Eclipse and Sharon's Departure

Eclipse and Sharon both children on the far right with their mother who is on the far left

Hello Everyone,
I want to tell you about my two children that I was sponsoring through Children International. Eclipse was my second sponsored child. I started sponsoring him in August 2006. He was only 5 years old. He is from Lusaka, Zambia. He was such a cutie I fell in love with him as soon as I saw his picture. He lived with his mother, 2 brothers and a little sister named Sharon. In August 2008 I wanted to help out his family even more so I contacted CI and asked them if I could sponsor the rest of the kids in Eclipse's family. CI contacted me and told me that Eclipse's sister was able to be sponsored. The older brother was to old and the other brother was already sponsored. So I started sponsoring Sharon. When I started sponsoring Sharon she was also 5 years old. She had such a beautiful smile. It just lit up your heart to see these to darling children. Just in the past couple of months I found out that Eclipse and Sharon's mom passed away. Their father had already passed when I started sponsoring them. Now that their mother passed they have no one to care for them. Relatives stepped up and took them in. I was so happy to hear that they were not alone to fend for themselves. Today, I received a letter from CI and this is what they had to say.
Dear Ms. Robb,
I know your sponsored children, Eclipse and Sharon, mean a great deal to you, and that you want to be informed about their well-being. So, today I'm writing you about some important changes happening in their lives.
Our field office staff reported that since Eclipse and Sharon's mother passed away the kids were left without a caretaker. They recently moved in with relatives who live in a community that is outside of our project area.
Unfortunately, this means they can no longer be a part of the program. I know how upsetting this news must be, but I know to assure you that this move was in the best interest of the children at this sad time in their lives.

It breaks my heart that they have lost both of their parents and then losing their sponsorship. It must be devastating to them right now. I wish I could just hug them and assure them that things will work out for the best. I will miss them deeply. I will miss their beaming smiles the most. As of right now I am not going to sponsor any more children other then what I have now. I have seven more sponsored children and I am going to put my energy into making their lives more productive and happy. Thank you for listening to my goodbye story. Good Bye Eclipse and Sharon, You will be in my prayers. I loved you both. Sincerely, Alice

Letters from our precious children

Hi Heather!
I hope you and your daughters are in good health. God bless you in your job. I received your letter and read it with much attention. I like all of the things you said in your letter. For example, the greetings to my grandmother mean a lot to me because it is very important for me and my aunt, too. I am in good health. I help her with the housework.
I thank you deeply for being a wonderful sponsor! I say goodbye with a big hug!
Jonathan

Dear Mrs. Heather,
How have you and your children been? I hope that you are all well along with your husband. I am very happy that you worry about my family and for my health. Now I feel very good. I play soccer with my friends, and I have lots of friends. I know what it is like to lose your father because sometimes I feel alone and I only have my aunt's and grandfather's affection. They tell me that I am rude sometimes but they understand that I am hurting. I send you nice regards. I love you a lot. With affection, I say goodbye.
Diego

Dear Heather,
My family and I hope you are well. My brother and I are back in school, and we didn't go out much this summer because we had chickenpox. After we healed, we went to the beach. My parents thank you so much for the help you sent to us for the business. We heard before that the donation had arrived, but they haven't given that to us yet (he obviously wrote this letter BEFORE the other one). The reason they haven't given us the donation is because we are trying to find a location for the business. It has been hard finding a place, but we hope we can find it before the month ends. We have faith that we will do very good. Thank you so much for all of your help and we pray that God continues to bless you very much.
With love and affection,
Henry

Though he already mentioned Steve in his first letter while he wrote his very first letter during Steve's visit he also thanked him in his second letter as follows"

Dear Madrina Barbara

I hope this answer to your letter finds you in good health and that you do well in all of your projects that you have set for your future. I thank you for everything that you have cared about me.

Thank you for the world globe and shampoo and hair conditioner. Your friend Steve is very kind. Thank you to your friend Steve. My brother Lalo brought a box of chocolates (probably in reply to what did he do for his birthday in June) and I felt very happy with all my siblings. I say goodbye from you since this is my first letter. (actually his second). Kisses and hugs.
Mario

He also added a cute drawing of a bear holding a flower and a picture of me though it could have been his mother or sister. He signed it "This is me in disguise as a bear". He is so cute.

Hello Efrain!

It’s very good that, thank God, you are well and that your immenseaffection and that that love so big for her is in you who are part ofour family. She tells (asks) me what are you studying and she hopes that, with the help from God, your plans for your business could go well because she tells me that it’s very good to do things with God’swill and that she will pray for God to care and protect you. She lovesyou much and most of the times she looks at your picture and she tells her siblings that God gave her a very good sponsor and that she loves you much. She is doing well in school and soon the “aportes” (can not tell what is this) will begin.

Marisol (Alyson's mother)

In the back of the letter there is something more.

Most of her birthdays she likes going out.

Her favorite beach activity is swimming.

Eclipse's Gifts from Alice

These are several gifts that ALice has sent to Eclipse and his family over the years. The house pictures are in here because she provided them with rent for 6 months. You should, also, see pictures of mattresses, sheets, bed frame, food, clothes, etc. I don't have details on everything, but you can see his excitement by the pictures.

Alice's Kids~ Family Pictures

Lilliam & her mom
Lilliam's grandparents, herself & her mother inside the grandparents' home
Lilliam's grandparents, mother & herself (left to right)
Katherine & her mom outside their home

Katherine & her mom inside their home


From left~ mother, Stanford (Eclipse's brother), Ishmael (brother), Eclipse & Sharon
Katherine & her mom in front of their home. I noticed that they have a Children International sign on their home & now wonder if all sponsored children do (or maybe just rural routes?)
Katherine and her mom inside and outside their home


Ok... I am not an expert in computer, so I have no idea how to make these pictures bigger. I am hoping to get better copies from Alice soon, and then, I will replace these with the new ones.

Now, here are some interesting updates. First of all, Katherine S, is one of the children with HIV for whom I had tried to find a sponsor. When Alice saw her pictures, she took her immediately. At the time, it seemed that Katherine (of all of the 5 children with HIV/AIDS) was better off than the others. Both of her parents still living, and she had not advanced to AIDS. As you can see in the pictures she looks weak & doesn't feel well. Also, I don't know where her father was when they took the picture. However, as for her condition, she was sick at the time of the pictures. Children International is requesting a special needs donation to buy her a blender, Pediasure & vitamins. The total cost is $110. If you would like to help Alice raise the money to help her feel better, contact myself or Alice, and a child ID number can be given so that the donation given to CI will go directly to help Katherine. Thank you to all who help!!!

Here is a letter that came from Katherine's mother:

Let me tell you that we have received your letters , picture and Christmas' postcard. We are so happy because you care about us. She already finished the school and she is on vacations. What she likes the most is to color and draw.. I would like that you come to visit to our home one day. We would be so happy to see you in person in order to talk, go out for a walk and eat fruits also go to the countryside, etc. I feel very proud to know that there is someone in the distance that care about my daughter and my family. Now, we are in winter time and it rains also is very hot. We would like to receive a blender and 2 cans of nutritional complements
(Pediasure) and vitamins (Complejo B). I thank you deeply for being a wonderful sponsor! I say good bye with a big hug

Lilliam lives with her grandparents, but there is no room for her mother in the home. Her mother has to live in a one room apartment. Alice is hoping to start a fundraiser at a later date to either improve on the grandparents current home or purchase a new home that will allow all of them to live together. I will keep you posted when that happens.

Meet Alice's 2nd sponsored child Eclipse!

Here is Alice's 2nd sponsored child. She began sponsoring Eclipse 1 year after sponsoring Claritza. Eclipse is from Zambia. Two years after she first began sponsoring Eclipse, she decided to sponsor his sister Sharon (who was three at that time). I don't have a lot of introductory information on the kids, but you will be seeing their letters, updated pics, special donation pictures and thank yous, so stay tuned...
Here's his bio:

Age: 7	Gender: M	Date of Birth: 6/21/2001
Height: 3 Feet 7 Inches		Weight: 22 Pounds		Hair Color: Black		Eye Color: Brown
2. Health problems, if any: None
3. Attends School: Yes
4. Favorite School Subjects: Electronics
Favorite Pastimes or Sports: Playing with friends
Chores at Home: No Chores, child is too young
Talents or Hobbies: Dancing
Languages Spoken: Nyanja, Tonga
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S FAMILY:
5. Approximate monthly income for the family (in U.S. Dollars): $24.00
6. Name of Father: Morrison			Age: 44	Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
7. Name of Mother: Regina			Age: 40	Occupation: Street Vendor
(If not present, why?)
8. Brothers and Sisters:
Name Ishmael		Age 11	Gender M	Name Sharon		Age 5	Gender F
Name Stanford		Age 14	Gender M
9. Child now living with: Mother
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HOME:
10. Description of Home: Living Room, One Bedroom
Cooking Facilities: Coal stove
Sleeping Accommodations: Beds
Home Construction: Walls Concrete block			Roof Corrugated metal		Floor Concrete
11. Facilities and Services:
Water Source/Storage: Community faucets
Electricity: Available but not affordable
Sanitary Facility: Community latrine