Letter Writing Ideas

This month I am going to write to my Compassion family about foster care.  I read somewhere that May was national foster care month, so I thought this was the perfect time to write about it.

Here is my letter.  Feel free to edit it and use it yourself.  If you have had experience with foster care or adoption, or know someone who has, I am sure your child would love to hear about that as well!

Dear friend,
Hello! How are you? My family and I are well, thanks to God.  I have been thinking about you and praying for you lots. You are very special to me!
In the USA, May is national foster care month. Foster care is when a child goes to live with another family. The child either does not have parents, or his parents cannot care for him. The child may live with many families in the foster care system. One day, a family may choose to adopt that child. Then the child goes to live with that family forever. Do you know anyone who was adopted? Do you have something like foster care in your country?
In Romans 8:14-17 says, "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."  Just like when a child is chosen to be adopted by a family, we too are adopted into a family. When we trust Jesus with our lives, we are adopted into God's family! In Ephesians 1:4-5, it says that God choose us, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." Psalm 103:13 tells us that God takes good care of his children, "The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him." It is good to know that God loves us and will take care of us! If you have accepted Jesus into your heart, then you are my sister! We are both children of God, and that makes us sisters!
God made you special. He loves you very much. You are important. I love you, friend! God bless you.
Much love and many blessings to you, 
Elisabeth

I wrote this next letter a couple months back, but I think some of it goes with the theme of adoption.  Either way, your child will love to know that they are special to you!

Dear friend, 

Hello, how are you? My family and I are well. I have been praying for you, and I thank God for you!

Psalm 103:13, "The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him." Psalm 68:5, "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." God is your heavenly father, and He loves you so much! Think of it, the God who made you is your Father. He wants the best for you. He is always with you, cheering you on! God is so proud of you when you do your best, and He encourages you when you don't succeed. You are precious to Him, like an expensive jewel. 

Here are some lyrics from one of my favorite songs by Britt Nicole, Gold- 

"Well everybody keeps score, afraid you're gonna lose Just ignore them, they don't know the real you All the rain in the sky can't put out your fire Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter Don't let anybody tell you that you're not loved, And don't let anybody tell you that you're not enough Yeah there are days when we all feel like we're messed up, But the truth is that we're all diamonds in the rough So don't be ashamed to wear your crown, You're a king you're a queen inside and out You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars This is for you, wherever you are This is for all the girls, boys all over the world Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold So hold your head up high, It's your time to shine From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold, You're worth more than gold! So don't be ashamed to wear your crown You're a king you're a queen inside and out" 

That is what I think of you, Juan. You are more precious than any gem or expensive thing. No matter what anyone says to you or the way they look at you, you are worth more than gold. Don't let anyone look down on you, but set an example for all people in what you do and say. (1 Timothy 4:12) I love you! 

Your friend, 

Elisabeth

What are you going to write to your sponsored kids about this month?

Mail Call

This weekend flew.  My cousins came up and stayed with us.  It was so nice to see them after 2 and 7 years!  However, it didn't give me much time to post.

I have a feeling that with the nice weather that summer brings, I won't have much time to post either.  So I will only be posting 3 days a week here.  You can find me over at Cycle4Compassion every couple weeks too.

To keep up with all my posts, you can circle me on Google+ 

--------------------

Without further ado, Mail Call!

Last Monday, I received a letter from my little angel in Indonesia.  I love all my kiddos, but Aprilla (Kartini) holds a special place in my heart.  Maybe it is because she was my first child.  Either way, I got her letter and was soo happy!  Aprilla is 10 and lives in Indonesia.

Dearest Elisabeth,

Greetings of peace, how are you?  My family and I are just fine.  I often bind (tie) my hair.  My relatives often visit me too.

My favorite activity at the Project is studying with friends.

The bracelet suits me well.  I have see Evelyn picture.  She is very pretty and cute.  Please extend my sweet greetings to her.

Aprilla

Thanks for your photo, post card, picture, and stickers.  God bless.

I made bracelets for all my girls for Christmas.  The bracelets are made out of paper, like this one.  

Did you get any good mail lately?

Maria- a life changed

As you all know, I had a packed weekend.  It was one that I didn't want to come because I didn't want it to be over.  None-the-less, it did come, and it was just as amazing as I thought it would be.

I want to share about the Advocates Retreat first.  It was a dream come true, really.  I was going to meet a formerly sponsored child.  I watch the videos of them sharing their stories on YouTube, and I read the posts of bloggers who have met them.  But I hadn't met one, and I wanted to.

So, I got to the church, where the retreat would be.  I saw Maria, and I hung up my kiddos photos (it was a wall of blessing with all of our sponsored kids photos).  She asked me where my Haiti girls lived.  Then we chatted about Haiti for a second and parted ways.

She sat behind me during the classes and worship.  Then, Maria shared her story.  She told about the poverty and then the hope.  She shared how Compassion changed her life forever.  Compassion changed her life in three main ways-

EDUCATION
Through Compassion, Maria was able to get an education.  Not only did she go to primary school, but also high school and university.  She studied English.

JOB
After Maria finished up her English classes, Compassion hired her as a translator.  She translated children and sponsor letters.  She also translated for sponsor tours.  Even before she finished her classes, her pastor had her translate for a group of missionaries.

MARRIAGE
Maria met her future husband on a sponsor tour for which she translated!  They have now been married for two years.

After she shared her story, there wasn't a dry eye.  Yes, this was a story I had heard many times- hopelessness turned into hope, fear turned into boldness, sadness turned into joy.  Something about that story though touches my heart every time.  It was different this time too.  This time I got to meet the girl who used to be scared.  I met the girl who found hope.  I met Maria.

She is the sweetest person I have ever met.  She's so happy and kind.  She showed me that letters make a difference.  She proved to me that sponsors make a difference- that Compassion makes a difference.

So here she is-

If you want to make a difference in the life of a child like Maria, please visit this page.

Mail Call

I think I am making this a permanent Tuesday thing!  Mondays have been so hectic for me lately, but I hope you still enjoy reading these letters.

After an amazing day at the Advocates Retreat (don't worry, I will tell you all about it!), I got two letters.  I actually expected that because I knew I wouldn't have much time to read them :)

My first letter was a first letter from Samantha.  I also got a reply letter from her last week.  So now I have the basics.  Anyway, this is what she says:

Age: 14
Grade: 5
I live: village
My parents: Piewette, Jose (I have trouble reading her writing, and names aren't translated.  So that's my best guess)
My best friend's name is: Widline
My brother/sister's name and age:
Truratcso (15)
Bily (12)
Sonson (6)
Kathia (10)
Bianka (7)
Jasorer (4)
Favorite food: rice and meat
Favorite song: How great thy heart
Favorite subject: Creole
Favorite color: pink
Favorite game: jumping rope
What I like to do most: washing clothes
Favorite verse or Bible character: Psalm 46:1 which says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

Please pray for:
I request your prayers for my good health, to do well in school, and for my family.

Written by Samantha


The second letter was from Junior.  He is almost 11 and lives in Ecuador.  This letter was written March 18, and he doesn't mention the package I was able to send with a friend who was going to Ecuador.  So I guess I must wait another two months.

Dear Elisabeth, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ.  I want to tell you that I am doing well and I hope you are too.  Thank you for all the help that you give me.  I want to tell you that for Christmas I went to Quito (quite a ways for him!) with my mom and I had a good time.  During Carnaval (looked that up and found this article) I played a lot at home.  I use my right hand.  Thank you for the letters you sent me.  What is the thing you like the most about Christmas?  Thank you for my Christmas present.  I ask you to pray for me and my family.  God bless you.
Junior


Did you get any letter recently?  I would love to hear about them! :)

This and That Thursday

Outside....the baby and my sisters are playing.  It is quite warm out, but there is a nice breeze.  It is a very lovely day out :)

Inside....my mom is in the kitchen.  And there are lots of baby toys on the floor in the living room.  The shades are shut, but I can still see a little of outside.  It is green!

Reading....through the Gospels with some friend on OurCompassion.  I am reading Nehemiah on my own, and I am going to start reading Isaiah with another friend :)

Excited about....this weekend!!!  Tomorrow night I am going to a concert with my sis.  We're going to see Paul Baloche and Mandisa!  Yay!!! :)  Saturday is the Advocates Retreat in NY.  I get to go, and I will be able to meet Michelle from Blogging from the Boonies and Maria, a CDSP graduate!  Then that night, I get to go to another concert.  That time it will be Newworldson.  Sooooo excited!!

Praying for....my friend's trip to Thailand.  She's leaving soon, and her little boy has a fever.

what about you?  I hope your Thursday is going well! :)

April Compassion Joys

It is amazing to remember all the ways God has blessed me through Compassion each month!

1. new photo of Lucie
2. new photo of Aruna
3. new photo of Juan
4. Compassion Sunday!
5. letter from Mabel
6. letter from Elizabeth
7. letter from Lucie
8. letter from Samantha
9. start of Cycle4Compassion campaign!

Linking up with Compassion Family! :)

Mail Call Tuesday.....again

Yep, it's Tuesday.  But I posted yesterday, so I chose to do my mail call today :)

I got a letter from Samantha.  She is 13 and lives in Haiti.  This is my first letter from her, but it was written like a reply letter.

She shared that she lives with her dad and stepmom.  She thanked me for my letters.  Samantha also said that she put the stickers on her notebook.  And she is very thankful for all of God's blessings.

She seems likes such a sweet girl, and I can't wait to get to know her better!  I hope this will be the start of a great friendship! :)


And Compassion told me that Elizabeth is indeed 15.  She didn't have much time to write the letter, so she rushed and forgot her age.  So, she will graduate next year.  I hope she isn't so rushed next time cause I would love to get to know her better too! :)

Linking up with Blogging from the Boonies!