An Update!

Hi Everybody -- It has been quite some time (2 years?) since I updated this blog.  I think I'm ready to get back to it.

So here is an update on my sponsorships.

My oldest sponsored child, Tesfaye, graduated from the program!  He is now pursuing a degree in Economics at University.  We started sponsoring him as a teenager.  He was originally our correspondence child and when his financial backer stopped contributing, we took over the sponsorship.  It's awesome to see the ship into harbor, so to speak, and we continue to pray for him and his family. 

My sponsored child, Israel, who we started sponsoring when he was in Kindergarten is now 15 years old!!!!  (I don't have enough exclamation points to emphasize that fact.  Where does the time go?)  We've gotten word that he has shown interest in ministry and has done some practicing in the field of evangelism.  That's my boy!

We added a third sponsorship.  Fredy from Ecuador.  He's now 8 years old and has dealt with health challenges due to a cleft palate.  (i.e. Multiple surgeries.)  Despite that, he is as smart as a whip and has SO many interests and hobbies.  Reminds me of me as a kid.  The world is his oyster.  His mom is a Compassion program aide and he has an older sister in college, so it seems like his family has laid a great foundation for him.  Perhaps we have a future President of Ecuador here?  I think it could happen.  No pressure.  :)

If anyone reads this blog anymore -- and frankly I deserve no readers after not updating for two years -- I wish you love, joy and peace.  Stick with Compassion and stick with the kids.  We're going places!  

Here's something you can do...

Readers, please click on the following link and pray for the children you see there. 
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm

These are all children waiting for a sponsor. They need your prayers!


Thanks!

Free Nativity Printables

I found a website that has free nativity printables.  Sponsored kids can cut them out, glue the figures to paper and color in a background. (In the picture below, they are glued to toilet paper rolls so they can stand - not something that would be practical for our sponsored kids. But a great idea if you have kids of your own who want to try it.)

 

Here are the links -- just click and print:

Mary & Joseph:  http://www.makingfriends.com/friends/f_mary_joseph.htm

Two Wisemen:  http://www.makingfriends.com/friends/f_2wisemen.htm

Wiseman & Shepherd:  http://www.makingfriends.com/friends/f_wiseman_shepherd.htm

Angel & Baby:  http://www.makingfriends.com/friends/f_jesus.htm

Nativity Animals:  http://www.makingfriends.com/friends/f_nativity_animals.htm

Cool Stickers Sold at Zazzle.com - $5 - $8 per sheet

                 

LINKS:

South America sticker:
http://www.zazzle.com/south_american_flags_of_south_america_map_sticker-217151055142209710

Africa sticker:
http://www.zazzle.com/african_map_of_africa_flags_within_country_maps_sticker-217658927721236288

U.S. and Ethiopia crossed-flags sticker
http://www.zazzle.com/us_and_ethiopia_crossed_flags_sticker-217046187859821832

Bible Verse Card for a 6-year old with coloring page on the back

Bible Verse Card for a 12-year old

Bible Verse Card w/Coloring Page for 5-year old

Give a monetary gift to your child...

Here are the guidelines for giving a monetary gift to your Compassion International child.  Note:  100% of your gift goes to your child and their family.

How much may I give each year?

*  Birthday gift $10-$100
*  General gift $10-$100
*  Family gift $10-$1000
*  Graduation gift in final year $10-$2000

Bible Picture Cards

These cards are roughly 6x9 inches and made out of cardstock. I printed a few pictures off the Internet and taped them down with photo squares.  Easy and inexpensive, but I thought they turned out nice. 

Peacable Kingdom Press

I just love the notecards from this company.  I found mine at Barnes & Noble.

Photo Bookmarks

Today I made some bookmarks.  On the front is a flower with the kids' faces in the center.  On the back is a photo of each one in black and white.  I had them laminated at Staples -- very inexpensive.

Multicultural Sticker Scene

From Oriental Trading.  $4.99 for a dozen.

Here's the link to buy them. 

Mini-Lapbook

I found some 6x9 inch envelopes at Michael's and made a miniature lapbook small enough to fit the envelope.  I took a piece of cardstock and cut it down to size.  I folded over the ends to make a little book and put in some easy mazes, a word search, a dot to dot and some miscellaneous stickers I had around the house.  It's for our 5-year old child, Fredy.  It's my first attempt at a lapbook and it was really fun to do!!!  Thanks to everyone on the Compassion blog who suggested this idea!

    

   

Next batch of letters ready to go...

The sparkly stars are from Family Christian Stores.

Fun Stuff from Oriental Trading

I keep a goody bin filled with items that can be sent to sponsored kids. These are all from the Oriental Trading catalog.

When I write letters - about every 6-8 weeks - I grab something from the bin and put it in along with the letter. Whatever is left over goes to my daughter and the neighbor kids. Here's how to find the items above in the Oriental Trading catalog:

• Make-a-Fish Aquarium Stickers - $2.99 per dozen
• IN-34/684
• Bird Sticker Books - $5.99 per dozen
• IN-9/1082
• Design your own Noah's Ark Sticker Scenes - $4.99 per dozen
• IN-57/6308
• 3-D Space Sticker Books - $9.99 per dozen
• IN-9/1091
• ***NOTE: These are expensive -- and the 3D effect isn't great. If I had to order again, I would go with...
• Make Your Own Solar System Stickers - $2.99 per dozen
• IN-70/3770
• "God's Greatest Gift" Color Your Own Stickers - $2.99 per dozen
• IN-36/1858
• Make A Racecar Sticker Sheets - $2.99 per dozen
• IN-9/748

Bible Verse Cards

Our oldest sponsored child is preparing to graduate from the program in May. In addition to a monetary gift for a graduation present, I wanted to share with him some of my favorite Bible verses. I made Bible verse cards and on the back I put photos of Ethiopians who are victorious in their lives.






















My verses:

• Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


• Philippians 3:13-14 I forget the past and strain ahead for what is still to come. I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upward to receive in Christ Jesus.


• Isaiah 40:31 Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.


• Matthew 7:7 Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you.


• Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Oldies, but goodies.

Easter-themed letter

Here is the Easter letter we're sending out to our younger sponsored kids. We are including:

• "He Lives!" make-a-scene stickers from Oriental Trading, with paper;
• "Color Your Own Cross" fuzzy pictures from Oriental Trading;
• Pics of our daughter decorating Easter eggs;
• DLTK's free make your own custom writing paper in an Easter theme.

Winter-themed letter

I'm getting ready to send a winter-themed letter off to a little boy in the Philippines who is 6 years old. I'm sending:

• Pics of a recent snowstorm
• Penguin stickers and paper (from the Oriental Trading catalog)
• A letter on penguin and igloo-themed stationery from the DLTK website -- make your own free customized writting paper -- http://www.dltk-cards.com/writingpaper/

Pocket folders that fit Compassion's mailing size

EDITED TO ADD:  I've since found out that full-size folders will go through.  You don't have to cut them down.  My only recommendation would be to avoid the folders with the metal clasps in the center.  Stick to simple paper folders.

Someone on the "Letter Writing Ideas" page over at the Compassion Blog came up with a GREAT idea!! (Hi Donna!) :) Send a folder to your child so he or she has something to keep letters and gifts in.

The standard-size folder exceeds Compassion's size limit. One idea is to cut the folders down to size. Cut an inch or two off the top and an inch or two off the right hand side. Then staple the pockets closed again.

This is what we did for one of my daughter's art projects and they are really sweet. See pics above!

"Favorite Things" Letter

We asked one of our sponsored kids to tell us about his favorite things -- and got a really neat letter back. So we sent a list of our favorite things.

Here is the letter we sent. It's just an idea if you're feeling stuck about what to write. It's kind of an easy and fun letter to put together.

Click on the images below to see them better. (Use the back arrow to get back to this page.)

Sports Cards and Stickers

Our oldest sponsored child from Ethiopia is interested in the World Cup and we've exchanged some letters on the subject. I found some cool football/soccer stickers and cards and sent those. I got them on Amazon.

Mail for unsponsored kids

I went through all of my old Christmas cards, cut out images and taped those to cardstock. On the back of each I put a Bible verse. I put each one in an envelope with some stickers.

They're on their way!

Mail for Unsponsored Kids Part II

I found some cute Peanuts stickers around the house and decorated up my envelopes for the unsponsored kids a bit. I think they look cute:

Bookmarks

There is a new group on OurCompassion that is inviting people to write letters to children in the program who don't yet have sponsors. You can write letters, send stickers, bookmarks, etc.

To find out more about this, join OurCompassion and sign up with the "Encouragement and Hope" group. They have all the info on where to send your letters.

My daughter and I made some cards/bookmarks to send. We'll put them in an envelope along with some stickers. I hope the kids like them!

Soccer Stencils

Here is my latest find for my sponsored kids. "Fun with Soccer Stencils." It has six paper stencils of a person playing soccer. My Ethiopian kids love soccer/football! One thing to note, Compassion International can no longer send books or booklets -- anything that has a binding that is too thick or stiff. But these very small Dover booklets will go through. I found this one at my local children's museum.