Kevin Bryan Christmas 2010

Here is Kevin's new photo =)  This is the child I share with Mack.  We got an updated photo not too long ago and now we just got another... But, I'm not going to complain ;)

Christmas Package Received- Diego in Ecuador

The Christmas package to Ecuador arrived just in time.  Here is Heather G's sponsor child Diego with a BUNCH of Christmas stuff. 

And the Winner for Day 4 is...

Heather G used random.org to choose a number which was 29.

Sara 1 -5
Melinda 6 -10
Heather 11-15
Barbara 16-20
Katja 21-25
Jim & Mack 26-35

Congratulations! More fun raffles to come! Thank you to all who have helped!

On the 4th Day of Christmas...

Today's raffle is for a $20 Bath and Body Works E-Gift Card or a $20 donation to your own fundraiser! The fundraiser this is benefitting is Diego of Ecuador. The funds will provide Diego's father with tools for his trade and allow him to get more jobs. Remember $1 gets you 1 raffle ticket, so every dollar counts!! The more you give, the more chances you have to win. To enter the raffle, make your donation to Diego's page here by December 5th at 10PM CST: http://www.firstgiving.com/constructiontoolsigp

Thanks! Good luck!

Julexy K - Ecuador

This young lady is 15-year-old Julexy from Ecuador. Julexy is the
older sister of Kevin, sponsored by Heather and Mack. We asked CI to
add Julexy to the program a couple months ago and I brought her into
my sponsorship family. The mailman brought me two letters from her,
the Welcome letter and a “CP” letter. She seems very talkative; I am
looking forward to learning more about her. She writes:

“Let me tell you that my favorite fruits are strawberry and pear. The
food I like most is Chaulafan (Chinese food). I also like to play
soccer, which is what I love the most. At the weekend I play soccer
with my friends and the neighborhood. Let me tell you that I have
three brothers who are younger than me. I am the oldest and I get
along very well with them. Let me tell you that I am in 9th grade and
I love to study and learn a lot. I have good grades. One of my best
friends lives around my house and I get along very well with her. We
don’t argue. I feel very happy because I will turn 15 years old. I
feel good and happy. I hope you are doing well and take good care of
yourself.”

“Me and my family feel so happy to be writing to you. Know that I
spent a beautiful time when I turned fifteen. I had a lot of fun too.
Know that the city where I live is beautiful and big. It is very
beautiful where I live, there is a big tree near my house and it gives
us fruit every November. I am taking swimming classes every Friday
after school. I spent a nice time during my classes with my friends
and teachers. They are good people. Know that I love to draw and once
one of my friends painted for me. All my friends are really nice with
me and I love them a lot.”

Katherine M - Ecuador

This is 14 year old Katherine M from Ecuador. Her most recent letter,
minus the pre-printed greeting, reads:

"Dear Ms. Senser,
... Let me tell you that during my vacations I went to the beach and
had a nice time. I was with my family and some friends. I also went to
visit my grandparents, and there I rode horses and I went to the river
and I saw fish. I also went to my grandfather’s farm with all my
cousins. I’m back in school and I’ve met new friends. We have played
soccer, since I love this sport. I have a little sister, who is very
naughty and her name is Katiuska. ... Katherine"

This is not the first letter in which Katherine refers to her
3-year-old sister as “naughty.” The toddler's "terrible twos" must
have made quite an impression on the teenager (who probably gets to
babysit the "naughty" sister more often then she would like) :) .

Erick C - Ecuador

This handsome gentleman is 6 year old Erick from Ecuador. His most
recent letter, written by his sister, reads:

"Hello Ms. S!
I hope you are doing very well. He is fine along with his whole
family. He gets along very well with his siblings. As he is the little
one in the house we pamper him. Yes, he does play soccer almost every
weekend. He loves to practice this sport. Yes, he did have a good
birthday and we had the opportunity to make a party for him and he had
a good time with his family and friends. His favorite part of being 6
years old is playing. He hopes everything goes well with your studies.
Diana."

Anthony I - Ecuador

This stern-looking young man is Anthony, a 4 year old from Ecuador.
I’ve been sponsoring him for almost a year and a half. His most recent
letter, written by his mother, reads:

"Dear Ms. Sara,
Hello, it makes me happy to greet you. My son is in good health and
so is the rest of the family. He will finish pre-kinder soon. He is
playful and mischievous. It makes me happy to know he is an active
boy. Children go to school at the age of 6. When I read your letter to
my son, he got very happy and he said that he wanted to have a teacher
like your mother. He asked me what law was and then he said that he
wanted to be a lawyer. I wish you a happy graduation and that all your
wishes see light. We love you very much. Hugs and kisses from the
distance."

Christmas Package Update

I am pushing the shipping of the last three packages forward because I am a little behind. For those of you with Christmas package orders for the previous countries, please make sure that you pay your shipping portion today, so that I can get the packages shipped. The shipping payment can be paid via paypal to lecountmc@hotmail.com If you are unsure of how much shipping you owe, e-mail me at that same e-mail address for a total.

For the rest of the countries, here is the new shipping schedule:

Ecuador= orders due by 9/22/10- money due by 9/25/10

India (Sahay office only)= orders due by 9/25/10- money due by 9/28/10

Zambia (Child Hope Zambia orders only)= orders due by 9/28/10- money due by 10/2/10

Update Christmas Packages

I am not able to post pictures right now. We are over the limit on free space, so I have purchased additional space... But, there is a delay for it to hit the account. I hope it hits soon because you know how I love to post pics!!! In the meantime, these ugly no picture posts will have to do. Here are the countries that you can still order for:

Ecuador= orders due by 9/22/10- money due by 9/24/10

India (Sahay office only)= orders due by 9/25/10- money due by 9/27/10

Zambia (Child Hope Zambia orders only)= orders due by 9/28/10- money due by 9/30/10

Feedback on Kevin's Fundraiser

You may remember Kevin's fundraiser that we completed a few months ago. This is a child that is shared between myself and Mack. Mack and I were able to combine our letters and e-mail them to be sent to him with his gift. His fundraiser provided him with:

A full size bed frame

A full size mattress

Plastic chest of drawers

Blender

Soccer ball

Sweater

Pants

Shoes

Kevin's letter said:

"Hello dear sponsor,

Greetings and I thank you for the items I've received such as the pants, sweater, soccer ball, and other things that I'll look better with and have fun. The chest of drawers and bed are going to be useful for my room and to rest. With the blender, I'll be able to prepare milkshakes and food. May God bless you always. Thank you for your help. We hope to have news about you soon and I'll tell you more about my family and me. I say goodbye with a strong hug!

Kevin"

Summer Reading Package Received~ Evelyn in Ecuador

A post from Sara S:
The above photos are of Evelyn, who lives in Ecuador. She wrote, "I like
to read and I will read the whole book." About starting school she wrote,
"My teacher explains the classes to us well and I understand everything so
I can get good grades and be an excellent student."

Summer Reading Package Received~ Maria in Ecuador

A post from Sarah O:
The above photos are of Maria, who lives in Ecuador. She wrote, "I am
happy and my family is happy to see that you remembered me. Let me tell
you that I am in school now. I am attending the first grade. I wish the
best in the world for you. Take care."

Summer Reading Package Received~ Joseline in Ecuador

A post from Sarah O:
The above photos are of Joseline, who lives in Ecuador. Her mother always
writes really informative letters. This time she wrote, "I greet you and
thank you very much for the gift you sent to my daughter. She is very
happy and liked it very much. She liked the princess doll you sent. She
was amazed by the Spongebob Squarepants story book. It is very nice. Let
me tell you that she began school and she studies in the mornings because
during the afternoons she plays and does her homework. She never misses an
episode of Spongebob Squarepants, of the Princesses and Barney. I really
thank you very much for putting a smile on my daughter's face, for the
gifts you sent."

A Letter from Kevin

I got the letter from Kevin that went with his summer reading package. Here it is:

"Dear Sponsor,

Thank you for the toy car, pocket video game, book, tic tac toe game, and drawing. I like them very much. The book is very nice and the car is nice too. I will play with the car. Let me tell you that about 2 weeks ago I started back in school. I am very excited because I have made new friends and met a very kind teacher. I play lots of soccer with my friends and it is fun. When I go to school, I come home and eat and then do my homework. I have a great time here. I say goodbye with a big hug, Kevin"

Summer Reading Package Received~ Diego in Ecuador

Another summer reading package received! Diego looks so happy with the items he received! Isn't he cute?! Lots more pictures and letters are sure to come! We are still waiting to hear for some more children in Ecuador, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic and Zambia.

Summer Reading Package Received~ Kevin in Ecuador

I received these pictures of Kevin with his Summer Reading Package. I will post the letter as soon as I get it.

A Letter from Kevin

Mack and I got a letter from Kevin. On the back, her drew a picture of a house and 2 volcanoes. This is what the letter said:

"Dear Mrs. McLaughlin and Mrs Fritch,

Hello! I hope that you are doing well. Let me tell you that I like to play soccer with my friends from the neighborhood. We play every afternoon. I also like to help my mom with the household chores along my youngest siblings. We help with whatever she needs. I went to the countryside visit my grandparents on my mom's side. There is a nice and big river there and I had a lot of fun swimming with my family. My favorite food is rice with mashed potatoes and fried steak. I love mangoes and other types of fruits. I say goodbye with lots of affection,

Kevin"

A Letter from Jonathan

Sweet Jonathan sent me a letter and he drew some fruit on the back side. A big banana, apple and pear perfectly drawn to look exactly like the real thing. I am not sure how these Ecuadorian children are schooled, but they have perfect penmanship and are true artists. This has to be something taught at a very young age!

Anyway, here is what Jonathan said in his letter:

"Hi sponsor Heather,

I greet you together with your family especially to your daughters. I hope you are doing well and in good health. It is what I always pray to God for. I also tell you that my grandmother is doing well and she is selling the merchandise such as bed sheets and bed spreads. In a few days she will go buy other kinds of merchandise to sell. I also tell you that I am happy because I already started classes. I say goodbye with a big hug,

Jonathan"

Package to Brayan in Ecuador

A post from Lisa:

I got this report today from a direct package I sent Brayan in February for Easter.

His mom wrote:
Dear Lisa,
I greet you and I wish you were fine. Brayan is happy with all of the gifts you have sent to him. He is very happy with your package: a letter, four photos, crayons, a pencil, a box of colored pencils, two coloring books, and a stuffed toy. He is very happy with all his gifts. We are so sorry because you have lost your love one. I am happy because the date of his birthday is a special date for you. The pictures you sent him are very pretty as well as the dogs. Brayan likes them alot. The child thinks you are very pretty. You have pretty eyes. The baby is very pretty and your godchildren too. I say goodbye. Yanelis