Project Letter: RW-641

Here's a letter from Emmanuel T.'s project in Rwanda! All the photos come from Compassion's website. 

I am Nsabimana S., the pastor of (RW-641) in Kanazi and also (the project) where we minister to Emmanuel. I am glad to write to you to thank you for your support and your sponsorship of Emmanuel. Through your kind support and that of the other sponsors, we are able to serve the little ones and release them from poverty in Jesus' name.

The people in our community are very poor. They suffer much from lack of food and water, unemployment, no education, no opportunity, and they are still recovering from the 1994 genocide. There are many widows and orphans. The children are affected most by this. Because of this situation, we are grateful to have the center to develop the children holistically in the Compassion International program. We serve them in the spiritual, physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional areas.

There is a very big difference between children who are sponsored at the center and those who are not. They have a better life. They receive medical care and are given school materials and school fees. They are learning to behave better and have respect. They are taught the word of God and some have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. We are glad some of our children have developed their talents and some young girls and boys know how to dance Kinyarwanda dance and how to play musical instruments. This will help us to maintain Rwandan culture. In addition to helping the children, our church has formed cooperatives to help people to join hands together to help themselves develop. Their mindset has changed positively because members do meet together and exchange ideas. We are helping the entire community, beginning with the program at the center.

The children are always so excited to receive letters from their sponsors. The letter correspondence between the sponsors and the children is a very important part of the development program, and is also very important to their self-esteem. They feel loved and cared for and encouraged in their studies, at the center and at church. They are especially delighted to receive photos. For this reason, please send Emmanuel letters.

To conclude, I would wish to extend my sincere appreciation for your kindness and support you have given to Emmanuel. May God bless you so much for the good work you are rendering.



If you are interested in sponsoring a young man in Rwanda, please consider Modeste. He is 19 years old and lives with his mom and two siblings. He is doing well in vocational school and enjoys listening to music and singing in the choir! Read more about Modeste here.

Sweet Greetings from Bolivia, Kenya, Rwanda, the Philippines, Ecuador, Ghana, Tanzania, India, and Honduras!

Happy Mail Call Monday- the first of November! Wow!

What a tremendous blessing to receive so many letters this week!!!

Steph and I got our first letter from Maribel in Bolivia!

She said she was so happy that we sponsored her, and that she likes to talk! :) She listed her best friends, said that she likes to eat watermelon and pique macho, which is like, ground beef, beans, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, and all this random stuff. Bolivians must like it because Juan has written about it, too! She also drew a really pretty picture of a house in the hills.

We got a letter from little Purity in Kenya!

Purity's letter was a form letter about her favorites. Her favorite food is pilau, her favorite sport is skipping, she likes playing, her favorite color is orange, Ann is her best friend, and she likes dogs. And she says her favorite toy is a doll, and her favorite hero is her mum! She filled in all these blanks herself! On the back her project helper wrote that she said “jambo, rafiki” which means hello, friend! She and her family are doing well and she is always praying for us!

We also got a letter from Emmanuel in Kenya!

Emmanuel sent the same letter, since he goes to the same project. He likes chips, football, dancing, white, cats, dolls, and his best friend is Joyce. And he said his mummy is his favorite hero, too! Emmanuel is praying that God always blesses us!

We also heard from Fatuma in Kenya!

Fatuma opened her letter with “hello, my dear dear friend!” She said her family is doing well and she would like to thank me warmly for her letters, and that they really make her feel good! She says “Jessi Jones, I really think of you every day and I do pray for you too.” She asked how my stomach is doing and said she is doing well in school and at the project, and her mom recently had a baby named Abdalla! She also said she enjoyed reading the story of Fanny Crosby and especially liked the song lyrics that were included. :)


Next was a letter from Celestine in Kenya!

She said that her family is fine and she hopes mine is, too. She is learning new skills in the project like bead making and tailoring! She wants to know if I know how to do these things, too. She also is very excited that they started their games. She likes football and volleyball, and wants to know which games I like. She also told me to ask my friends Brandon and Stephanie which games they enjoy, as well. :) Celestine shared a little about Independence Day in her country, and she asked that we pray for her grandma, who has high blood pressure.


Then there’s a letter from Motempa in Kenya.

Motempa said “first of all, receive much greeting from your child.” She says she is doing well in school and she hopes that we are praying for her, and her family members are very happy. She asked about the weather and said they were experiencing a drought. She said she was thankful for our letters and support and she wants me to read Jeremiah 29:11.


We also heard from Nkoyio, who attends the same center.

Nkoyio also talked about the drought and asked how we are doing. She said “thank you so much for your continuous support that you have been sending to me. I lack words to express my happiness to you. I thank God for giving me a wonderful friend like you. Have a good stay up there- we shall meet soon!” How sweet!


And then there was a letter from Gloria, also at the same center!

Gloria’s letter was written by a helper at the project, and she also talked about the drought. She asks that we pray for her to do well in school and that we pray her parents have a peaceful time when she is at school.


We also got our second letter from Jeannette in Rwanda in three weeks!

She says her whole family sends greetings and they are thankful that we care about them! She wished us the peace of Christ and said the story of Malala touched their hearts and they are praying for her!


And then there was a letter from Merlyn in the Philippines!

She addressed her letter to “sister Jessi”, which I love. She and her mom are doing well, and she asked if I like planting flowers. She said “There are lots of things you are busy with. That’s why you get sick. It’s good for you to be in farm to get your body and mind relaxed.” How cute! Merlyn asked about my favorite flower and asked what games I played with my cousins when I was growing up. Merlyn asked that we pray that her mom stays healthy so she can do her work, and she is praying to Jesus to make my tummy better so I can eat my favorite foods. :) She is so cute! She also said that she bought a blouse and groceries with her birthday gift!

We also had a letter from little Erick in Ecuador.

He wrote a form letter about his project, and said that he gets there in 2 minutes by walking. He goes there on Mondays and Sundays! He said his favorite parts of going to the project are singing and playing soccer.


There was also a letter from Angelina in Ghana.

She said that she is learning how to pray at the project, and she is happy about that! She wrote that she would like to learn more about my country, and she drew a very detailed picture of a flower with all the parts labeled- like the stamen and pistil and everything! It looks like something straight out of a biology textbook! I was very impressed!

Later in the week, we got a letter from Said in Tanzania!

Said said that he and his family are doing well, and that his auntie was expecting a baby! The baby would have been born in August. She was going to name it after Said's dad, who passed away 10 years ago. This is the most Said has ever said about his father in his letters- even when I met with him in Tanzania, he just said that he was deceased. Said said that every year,  they have a memorial in honor of his father. He also said that he is praying for me every day, when he goes to sleep and when he wakes up!


We also heard from Kajal in India!

Kajal sent a form letter about her dental checkup! She went to the dentist six months ago, and both her parents were able to go with her! She learned that she should brush her teeth twice a day, and she has 30 teeth- meaning she is missing two! How cute! Kajal's helper at the project said that Kajal is doing really well. Her auntie got married recently and she went to the wedding and had fun dancing there. She also talked about her dolly named Munny! She said that it has been raining so there are lots of green plants and saplings growing, and she and her family were happy about my wedding anniversary! She also asked that we pray for her dad, who has tuberculosis. This recurring illness keeps him from working sometimes. 

We also had a much-awaited letter from Anahi!

Anahi's letter was a form letter about her house. She lives in a brick home with cement floors, and sleeps in a bed. They use a well to get their water and they wash their clothes in a basin. I am glad that she has a sturdy house, but I am praying that they get running water soon! Anahi's mom wrote that they were so glad to get the gifts I was able to send this summer! I was so thankful to hear that they arrived safely. I like imagining Anahi's face, opening the baggie with the dress, candies, and toys! And I hope her mama liked the necklace we picked out for her, too. Anahi's mom said "We also want to thank you for the beautiful dress, the chains and the toys, they are spectacular. May God almighty continue to spill blessings over you Jessi, blessing after blessing. God is wonderful and we ask God to keep you and send angels around your life, your house and all of your family. Anahi says she would like to give you many hugs." How very, very sweet! I just can't wait to meet Anahi next year!!

Our last letter of the week came from Elisha in Tanzania!

Elisha wrote a form letter about his friends! His best friends are Ezekia and John, and he knows them from the project! They read and play together, and go to the same school. Elisha said his closest friend is Ezekia, and when asked what makes him special, he said "I love him!" How sweet!

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 Peru, Ecuador, Rwanda and Tanzania

Happy Mail Call Monday- the first of July!

Our mailman is acting fishy again- we got five letters on the first day of the week, and then the mail was messed up the rest of the week! Like, the Tuesday coupons came on Friday, and there was no main in between. Maybe that means I'll get a bunch of letters this week. :) 

The first letter we received was from Carlos in Peru. 

It was a little unusual to hear from Carlos, since we just got a letter from him last month, but it was still nice to hear from him! Carlos shared that he was accepted to a school (I think that it's a community college, rather than a vocational school) and he's studying mechanics! I'm so proud of him! He also said that his brother Marcos had a birthday, and his whole family got to go to the zoo to celebrate. 

Next up, there was another letter from Erick in Ecuador!

After not hearing from Erick for over six months, this was our second letter from him in just a couple of weeks! Several other sponsors have mentioned similar situations, so we are thinking maybe there was just a back-up of letters in Ecuador. Anyway. Erick wrote a letter about school holidays, and says he likes to play ball and spend time with the other kids when he's out of school. He also shared "I also want to say that I feel very joyful and grateful for having a sponsor." 

Then we heard from Habimana in Rwanda! 

Habimana wrote a form letter about his family. He said that he has two siblings, and his aunt lives with them. His favorite family activities are gathering firewood and collecting water. When asked about his family's health or special needs, Habimana said that they need to be able to take his dad to the doctor for treatment, because he's very sick. Plenty of my kids have mentioned having sick relatives before, but none of them have said that they weren't even able to take them to the doctor. We are doing an inquiry into his family situation, to see if there's a way we can help. Habimana also said he "doesn't know pizza," which I had written about in another letter, and he really enjoyed reading about the Compassion graduate stories, like Sherinah's and the story of the head elephant keeper at the Sheldrick sanctuary in Kenya. 

Next up, we got a letter from Bonifas in Tanzania. 

Bonifas said that he and his family are doing really well, and he wants to know how he can pray for us. He also said he remembers my visit to Tanzania, and he wants me to come back so I can visit his house! Bonifas also responded to my letter about weddings by saying that he has been to the wedding of one of his neighbors, and his tutor wrote "he loves you because you care for him."

Lastly, we got a letter from Elifagason in Tanzania. 

Elifagason said he was "so happy to greet (us) once again." He shared that his family is doing well and at the project, they memorized Psalm 14:1. In a response to my letter about how new babies are celebrated in my country, Elifagason said that when a woman has a baby, she should "stay home for about two weeks." :) Elifagason also said "we thank God for the miracles that he has done for us" and that he's thankful for the rainy season and the dry season, and closed the letter with "now let me say goodbye until another day. May God be with you. Amen."

Sweet Greetings from Tanzania, Kenya, Honduras, Ghana and Rwanda

Happy Mail Call Monday!

Our first letter of the week was from Elifagason in Tanzania! 

Elifagason shared that at the center, he is learning addition, and they've been discussing how to search for a job! One thing that's really neat about the centers is they also work really hard to prepare the kids for work in the future, by teaching them marketable skills and things like that. Employment is obviously really crucial to ending poverty. And he shared Ephesians 4:12 to go along with this lesson! Elifagason also said that the teachers and kids at his project got to attend a wedding recently! In my response, I'll ask him who got married! 

Next, we got a letter from Angelina in Ghana! 

Angelina said that she really enjoyed the stories I've been sending to her, including the Men and Women of Faith letters that Hannah has posted! She said that last month, her project had a spelling bee, and while she didn't take part in it, it was a fun experience to watch! In the "questions for my sponsor" section of the letter, she asked me to describe what snow feels like! She asked us to pray for her family. 

Next up, a letter from Motempa in Kenya!

This is the second letter we received from Motempa, but the first letter she wrote! We had a letter/envelope mix-up with her first letter, so I just got her intro form letter! I'm glad it made it to me! Motempa likes purple and green, and she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. She has three siblings and her best friend's name is Vivian. He favorite subject is science and her favorite Bible story is the tale of the fall of the walls of Jericho. She shared that her favorite foods are beef stew and mokimo, which I learned is a dish of mashed potatoes and vegetables. Motempa asked that we pray for rain in Kenya. 

Then we got our first letter from Habimana in Rwanda!

Habimana sent a form letter about his house, which is made of wood and mud, and has a metal roof. He doesn't have electricity but he has access to a well. Habimana and his family sent greetings and seemed really excited that he has a new letter-writer, and I'm excited about that, too. He also mentioned that he was unable to finish the first grade last year because it was expensive, so he is giving it another go this year. His letter really had me thinking about his family's financial situation, and I hope to be able to send a small family gift sometime soon. 

Finally, we heard from Sandier in Honduras!

Sandier's letter was a form letter about his project. He said that his project has 289 kids, and his favorite part about his tutor at the project is her attention (his tutor is Iris!) The letter was written by Patricia, who is the coordinator of sponsorship at the project. She shared that Sandier was so happy to get the gift that we sent- when in reality, the gift was from the field office staff, who took up a collection after learning that the gift I sent Sandier last year had gotten lost. I was just so overwhelmed by their kindness. As an added blessing, we got an extra photo of Sandier with his gifts! 

Pastor's Letter: Rwanda (RW-961)

I started receiving some of my own pastor's letters last week! Here's the letter we received from Habimana's center. 

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My name is Hamenyimana Bonaventure, pastor of Rugarama Parish, in the northern region of Rwanda, that ministers to your sponsored child at EEAR Gafumba Student Center. Our area has got the Volcano Park and the mountain gorillas.

I am very thankful to you for supporting, praying for, and loving Habimana.

Our area is a village whose people live mainly by agricultural products, though the land is small and less productive. We have widows and orphans who really need holistic support and who are willing to be released from poverty.

What I have personally seen regarding the children attending the center's program is that children are making progress comparing to others who are not supported by the center. There is really a positive change, financially and spiritually. Because of preaching and telling them about our Lord Jesus Christ on Saturday, their lives are always renewed and getting well. Some families of sponsored children have been able to fulfill many important plans such as buying a plot of land, cows, goats, and they are repairing their houses for good comfort. 

There is always a great joy when children receive a letter from their sponsor. Actually they become very happy and so much interested in what is written. They are happy because there is someone who is interested in their lives. On the other hand, when children miss a letter from their sponsor, it makes them feel sad and worried and always continues to pray that one day they may get a sponsor and start to communicate to the sponsor through receiving and writing letters, pictures, toys, and also welcome a sponsor. The children wish to meet their sponsor and to thank their sponsor. If possible, please accept the invitation and come so that your child's joy may be filled. May God always bless you!

It is with great pleasure that we thank you for your generosity for Habimana. We would like to tell you that the children will always pray for you and wish you all the best. Many blessings from our heavenly Dad.