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!

A Positive Change

After 2 years of sponsorship, Mwanza and his 4 siblings have a brighter future. Their income was listed as $20, and it has stayed like that for the past two years. However, thanks to several kind donations, they now get tuition support, food supplies, and whatever they may need for a total of approximately $50 a month.
In addition, they have been able to secure more small jobs, and now bring in $40 a month!! Not bad for 5 children living on their own!
Here is Mwanza's latest family record:
Age: 14 Sex: M Date of Birth: 8/5/1995
Height: 5 Feet 0 Inches Weight: 88 Pounds Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown
2. Attends School: Yes
3. Favorite School Subjects: Social Studies, Art, Science
Favorite Pastimes: Playing soccer, Playing with toys and cars, Playing with friends
Chores at Home: Washing dishes, Taking out the trash, Cooking
Talents or Hobbies: Sport, Singing, Dancing
Languages Spoken: Nyanja

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S FAMILY:
4. Approximate monthly income for the family (in U.S. Dollars): $40.00
5. Name of Father: Usifu Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
6. Name of Mother: Chipo Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
7. Brothers and Sisters:
Name: Clever Age: 12 Sex: M Name: Lovemore Age: 8 Sex: M
Name: Manase Age: 9 Sex: F Name: Mary Age: 16 Sex: F
8. Child lives with: Relatives

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HOME:
9. Description of Home: One multi-use room, One Bedroom
Construction: Walls: Concrete block Roof: Corrugated metal Floor: Concrete
Cooking Facilities: Coal stove
Sleeping Accommodations: Sleeps on the floor with mattress
10. Facilities and Services:
Water Source: Community faucets
Electricity: Available but not affordable
Sanitary Facility: Community latrine

Summer Reading Package~ Zambia

Here is the latest photo of Mwanza wearing a shirt I sent him a while back. Isn't he handsome?!

I sent an inquiry to CI to see if the summer reading package had made it to Zambia yet. They said that no packages for Mwanza have been received. Has anyone received word from their Zambian children about the package? I am not sure why it takes so darn long! Frustrating!

More Food for Mwanza and Family!

Mwanza received another month's worth of food and cleaning supplies. This is really helping the family, since they are living without an adult to care for them!

Here is what Mwanza's letter says:

"Dear Mrs. McLaughlin,

I hope you and your family are fine. My siblings and I are fine. I would like to sincerely thank you for the money that you sent. We used it to buy mealie meal, cooking oil, rice, sugar, kapenta, beans, washing paste, bathing soap and other groceries. I thank you for your unfailing care and kindness. God bless you!

Yours, Mwanza"

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.

Mwanza's 2010 Update

At long last! Do any of you experience this- You are so anxious to get the annual report of your sponsor child show you check your account over and over until finally... one day... it arrives?! I have been waiting for this one. There are 2 things I noticed about this update. The first is that Mwanza's little brother Lovemore is now 8 years old! (time sure flies by) and the second thing is that now that he gets to attend school regularly, he has THREE favorite subjects. I am so excited for him because he can now do the things he enjoys! Here is his update:

Age: 14 Gender: M Date of Birth: 8/5/1995
Height: 4 Feet 9 Inches Weight: 71 Pounds Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown
2. Attends School: Yes
3. Favorite School Subjects: Social Studies, Art, Science
Favorite Pastimes or Sports: Playing soccer, Playing with toys and cars, Playing with friends
Chores at Home: Washing dishes, Taking out the trash, Cooking
Talents or Hobbies: Sport, Singing, Dancing
Languages Spoken: Nyanja

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S FAMILY:
4. Approximate monthly income for the family (in U.S. Dollars): $20.00
5. Name of Father: Usifu Age: 47 Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
6. Name of Mother: Chipo Age: 44 Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
7. Brothers and Sisters:
Name Clever Age 12 Gender M Name Lovemore Age 8 Gender M
Name Manase Age 9 Gender F Name Mary Age 16 Gender F
8. Child now living with: Relatives

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HOME:
9. Description of Home: One multi-use room, One Bedroom
Cooking Facilities: Coal stove
Sleeping Accommodations: Sleeps on the floor with mattress
Home Construction: Walls Roof Corrugated metal Floor Concrete
10. Facilities and Services:
Water Source/Storage: Community faucets
Electricity: Available but not affordable
Sanitary Facility: Community latrine

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!!

A Letter from Mwanza

I got a letter from Mwanza today. This is what he wrote:

"Dear Mrs. McLaughlin

I am fine with my family. It's nice to hear that you are doing fine there in Texas. Here the weather is cold because of the rains. Here in Kanyama there are, also, floods, so we don't move up and down. I am glad to hear that you are a teacher of 2 and 3 year olds including Morgan. I am well and happy. I am sending you lots of love.

Your beloved,'

Mwanza"

Mwanza's 2010 Picture

I was very excited to see an updated picture of Mwanza in my account today. Isn't he handsome?! He has really grown and looks much healthier than when he joined the CI program 2 years ago. I should be getting the report from his special needs donation soon. I can't wait to see and to tell all of you what is planned for him and his siblings! It is very exciting!

My Oldest Boys~ The Young Men

Emmanuel is 13 years old. His father passed away in 2000, and then his mother passed away in 2004. He and his siblings were sent to live with their grandparents, but their grandparents were already in their 70's at that time. It was determined that it would be best for the children to live and be cared for at the orphanage, so he moved in when he was 7 years old.

Mwanza shares a birthday with Jaden- August 5th!! This August 5th, he will turn 15th! He is the "father" of his family. Both of his parents passed away a few years ago. Mwanza has been raising his 3 younger brothers for several years now. He recently got a chance to go back to school, and he has been able to learn a lot in a short period of time. We did a fundraiser for the family, and I am hoping to get the pictures and list of what they bought soon. They have an account set up for them to allot them enough money for groceries and any necessary school items/tuition for the next few months. A total of $522 was raised, so hopefully that will last them close to a year.

Paulo will be 16 on the 28th of this month. He has been at the orphanage since he was 9. He is best friends with Dotto (below) and Dotto's twin brother not pictured. Paulo's parents died years ago, possibly of AIDS, but no one is exactly certain. Paulo and his brother Lufuta were brought to Bethany when it was decided they were unable to care for themselves. Lufuta is no longer at Bethany because he did not want to follow the rules, and instead caused trouble. Because of this Lufuta was sent to live with his grandfather. Paulo is wonderfully behaved, and is getting along well at Bethany.

Dotto is 16 years old. He came to Bethany when he was 12, so he has only been there for 4 years now. Dotto has a twin brother who is at the orphanage with him. The were both brought to Bethany after their grandfather was too ill to care for them any longer (their parents passed away in 2000 and 2001, and they were taken to Bethany in 2006). Both boys are in standard 3 in primary school.

Kulwa is 16 years old. He came to the Bethany Orphanage when he was only 5, after the death of both of his parents. He was present when his parents died, and so probably carries a lot of that in his memory. He is, also, a twin! He does not know where his twin brother is, as they were separated at a very young age. I sent my first letter to him 1 month ago.

Yohana will be 18 at the end of May. He joined the Bethany family in 2003. He is best friends with Romadi (the oldest brother of the triplets that I introduced earlier). Yohana's parents passed away, and he was left in the care of neighbors. When it became to difficult for the village to raise him, they brought him to Bethany. He is quiet and shy, but he gets along well with the "family". I wrote my first letter to him 1 month ago, and I have just sent off my second letter today.

Joseph just turned 18 last month! He wants to be a preacher when he grows up. He is living at the orphanage in Tanzania because he could not take his parents abuse one more day! He ran away, and then, he lived on the streets for a while. The social worker brought him to Bethany Orphanage in 2002 (when he was 10 years old), and he is getting along well with everyone. I wrote my first letter to him 2 weeks ago. I can't wait to learn all about him!

I thought it was necessary to do a general update on "my children", since I have added quite a few in the past few months. Most of these children are receiving emotional support, letters, small gifts, and kind words from me. I have not taken on any new sponsor children since I took on Mikerange (on Jaden's behalf) in January. Because of my now VERY limited income, it is nice to be able to do something to help that doesn't cost much but brings a lot of hope.

If any of you are interested, Shelby (a Canadian counterpart) and I have been working on a big project together. We will soon have an announcement to make (but do not want to make the full announcement yet). Some of you already have an idea of what is going on, but for those who don't it promises to be a BIG surprise and lots of fun!! For those who want to help the children in Zambia, this one will be for you! Stay tuned for that! And thanks for listening to stories about my children.

*By the way, MANY of you should have photos and letters back from the Summer Reading Program. Please send them when you can because I have no CI posts! Plus, I am waiting to hear back from Mack about the winner of the quilt, so I will update everyone when I hear something. Have a great Wednesday!

Update on Mwanza

No one can deny that Mwanza and his family have had it rough in life. Both of his parents passed away a few years ago. Usually, what happens here in the states is that relatives come from near and far to help the children who have lost their parents, bringing food, comfort, and even taking the kids in to their home. Unfortunately, that is not what happened to Mwanza and his brothers and sisters.

When Mwanza's parents passed away, their relatives came to take everything the kids had in their home. They lost all of their furniture and almost every possession they had. They didn't even leave them a scrap of food to eat!!

The children had been struggling on their own before Children International found them. Now, they receive the benefits of sponsorship. All 5 children are able to go to school!!! They even receive meals through CI. They have come a long way from where they were 3 years ago!

Mwanza and his 4 brothers and sisters are still living on their own. CI is looking further in to how the family can be helped. I am hoping that they can start an income generating business, so that they won't have to go into the streets begging. A response should come back from the field within the next few weeks.

$512 has already been raised for the family. This will help fulfill their special needs request when it comes in. Their fundraiser will hopefully be enough for the children to start their own business & provide a bike to transport the goods back and forth for selling.

Here is the letter I just received from Mwanza:

Dear Heather
I am greeting you with much pleasure. I and my family, we are all right. I have received your nice letter and have heard your message. It's almost 1 kilometer from my school to my house, and 1 1/2 kilometers to our market. I do not have a bike. I have received your hugs and kisses. Thanks very much!
Yours,
Mwanza

Heads Up!

Don't get discouraged! I know the raffles started off slow, then they hit a high point, and now are back to being slow... But, do not get discouraged. Remember what we have already accomplished in the span of just 10 days!!

Maila's fundraiser received all of the funds her family needed to purchase the furniture, including a table where she can do her homework! (I can't wait to see those pictures!!)

Jonathan's fundraiser received all of the funds his grandmother needs to get her business started. I have yet to see his grandmother smile, so I am hoping these pictures will include her with a big grin on her face!

Gema's fundraiser is really close to completion now. Only a little over $100 to go!!

Araceli's house fundraiser is almost halfway completed, and Mwanza's house fund came closer than it has ever been to looking like the just might get a home! Two homes for Christmas would be terrific!!!

I know everyone is feeling a little tapped out right now. Maybe next year's raffles, since we know they are coming up, will be more enjoyable. (where we can enjoy them all the way to the end).

Now, that being said, tomorrow is Friday, so I'm hoping it will bring more funds to the projects for pay day~ There are only 2 days of Christmas left!

Now, for those of you who thought the fundraisers and raffles weren't doing very much or were not so successful, here is the 10 day update:

The 12 days of Christmas raffle-thon at the 10 day mark has brought in a total of $2,282!! That is $228.20 per day!!! Are you kidding me?!?!?! Talk about awesome!

Here is the actual break down day by day of the 10 raffles so far:

Day 1= $19
Day 2= $40
Day 3= $411
Day 4= $64
Day 5= $113
Day 6= $28
Day 7= $1170
Day 8= $75
Day 9= $317
Day 10= $15

10 day total: $2,282

Ok, I know I always say this, but what more can I say: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

my sponsor gave to me...

9 months of food!!

Today's raffle is really cool because you have your choice of prizes! The winner may choose their prize out of these:

Prize #1 Leapfrog Didj Custom Learning System in blue:
This gaming handheld is perfect for any child 5 to 14! It retails for $89.99, but it could be yours today for the price of a ticket!!
Kids can play and learn anywhere with characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Wars and more popular shows, and then go online to trade the points they've earned for more modifications to the game worlds, moves, sound effects, music and more. They can even create their own Didji characters in the online Didjerator.

Prize #2 Fly Fusion Pentop Computer:
This computer pen is for teenagers to adult, and it retails for $79.99... It can be yours for the low low price of a ticket!!
This is not your ordinary pen. When you write with this pen onto the "fly paper" or "fly journal", the imaged is digitized. You can then, upload it to your computer and convert it to a document!

Prize #3 a multi-use gift card/$25 paypal payment:
If you don't like the 1st two prizes, that's ok. I will send you either a paypal payment or a $25 gift card, whichever you choose.

I am offering this because these 5 orphaned children in Zambia need all of the help they can get. If we can't get them a house, at least we could buy them a big sack of food to get them through the winter. All 5 kids are going to school, and they have no one to provide for them. You may remember them from the CI blog about a year and a half ago.

Also, still up for the taking are two bilingual laptops to anyone who donates $50 or more. I only have two left, so it is first come first served. And you get 50 entries into the raffle!!

To get in on the raffle, here is the link

I will do the drawing at 9PM CST.

9th Day Raffle (the day before)

I don't have the post for what will be raffled tomorrow yet, but I want to just do a pre-raffle intro. Tomorrow's raffle is for Mwanza and his 4 brothers and sisters. The pre-raffle intro is this. The first 2 people to donate $50 or more to Mwanza's raffle will get the biligual laptop shown in the post right before this one. So, check out the computer, and make your donation here

Then, stay tuned tomorrow morning for the prize that will be raffled!

A Small Package for Mwanza

Doesn't he have the sweetest smile?!

I sent most of my CI children a small package for the beginning of the school year this year. They all received the same things (An activity book of US maps, a blank notebook, colored pencils, markers, pencil sharpener, Spiderman beach ball, and watercolor paints).

Mwanza's package arrived on 9/28/09 and was delivered to him on 9/30/09.

Here is his letter (although he is 14 years old, this is his first year back to school after years of not being able to attend):

Dear Heather,

How are you today with your family? I and my family we are fine. Thank you very much for the things which I have received. I have received crayons, markers, books, sharpener, and beach ball. My sponsor, I am very happy and I appreciate you a lot. Thank you very much and God bless you.

Yours,

Mwanza

My Boys

Mwanza

Henry

Diego

Jonathan

Isn't sponsorship one of the greatest emotional experiences of your life?! I have 2 biological children, and with both pregnancies, I anxiously awaited my baby boys to arrive... Both times I had a girl! In fact, when I was pregnant with my second child, I was so intent on having a boy (since I already had a girl). I had 3 sonograms to determine the sex of the baby. The first two sonograms revealed NOTHING... except a completely healthy fetus. However, I was still determined to know what I would be having next that I returned a week later for a 3rd sonogram. It was on that visit that the technician told me I was having a girl. The doctor came in to talk to me about what I should continue to do to keep the baby healthy and growing. As the doctor left the room, I slipped into the dressing room area to gather my things. I sat down on the bench, and proceded to cry. I couldn't leave the room and let the people in the office see me with tears and disappointment, so I stayed in the room for another 15 minutes. I got out a good cry, wiped my tears, and left the office.

A few months later, while recovering in the hospital from a c-section, I told my husband, "Whatever I say, do NOT let me have another baby. This recovery thing sucks!" I padded slowly through the hallways of the hospital maternity ward, holding my tummy in an attempt to make it hurt less. I was walking with my best friend of almost 20 years who never had children. I told her that I wanted a boy, but I was NEVER going to go through this again. She said that she couldn't even imagine what the pain must be like, but she could see it in my face.

Now, I have the most precious little girls. My oldest will be 5 years old on August 5th, and my youngest was born on my birthday 2 1/2 years ago. They have both been more than I ever expected in a child, and YES, it was all worth it to have them here. I wouldn't want either of them to be boys now, and thinking back it sounds crazy that I took it so hard. I love having my two little girls. Since I never had a sister, it is interesting to see the relationship between the two of them.

After the youngest, Morgan, was born, I did go through a period of time when I wanted to try "one more time" for a boy. Then, I found that the bond that had grown between Henry and me was almost as strong as the bond with my own children. So, I added more children to our family through sponsorship. I don't feel that strong need to have a biological boy any more... In fact, I have a hunch that the need that was in me to have a boy was put there in my heart for me to do something else with. It was not for me to try to conceive a boy but for me to conceive of helping many boys all over the world to have a better life.

Compared to my biological children who cost thousands of dollars a year, I can help each one of my boys for only $264 a year!!!

Has anyone gotten any letters/photos?

Everyday when I go out to the mail box, I am hoping for a letter/photos from my sponsored children. I have some packages that I sent, so I should be getting photos any day now, and special needs requests that I am waiting on should be here soon. It seems like I don't get enough of them! Maybe I will get a letter & photos from all of them all at one time! I am waiting unpatiently...

Perks of the job!

One of my various part-time jobs is a mystery shopper. You didn't know that, did you? There are some legitimate companies out there, and those are the ones that I work with. Yesterday, I had to shop at Tommy Hilfiger, and purchase $10 worth or merchandise (which will be reimbursed). I found this shirt. It is heavy, so it would be perfect for the winter. I bought one for Mwanza in Zambia and one for Diego in Colombia. The shirt was $4.99!!! The original price was $99.99!!! Too bad it was in the adult store, or I would have gotten all of my boys one. I had to just get one for the two oldest. Mwanza is turning 14 in September, and Diego is turning 12 in July.

A Letter from Mwanza!

Dear Heather,
I am greeting you together with your family with great love. I and my family, we are doing well. Thank you very much for the letter and for the coloring pictures. It's nice to hear that you have found two small jobs which are making you busy. I am very happy for you for being so close to me and helping me in every corner of my life. At school I am improving and my best subject is math and reading books. Waiting to hear from you soon.
Yours
Mwanza

How I have chosen my sponsored kids

First, here is the beautiful new picture of Jonathan! I have been waiting for several updated photos. This was the second photo to be updated recently. Mwanza's photo came earlier this month. I am still waiting for Dulce's, Leydi's, and Diego's updated photos. I am waiting for all 5 of their family report updates as well.
Well, everyone has different reasons for the children they choose. I thought that I would share how I chose mine. You all already know about the 4 with serious health conditions. The diagnosis of a life-threatening virus/disease is why I took them. They need the extra benefits that sponsorship provides them, as well as moral support/ someone to talk to. My other children I chose based on their personal struggles and family income. I don't care how cute the child is really because once I get to know them, they are the most beautiful children to me.
Some of you sponsors may be surprised at my children's circumstances. For example, Mwanza and his 4 brothers and sisters live without parents on $5 a month!!! Jonathan lives with his grandmother and aunt since both of his parents have died. He is sick, and his grandmother struggles to give him everything he needs to live as long as he can with an income of only $50 a month!!! When I chose Henry off of the CI web-site, I chose him because his family of 4 was living on $25 a month!!!
I am anxious to see the updated family reports. I hope that their income has gone up, and maybe I may be able to set up some income generating projects for a couple of them. I really hope I can help Jonathan's family soon. I am waiting to hear back from the field office. I will keep everyone posted.
So, even though I didn't choose Jonathan for his looks, isn't he a CUTIE!!!!