One door closes, another door opens.

I said this when I began sponsoring Bianca. Now I say it as I say good-bye to her. Her family has moved and CI is unable to locate them. I hope wherever they are, they're doing well and their move will afford them better opportunities. I'll miss her.

I do have some letters from her to share:






However, I do have two new girls to introduce to everyone!

Grace Sabrina was sent to me as Bianca's "replacement" child. I was undecided as to whether or not I would sponsor her, when someone else saw her picture, fell in love and made the decision for me! She'll remain on my account for simplicity's sake but will be sponsored and written to by her real sponsor, Jenna.



Don't you love that sweater?!

Grace is seven and lives in Ecuador, like Bianca, though in a different area. She lives with her older sister Nayeli and their father, who works as a messenger. Their mother is not present. If I'm financially able I'm hoping to contact CI about sponsoring her sister the next time I'm looking to sponsor another child. It must be hard raising two little girls on your own!


And because I couldn't resist adding another kid to my account, meet Nayeli Francisca:



Nayeli is nine and lives in Chile. I was planning on adding another Ecuadoran child (possibly Grace's sister), but when I saw this face on the site I couldn't resist. Look at that smile! Nayeli lives with her two brothers, six-year-old Francisco and twenty-one-year-old Luis, and their parents.

Nayeli's photos from 2009 and 2010:

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.

Photos and letter from Thandiwe

I know I shouldn't show favoritism, but in terms of sheer cuteness, I gotta say...Thandiwe is the cutest kid in "my" brood. I love them all of course, and think they're all adorable, but this kid's pictures are always so full of life. I love the note that she loved the purses - she does seem like the kid who likes her things covered in bling, doesn't she? And I guess it's a universal truth that little girls love purses. She's just adorable. I hope her mother isn't too sick, and that her medication isn't expensive. I wonder if CI can find out...god knows the family doesn't have much income.

One door closes, another door opens.

Harison has left the program (not sure why; hopefully it's for good reasons), so instead of doing the logical thing and taking it as a sign to stop sponsoring so many kids, meet Bianca Domenica:



Actually, I wasn't looking for another kid, but when I signed in to the CI site to check my account, she was the kid on the "children looking for a sponsor" rotation. I've wanted to sponsor a kid in Ecuador, and I couldn't say no to that face. Sigh. I'm such a sucker.

Older photo:



She lives with her parents and an older brother. Her father is employed as a watchman. Their home has electricity but no running water (they do, however, have a bathroom).

My last "new kids."

I've said it before, but this time I mean it. This is my last intro post for a LONG TIME.

I've wanted a kid in Chile for a long time, and was hoping to find a kid in a single parent household.

Despite not having any freakin' money to speak of, meet Lisette Andrea. As with most of my kids, besides the "single mom" aspect, I think her name is beautiful.



Lisette's parents are separated and she lives with her mom and older brother. Her mother is a homemaker, so I guess the father still supports his children, which is great if that's the case; sadly such a rarity today! Their house sounds bigger than most of my sponsored kids', with three bedrooms, a dining room and a kitchen - how great that the kids get to have their own bedrooms!

There are pics of Lisette dating back a couple of years; not sure if she was previously sponsored or if she's been waiting this long.

2009:


2008:




And yes, the header says new kids. One more, also in Chile. This one one of those cases of seeing a picture, and the kid being impossibly cute and my being unable to say no. Her name is also lovely. Meet Viviana Alexa:



Seriously, look at her. Couldn't you just eat her up?!

She has five siblings and is the baby of the group. Her equally cute sister Valentina is also on the CI site looking for a sponsor...in case anyone out there is looking for another kid ;) Her mother is employed, her father is not. Luckily two of her brothers are 18 and 21 so perhaps they're able to help support the family.

Viviana has a photo from 2009 on the site as well:

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.