you sent me. I love them and I am happy about them so much, may God bless you. Also thank you for the cards that you sent me I am so happy about them. I am also happy to know kangaroo. I am happy to see a photo of flowers that are in front of your house, they are nice, I love them."

"I was baptized with little water and knew God when I was 7. I was also happy to see that unborn baby and will be happy to see him. I went to VETA in April taking electric studies, I love it. Please pray for me that I reach my destiny."

"I am thankful for your lovely letter you sent me, I was very happy. I was also very happy to hear about the coming of [Mateo], I love [Mateo] very much, he is a lovely child, may God protect and give him good health, till he is an adult on earth. I also love the young ones, Juanito and Rosie, may God protect them and give them breakthrough so that they meet their dreams."

"You have been such a blessing to me, I don't have the proper language to thank you, but may God meet all your needs that you have been praying for...I love you so so much, and I wish to see you by face one day."

"In my family the baby goat is born and now it has one month and it starting to jumping. I like so much our cattle. I am happy to see a picture of Juanito, Rosie and Jose, they are so lovely and I love them so much."

"My little goat called Kadume and also he has one year and also I have one chicken. I pray for them to grow well."

"Praise Jesus my beloved friends! I and my family are fine and in good health, what about you? How are you doing? We love you very much! Thank you for remembering my birthday, I thank God I am 20 years now!"

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Recipes

I like to eat stiff porridge and vegetables. When you want to cook stiff or ridge, prepare source pan, then prepare fire, put water in the source pan and then on the fire, wait for a while to water to boil. Then put flour and start to cook. Keep cooking until it become stiff."

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Bilingual Preschool: Learning About Tanzania

I am over at the Compassion Family blog today, sharing about our adventure learning about Tanzania!

To read the rest of the post, click here!

Previous posts for the 2016-2017 preschool year:

Year plan

China

Spain

Idd in Tanzania

We corresponded with Idd from February 2015 to September 2015.

We received 2 letters while corresponding with Idd. His birthday is March 7. Idd lives with his parents, who were peasant farmers.

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Project Info and Activities:

Idd attends TZ-318 in Ugogo, Dodoma

* Home to approximately 15,400 residents
* Most commonly spoken languages are Chigogo, Kiluguru & Kirangi
* Primary ethnic groups are Wagogo, Waluguru & Warangi
* Most common work is work is subsistence farming
* Average earning is $5 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, beans & millet
* Common Health Problems: malaria, typhoid, diarrhea
* Typical Houses: dirt floors, mud walls, corrugated iron roofs

Center activities: Bible teaching, health screening, medical treatment, personal hygiene education, field trips, recreational activities, school supplies and uniforms.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: group games, soccer/football, walking, hide-and-seek, running, art/drawing, jump rope, other ball games, story telling, Kiswahili

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Letter Highlights...

"I thank God for he protects us and fights for us."

"My beloved I love you so much and I'm very happy for you to write for me a nice story and I love it very much… Thank you for your kindness which you shower to me. Let us remembering each other forever."

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Idd's sponsor decided to begin writing to Idd again. I hope and pray that they build a wonderful relationship!

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Rose in Tanzania

We began corresponding with Rose in February 2016. I will continue to update this post as we hear from Rose.

We have received 12 letters, one pastor's letter, one one project director's letter, and one country director's letter while corresponding with Rose. Her birthday is October 10. Rose lives with her grandmother, who is employed as a laborer.

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Project Info and Activities:

Rose attends TZ-340 in Vinghawe, Dodoma

* Home to approximately 5,000 residents
* Most commonly spoken languages are Kigogo & Kiswahili
* Primary ethnic group is Wagogo
* Most common work is work is subsistence farming or market trading, although majority are unemployed
* Average earning is $16 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, cassava, rice & potatoes
* Common Health Problems: malaria
* Typical Houses: dirt floors, brick walls, tin roofs

Center Activities: Bible teaching, educational materials, uniforms, picnics, recreational activities, educational field trips, health screening and hygiene education.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: group games, walking, hide-and-seek, running, art/drawing, ping pong, jump rope, singing, the story of Elijah and the widow (1 Kings 17), Proverbs 4:13, keeping chickens, giraffes, antelopes and elephants, color pink, rice and beans, stiff porridge with meat, soccer, the Tanzanian national team, biology

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Letter Highlights...

"Bible verse I like is Proverbs 4:13...This verse give me strength and encourage me to have effort on my studies no matter studies are tough because when God is on our side no one is above us."

"I have got from my grandmother who's name is Rose and that's why she said I will be called Rose."

"I want to do the job like you sister Ruthie because is my favorite job."

"I thank God for guiding me in my studies. I am now in form four and proceeding well with my studies. I also request you to pray for me and may God continue to guide and give me strength to study hard."

"My grandmother is greeting you so much and says she love all pictures and letters you sent to me...When I read your letter actually I got much encouragement. I love you all."

"I would like to thank you much for the letter you sent me, I am happy for it and I liked you telling me the news of Florida in the Mexico."

"I usually re-read the letters you sent to me together with the pictures more often, I was able to see the gulf of Mexico, also how it looks in Florida. Your country is beautiful the way it looks with greenish together with different attractions you have. In Tanzania there are wonderful and fun different animal attractions. I love very much my country Tanzania and it is fun of Peace."

"Shikamoo! - you rely by saying marahaba."

"I also like to tell you that I have joined "young life" group which helps young people from the captivity of sin. I'm grateful for I proceed well and I'm now a leader in young life group and we teach the young people about Jesus Christ and we have a camp where the youth dance and sing and learn about Jesus Christ."

"I am happy to get young brother or friend (Mateo). I am very happy. May God give him grace, knowledge and good health and good way that he can know God."

"I get chance to meditate on how God is and thank him through songs which we sing at the center and church. I am the leader of our choir. I am good at singing choir. I really like to sing choir. Do you like to sing?"

"I do have a time to think about great things that God has done in my life and in my studies. I do praise God through songs which we sing here at our center and at church...In the book of Hymns I like the song Rock of Ages."

"In the Bible I like the Bible verse from Psalm 23, The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. I have completed form four, my expectation is to pass well and proceeding with form five. I believe that God will help me."

"I have tomato and vegetable garden. I like so much to be close to my family while at our garden. Also at our place we have pet Cat. And also we have small cat and I like our cat so much. Also there are big street cats that are so beautiful. Now I hope that my cat will grow and better and big."

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Project Director's Letter: Tanzania (TZ-451)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Elinami's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Tanzania Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsor,

My name is Godson H.. I am the Project Director at the PEFA (Pentecostal Evangelical Fellowship of Africa) Karanse Child Development Center attended by your sponsored child. We are part of the PEFA church in the Hai region in Tanzania.

Thank you for your sponsorship.

I thank you and our other child sponsors for your humble and helpful heart. Our child are showing development in all areas of their lives. In general our children are now able to interact with others by explaining the Word of God and forbidding evils done by others.

As a result of learning skills in tailoring, one young woman in our center plans after graduation to start a tailoring shop as a means to earn money to support and provide some needs to her family.

I am thankful for those sponsors who can send their child gifts. The children use these to buy school uniforms, stationery, and shoes, as well as food and other home needs for family use.

The children love to receive hopeful letters. This makes them to be happy and feel much loved and cared for. I have seen how letters motivate children to be more serious at school as a result of this good relationship between child and their sponsor.

I am inspired to continue working at the center because I want children to come out from a hard life like what I experienced when I was young. My vision is that education can eradicate poverty. The main method for success is first to equip a child to be submissive to God.

Many families around our center depend on animal keeping and seasonal planting. For this reason, long seasons of drought lead to a lack of food, and then to a lack of other needs such as clothes, shelter, fees for school, as well as important matters. Without help, these children cannot do anything to improve their life.

We always pray to God to eradicate illness to our children at the center. This will help us to afford to pay for their school fees, food, and clothes which are the best needs in life, since we use much money to pay for treatments.

Also we request prayer for the children’s families, especially their parents and caregivers, so that they get reliable and permanent sources of income so that they can manage to support their children and their families.

Thank you again for your sponsorship. Doing this requires a heart for God. May God bless you.

Sincerely,
Godson H.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Tanzania, please consider little Mesia who attends TZ-451 with Elinami! Mesia is 4 and her birthday is December 14.

Mesia lives with her father and her mother. At home, duties include carrying water. Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother is sometimes employed as a farmer.

Playing group games is Mesia's favorite activity. In kindergarten her performance is average and she also regularly attends church activities. To sponsor Mesia, click here.

Pastor's Letter: Tanzania (TZ-451)

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 Elinami's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Tanzania Northern Region page.

Dear Eric and Hannah,

My name is Pastor Warier M. M. from PK Church. We host the [TZ-451] CDC attended by Elinami. Our goal is to release children from economic, physical, social and spiritual poverty in Jesus' name. Right now 210 children attend our Center.

I am so grateful, proud and appreciative for your sponsorship of Elinami. The parents of the children and the whole Karansi society are so glad and thank you. Thanks to sponsors like you, our Center children are provided with school fees, medical treatment, school materials and other facilities. Please pray for our children to excel in their schooling.

We are so joyous because the youth from poor environments have been improved. And through our parents' seminar for entrepreneurship, most of the family's lives have improved as well. We thank God that now there is remarkable progress in the children's lives. We are meeting Compassion's mission statement of releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name.

Most people in our community deal with low-producing livestock. They need much more education to change their mindset and lifestyle for their future. They fail economically because droughts cause their cattle to die of hunger and they lose their harvest. To deal with this hardship, we have been teaching the parents to follow the season calendar and encourage them to carry out irrigation plans where possible.

Most of the secondary school students have improved in their English speaking skills by reading letters from their sponsors. They are so ready to reply in English. All of the children love to receive letters from their sponsors. Letters let them feel loved and valued. Please write to Elinami as much as you can.

Thank you for the support you are providing to Elinami. We are praying for you and your country. May God bless you.

In Him,
Pastor Warier M. M.

~~~
If you would like to sponsor a child from Tanzania, please consider little Mesia who attends TZ-451 with Elinami! Mesia is 4 and her birthday is December 14.

Mesia lives with her father and her mother. At home, duties include carrying water. Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother is sometimes employed as a farmer.

Playing group games is Mesia's favorite activity. In kindergarten her performance is average and she also regularly attends church activities. To sponsor Mesia, click here.

Project Director's Letter: Tanzania (TZ-401)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Maria's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Tanzania Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsor,

I’m Naomi S., the Project Director of [TZ-401] CDC attended by your sponsored child. We are in the Babati district, Manyara region, of Tanzania. Our center works with 231 children.

Thank you for your sponsorship.

I like thank you and our other child sponsors for your support. Most families in our community are engaged in small farming or small business. Some raise animals, and others work as employees of a business.

The situation in the community is not good. Some of our children live in families headed by older siblings, some live with single parents, and others live under foster care or with a grandparent. Many families cannot provide children with basic needs such as meals, housing, education, and good treatment. So being sponsored can bring a great change to their families. We have seen our children being changed positively compared to others in the community.

We conduct seminars for the children and their caregivers, which have contributed to change in their lives. Besides the Child Sponsorship Program we also have a Child Survival Program which assists mothers and babies up to 3 years. Through this program most of the families are provided with capital and entrepreneurship skills that help them to manage their life and meet their families’ basic needs. The caregivers have been engaging in small businesses, raising animals, and gardening. Previously they had no way to earn an income generation but now they do.

Spiritually there are many changes to the children. They are taught the Word of God, and most have accepted Jesus as their Savior. They participate in the choir in the church and at the center.

Many youth have made use of our opportunities to begin building a career. Some have acquired vocational skills; others are in college. Their acquired skills help them to be employed. Thanks to their sponsorship, we have been able to send children to schools who otherwise could never have attended. We are thinking of setting up income-generating skills training for the families, beginning with those who have the lowest income.

We are especially grateful to the sponsors who are able to send and respond to the letters from our children. I have seen how these letters create a bond between sponsors and children. When they receive letters and gifts from their sponsor, they regard themselves as being fortunate, loved, and cared for. They are surprised to see how someone who is not a relative can care for them in such a way. As you can, please write.

Thank you again for your sponsorship. We appreciate your commitment.

We also ask for your prayers that our children and youth may be successful in their plans in life. Our aim is to make sure that all children achieve their goals, and we believe that God will enable them to accomplish that for His glory.
God bless you so much.

Sincerely,
Naomi S.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Tanzania, please consider Michael, who is turning 17 on July 11 and who has been waiting over 250 days for a sponsor.

Michael lives with his father and his mother. His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother is sometimes employed as a farmer. Michael works at home carrying water, buying or selling in the market and gardening. There are 4 children in the family.

For fun, Michael enjoys soccer, singing and bicycling. He attends church activities and Bible class regularly and is in vocational training where his performance is average. To sponsor Michael, click here.

Pastor's Letter: Tanzania (TZ-340)

I am continuing to share project director and pastor letters! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Rose's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Tanzania page.

Dear Eric and Hannah,

My name is Reverend Anderson R. M. I am pastor of the [TZ-340] Church and associated CDC where we minister to.

Is my pleasure to thank you for your sponsorship and support of Rose. Through the sponsorship program at the Center, the children have opportunities and access to basic social services like school, medical treatment, physical and social activities, and the Word of God. The changes in their lives can be testified by all who see them. We are transforming them and releasing them from poverty in Jesus' name.

We live in a very pleasant and cooperative community. Regardless of the cooperation shown by this community, we have also some challenges. The major one is poverty. There is not enough housing, food, water, or jobs. The people cannot afford the basic necessities of life. There is no opportunity for education or growth, so the people are illiterate and are without hope. This is affecting the children the most.

The vision of the church is to holistically transform the children in their cognitive, physical, socio-emotional, and spiritual lives, so that they have hope for the future and also to become good Christian citizens. Personally I see the children attending the Center to be quite different as compared to other children within the community. They are behaving well, they are looking healthy and strong, and they are smart and attend at Church services and have access to social basic services. They are learning to love God and also each other.

The positive influence that the relationship the children have with their sponsors established through letter writing cannot be mentioned enough. The children feel so happy when they receive letters from their sponsors. The letters help them to feel loved and encouraged in their lives. They feel a sense of affection. This is a blessing for and so it is important for you to send letters. The children who do not receive letters feel very sad and discouraged.

Finally, I would like to say thank you for your support towards and the ministry here that cares for the little ones. Your work is very much valuable of God.

Yours in Christ,

Reverend Anderson R. M.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Tanzania, please consider handsome Siza who is turning 6 on June 6! He has been waiting over 235 days for a sponsor.

In his home, Siza helps by carrying water, helping in the kitchen and running errands. He lives with his mother. His mother is sometimes employed as a farmer.

Hide-and-seek and playing group games are Siza's favorite activities. In kindergarten his performance is average and he also regularly attends church activities and Bible class. To sponsor Siza, click here.

Project Director's Letter: Tanzania (TZ-340)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Rose's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Tanzania Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsor,

I am Stephen E. N., Project Director of All Saints Anglican Student Centre of the All Saints Anglican Cathedral Church in the Mpwapwa district, Dodoma region, Tanzania. We help your sponsored child.

I have a great pleasure to thank you for your sponsorship and support for your child.

The sponsorship program assures children of getting access to basic services like school, health care, and physical and social benefits. Every week the sponsored children learn different age-appropriate lessons from the curriculum in the spiritual, physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional areas. We also have other programs like tutorial classes, sports and games, and choir.

Children see the center as the place to run to and learn different things for their lives. The center helps them with school fees, medication, and other support the children couldn’t get on their own. We also teach them different skills for the betterment of their lives.

One of our children is showing spiritual maturity; she can teach the little children on Sundays; she also is participating in weekly fellowships at our church. Another child is learning tailoring skills, and she is doing good with her knowledge, because she is able to make clothes and repair the worn-out clothes of people in the surrounding area.

Two boys of our center are in the big football team owned by our church. Currently they are at district level, and our two boys have contributed a lot to the team’s success.

I thank God for the center gift we received last year. We used it to buy some construction materials like cement and sand to help complete two classrooms we have started by our own efforts as a church. Through the gift, the classrooms are at the finishing stage and will soon be used by the children.

There is great value in the sponsor-child relationship through letters. When children receive a letter or any information from their sponsors, they feel very happy and encouraged. One sponsor wrote a letter encouraging his child to study hard to do well in his studies. The child increased effort in his studies, and he was selected to attend a special technical secondary school.

Please pray with us so we can build more classrooms, washrooms, a modern kitchen, a dining hall, and a library. Pray also for our children to do well in their studies and be able to move on to higher education for the betterment of their lives.

I would like to thank you for what you are doing for your child. Really, you are doing a great job, and God will count you for what you are doing.

God bless you,
Stephen E. N.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Tanzania, please consider beautiful Maria who will be 19 on October 7.

Maria lives with her grandfather and her grandmother. Her grandfather is sometimes employed and her grandmother is sometimes employed as a seller in the market. Maria works at home carrying water, teaching others and buying or selling in the market. There are 2 children in the family.

For fun, Maria enjoys swimming, singing and telling stories. She attends Bible class regularly and is in high school where her performance is average. To sponsor Maria, click here.

Project Director's Letter: Tanzania (TZ-313)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Magreth's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Tanzania Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsor,

My name is Patrick E. M. I am the Project Director of the Child Development Center, St. Peters Mvumi, attended by your sponsored child. This center is located in Dodoma Region at Chamwino district in Tanzania.

Thank you for sponsoring a child.

Through sponsorship, the children are getting access to social services like medication, education and are developing in their physical and social aspects.

The sponsored children are taught different lessons by following the holistic development curriculum provided by Compassion. They are taught spiritual, physical, socio-emotional and cognitive lessons.

Adolescents are being trained in livelihood skills like tailoring, carpentry, and others. They also play sports and games. On a typical day, some of the children attend tutorial classes. This program is for those sponsored children who are not doing well at school.

There are numerous activities which take place over the year such as youth camps. Not only camps, also we have entrepreneurship seminars for caregivers where they are taught different life skills to raise their income.
In the center, there are various tools used to help and guide the students to make their future plans. My Plan for Tomorrow is a notebook in which children write their goals for the future. This helps them plot a course to reach their dreams.

Our center has contributed to the behavior changes, in our children, by planting positive thinking to the mind sets of parents, children and the community. Children and families who at first thought they were incapable of doing anything, have changed now. They support others, are role models and are developing as leaders in their society and community.

I see great changes to the children attending the center, especially when I compare them with others. They are healthy and they are good looking. They attend school without problems. Sponsorship provides them many benefits that the community children don’t have. The center is supporting sponsored children and changing the lives of the children and their families in general. Many parents in the community want to register their children in the center now.

Communication between you and your sponsored child is very important. Letters make a great impact as the children get to know a lot about their sponsors. They share with their sponsors about their happiness and life challenges. Sponsors and children raise prayer items and get to know what to pray for one another. Letters also create a sense of togetherness, closeness and brotherhood. Those children who normally receive letters are happy and sure about their sponsors. Those who do not receive letters are sad and they always have questions.

We are praying for each sponsor and their sponsored children. Thank you for the gifts you have provided for your children and the center. God has used these gifts to make positive changes in the lives of these vulnerable ones.

Please pray for our center so that God may answer some challenges our center is facing. We need more classrooms, better restrooms and a larger kitchen in order to better serve all the children.

Lastly, I would like to thank each of you for what you are doing for the sponsored children and the center in general. You are doing a great job.

May God bless you and grant you many blessings.

Thanks, again, for sponsoring a child.

Wishing you all the best in Jesus’ name,
Patrick E. M.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Tanzania, please consider 5-year-old Ella who is an orphan and who's birthday is September 17.

Ella lives with her grandmother and 5 siblings. She enjoys art/drawing, group games, hide and seek, marbles, play house, reading, running, and walking. If you would like to sponsor Ella, please click here.