Edward and his family

Edward with his father and sister-in-law

Above is Edward in school studying at his desk.  Below is Edward's sister-in-law fixing the family's meal.

Above is Edward's school, and below is the water pump.  He was telling me that the water pump does not work, but you can see by the sign that there is a phone number posted of who to call with any pump problems... I guess this doesn't work??

Above is Edward's bed and below is his house

Edward is one of my Mwana Hope/CHILDHOPE Zambia kids.  I have been sponsoring him for a year now.  He did a great job with his camera and took some awesome photos. 

Mwanza's New Photo

Mwanza sure has been growing up quickly!!  Check him out!  He will be 16 on August 5th.  He is still raising his brothers and sisters, and seems to have grown into a happy young man.  Such a change from when I first started sponsoring him.  You may remember that 3 years ago, he wasn't even in school, and had nothing to eat.  This is what sponsorship is all about!

Leydi's 2011 Photo!

This is Leydi's most recent photo.  She looks to be trying to smile when she doesn't really feel like smiling.  She has had one big loss after another in her lifetime, and she is only 10!!  I wish I could scoop her up and hug her forever!  There is only so much I can do for her from so far away.  I hope the days become better for her!!

Goodbye, Diego!

Diego (in the middle) shown here with his friends has come a long way in the sponsorship program.  He was just a toddler when he entered the sponsorship program, so at 13 years old (he will turn 14 in July), he has been in the program for more than 80% of his lifetime.  You may remember his health issues that led me to ask Aura's House to add him as a project on their site.  His aunt was able to pay off her debts, and Diego was able to get many things that would improve his health. 

The fundraiser through Aura's House was a success, and it raised the family's standard of living.  Of course, that was the point of the fundraiser- we want all of our children to get out of poverty, right?!  I don't know if this is the reason, but I have a strong hunch- Diego's family has left the sponsorship area!  I hope they have moved into their own place, as the place they were staying in was not their own.  In my head (since that is all I have to go by), I imagine that they moved to a better neighborhood that is closer to Diego's school. 

While I am happy for the family, don't child departures just suck (and no, I do not want the other child they have chosen for me- bwah, bwah, bwah)!?!?!?

Fanwell and his extended family

Fanwell above with his cousins and below with his grandmother, aunt, and cousins

Fanwell's house above and his bed below

The Magoye river above and the part of town where they go to buy things below

Fanwell playing football above and playing billiards below (pretty inventive, huh?!)

Fanwell is a child that I sponsor with Mack.  We started sponsoring him after we heard of how sick he was and how he needed immediate medical attention.  He still looks ill in a lot of these photos- like he is in pain.  I hope that he will start feeling better soon!  We have paid for him to see the doctor, and we will see what the outcome of that is... Maybe he can take extra vitamin supplements. 

Anyway, he did a great job with his camera.  I like the river photo and it is cool to see what the town looks like, too.  He looks happy with his extended family, so that makes me happy =)

S. Henry

Henry is here with his mother and siblings outside his house.  He is wearing the red shirt.  Below is Henry's mother.  She is part of the bead making cooperative.

Henry above is 2nd from the right in the front.  Below Henry is 2nd from the left in the front with the blue button-up shirt.

 Henry talking to Hellen and giving her his details so that she can find him a sponsor. 

Henry is the child I started sponsoring way back in 2009 because he was the closest one in age to my daughter Morgan.  At the time, he was listed as 4 years old.  Morgan wrote him a few letters.  When we got a letter from Henry, it said he was 7 years old!  Wow!  He aged 3 years in just a few months! LOL!  So goes one of the problems with sponsorship programs that are formed in the slums or villages- a lot of times birth dates and age are unknown because they are home births, and no one sees the importance of notating the specific day a child is born. 

Like Vanesa, I stopped the CUS sponsorship of Henry when I was not happy with where my money was going or not knowing where my money was going.  I kept in contact with Henry because his mother started making beads in our bead making cooperative.  Now that Maureen is in charge of the CUS sponsorship program, I am sponsoring Henry again.

I will stick with those 2 CUS children- Vanesa and Henry.  I still have the other 2 Ugandan children from Tiffany's group, too- Jenina and Waird.  4 Ugandan children- 2 girls and 2 boys =)

My CHILDHOPE-ZAMBIA Girls March 2011

Thandiwe above is now my oldest child.  She is in 9th grade.  My other 9th grader left to go to school in Lusaka, so she is not in the program any more.  Mutinta below is my 7th grader.

Dorcas above in 2nd grade always cheers me up with her smile.  Elizabeth below is not a child I sponsor, but I sent her a gift of mealie meal.

Gladness above finally made it to her first distribution.  Ronah below was born the same year as Jaden, so I hope they will eventually become friends.

 Tubi below is in grade 2- Like Dorcas, she always has a big cheerful smile!!

Here are my CHZ girls that I had not posted about earlier.  I already posted Elizabeth, Margret and Agness who are all twins.  I just realized after making this post that my boy to girl ratio is not equal.  Oh, well, can't change that now while I am unemployed.  Maybe after I get another contract I can add a few girls to get them even =)

This Month's Photos of My CHZ Twins

Margret above and Elizabeth below

Agness above and Mukwisa below

Here are my two sets of twins getting their gifts for this month.  Margret and Elizabeth are holding the folders that I sent them.  Kelly gave me this idea- She sends folders with a legal pad of paper, activity pages, pens, stickers, etc.  I made one for all of my CHZ kids.  This will encourage them to write and draw pictures as often as they would like to.  They are wearing their new primary uniforms which was their gift for this month (even though they are still in preschool). 

Agness is holding the stuffed animal I bought for her, and Mukwisa is holding his soccer ball.  Each one of those items was only $6, so it was no big feat on my part.  And, it is great to see their sweet faces!  Agness is wearing the dress I sent her in a previous package.  That always makes me smile, too =)

A Letter from Mutinta~ Feb 2011

This letter was sad to me.  Mutinta said that her mother was in the hospital around Christmas for 2 weeks!!  Now, I have to hurry and write her back and see if her mother is ok.  =(

A Letter from Ashes~ Feb 2011

Ashes letters are always short.  He is 14 years old and I am sure he has better things to do than write to a lady that is a mother- mothers are not the "in thing" at this age.  =)  He wants to be a preacher, and usually mentions that he goes to church.

A Coloring Picture from Ray~Feb 2011

Little Ray colored the activity page I mailed him.  He missed a few retangles and the pentagon, but I think I can cut the 4 year old some slack =)

A Letter from Muntanga~ Feb 2011

Muntanga, always concerned about his family.  He is long for a sponsor for his baby sister who is 1 year old.  She attends CHZ's supported preschool.  She is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!  If you would like to sponsor Luse, she is still available for only $9 a month.  Here is her photo:

The Nursery sponsorship program is the most fun, I think, because the little ones get learning toys, learning books, etc.  You can visit the blog here: http://www.childhopezambia.blogspot.com/  If you would like to sponsor Luse, send an e-mail to macandmic@gmail.com  

A Letter from Daphne~ Feb 2011

As you can see, Daphne has great penmanship!! This letter is very informational. I can't wait to see the rest of my children grow up and write like this!!  Daphne is a 9th grader.

A Letter from Netto~ Feb 2011

Netto is one of the children that lives with Mrs. Mweemba.  She is the grandmother taking care of 18 grandchildren!!  How do you keep track of 18 children?!  =)

A Letter from Elie~ Feb 2011

Elie says she would like to be a doctor.  Wow!  She is a great writer.  I have received 8 letteers in 8 months!  And, you know I love letters!