New photos of Annah and Arupe

They're going to start fwding me Arupe's monthly photos as well so I can keep up with him even though someone else writes to him. Yay!

I also learned that Arupe is currently #2 out of the 70 students in his class. What a smart boy!

New letters!

A letter from Wituelle (Compassion Haiti)





A "first" letter from Viviana's mother (CI Chile), despite it being the actual second letter I got from her. She seems so nice!


And a thank you note from Jessa (CI Philippines) for CI's annual Christmas gift. She refers to me as "sponsor" a lot - hopefully she has the hang of my name by now!




I also got my monthly picture of Annah. She's growing up so fast!

WOW am I behind.

So many things to post about. I don't even know where to begin. No major developments, just a lot of letters.

Two letters from Jessa, received a couple of weeks apart. I'm guessing one is one of the "required" letters, since it's addressed "dear sponsor."








First letters from Viviana (well, Viviana's mother) and Bianca:






A letter from Lisette:






A letter from Thandiwe's grandmother:




Letters and pictures from Sophia:













And a new picture of Annah:




Sheesh. Never let me get this behind again!

First letter from Lisette, monthly photo of Annah

I got a monthly photo of Annah:





And my first-ever letter from Lisette! I'm going to like this kid - what a character. Now that I have Spanish-speaking kids, I should probably at least attempt to learn some Spanish. I know the translators do amazing work at CI but I'd love to know if I'm missing anything.

The latest addition to the family.

Meet Harison. He's eighteen and needed a sponsor to be able to remain at the orphanage and continue his studies. He apparently has been waiting for quite some time and wouldn't be able to stay past December - they just don't have enough money to keep all the unsponsored kids on indefinitely. Well, what can you do when you hear something like that? Especially when the kid lists studying as his favorite hobby! I have his fees paid for the next six months...if anyone out there is interested in taking on his sponsorship full-time, let me know. I'll see it through, of course, if no one else is interested in adding another sponsorship at this time.

IHF is a great organization, but they're small and underfunded. Just to make that clear. I hate to think of someone getting the wrong idea because the unsponsored kids can't stay indefinitely. They do the best they can to be able to support all the kids, but there are many unsponsored kids in Kenya and the outside help they need just isn't there.

New pictures of Annah

I've been forgetful about updating Annah's pictures. She continues to grow at a ridiculous rate!

Letters from the kids, and a new picture of Annah

You know, I always thought when people said they couldn't pick a favorite child, they were full of it or being polite. I know sponsoring kids isn't nearly the same thing as having your own, but sponsoring kids now as an adult (rather than as a teenager), it still surprises me just how much I love these kids - and if you asked me to pick a favorite, I honestly couldn't. They're all so sweet and cute and clever.

Annah - I send her some t-shirts for her birthday; I hope they fit! She look like she's grown a foot between pictures!


Drawing and letter from Jessa, who has turned out to be a most enthusiastic correspondent. I'm glad I listened to the little devil on my shoulder saying sponsor her (instead of the angel saying "and where exactly is that money going to come from?")!



And a letter from the volunteer at the Lusaka center. I can't wait until Thandiwe is old enough to write on her own, but until then I'm glad to hear from the volunteers and her family members.

Quick update

I've been neglecting this blog, haven't I. I have no excuses, really.

I'm probably forgetting some things, but anyway, some brief updates.

New picture of Annah (IHF Kenya). I've had a package for her (and both my CI girls in the Philippines) waiting to be sent for ages...I need to get on that. I'm terrible about corresponding with her, which is awful of me, because she is such a sweetheart. I haven't heard about Arupe from my friend whose daughter is corresponding with him, but I'll have to ask how that's going.



They grow up way too fast.


A letter from Wituelle (Compassion Haiti), who I'm also terrible about writing to. Okay, let's put it out there: I'm not very good about writing to any of my kids. I hope they know how much I love them!






And a letter from Thandiwe's uncle on her behalf. I wish there was something I could send to thank the relatives who write for her. I've thanked them in my letters but it doesn't seem like enough!

New pics of my IHF kids!

Again, so cute I can't stand it! A friend's daughter is corresponding with Arupe...who knows, in ten years maybe she'll be a sponsor herself! I haven't heard from them in a while, as they're moving, but I hope I can catch up on how it's going soon!

New pictures and letters from my IHF kids

These kids are so adorable it's nearly impossible to believe. Annah's letters are so sweet, and Arupe, as you can see, is the cutest little boy on the planet!

New photos

New photos of my IHF kids arrived today, as well as a letter from Annah. I love how IHF sends new pics and letters once a month.

Meet my kids: Arupe

I hadn't been planning on sponsoring another child, but when I saw this kid on the IHF website, there's absolutely no way I could say no! Arupe is ten years old and lives in Kenya. His parents are alive, but unable to care for him. Arupe's education sponsorship is taken care of by me, but he is in need of an "orphan" sponsorship as well if anyone is interested.

Meet my kids: Annah

I had been considering sponsoring an Indonesian child through International Humanity Foundation for a while, but when I went to the site, it was this little girl from Kenya who caught my attention. Such a sweet face! Annah is now twelve years old. Her parents are alive, but are alcoholics who cannot afford to care for her, so Annah lives at the IHF orphanage - a much better life than the life of a child laborer, which was how she spent her days before arriving at the center. She is a sweet girl who hopes to become a nurse when she grows up. I have been sponsoring Annah since January of 2009.



Annah's website photo.


Annah, March of 2009


April of 2009


June of 2009


July of 2009


August of 2009


September of 2009


October of 2009


November of 2009


Annah with gifts from a direct package. The people at IHF kindly photographed her receiving it (I didn't request that they do so!)


December of 2009


January of 2010


January of 2010