Compassion Sunday

The first Sunday of June has become the annual date of Compassion Sunday at my church. We have the amazing honor and privilege of our pastor's blessing to use the entire service to present the ministry of Compassion. 

In past years we've had friends and fellow sponsors share their experiences, shared about our trips and meeting our children, and this year we had the special honor of welcoming Gilbert Mfitundinda to share his story with us.

Gilbert is currently one of Compassion's fellows and is also available to share his story around the country as one of Compassion's speakers this year. He is the youngest of 8 children and grew up in Uganda. At age 7 he was registered into Compassion's program through his local church. He shared with us that his family was "so poor, even the poor people called us poor". When he was 14 he gave his life to Christ, and that same year his father passed away from a severe asthma attack. His sponsor was a great source of encouragement and comfort to him during this time.

Gilbert had three sponsors during his time in Compassion, and all three were good letter writers. He brought several letters and photos with him and it was so encouraging to me to read those letters.

In addition to our morning service, we held an evening event.

We had some activities for kids, which I found on Compassion's Explorer page.

It's ALWAYS an encouragement to meet the young men and women who have been the recipients of Compassion's ministry. I loved how Gilbert kept saying his life was transformed because of "a caring person just like you". We saw 16 new children sponsored as a result of our efforts on Sunday, and while it's not a huge number, I know there is more happening that we can't see. Sponsor development is also an important part of sponsorship, and I know a lot of this took place as a result of conversations people had with Gilbert.

Mwanzia in Kenya

Mwanzia Stephen 

in Kenya

birthdate - June 10, 2000

Mwanzia is one of our correspondent children. We first began corresponding with him in March of 2013 have received 37 letters to date. In August 2017, we became his sponsors. He is one of four children and lives with his grandmother, Margret (his parents have passed away). 

Mwanzia attends the African Inland Church Ikanga Child Development Center which is located 225 km southeast of Nairobi. (we correspond with another child at the same center - Duncan Kitheka)

Miscellaneous info from letters:

• used birthday money to buy a mattress, chair, soap and sweets
• wants to be an engineer
• soccer is his favorite game
• bought a goat with birthday money
• village planted trees to control soil erosion - trees were given by the governor of county (Dec 2015)
• bought trousers, shirts and maize
• science fair club - making simple fan that is affordable for the poor
• studying to become a lawyer
• also aspires to be a football (soccer star)
• harvesting maize, cowpeas and beans
• 2020 - wants to join a technical college / wants to plant trees to beautify the country

"I thank you because you love me. I love you too . My grandmother is so happy every time I show her the letters which you usually send to me. "

"If wish can come true I may visit you there at your country. 
But because they can't be, I socialize with you through letters."

March 2019 "I would like to one day visit some ports of America to carry out my research concerning peoples cuture. I'm historian and hope to achieve my goal before my last breath if you support me through finance and prayer. I know smooth life never comes through sitting but by working extra miles."

Sept 2019 - "I promise to visit you at your home place when my turn to be rich comes."

Duncan in Kenya

Duncan Kitheka

in Kenya

We first began corresponding with Duncan in March of 2013 have received 38 letters to date. In August 2017, we became his sponsors. He is one of four children and live with his mother, Kawemba (his father has passed away). She is a farmer, loves God and attends church. His siblings are Beatrice, Mwanzia and Jacinta. 

Duncan attends the African Inland Church Ikanga Child Development Center which is located 225 km southeast of Nairobi. (we correspond with another child at the same center - Mwanzia Stephen)

• bought a goat with birthday money we sent
• other gifts: plastic chair, plastic table, belt and sweets
• likes to swim and play football
• crops they grow: maize, cow peas and green grams
• wants to be a doctor
• best friend at project - Mwanzia Stephen (whom we also sponsor)
• bought a mattress, washing powder, school bag and plastic chairs

"I cannot hide my joy as I say thank you to have you as my sponsor and friend. I am so happy for what you write to me every time. "

"I thank you for the letters you have send to me. They are nice. I have learned the ten commandments and memorized them again and again to stick in my mind." 

"In our country it's too hot and dry. We thank God we had food from our farms sufficient for our family this time. The main crops that are grown are only drought resistant crops." 

"I always pray for you because of supporting me through the project. It provides us with so many things like shoes, school uniform, well balanced diet and paying for our fees." 

"How are you my dear? I cannot hide my joy to have you as my sponsor and my friend. I am so happy for what you write to me every time." 

"I cannot hide my joy as I say thank you to have you as my sponsors." 

David ~ LDP student in Peru

The one and only LDP correspondent I've had the privilege of writing to was David in Peru. David is an incredible young man who loves the Lord with his whole heart. I definitely feel like I got the better end of this deal in this arrangement...read on and you'll see why I say that.

DAVID

We received our first letter from David in October of 2009 (when he was 21 years old) and our final letter in August of 2012. During the 3 years that we corresponded, we received a total of 32 letters. He was a seriously good letter writer! I also had the opportunity to meet David in August of 2010.

David was studying electronic engineering at Callo National University in Lima, Peru. He and his family were very active in their church, Assemblies of God of Peru. His father, Samuel, was a teacher, his mother, Emerita, was a deacon of treasury, his older sister, Noemi, worked with the youth, and David played keyboard and drums.

"It is a great joy for me because all my family is serving God." 

"These past years God has given me the opportunity to serve Him through music. I do not know if I am talented, but when I praise Him and worship Him through music, it is such a beautiful time for me that I forget about everything else and the only thing I do is to express my gratitude to Him through each rhythm, note and melody. I have the privilege to be learning how to play the drums and keyboard since I left high school (about 5 years ago) and I continue learning. And, I serve God with these instruments in my local church."

Miscellaneous info:

• Received a study Bible from Compassion
• May of 2010 - visited by Wess Stafford - "All the staff of Compassion Peru was truly blessed but I believe that this visit had a major impact on the LDP students as we could see what a humble and wonderful leader this man is. I had the opportunity to minister during the worship time by playing keyboards. I had to rehearse with the LDP students for this day. The day of Wess' visit I was nervous but then I felt good and enjoyed this visit."
• had a brother who passed away when he was only one month old - their house was made of mat and the cold weather caused his death
• June 2011 - mom finished high school! She finished a ministry formation program (pastoral theology) and started Bible seminary.
• Sister, Noemi, studied agroindustrial engineering - she was also sponsored through Compassion
• July 2011 - mom formed a group of musicians who went on a mission trip to the province of Cajamarca
• Learning English was his biggest personal challenge
• January 2012 - participated in LDP bus evangelism outreach - they presented themselves as university students, telling others that it is through God they are reading their dreams. This was well-received and caught a lot of attention as evangelism among university students is rare in Peru. (it is usually done by the less educated)
• Summer 2012 (January - March ) - summer music workshop at church. David had 5 students in his drum class. 
• March 2012 - helped do home visits for prospective LDP students in Compassion. This reminded David to never forget where he and his family came from. 
• June 2012 - began working for Partner of IBM and Cisco
• Used the final birthday gift we sent him to buy gifts for his family - shoes, pajamas and shampoo for his mother, pants and deodorant for his father, shoes and pajamas for his aunt and a backpack and USB for himself for work.
• signed many letters with "I send you a strong hug."

Some letter highlights following our meeting....

"My mother is so thankful to God that she could meet you. My mother and I will never forget August 25th. It has been a very special day in our lives filled with blessings and joy." 

"I had the privilege to meet Jill. I will never forget these two days I spent with her. They have changed my life. I met a true servant who reflects much love. I have seen God's great love in her life. Dear Jill, thank you for your words and for taking your time to come to Peru to meet Jazmin and me. You are a very kind and cheerful woman and you are one of those few people who cause a great impact on others. Perhaps I did not tell you this because I was too excited. I know God let us meet so we can learn new things from each other. Now I feel I love you and your family more and I appreciate your support. I thank God for this beautiful experience, for this unforgettable day in my life. God has spoken to me through Jill and not only through her words but also through the things I could see and feel."

We received the following info:

• LDP country profile
• LDP university profile
• LDP annual update
• LDP new student profile
• LDP new student testimony (questions and answers below)

How did you come to accept Christ as your personal Savior?
I learned about God's Word in Sunday school when I was very little. When I was about 8 years old, I went to a children's festival called, Festninos, where we were taught about God's Word. Our teacher, Isabel, encouraged us to ask Christ into our hearts. We were invited to go to the altar to receive Christ and I did. That day was very beautiful because that was when I really started to understand God's love. I remember my teacher with love because she was a very special person to me because she was nice to us all.

What impact did Compassion have on your personal and spiritual development?
Compassion influenced me a lot. They helped me financially by giving me food every day that I attended the child development center. I learned more about God and what He is like. I also took Bible lessons. I learned how to behave properly and many other things that are useful to me now because what I learned still remains in my heart. I remember one day my center took us to the movies to see a film about abortion. When I saw this film, I was shocked about how abortion is done and understood why God prohibited it. Another special moment I had at the child development center was my graduation from Compassion. An LDP student told us about his experience as part of this program and how it had blessed him by preparing him to be a leader. I was overwhelmed with what I heard and since that moment, I have wanted to be part of this program. There was a special person for me at the center, sister Abelia, who is the current director. She encouraged me to study to make a difference among other people in the future. 

Who has had the most influence on your life and why?
My parents influenced me because every day, they have guided me and advised me not to do things that I might regret later. They gave me their love and a good education despite their limited financial resources. They avoided spending money on other things so they could pay for my education. They have always advised me to make good decisions and to progress in life. 


I've written many other posts I've about David...

• David's Family and Compassion
• David's LDP Graduation
• David's Shoebox from Operation Christmas Child
• Christmas Letter highlights
• Sponsor Fun Day in Peru 
• David's Mother

We never received and official last letter, but I certainly don't feel slighted when it comes to receiving communication from David. Since his graduation and departure, we have communicated through email and google chats, although our correspondence has diminished greatly. Corresponding with and meeting David is definitely a highlight of my Compassion experience.

Ayon in India

As I sit here sifting through letters I find myself amazed at how much these kids can grab part of your heart, especially if you have developed a pretty good relationship through letters over the years. 

Today I'm sharing about Ayon - a boy we started corresponding with in November of 2007 and then began sponsoring in 2011. We received our final letter from him in March of 2013, but it wasn't really a final letter. It was just the last letter we received. Sadly, Ayon's project was put on probation by Compassion and they were unable to meet Compassion's requirements for staying open and it was shut down. 

I have so enjoyed taking the time to sit down and read through several years worth of letters from each child we have sponsored and Ayon's letters were no different. It's fun to see a pattern in the way each child writes. 

Over the 7 years we were writing to him, we received 63 letters! 

Ayon

February 10, 1999

Ayon lives in East India, near the city of Calcutta (30 km away).  He lives in a mud house in a very rural area, only 1/2 km from where he attended the Compassion project. His project was only reachable by walking or by bike, and during the rainy season the roads were nearly impassable. (he mentioned this every year during the rainy season).

His project (Kalinagar Student Center - EI 105) served 300 families and here's a break down of religion and caste:

• 20 Christian families
• 220 Hindu families
• 60 Muslim families
• 90% low caste
• 10% middle caste
• 80% people are daily laborers
• 10% business
• 10% service

Miscellaneous info from letters:

• Ayon joined the Compassion project in 2003
• He was an only child and lived with his father, Babla, his mother, Tharna, and his grandmother, Sanaka
• signed every letter "your loving Ayon"
• favorite subject - science
• wanted to be a teacher - then in 2013 changed it to doctor
• every letter reported that he was attending Sunday school and mentioned him liking one of the following: Bible verse, Jesus song, Jesus stories, Jesus drama, Jesus instruction

Every letter also had a seasonal report of what was available to them from farming:

SPRING

• chickoo (sweet fruit) and grapes
• dahlias and chrysanthemums

SUMMER

• mango, lichi, water melon, wood apple, green mango
• ice cream (he mentioned more than once how much he loved ice cream in his summer reports)

FALL

• lemon, jackfruit, pineapple, guava, pear, apple
• water lily

WINTER (this was his favorite season)

• orange, banana
• cauliflower, cabbage, sugar beet, carrot, radish, tomato

In the final years, his letters often had very colorful drawings or doodles

The Compassion center seemed very active - here are some of the things Ayon reported participating in:

• January 26 - republic day - cultural program (dance, patriotic songs, recitation)
• August 15 - independence day
• September 5 - teacher's day - activities to honor center "uncles and aunties"
• November 14 - children's day
• annual sports competition
• medical camp
• circus show
• Good Friday service
• Christmas program - 2 days of cultural programs, 1 day of gift distribution
• sleeps with mosquito net
• April 2011 - Center dug a deep tube well

letter highlights...

"I have your photos in my personal Bible. Every night at prayer time I see your face and remember you in my prayers." 

"It is very hot now in our village. But last evening there was raining a little. In this time we are getting mango in cheap price. I like to eat mango. Do you like mango? And my daily life just like this....Monday to Saturday everyday morning 7:00 am I go to center. My father also go for his work at the same time. Then I come to center and attend morning devotion. And then study, play games and many project activities go on. We take meals from here then I go for home and ready for school. Then I go to my school. Coming back from my school I used to go field with my friends. When I don't have my tuition. And when I have my tuition, I go for my study. Coming from tuition I spend some time with my parents. And then we take our dinner together. After dinner go for bed. Every Sunday I come to my center and attend church service. And at Sunday school I am knowing about Bible."

"I am very happy to read your letter that you have a special concern for me. I am fine by his grace. I am a sponsor child last 8 years. I am born and brought up in a non Christian family (Hindu) but now my life is changed through my child development center. My father is working as a daily laborer and my mother is a house wife. We are a poor family, but through CDC and help of Compassion I am studying. Without help of Compassion I can't study. Every Sunday all our family members attending Sunday church service and specially I like to attend Sunday school. Through Sunday school class I came to know Jesus is my friend, personal savior. Every day I am praying at morning and night time. Before eat, I am praying. When anyone sick we are praying. I thank God that through Compassion my life changed. I received gifts. I never thought that I can study, but by the grace of God I am now studying."

Josseling in Nicaragua

I love all our Compassion kids, but after being a sponsor for more than 20 years now, there are a few who really stick out and hold a special place in my heart. The common thread is that we've sponsored them for a long time - 12 years - and seen them through from childhood to adulthood.

Josseling is one of those, and maybe it's even more special that both my husband and I got to meet her on separate trips to Nicaragua. We've both met her mom and siblings and stood in her home. We've toured her Compassion project and walked the streets of her community.

Josseling

October 10, 1997

Our sponsorship began in January 2003 when she was five years old. The first letter we received was dated March 28, 2003 and over the course of 12 years we received 50 letters. 

Miscellaneous information from the letters:

• lives with mother and siblings (Henry, Gerardoo and Mercedes pictured above)
• at the project: likes to play with friends, pray, play sports and Bible games. Also learns to compose songs and then sing them. 
• bought a new blue dress and black shoes with money we sent

• studied computing at the project, also learned baking (how to make cookies)
• soccer league in the project and Josseling liked to play
• project often had pinatas at different celebrations
• project organized camping trip and Josseling participated
• favorite verse - Proverbs 4:13, Psalm 23:1
• participated in evangelist campaign
• mother not a Christian - often asked for us to pray for her
• August 2010 - surgery for umbilical hernia
• 2013 - cousin Aurita passed away - she was 17 years old
• late 2013 - new baby brother
• January 2015 - finished high school and began university - studying journalism

Mirra Olor Fragante NI-111

She says she likes to attend the project because she likes to learn more about Jesus everyday. She says she likes to read the Bible, to pray and to sing. 

I am so happy because of the gift that I received from you. I went shopping with the project's sisters to the market of Ciudad Sandino. There are many clothes and shoe stores. I bought 3 pairs of shoes, sneakers, blouses, black pants, 3 pair of slippers and underwear. I loved underwear. I say thanks to you a lot for the gift that I received. 

almost every letter had a little drawing - butterflies were common subjects

Kevin's visit to Nicaragua in January 2012

• Meeting Josseling
• Compassion in Nicaragua

Jill's visit to Nicaragua in January 2015

• Vocational Training for Teens in Nicaragua
• Meeting Josseling
• Wrapping up our Compassion Day in Nicaragua

final letter....(received Sept. 2015)

Dear Sponsors Kevin and Jill,  

I send you warm greetings and I thank you for the beautiful sponsorship you gave me in all this time that I was part of the ministry and I got a lot of blessings from God and one of them was to be your sponsored child. I enjoyed birthdays, Christmas parties, medical checkups, scholar packages and it was a big help to me. I also studied computing and it helped me a lot and I am at the university and have taken advantage of it and I hope I can help other children in the future as you were a blessing to me. I also thank you for your gifts. I say goodbye to you and I will always pray for you and I will take you in my heart. Wishing you the best I say good bye to you and I hope God pour many blessings on you. With love, Josseling

Rubi

This week I'm writing my final letter to Rubi - a sweet girl we've had the privilege of corresponding with for the past 6 years. Over the years we've received approximately 47 letters from her. Her early departure from Compassion's program came as a surprise to me, however she has received employment and her new job prevents her from attending Compassion's program

Rubi

Miscellaneous information from letters:

• born April 12, 1996
• oldest of 4 children / lives with many relatives in a remote village
• house made of cow dung and mud
• parents have paddy field which they worked with a cow / grew rice, maize, potatoes, tomatoes and cabbage 
• used gift $ to buy trolley back, nice dress (which she was longing to buy), chairs, backpack, carpet, bag and bedsheed (which were noted as necessary)
• enjoys playing badmitton, table tennis, volley
• dreamed of being a teacher (which she accomplished!)
• has a personal copy of the Word
• Christmas celebrations at center included others from nearby villages
• always wrote letters in English and always reported on the weather
• likes to maintain house, read and listen to music
• only girl from the project center to study in college
• 2013 - went to college (50Km from home) - these classes began preventing her regular attendance at Compassion project
• March 2012 - participated in LDP orientation
• favorite part of center - vocational training (weaving and knitting) and 4 fold activity

letter highlights....

Well, this Compassion sponsorship is really a great blessing for me and my family. Through this sponsorship I have learnt so much. It is through this program I could study up to this standard. My parents want me to study and I want to but if there is no sponsorship I would have drop my studies long before like my other friends, those who don't have sponsorship. Because my family condition is not able to support me with my brother and other sisters who are also studying. By this sponsorship my family condition is better. 

 

I and my family are really blessed by Compassion ministry. It is through Compassion I started my schooling. I am not alone in my family. I have 1 brother and 2 sisters. I am eldest. Since we are four, my parents were not able to support all for schooling. Compassion save me from dropping my schooling. By your support I have read this far. 

Final letter....

Greetings to you in Jesus name. I am AKHOZO, Project Manager, writing to you on Rubi behalf. Rubi and her family are fine and doing well.

I am happy to inform you that Rubi has got teaching joy at her village. Since she has to give her full time in her job, she cannot attend project activity anymore. Therefore, she is departing from the project. The project will ever remain grateful to you for the love and support you showered upon her.

Before writing this letter, I talk to her and parents. They say they are so grateful to you for all the love and support given to them. They say if not your support she will not study up to this level. It will be just a mere dream to go to college. She say she will always remember you in her life. She say she will always remember you in her prayer and request you to pray for her future life.

Once again, thank you so much. May God bless you.

Cilia ~ Our LDP student in Honduras

After a disappointing first attempt at sponsoring an LDP student, we began sponsoring Cilia in early 2011. We received a profile for Cilia from Compassion and felt led to sponsor her for two reasons.

1. My husband had just gone to Honduras with a medical mission team
2. She was studying Chemisty and Pharmacy - my husband's field.

We received 10 letters over the 2 1/2 years we sponsored Cilia, as well as an overview of LDP in Honduras with many photos. Cilia was 18 years old when we first sponsored her, but her Compassion story goes back to when she was 6 and first enrolled in the CDSP. She had two sponsors, the second of which wrote to her often and even traveled to meet her.

Almost every letter had a new photo - often printed right onto the letter as seen below.

We received the following info:

• LDP country profile
• LDP university profile
• LDP annual update
• LDP new student profile
• LDP new student testimony (questions and answers below)

How did you come to accept Christ as your personal Savior?

One day at the child development center, my tutor was praying and she made a call to get saved. At the time (I was 15), God came into my life and I started to feel the anointing. Then I started to cry and feel God's presence.

How has God specifically used Compassion to share who you are today?

God has used Compassion in a great way. It has the greatest blessing for me because they are teaching us to become spiritual leaders in character and example for others. I am also learning to stay away from bad things and get closer to God. 

Who has had the most influence on your life and why?

God and my parents have been helping me walk on the right path. The child development center is teaching me what is right. Lastly my tutor has been leading me to make the best decision for my life and accept God as my Lord and Savior.

Miscellaneous info from the letters and profiles:

• Mother is Elvia and Father is Joaquin - Cilia is the youngest of 8 children (4 boys and 4 girls)
• Father suffered several stroks and a heart attack - was very sick and bedridden
• lived in a neighborhood with crime and risk of landslides
• served in children's ministry (ages 6-8)
• participated in dance ministry
• used birthday $ to pay for Rock or Sand camp and buy new coat
• attended LDP community service events
• switched from chemistry/pharmacy to psychology

Sadly, Cilia was victim of abuse by a gang member at one point. With Compassion's help, she was relocated to a LDP home with three other ladies for 6 months. It was in a different part of the city and it was very difficult for her to be away from her family. Her father was very sick at times (bedridden) and Cilia helped her mother with his care. 

After regular communication from Cilia for 1 1/2 years, a whole year went by without us receiving any letters. In January 2014 we received notice of Cilia's early departure from Compassion. Cilia had dropped out of school and was no longer fulfilling her requirements to remain in the LDP program.

from the departure letter....

It's hard for me to bring sad news; we in Compassion thank you for your faithfulness in making possible that Cilia had this development opportunity. Due to your support Cilia was provided with many different benefits in her spiritual, health, academic, social and leadership areas, such as Bible, counseling, mission outreaches, medical treatment for her and her parent, meals, tuition, books, tutoring, uniforms, school supplies, access for internet, monthly extra funds to support her family needs, funds from the highly vulnerable children strategy in order to supply family immediate needs, relocation for several months as a support during a lot of insecurity period in her neighborhood, participation in seminars, conferences and trainings, community service projects, opportunities for leadership experience, etc. 

more pics of LDP students in Honduras

Dominic in Kenya

After my very first sponsored child (Judith in Kenya) left Compassion's program, I asked Compassion to send me another child from Kenya to sponsor.

I was thrilled to receive the child packet of Dominic Muchangi from Kenya. What pleased me most was his name. You see, I was married by this time, but still didn't have children of my own. I had been saying that if I ever had a little baby boy, I would name him Domnick Paul - my mom's maiden name was Domnick and my mother in law's maiden name was Paul.

So even though it was spelled differently, my first Compassion son was named Dominic. And it turns out I never did get that baby boy, but instead God blessed us with two daughters!

We sponsored Dominic all the way through....for 12 years (late 2000 - Oct 2012). Over those 12 years we received approximately 36 letters. Dominic was 22 when he completed Compassion's program.

Miscellaneous info from letters:

• family had a big garden/farm
• used money we sent to buy hens, food, bed and mattress
• curious about how we knew the gender of our babies before they were born
• was the oldest of 2 children when we first sponsored, but eventually was the oldest of 5 boys
• called his new baby brother a "visitor"

"I want to live for God and depart Satan's ways....I want to live for God forever."

"I am saved and I love Jesus Christ and I attend church."

"I always attend the church and God is continuing to transform my life and showing me the direction to my destiny."

• called our children by their middle names "Grace" and "Alexa"
• every letter talked about the family's garden, health and school progress
• most letters mentioned that he was waiting for me to fulfill my promise to visit him - I think my message of hoping to visit him someday was mistranslated to a promise that I was coming. 
• wanted to join college and study nursing, but instead studied information technology
• August 2010 - joined medical college and specialized in medical laboratory sciences - the same field my husband is in!
• youth chairman at church
• at one point the family got a new cat and he wrote us to ask his "sisters" (my daughters) to suggest a name 

from a letter dated November 10, 2008

I would like to take this chance to thank and honor you very much because of your sponsorship, you have made dreams and expectations to come true. I have been hoping to complete my form tour course with a good grade and with your support that has succeeded . The Almighty Father will give you enough strength and power in whatever you hope in life. He will open doors and create paths where there is no path for you and your family as the scripture says from the book of Psalms 128:1 "blessed are all who fear the Lord who walk in his ways."

Dominic with his parents and four brothers, in front of their home

 from a letter dated April 20, 2009

I would like to thank you very much for your support, you have made me to be a responsible person in my life. You have made my life to have a very strong foundation. This is because your support made me to complete my both primary and secondary school, and still with your support I will be able to join a nursing college. You have made me to grow healthy spiritually, economically and socially while in the project. You are more than a friend in my life.

from a letter dated September 8, 2011

You had requested I share what Compassion has done in our family. It has supported alot in my education and various other ways. Through the gifts that you send to me we are able to buy food stuff, clothes for my younger brothers and parents. We are also able to buy domestic animals like goats which helps us meet our needs. 

  

Although I never got to travel to Kenya and meet Dominic, I was able to send gifts to him through a fellow advocate who traveled to his project. His mother made this basket, which he gave to Julie to bring back to the US for me. Here is a pic of him with the basket in Kenya, and a pic of me with the basket in Oregon.

and now the final letter....dated October 5, 2012

Receive much greetings from child Dominic. It is my hope and prayer that you are also fine in Jesus name. I would like to take this opportunity to give my special thanks to you for the years we have known each other. Your sponsorship has really made me be exposed to things that I would have never seen or achieved in my life. Indeed through Compassion and your support, I was able to successfully complete my primary and secondary education and joined my computer course. And I was able to go up to diploma level. Through your support I later joined Kings Medical college for a course in medical laboratory sciences. I have done my certificate examinations and am now waiting for the results. 

For real you are a special friend to me that I will never forget your impact in my life. Through sponsorship I got to know who God is and who he is in my life. Our dearly loving teacher taught us how to pray and read Bible, and I even gained courage to teach other younger children like Jackson (the other boy we sponsored from the same project). 
We also traveled to other projects for games and seminars. I will never forget your special letters you have been writing to me, the special photos and maps from you. I wish it would be possible to have photos of my sisters because they will ever be in my heart.  

Life has been smooth with your sponsorship. I pray that it will still be the same without your encouraging letters and photos. My heart is really grateful that we were able to meet and socialize in such a special way. I promise that I will ever keep you in my prayers. My relationship with you transformed my whole life and in all ways. You have created and formed my foundation because next year I would like to go back to school for my diploma course. Please pray for me to complete it successfully. May God make you successful in your plans.