Mail Call!

Today I received a very exciting letter!

It was my first letter from Susana in Bolivia.  She shared that she was recently baptized and that she attends church.  She is also studying at university to become a physics and chemistry teacher!  She closed asking me to pray for her mom's health.

Also, my Elizabeth in Mexico graduated from Compassion recently!  I am so proud of her.  She's completed 11th grade.  Compassion didn't have any info on her future plans.  I expect that she will continue her education because her greatest wish is to have a profession.

Congratulations Elizabeth!

Welcome Kalkidan and Guadelupe!

Remember the post I just wrote?  I said that I'd be back at 10 kiddos when Elizabeth graduates later this month.  Well, that's not happening any more!  I have just welcome two more correspondents to my Compassion family!

Please welcome......

Kalkidan!  She lives in Ethiopia (ET206) and is 11 years old.  Isn't she beautiful?

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And Guadelupe!  She is just 3 days older than me (15 years old) and lives in Bolivia (BO558).

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I am sooo excited to get to know these beautiful girls!

Change a life.
Lizzie

Susana

On December 30, 2013, I got the call that Mabel had successfully graduated from Compassion!  I am so happy for her and excited for her.  I know that she will continue to achieve her goals and love Jesus.  I just hope that we can keep in touch somehow because she's so dear to me.

Then on New Year's Eve, I welcome Susana from Bolivia to my Compassion family!  Yay :)

Susana just turned 20.  She lives in Bolivia.  She was waiting 2 and a half years for a sponsor!  I am so happy to have the opportunity to get to know her! :)

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Change a life!

Lizzie :)

He is waiting for you!

Hola!  My name is Diego.  I will be 6 years old on November 23rd.  I really hope that you would like to sponsor me for my birthday.  If you do, I will be so happy!  By then, I will have been waiting a whole year for a sponsor.  

I live in Bolivia with my dad, mom, and two siblings.  My parents are sometimes employed, but their work is not steady.  I used to wonder if we would eat.  Now though, Compassion helps me!  My family is so thankful for Compassion.  I like to play soccer with my friends and play with cars.  I go to preschool too, and I am learning a lot.  

At my project (Viacha Student Center, BO451), I learn about God and His love.  It makes me happy.  I love going to my project!  Sometimes they take me on a field trip or have a celebration.  They also feed me and take care of me in many ways.

I usually eat chicken, bread, beef, plantains, rice, or potatoes.  They are yummy!  Sometimes people near me or even I get sick with respiratory illnesses, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites.  When I get sick, Compassion helps me.  They even take me to a doctor if I need it!

In my community, there are not many employment opportunities.  Compassion gives my parents an opportunity to learn a handicraft though.  I think that will help us.  Where I live, we need qualified teachers and police stations.  Someday, maybe I will be able to help my city by teaching others and keeping people safe.

Please pray for me, that I might get a sponsor someday.  I would really like to get letters like some of my friends.  If you sponsor me, I will be so happy!  I will pray for you and be a good boy for you.  I love you already.

Your child,
Diego

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That is the story of Diego.  I wrote it according to the information I have.  If you would like to sponsor this precious boy, please e-mail me at lizzie4compassion@gmail.com  It would be the perfect birthday gift for him!  I have his packet until November 29, 2013.  Thanks!

An exciting photo update....

A little while ago, I got a photo update of Mabel!  She's 21 and lives in Bolivia.  I was so excited to get it because it will be my last official photo of Mabel before she graduates.

My four photos of Mabel.....

 August 2010                                                                                       February 2012

December 2012                                                                                 September 2013

Let's go to Bolivia!

Last September, the Compassion Mobile Experience came to a town about an hour from me.  I was taken to Bolivia and India.  I walked through the streets and saw the hope that the Compassion project brought to Ruben and Brinda.  I touched Ruben's red table that he bought for his family.  He used the skills Compassion taught him to get a job and buy that table.  And I listened as Brinda told her family how the God of the Bible was the one true God.

In the semis holding the stories of three former Compassion children, the homes, projects, and communities of the children are duplicated with such accuracy that you feel like you are actually there.  As you walk through the rooms, you listen to the narration of the child's story.  And at the very end, you watch a video of the former sponsor child taking you to those places.  Then you know that everything is just right and so real.

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I see the e-mail.  It's coming again!  This time it is closer, just 30 minutes away.  And I go to Kingdom Bound and I help out a tiny bit with Compassion.  I realize that there is no way I cannot go again.  But this time, this time, I will work it.  

Then this shows up in the mail-

And I count the weeks.  I don't have much time until September 7, and I know it'll go quicker than I think it possibly can!  I don't have much time to tell everyone that they need to go.  

So I'll call up everyone I know and send out e-mail and hang posters.  

This time, all it costs to go to Bolivia or India or Uganda is the gas to drive to the nearest place it is coming to you.  Compassion: Change the Story - Events  

Currently, it is scheduled to go to NY, OH, GA, FL, MS, LA, and TX.  But check back often, cause the places it goes keeps growing and you don't want to miss this!

Compassion: Change the Story

Turkey and some other little kids

For the past year, Compassion has been piloting a one-to-one sponsorship with select CSP projects. It was very successful, so we have ended the 'pilot' process and these children are the ones who are in those participating projects. Sponsorship works the same as CDSP, only the letters are written by a project worker or caregiver, since the children can not really participate in letter writing at this age. We do not know how many of these 1-3 year olds we will be registering in the future; those plans are still being worked out. In the meantime, the ones that are available will be on the website for sponsorship. Feel free to ooohh and aaaahhhh over their adorableness.  -Haley (Compassion International Sponsor and Donor Relations, Operations Employee)  taken from HERE

In short, there are one and two year olds on Compassion's site now!  They are soo cute that I just want to give them big hugs.

Turkey turned two years old yesterday.  She lives in Bangladesh.  It looks like she broke her leg or something from the picture.  To sponsor her, go HERE.

Carlos lives in Bolivia.  His birthday is September 16, 2011.  Mabel, my sponsored girl from Bolivia, writes the sweetest letters.  From what I have heard, most Bolivian kids do.  To sponsor him, go HERE.  (Carlos has been sponsored!)

Mushimiyimana is two.  She lives in Rwanda.  To sponsor her, go HERE.  (Mushimiyimana has been sponsored!)

They are precious, aren't they?!  Perhaps, you can't sponsor one now, but would still like to help them.  Compassion's Christmas Gift catalog has many ways to help families like them.  To see all the different gifts you can give, go HERE.

#ItsAboutGiving

Lizzie :)

HOME

Hello!

I wrote this poem from the perspective of a sponsored child in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Although this story is fictional, it is based on reality.  So here it is.

Home



I am lonely.

I am scared.

My ears hear a baby's wail

From having an empty stomach.

My body's stiff

From sleeping on the ground.

My ears hear shooting

And drunkards' cries.

My eyes see

The walls crumbling

And young ones begging.

I see the world

Falling apart.

My heart longs

For love.

Then, I can hear it in the distance

The laughing, the excitement.

Everything else fades.

I run.

I smile.

My eyes see bright-colored walls-

I see hope.

My ears hear metal plates clanging-

I hear joy.

She hugs me at the door-

I feel love.

My heart is full.

I am safe.

I am home.

Now tell me, what am I describing?  I would really like to know what you think of this.  So please leave a comment :)

Change a life!

Lizzie :)

Compassion Mobile- Change the Story

Hello!

On Thursday I was able to attend an awesome event!!  Compassion Mobile is so cool.  It tells the stories of three children living in poverty.  It shows their lives before Compassion and how their lives changed because of Compassion. 

Each story is only twenty minutes long.  You get to go through a realistic representation of the child's home, Compassion project, and other places the child goes to often.  The stories are of real children who have graduated from Compassion's sponsorship program.  The best part is- it is probably going to be near you!!

I really recommend you go to Compassion Mobile.  I loved hearing and seeing the lives of children in India and Bolivia (I couldn't see the Uganda one).  My family and I traveled one hour away to see it, and I think it was worth it.  I have heard many stories of lives being changed by Compassion, but actually seeing it is even more awesome!

Change a life!
Lizzie