Nestor's Grocery Store

A post from Sara S:

Nestor's family has completed construction of the grocery store! I am very excited for them! Hopefully the IGP will help improve his family's income. Nestor sent a really nice thank you letter:

"I greet you affectionately, wishing that you are in good health and at the same time thank you for making come true the project of the grocery store, and I decided to put your name on the grocery store in your honor, I will start to work with it, I will tell you more about the project in future letters, and my family and me [pray for you]. I say goodbye with much affection and thankfulness, Nestor"

I'm not sure who most the people in the pictures are. I believe the woman in red is his mother, and I know the little girl in orange is his only sister. The other people must be extended family. I was happy to "meet" them all through pictures.

A Letter from Mwanza

I received the letter from Mwanza that goes with the special needs gift he received. Here is what he said:

"Dear Sponsor,

Hope everything is fine. My family and I we are doing fine. I am appreciating you for what you are doing. I received the money that you sent and we have bought rice, mealie meal, salt, maize, cooking oil, and the rest I used for school fees for all of us, my brothers and sisters. I am very happy because you care for us. Thank you for everything.

Yours,

Mwanza"

Mwanza actually received other groceries in addition to what he mentioned including beans, kapenta. Books for school were purchased as well.

A CD Player for Diego

After I sent Diego a CD, the trick became figuring out a way for him to listen to it. Then, he told me that his favorite music is Daddy Yankee, so Steve brought him a Daddy Yankee CD on his trip last month. This was the way for him to hear the music- a personal CD walkman (yes, they still make them!)

Here is what Diego wrote:

"Hello dear and loved sponsor,

Thank you for what you have sent me, for the CD player. Thanks again, you are the best sponsor I ever had in Children International. How's your family? My aunt says hello to your daughters. She says that she loves them. My grandfather sends many hugs, too. I have been in school these last few days and I have been doing well. I send you and your family lots of hugs.

Ciao!

Diego"

Mwanza's Special Needs Gift

I FINALLY received the pictures from Mwanza's SNG, so now I can explain a little detail of what all transpired. First, you may remember that the children were in need of a home. The special needs breakdown that I received to purchase a home for them was outdated by the time it arrived. Not only was the house no longer available, but it was a house with no windows (which would make it pretty hot in their hot season). The houses are actually quite expensive in Zambia, and there was no way a house could be gotten for $2,500, even if I had that much.

A little over $500 had been raised, so the next thought was an income-generating project for the oldest children to run. A small grocery store in front of their home perhaps. Everything was going well for that, and the money was sent to the field office.

When the field office received the donation, they did not recommend an IGP any more. They felt that it was not a good time for the children to try to run a business. We were now on to plan "c"...

Plan "C" would turn out to be a great setup for the kids. Since all 5 children are on their own with no caretakers to look after them, they are constantly worried about where the next meal will come from. Plan "C" provided them with a month's worth of food!!! You can see how happy they are. I have never seen Mwanza this happy before! You can see that they are very happy to have the food.

Now they have a small account that allows them about $50 worth of food/school support per month. Of course, it will only last so long, but they are covered for the next 10 months. That helps me sleep a little better at night!

Thank you to all who donated to help this family!! Our small group raised over $100 for them!!

Special Needs Gift for Anthony

A post from Lisa:
I sent Anthony a SNG back in February and got the report today.

Anthony received:
Groceries
Cleaning Supplies
Toy Car
Ball

What were the Child/familys comments when the gifts were delivered?

Anthony and his mother were very happy to receive this donation. Mrs. Patate commented she is very grateful to the sponsor for all the support her son receives through the program. Little Anthony was very glad with the new ball; he will enjoy playing with it. Anthony and his mother sent the sponsor a big hug and all their gratitude and love.

How will the gifts benefit the child and/or family?
Thanks to the sponsor's generous contribution, little Anthony and his mother were provided with some groceries. It was something they really needed, because their economical situation is very hard. As Anthonys mother works doing laundry by hand, her income is very low, so they face a very difficult situation. However, thanks to the sponsors donation, they will enjoy a better and more balanced diet that will let them be strong and healthy.

His mom wrote:
Dear Sponsor,
Hello, it makes me happy to write to you again. Thank you for the groceres for our nutrition. My son is mischevious and affectionate. He likes to play soccer. He helps at home. Thank God, we have someone like you in our lives. You are kind and generous. Goodbye, warm hugs and kisses to you and your family.
Ana

Lizabeth's Special Needs Gift

A post from Lisa:
I had a special needs request for Lizbeth for a bed. I sent the money and some extra in the middle of Feb and got back the report today. Could she be smiling any bigger? She is so cute. Anyway she received:
Groceries
1 Bed
3 Blankets
1 Mattress
2 Bedspread
2 Sheet sets
1 pajamas

The report says:
Lizbeth was so happy when she was told she received a new bed. The child commented: "I am a lucky girl. I have a wonderful sponsor!" Lizbeth and her family are very grateful to the sponsor for such a nice gesture towards them. Lizbeth also said she always prays to God to bless the sponsor for her kind heart. The child and her family sent the sponsor a big hug and lots of kisses.

How will the gifts benefit the child and/or family?
Thanks to the spnsors generuous contribution Lizbeth was provided with a new bed, a matress, bedding, and some groceries for the family. The bed was somethng the child really needed, because the family used to share one single size bed. However, thanks to this kind donation Lizbeth will sleep more comfortably at night. The bedding will also be helpful for the child, as she will sleep warmer, especially now that we are in the winter season.

Lizbeth wrote:
Dear Sponsor,
Hi warm greetings to you. This is Lizbeth. I hope you are in good health. God Bless you and keep your home. I hope peace reigns in your home. I received your gift and I liked it. Thanks for the bed, matress, sheet and blankets. I will be warm at night now. I loved my pajamas too. It makes me happy to know you worry about me. Thanks for the groceries for my nutrition. Thanks to you, I will grow healthy and strong. I'm doing well in school. I play, smile, and have fun. Goodbye, warm hugs and kisses, Lizbeth

A Special Needs Gift for Lisa's Katerine

A post from Lisa:
I would like to introduce you to Katerine! She lives in rural Guatemala. Katerines father is working in another city and her mother has abandoned the family, so her and her two sisters are living with relatives. Unfortunately her letters are very generic, she isn't writing yet and I am not sure who is. It is never marked on her letters. But so far I haven't really learned anything about her. But she is sure gorgeous and that smile is worth it. She will be seven next month and my goal is to send some money for a birthday party! The photos are from a SNG that I sent in for her. I didn't give any restrictions and they seem to have really gotten quite a bit of stuff. She received:

1 stockings
2 jeans
1 shirt
2 pair of shoes
Food Supplies

The $100 seemed to go pretty far in Guatemala!

Special Needs Gift for Jhunie in the Philippines

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A post from Melinda:

I received the pictures and letter from Jhunie's SNG in the mail today and wanted to share it with you guys!
Here is what his letter read: Dear Sponsor Hello! I'm very happy receiving your gifts to me and my family We have groceries,plastic clothes drawer to keep our clothes. I also have underwear,bag,pants shirts comforter and toy car with remote control. Thank you very much for giving me these gifts Good bless you. Love,Jhunie

Special Needs Gift for Lisa's Jostin in Ecuador

Not too long ago I asked for prayers for my sweet Jostin. He was admitted into the hospital and I have been waiting on an update to see if he had been released and more information. That will take time to come in. But today I received the SNG report back. Since he is in the pictures I am guessing he is on the road to recovery.

Jostin Received:
1 Full Size Matress (on his SNG request I was asked for an orthopedic matress, I don't know if this is that)
1 Matress Transportation
1 Dry Milk Bag
3 Diaper Packs
1 Wipes

The letter from his mother says:

Hello Dear Sponsor (I really wish I could get them to use my name!),

Cordial Greetings to you and I'm writing to thank you for the donation you sent to Jostin. The mattress will be useful for him to feel comfortable with and sleep comfortable. The milk is for his breakfast and also to prepare shakes with the milk and he likes this very much. I will be able to clean him with the wipes. Let me tell you he is very happy with the donation received.
Thank you from all my heart for being a magnificant sponsor! I say goodbye with a strong heart.
Nebly

Special Needs Gift for Lisa's Katherine in Ecuador

A post from Lisa:

Katherine is one of my girls in Ecuador. She is 7 years old, will soon be 8! I received her SNG report today also. She received:
1 plastic chest of drawers
1 Bedspread
1 Slippers (guessing the flip flops!)
1 Towel
1 Pillow

Katherine wrote:

Hello Dear Sponsor,

Thank you for the gifts that you sent. Let me tell you that the chest of drawers is useful to store my clothing in each draw. I can dry up with the towel. The slippers are very nice. I'll put the bedspread and pillow on my bed. Thank you for all your gifts that I've received. Dearest sponsor let me tell you that I'm very happy because this is the first time I've received this type of gifts.

Thank you from all my heart for being a magnificant sponsor! I say goodbye with a strong hug
Katherine

Meet Melinda's Child Antony in Guatemala

A post from Melinda:

I have been following the MAC blog for a few months now,I think Heather does an amazing job on here. Well anyways I decided that I should introduce my five boys to everyone. Antony is my first,I have been sponsoring him since August of 2006. He is 7 years old,will be 8 in December, He lives in Guatemala with his parents and siblings. This is the newest letter that I have from him

Your sponsored child Antony says hello to you with love and wishes you all the best,Antony is healthy and happy to receive 1 pair of shoes,1 pair of tennis shoes,1 backpack,3 toys,1 outfit,1 pair of pants,3 shirts,1 dinner set,9 pairs of stockings,9 underpants. Antony and his family thank you for sending this beautiful gift that is going to cover a big part of our needs,Antony is sending you many blessings and hopes you are doing well wherever you are. Antony wants me to tell you that he is in the first grade. God bless you. With hugs and kisses..Antony David and Deysi

Meet Sara's Child Nestor in Honduras

This is a post courtesy of Sara S:
This is Nestor from Honduras. Nestor is 13 and I’ve been sponsoring him for about a year. He lives with a single mother (father is deceased) and a 4-year-old sister. The mother works at a factory but makes very little money – even in comparison to other families in the area. As a Christmas present my folks helped me fund an IGP for Nestor’s family. They are going to build a new room on their house and use it as a grocery store. The pictures show Nestor with some of the building materials. The note from the CI rep says “The construction will begin very soon. The family is truly excited to get the construction started!”

The other good news for this family is that my folks have decided to take on sponsorship of Nestor’s 4-year-old sister Itzel. I am excited that sponsorship has become a family event!

Here is Nestor’s thank you letter:
“I thank you for the special donation that you sent me, thanks to that help I will be able to move on with my family, and I hope that this help will be very successful in my life, and I have received construction materials and I say thank God for giving me a special sponsor like you because you trust in my and my family is thankful with you and I tell you that I am attending eight grade, specially my mom is very happy for the big help that you are providing us, I say good bye very affectionately!”

((one of my favorite letters from Nestor … the complete lack of periods makes him seem very excited indeed! :) )).

Meet Sara's Child Dayana in Colombia

This is the first introduction to Sara S's kids. I have wondered what they look like & what their personalities are like ever since I got a chance to know their names and countries during the Summer Reading Program. It is awesome to finally be introduced to them! Isn't this one a cutie!?

Sara wrote:
"I have been following MAC and Heather’s blog since December, but have yet to introduce my sponsored kids to the group. I figured I should finally get around to the introductions :) . … So, I am pleased to introduce the lovely Dayana. Dayana is 7 years old and lives in Colombia. I’ve been sponsoring her for about a year.

I sent CI an inquiry to find out if Dayana’s mother (a single mother-seperated) was a good IGP candidate. The letter came back saying a IGP was not the right opportunity for the family but that Dayana would like her own bed (she was previously sharing with two other people), clothing, groceries, etc. So, I sent funds for a Special Needs Gift.

I’d never seen Dayana smile in her annual photos so it was great to see her looking happy. She looks especially happy in the picture with the Nesquik – looks like that might be a favorite food or something :) .

The thank you letter (written by Dayana’s mother) reads:
'Thank you for the gift that my child received: clothing, bed, mattress, food and fan. She is so happy for her gift. Thanks to you she will have a better dream. She is loving child, she is studying. Her parents love her so much. She likes to play with her siblings and play with her dolls. She is good in health; she has fun with her friend in the mornings. Her father takes her to school. On behalf of your sponsored child, I say goodbye.'

((This is the first note from Dayana that mentioned her father. I am happy he is still active in her life even though the parents are separated.))"

Sara, thanks for sharing! I can't wait to meet the rest of them!

Paola & Tomasa get a Wardrobe and shoes

With the extra funds our group raised for Paola, it was recommended the the family be given a wardrobe to put all of the clothes they have received in. There was a little left over, and the staff purchased some much needed extras. They received some shoes, socks, and a brush/comb set.

I have only received these pictures that were e-mailed to me, so stay tuned for their thank you letter & field notes!

Updated Photos of Chrystal's Children

A note from Chrystal:

"I have two new photos from my CI Kids. Luz from Guatemala Age 9 and sponsored her since April 2009. She is wearing the shirt that was purchased with the special needs gifts I sent her for a trip to see her grandparents and items needed. And, Brenda from Guatemala Age 12 sponsored her since July 2008. Brenda was the girl we raised funds for an IGP selling juice. Brenda will graduate from the 6th grade this year and I will look into what I can do to help her further her education. So far, she has done well in all her classes.

Angel, Caselyn & her baby get a donation!

Recently, Chrystal lost her sponsor child, Caselyn, as she was removed from the program. Caselyn could no longer be in the sponsorship program because she became pregnant. Chrystal was not willing to let the relationship end there, so she came up with an ingenious solution: start sponsoring Caselyn's younger sister Angel!

After adding Angel as her sponsor child, she sent a monetary donation for Caselyn, Angel, and the new baby. The picture above show the items they received. This is what they received:

1 Baby's dress

1 Hygiene items for baby (cologne, cotton, alcohol)

36 Diapers

1 Dress for Christian

1 Blouse and skirt for Angel

1 Baby's milk

1 Assorted grocery items

1 Meals and transportation expense

What were the child’s/family’s comments when the gifts were delivered?
¿Qué comentaron el niño o la familia cuando se le entregaron los regalos?
Caselyn, Angel and their mother were very grateful for the special gifts they just received. According to Caselyn, she is so thankful because her sponsor extended his help to her baby. Angel said "our sponsor is so nice", while the mother uttered "God bless our sponsor."

How will the gifts benefit the child and/or family?
¿Cómo beneficiarán los regalos al niño y/o a la familia?
The infant's clothing and basic needs like milk, alcohol, cologne, powder and the like are really appreciated by Caselyn, her 2-weeks old baby needed all these stuff. The new clothing for Caselyn and Angel completed their Christmas. The groceries will be shared by the family this Holiday season.

This is what Caselyn wrote in her letter to Chrystal:

Dear Sponsor,
A blessed and joyful day to you! I want to say thank you very much for the gifts you sent me. I was very grateful and fortunate because you really care for me in spite of my situation. I am really happy for your gifts for my baby. I bought her clothing, diapers, and milk. I also bought my new blouse and a pair of dresses for my younger siblings like Angel. Plus groceries for our daily meal. Once again, thank you for sharing your blessings with us. God bless you always!
Caselyn

Maria N's Special Needs Gift

Holly wrote:
"I sent Maria money for a Special Needs Gift, she was able to buy home furnishings, food, clothes & kitchen utensils.

Here is Maria's letter:

Dear Ms Holly,

Hi!!! First of all I want to greet your family and especially to you. You know I'm very happy when I know that I have a gift coming from you. Me and my family are very thankfull for God because I have a sponsor like you. Thank you for all the items that we can get. Thank you for the homefurnishing, kitchen utensils, groceries and also the clothes for me. You know those things are very important to us because it is the things that we need and also I'm very proud of you and I am the one who are very lucky person. Thank you for your loving and concern and thank you for giving me your attention. And I promise that I will finish my study for having a good future someday. I hope that you and your family are happy this coming christmas. Thank you very much and God Bless You.

Sincerelly yours,
Maria N"

Maria N has a fundraiser coming up for a fish vending IGP, so stay tuned for your chance to help out this sweet child and her family! Holly will raffle off a $25 giftcard in order to raise the funds needed for Maria N's family.

Special Donation for Jon in Honduras

A letter to Mack from Jon:

Hello! How are you? I hope you are in good health and may the Lord bless you and all your family and I tell you I am well, and that I am attending school and I am doing well, thank God.

My family and I thank you for the special donation you sent me and we are so happy because we purchased a food basket and a long cushion (mattress). Thank you for everything and may the Lord pay you.

I am greeting your mother and other family. I am playing soccer a lot, and also with the car.*

I say goodbye to you. So long,

Jonathan

*That Mack bought him during their mall visit