Project Letter: TG-120

Here's a letter from the director of Jaki's project in Togo!

My name is Amegnikou K., project director of (TG-120) attended by your sponsored child, located at Tsevie in the Maritime region. We write you this note to show our gratefulness for the support you give to Jaki.

In the spiritual domain, the children manage to know Christ, to learn his wonderful stories and to recognize his Lordship and his salvation for humanity. They manage to pray for themselves.

On the socio-emotional aspect, the child who before was shy has now the opportunity to blossom, to assert himself, and to demonstrate his talents and abilities.

On the physical aspect, the children grow normally thanks to the care they receive in case of sicknesses. They also learn good hygiene practices.

At the cognitive level, the children are interested in the school because the center provides them with school articles and fees. The home courses for our schooled children make them to progress in their classes.

A child severely weakened was able to receive the appropriate care that has saved his life. His family shows ceaselessly its gratitude to the sponsors. This example is the one among so many other cases where the life of the child was in danger but thanks to sponsor support his life was saved. Many parents are touched by the Good News. During the ceremony organized by the church, about ten parents received the Lord and attend the church.

The sponsorship is a really incredible means to bring support and to save human lives. Its impact remains indescribable and deserves to be encouraged. It gives to the child and to his family the smile, the joy of living and a real hope for a better future. Through the sponsoring the child feels loved and considered in the life although he is abandoned at home. When children do not receive letters, they become sad and think that they are forgotten.

We love our work because we remain convinced that by this way, as said in Exodus 2: 1-10 (where the sister, the parents of Moses, and the Pharaoh's daughter used wisdom and worked to save the life of Moses), our objectives in the life of the children will be realized. And not only for these children today in our center but also for thousands worldwide. Even though this work is risky and needs a lot of commitment, attention and a particular implication of our person, we shall make it by our Lord Jesus Christ who strengthens us. We cannot say that the work we do is in vain. The proof is the teaching of the curriculum that transforms the spiritual, physical, cognitive and socio-emotional life of the children who in their turn influence the life of the parents. And this is only a beginning of results. We expect bigger results to impact all the community and bring it to Christ for the glory of God.

We humbly request you to ceaselessly remember these children in your prayers for their good health, their prosperity, and our center to be strengthened in order to achieve our objectives in the life of these children. We lack words to qualify your kindness and your compassion towards Jaki. The Lord will remember your good works. God Almighty blesses you and fills you with His abundant grace.


If you are interested in sponsoring a child from Jaki's center, please consider little Gabin! He lives with his mom, dad, and three other children. He has been waiting over six months for a sponsor. Read more about Gabin here.

Sweet Greetings from Kenya, Bolivia, Togo, Peru, Rwanda, and the Dominican Republic!

Happy Mail Call Monday- sick day edition! : /

It was nice that more letters started coming in last week! The first was our first letter from Jeannette in Rwanda! 

We had been calling Jeannette by her family name, Iratuzi, because that's what's listed on the website- so it's nice to know that she actually goes by Jeannette! :) She just wrote a short letter, but it was sweet and loving. Jeannette says that she and her family send warm greetings, and she is so happy to get letters from us! She was finishing her summer break from school when the letter was written (late August) and that her term will begin in October. I think her school is year round. She says that she is praying that peace is with me in everything I do! What a sweetie! 

Next was a short letter from Carlos in Peru! 

Carlos said that he was very thankful for the gift we sent via Kara and her mom when Kara went to Peru this summer! He said that it’s really cold where he lives and it’s been rainy. He asked about our weather and asked that we pray for his studies and his family. He said goodbye with a big hug, saying he hoped we’d write again soon! 

Next up, a letter from little Estha in Togo! 

Estha’s letter was about what she learns at the project. She says they’re learning dancing and how to help people with disabilities! She also likes singing and she learned about why washing clothes is important. She said they also learn about the community, and she found that her school was founded in 1966. She said thank you for the stories we send and asked that we pray for the prosperity of her family. She also drew a little picture of a tree! 

We also heard from Austin in Kenya! 

He says that they are doing well and he is thankful for our letters and photos. He said that he is praying for blessings for us, and he and his family attend an ACK church. He shared Romans 8:1-2 and said that he is doing well in a mechanic course! He is able to do small repairs on vehicles and engines, and he is very proud of his work. He also said he hopes to get a driving license soon, and he asked that we pray for his studies. He also wanted to know if I know about mechanics! 

Then there was a letter from lovely Mary in Kenya! 

Mary says she is doing really well and trusts that we are, too. She said she is always delighted to get letters from us, and she is encouraged by them! She also said that the “supreme” president Barack Obama visited her country and it was very special when he was visiting- she described it as a dream! I know that they had a lot of cultural celebrations and national pride during his visit. That’s so neat. Mary also shared Psalm 145: 18-21  and said she learned about that passage from her teacher Martin at the project, and that he is an inspiration to her. Mary also really liked the letter I sent about Malala Yousafzai. I basically gave a brief description of her life and told the kids how she is working to make sure all children can receive an education, and how she is very brave. Mary said “I loved the story about Malala. She is so encouraging just like you because you usually believe that I am a strong girl who is capable of great things. You usually love your job and that’s great because you have a passion for it and I hope you go and work there though the library is busy.” :) Mary said she was going to pray for Malala! She asked that we pray for her grandfather whose health is declining. 

Later in the week, we heard from Laura in the Dominican Republic! 

Laura is so sweet! She said that it has been rainy where she lives lately, and she likes grey days the best! Me too! She also said her family likes to visit the countryside when they have holidays, and she really likes going there, even though it takes a long time to get there. Laura also said she is starting university in January, and she will be studying pharmacy! She also said she enjoyed reading about Malala, and liked the fact that she works hard so all children can get an education! She said thank you for all the letters and asked that I keep writing! 

We also heard from Victor in Kenya on the same day his photo got updated! 

Victor said that Kenyans were really excited about President Obama’s visit, and “most significant is that we even shared our grievances with him.” I could tell that Victor had learned some new words because he used that one a few times and also said he was “presumptuous” that their grievances would come to an end. :) He asked that we pray for Kenya because of the increased terror threat there, and he thanked us for the encouragement of our letters and said that his school performance has improved since we have been writing to him! 

Next was a letter from Juan in Bolivia! 

Juan said he went camping in Molinos with other kids from the project, and they had fun and learned about God. And he was on the yellow team. He also said that his dad came in from La Paz and they went to Mariscal park and had a walk, and they ate Pique Macho. I looked it up and it’s kind of like chili with hardboiled eggs? It’s meat and hot dogs and potato things and....hardboiled eggs. It looks really hearty. He also asked about my favorite food and about my trip to Japan (there was apparently a translation error- I did write about my friend Amanda, who lives in Japan!) And he asked us to please send more cards and pictures! 

Then there was another letter from Kenya- this time from Mercy! 

Mercy said she and her grandmother are doing really well and they have had enough rain for their crops, and now they are waiting for things to dry out so they can be harvested (they plant beans.) She said that she liked seeing the pictures of the hippos at the zoo, and wants Dia to take more people to see the animals there!! Or maybe she meant she wants Dia to take me to see more animals. Either way, it was cute! She asked us to pray for her education and shared Isaiah 50:12. 

Lastly, we got a letter from Brian in Kenya! 

This was our first letter from Brian since taking over his correspondence in June. Brian said his family sent their greetings and he was really happy to get all our letters, especially the ones with pictures. He said he’s doing well in school and they had a football competition at the project during August break, and his team was moving on to regionals. Brian said that it’s cold in Kenya and his family was planting beans, too. He also said he’s learning a lot at the project, including how to obey God and our parents. He shared John 14:1 with us! 

Today is a holiday, so there is no mail (sadly) but I am looking forward to what this week has in store! 

Sweet Greetings from Honduras, Thailand, Togo, Ecuador, Tanzania, and Ghana

Happy Mail Call Monday!

I'm very thankful that we received six letters this week. The first was from little Anahi in Honduras.

Anahi filled out a form letter about her dreams. When she is older, she wants to be a doctor. She wants to help her family by giving them money, and she said she wants to meet me because I am very nice with her. :) And when asked what she wants to do, she said "a cake." That sounds good to me! In the open part of the letter, Anahi's mom shared that Anahi gives thanks to God that God chose me as her sponsor!! I'm thankful God chose me, too! :) Sadly, her family also had bad news to share- Anahi's grandfather passed away in April. She shared the names of all her grandparents and asked that we pray for two of them because they don't go to church and she wants them to know Jesus.

Next, we heard from Thanakan in Thailand!

This was our second letter from Thanakan, and she wrote a lot! I had forgotten how much fun it is to correspond with a kid in Thailand. Thanakan filled out her form letter (or a helper did, rather) and another sheet of notebook paper! She sent a form letter about her favorites, which include grilled chicken, the color pink, "chair ball," rabbits, and "Kitty," her favorite cartoon character. In my reply letter I asked her if that meant Hello Kitty, and sent a picture to confirm. We have a lot in common! Thanakan also replied to several of the letters I have sent her. In response to my letter about names, she said that she doesn't know what her name means because where she lives, people just pick names and don't care about the meanings. In response to a letter about new babies, she said that in her village, people will bring a new mother chicken, clothes, and money, but they don't have any traditions for expectant mothers (like baby showers.) She also said that her family has been busy planting corn. In response to a letter about a Compassion graduate who works at an elephant sanctuary in Kenya, she said that her village has an elephant show every year, so she has seen the animals in person- but she doesn't get too close because they are big and could be dangeroous. Thanakan shared her family members with me, and I had to ask if they are all living in the same place: she has her mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, sister, brother-in-law, and some cousins. Thanakan also said that she really loved the little "diary" we sent her (a softcover journal from Michaels) and that she's praying for us!

Then there was a letter from Estha in Togo!

This was our second letter from Estha, as well. Her letter was only written a month ago, so it got here very quickly! Estha wrote a form letter about her hobbies, and says she enjoys choreography with her friend Nathalie. She also said that she doesn't have any pets, because "they are dangerous." Estha said that she was enjoying our letters and the journal we sent to her, and asked that we pray for the "evolution of children" at her center.

We  also heard from Erick in Ecuador again!

Erick's letter said that when he grows up, he wants to be a singer, and to keep studying. He also hopes he can come visit America, and he wants to meet me and talk to me in person!

Then we got another letter from Bonifas!

Bonifas said in his letter that he would really like to be a preacher (I told him in another letter I thought he'd be a great preacher) and that he doesn't just want to be a preacher in Tanzania, but he wants to go all around the world- maybe even come to America and preach here! He also said he wants to be a tour guide in his home country.

And finally, we got a letter from Angelina in Ghana!

Angelina wrote that her favorite animal is the ostrich, and her project has a "cadet" and she is part of it, and she really enjoys it. In my response letter, I asked her what that is, because I have no idea. Maybe something like a color guard? Safety patrol? I don't know. Angelina also asked me to tell her more about the library where I work, and said that she was praying for baby Lilly (my friend Jess's new baby) to have good health. She is also praying for my brother, that God will "comfort him always." She closed her letter by asking that we pray for her to understand God's will.

Sweet Greetings from Thailand, Bolivia, Togo, and the Philippines

Happy Mail Call Monday!

We received four letters this week- and I do know that more are on the way! 

The first letter was from Thanakan in Thailand! 

This was our first letter from Thanakan! She wrote a form letter about her hope for the future, and shared that she does want to get married, and she wants to go to university and become a teacher! She also said she wants to visit the US and meet me- and I hope she gets to do all those things some day! She shared that her parents are going to start their farming soon, and asked that we pray for them. And she asked if it is rainy or snowy where we live! 

Next, we got a very exciting letter from Merlyn!

Merlyn's mom wrote this letter, as she did the last one, and it was filled with so many smiley faces! Merlyn wished us happy anniversary, and asked me to say "hi" for her to "brother Brandon", and then said to "send (her) hi" to all my family and friends! So, hi from Merlyn! She also said that she got the gifts my friend Katie carried to the Philippines for her, and included a little collage of pictures!! It was so neat to see these photos- Merlyn looks so happy! And I also like the fact that she calls me her big sister! She asked that we pray for her mom, to stay strong! 

Next up, we heard from Juan in Bolivia! 

Juan's letter was pretty short, but it was really cute! He basically said that he had a good day on the day he wrote the letter, and he had a salad with his lunch- and he wrote "mmm, tasty!" He sent his love and thanked us for the letters we send! 

Finally, we got our first letter from little Estha in Togo! 

Estha sent a form letter about her community! She shared that she's 90 km from the nearest city, and many people in her community get around by using bicycles! She asked us how we prepare for Easter, and she drew a duck in the drawing space provided! She also said "thank you for always being with me!" 

Pastor's Letter: Togo (TG-120)

Here's another pastor's letter my mom received- this time from Togo!!

I am Amedjonekou Agbelessessi. I am pastor of the Maranatha Child Development Center where we minister to Jaki. This center is situated in the maritime region of Togo. I am really grateful to you for the sponsorship and support you give to Jaki. By this sponsorship, you give hope for a better future. 

The church is situated in a small village called Gbatope at five kilometers from Tsevie. The inhabitants cling to traditional practices, and many are idol worshippers. Jobs are scarce, and nearly all live below the poverty line. The lack of school systems and juvenile delinquency are almost daily threats to our community because some parents renounce their responsibilities and children are left to raise themselves. The church is overwhelmed by the requests of destitute families to register their children in the center's program, but since the number of registration is limited, we cannot satisfy all the demands.

The vision of the church and the center is to deliver the community from poverty and evil in all domains. We aim to act fairly with unconditional love, cultivate altruism, and encourage honesty, in order to build a radiant community where children can live in dignity, with the hope of a better future. The coming of the center allowed the children and some parents and relatives to recognize the value of the church and to confess Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.

The church has its big mission, which is door-to-door evangelization. The church also makes material donations to the families that are needy.

The letters received from the sponsor are a real sign of love and consideration for the children and their parents. The correspondence gives them a lot of hope and creates a strong link between children and their sponsors. Children wait impatiently for these letters that constitute an open door abroad for them. They learn about their sponsors' culture and way of living. Some even cry when they don't receive letters.

Thank you for your love and affection towards Jaki. I ask you by the grace of the Lord to pray so that the community could be converted to Christ. What an amazing blessing this would be for the center! Please also pray for the strengthening of the parents that are coming to church, and for the holistic development of all the children. May the Lord bless you and satisfy you with His good deeds.

Once again, thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of Jaki across the ocean.