Belky in Colombia

Belky Tatiana Ortega

October, 3, 1999

We began sponsoring Belky in February 2018. She lives with her mother, Elediz Viloria, who is not employed.  She also has a brother, Juan David. She attends Estrella Integral Development Center near Cartagena, Colombia. During our sponsorship, we received 13 letters.

Favorites:

• food - meat, rice and tomato juice / fried beef, coconut rice and strawberry juice
• color - black / blue
• subject - science
• animal - cat
• hobby - music and watching tv
• game - cards
• story - Joseph
• friend - Maithe

Belky is a freshman of Foreign Trade Administration, where she is studying to be a Trade Manager. She describes herself as happy, kind, easy going and intelligent. She dreams of traveling. She likes to walk with her friends and watch movies with her brother.

Sept 2018 - receiving medical treatment for skin rash

Her family has all heard the gospel and they are in process...she asks us to continue to pray for her family.

In December 2021, we received the news that Belky had completed the Compassion Program. 

Wendy in Colombia

Wendy

in Colombia

August 24, 1998

We sponsored Wendy in March 2017 after another of sponsored children left Compassion's program. I chose Wendy because she was older and because she shares a birthday with me.

Wendy lives with her parents (Alquinson and Cecilia) and siblings. Her brother's name is Brandon and her sisters are Luisa and Helen. So far we have received 4 letters. She attends SENA - a national learning service and is studying scenic arts. She also works at a shoe store as a sales cleark.

Favorites:

• food - rice with chicken, pizza
• subject - Spanish
• color - green, blue
• animal - dog
• hobby - walking, music, reading
• sports- soccer, table tennis
• friends - Valentina, Jesica, Jetry and Cindy

Wendy likes to go to the movies and the mall with friends. She is also happy to spend time with family and take trips with them. She participates in the program's devotional and likes memorizing Bible verses.

In February 2018, we received a letter from Wendy telling us that she was departing from the program because she had given birth to a baby boy. 

Daniela in Colombia

Daniela

in Colombia

July 7, 2004

We began sponsoring Daniela in April of 2017 and have received 16 letters from her. My youngest daughter has assumed the letter writing responsibilities for Daniela.

Favorites:

• food - chicken
• color - green
• subject - Physical Education / math
• season - summer
• animal - dog
• hobby - jumping rope
• game Botetarro
• best friend - Leidy / Valentina
• holiday - Mother's Day and Father's Day
• flowers - red roses
• chore - sweep floors

Family:

• aunt - Maria Ines
• mom - Milena Quirama
• sisters - Yuliana Andrea, Yeferson Quirama, Kevin Bedoya
• nieces - Lucian and Valeryn
• likes to play botetarro ( a game like tag with a can)
• likes to skate
• like to eat desserts

Micellaneous:

• bought clothes with $ we sent
• is in a dance academy
• lives in a house made of bricks with a ceramic floor and concrete ceiling
• gets water from aqueduct and also has electricity
• goes to Tango Dance Academy
• sleeps in a bed
• bought shoes with $ we sent (March 2022)

In Sept 2021 her letter stated that she is not able to do any classes because she does not have any device that will allow her to take online classes. She also mentioned things being very hard at home and being grateful for help with groceries from the project.

Yulesqui in Nicaragua

Yulesqui

in Nicaragua

August 7, 2006

After my trip to Nicaragua in January 2016, I decided that when the opportunity came to add children to our family, I would make an effort to add children from Nicaragua. In November of 2016 we had an opening and I chose to sponsor Yulesqui. So far we have received 24 letters from her.

From what I can tell through letters, she lives with her father, siblings, grandparents, tios, and cousins (her mom lives in Spain).

Favorites:

• food - rice, beans and cheese
• color - red and yellow
• class - Spanish
• pet - cat
• Bible character - Jesus
• book of Bible - Psalms
• received scholar pack from the project
• bought clothes and shoes with $ we sent
• bought umbrell, shirt, shoes, sweets and hair cream
• celebrated her birthday at the project - broke a pinata and received a gift of clothing

Miscellaneous:

• Wants to be a lawyer
• Please pray for mom's health - asked twice
• wants to learn to play guitar
• received gift for good behavior
• celebrated children's day at project
• friend at the center, Katherine, died
• saw mom at Christmas - brought gifts, shoes and clothes
• June 2018 - sick with headaches, tonsilitis and worms - receiving medication
• accepted Jesus as her personal Savior! her Grandma has too!
• 2021 - taking piano lessons

"I do not know you personally, but I feel you close. You are part of my family and I love you."

Alisson in Ecuador

Alisson 

in Ecuador

March 8, 2009

We began sponsoring Alisson in March of 2017 and so far have received 15 letters. She lives with her mother, Kerly, and her father, Byron (who is often gone working). Her siblings are Edisson, Joshue and Byron. At home she helps with child care, cleaning and running errands. They live in Manta, a coastal region of Ecuador. In one letter Alisson mentioned her father goes out to sea. 

favorites:

• food - chicken
• color - fuscia
• subject - math, science
• hobby - reading, art
• sport - soccer

Miscellaneous:

• brown skin, curly hair, brown eyes
• learning about God's Words and likes to sing praises
• learning to take shower, brush teeth and comb hair
• likes to travel to Aunt's home in Montanita during school breaks
• wants to be a doctor
• wants to travel to Guayaquil
• July 2018 - broken right hand
• bought shoes and pants with $ we sent
• July 2019 - dad is in jail
• Jan 2022 - has received first dose of COVID vaccine / new niece named Alexa 

Lives in Manta - a coastal region of Ecuador

Bridget in Uganda

Bridget in Uganda

August 15, 2012

In the summer of 2015 our family formed a band that began playing out at farmer's markets and other events. We play a lot of Celtic folk music and decided on the name Bridgid's Cross (Brigid is one of Ireland's patron saints of the poor). After a fairly successful summer of playing music, we realized a lot of people asked us about our name and we wanted to give them a meaningful answer. I looked on Compassion's website and found this adorable little girl named Bridget, waiting for a sponsor. I proposed the idea to my family, that we sponsor this girl using the funds we earn from tips, and if we are asked about our name, we can also share the tie to this sweet girl in Uganda. And thus our sponsorship of Bridget began on December 29, 2015. 

Bridget attends UG 233 - St. Andrew Church of Uganda Ruyonza. So far we have received 25 letters from her. She lives with her parents and 3 other people in the house. The house is made of trees and mud and the roof is made of iron sheets. There are 2 rooms total in the house.

Bridget attends the project, which is located 2km from her home, once a week. She told us that she eats rice, posho and beans while there.

Favorites:

• holiday - Easter
• time of year - June
• colors - black and orange / apple orange
• food - rice and meat / mateoke
• activity - fetching water, sweeping compound and cooking
• game - hide and seek / jump rope
• day - Monday because she gets to go to school
• subject - math
• animal - goat

Miscellaneous info:

• wants to visit Kampala
• wants to buy her family a car
• wants to visit the market and buy skirts and shoes
• wants her home to have enough food
• gets water from the river
• uses firewood to cook
• wears a red and white uniform to school (which is 1 km from her home)
• wants to be an engineer / wants to be a nurse
• is praying for my friend, Laura
• used $ to buy goat, meat, rice, milk, soda / another time bought goat and sweets
• wakes up at 7 am

Mwikali in Kenya

Mwikali in Kenya

May 30, 2006

Mwikali is one of my daughter's correspondent children. She has been writing letters to her since January 2015 and has received 29 letters so far. Sadly, the person who does the physical writing of the letters has handwriting that is very difficult for us to decipher, so we are missing out on much of what is being written.

She lives with her mom, dad, three siblings and grandparents. She attends KE 722 (Mbangwani AIC Church Child Development Center. At the project she learns how to operate a computer and plays soccer. She hopes to become a doctor someday.

Favorites:

• color - red
• food - chicken and chapati
• story - birth of Jesus
• verse - Psalm 63:7 and Psalm 73:23-26
• subject - math
• fruit - mango
• sports - soccer and volleyball

Wants to be a teacher someday.    June 2018 - wants to be a doctor someday.

Joylyne in Kenya

Joylyne in Kenya

October 12, 2006

We began sponsoring Joylyne on October 11, 2012 as a birthday present for our youngest daughter. Joylyne and Kayleigh are birthday buddies and were born on the exact same day! I put the sponsorship under my daughter's name and she is solely responsible for writing letters to Joylyne. So far we have received 46 letters. 

Joylyne lives with her mom and siblings, Ronny and Mary. Her father passed away in 2015. They live in the western part of Kenya in a rural setting. The common language is Luu and the main religion is Christianity.

Project:

• attends KE 808
• learned to bathe daily
• goes on Saturday

Favorites:

• color - sunny yellow / red
• subject - Christian Religious Education
• food - fish
• sport - soccer / netball
• activity - singing
• animal - cow

Miscellaneous information:

• likes to wash utensils
• wants to be a teacher
• likes to play with friends, read and write
• likes to play netball, football, running
• gifts: suitcase, Kiswahili books, dress shoes, sheep
• wants to play piano, likes playing drums
• has a cat named Joy
• fetches firewood
• wants to live and work in America
• mid 2017 - Grandma is sick / passed away in 2021
• bought school bag and open shoes
• has been able to see a plane

Almost all of Joylyne's letters to us have been fill in the blank....sometimes the answers are funny (like in this one).

It appears she likes to draw houses...

Dear Kayleigh,
How are you? I am writing to you this letter because you are my best friend. Thank you for the gift you sent to me. I used the money to buy school bag, school socks and a nice dress.     (March  2017)

I want to tell you that on the birth of Jesus I gave him my heart so that he can come in my heart. (Jan 2018) 

Rayson in Kenya

Rayson in Kenya

August 24, 2011

Rayson is one of my daughter's correspondent children. She has been writing letters to him since January 2015 and has received 33 letters so far. 

He lives with his parents, siblings, grandparents, aunt and uncle. They live in the Rift valley part of Kenya, which is rural. 

Project:

• KE 563 (Serem Child Development Center)
• approximately 350 children
• walks 2 km
• activities - singing and dancing
• eats rice with beans
• attends once a week

Favorites:

• color - pink / blue
• food - rice and beef / chicken and ugly
• story - creation
• subject - religious education
• sport - soccer
• animal - cow
• hero - Jesus
• holiday - Christmas
• day of the week - Saturday because he goes to the project
• hopes and dreams (2018): wants to visit Tunisia, live in Spain and work in Ghana
• loves riding bike
• loves to read

Miscellaneous info:

• wants to visit Nairobi
• wants to meet President Obama / wants to be like him
• wants to see the airport
• wants to help family have a decent house
• wants to be a journalist
• gifts received: trouser, shirt, jacket, vests, sugar and underwear
• sleeps on the floor
• gets water from a well
• house made of mud walls and iron sheet roof
• does not have electricity
• bought clothes and food stuff with $ we sent
• hobbies - swimming, soccer and watching tv - wants to try hiking
• school breaks in April, August and December (4 weeks each break)
• wants to visit America and meet sponsor

Yoselin in Dominican Republic

Yoselin in Dominican Republic

January 9, 2005

We began sponsoring Yoselin in September 2009. I was specifically looking for a child that shared a birthday with my oldest daughter, and found Yoselin was an exact match! Finding birthday buddies for my girls has been such a great way for them to take more ownership of Compassion's ministry and our family's involvement with sponsorship. A couple years ago, I switched this sponsorship over to my daughter and she is now responsible for all the letter writing. So far we have received 47 letters.

Family:
father - Domingo
mother - Yoselin
siblings - (oldest to youngest) Caterine, Francis, Blady, Pedro, Luis, Carlos, Manuel and Jazmin

Caterine, Fancis and Blady are her father's kids / Pedro, Luis, Carlos and Manuel are her mother's kids / Yoselin and Jazmin are full sisters

(two different letters mentioned the above kids....another letter also mentioned Lisaul, Carola and Wendy)

Project:

• approx 325 children
• write letters, take Bible classes, play sports, group activities
• attends Mennonite church

Favorites:

• food - plantains and salami / sancocho (soup cooked with plantains, manioc and meat)
• color - yellow / green
• animal - dog
• activity - go to beach or river / ride bike
• game - volleyball / soccer
• subject - literature
• hero - God / Jesus

Miscellaneous info:

• throws teeth up and says "little mouse, little mouse, I give you this little tooth. Please send me another pretty one." 
• gifts received: yellow clothes, 2 pair sandals, black sneakers, underwear, shoes, dresser
• house has water and electricity / made of wood
• likes to pray
• hobbies: play, tv, share, read, clean, go out
• wants to be doctor
• wants to visit Puerto Rico, New York, Spain and Italy
• likes to go camping
• 2019 - plays softball
• wants to take a beauty course

"In the center, my teacher is talking to me about the respect we should have for our parents. I love going to the center because they always talk about very interesting things."

"I love you as much as Jesus love me."

"I go to the center every day and I learn the word of God there. I like music a lot. I love to help other people out. I believe that Jesus died to save us." 

"Thanks for your letters and gifts. They are of great blessing to me. You talk to me about patience in the letters you send me, and I have had a lot of patience at this moment. My father has a little tumor in his lung. I pray for God to heal him."

"I will tell you about my feelings. God gave me a heart to feel several emotions, and some of them are: I feel happy when I play with my friend. Sometimes I get sad when my mom goes to work to the capital, and I get angry when they don't let me play with my friends."

showing us her emotions - happy, sad and angry

"I am happy because my dad is recovering. Also, I moved to another place. People said bad guys are stealing children to get their tissues in my town."  - Sept 2016

"I hope you have a happy birthday because I know God is going to bless greatly and even we are far from each other, I know it will be a great blessing for you and me." - Nov 2019 

Jackson Mwaniki in Kenya

Jackson Mwaniki in Kenya

May 27, 1999

We began sponsoring Jackson in June 2012. He attends the same project our Dominic attended, and I wanted to sponsor another child in the same project just in case I ever get to Kenya. Dominic was graduating in October, and we went ahead and sponsored Jackson in June so their sponsorship would overlap a little and they could share the bond of sharing a sponsor. So far we have received 38 letters from Jackson.

He lives with his mother (Depora) and younger brother (Bria Murimi). His parents were never married, and I don't know if he has a relationship with his father.

Jackson attends KE 200 - Anglican Church of Kenya and Kamwaa Child Development Center. He started attending the Compassion project at age 4, and had several sponsors before us.

Favorites:

• color - green
• story - King Pharoah
• subject - math / kiswahili
• food - chips
• game - car racing

Miscellaneous info:

• wants to be doctor / policman (2013)
• fetches water 
• looks after cattle
• collect firewood
• sweeps compound
• likes soccer and running
• learning intro to welding (2017)
• likes gospel music

Gifts received from sponsorship:

• school bag
• leather shoes
• 2 chickens
• mattress
• goats
• flour
• 2 plastic chairs
• food
• one year we sent a bag with the following: blue t-shirt, toothpaste, pencils, calculator, photo album, bag, notebook, flashlight and mints (which he shared with his friends!)

In Oct 2017 we received a letter telling us that he was in his first year of training to be a welder and that he was enjoying it.

Jackson is a great letter writer, but has only sent this one drawing. He often refers to himself as "your son" and in every letter shares a Bible verse with us.

"I thank you for the letters you wrote to me. They are quite encouraging because of the Bible verses that are quite blessing. Thanks a lot and may the Lord God bless you as you try to look for more Bible verse to write to me." 

"I would request request you to help me in my prayers for prosperity in my education. How would you wish me to pray for you or join you in?" 

"I request you to pray for us to be blessed with rain. How do you want me to pray for you?" 

"I like swimming although it is dangerous to do it in the nearby river where there are crocodiles." 

"I received advice from your former sponsored child Dominic Muchangi who is working in a public hospital."

"I am always happy when I remember our relationship. I always feel encouraged. Are you happy of our relationship?" 

"I would like to inform you that I am a Sunday School child who is willing to follow Jesus Christ." 

"The support and gifts you send to me have made us improve our status of living." 

"My education has been supported by you." 

Ruth in Bolivia

Ruth in Bolivia

December 18, 2007

We began sponsoring Ruth in March of 2012. So far we have received 46 letters, most written by her mom, with several others written by her older sister, Giselle, and her older brother, Luis. In October 2014, we received our first letter written by Ruth, herself. 

Ruth is one of 5 children, and is the fourth born. Her siblings are Luis, Giselle, Jonatan, Nataly and Benjamin. The baby, Benjamin, was born in 2015. She lives at home with her parents in the area called Cochabamba. Her father pastors a church.

Ruth attends BO  522, which is a 30 minute walk from her home. She attends the project on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

At the project she enjoys learning to pray, brush her teeth, take care of others and care for God's creation.


Favorites:

• verse - Psalm 23 (she mentions this verse many times over several years, so I truly think it is her favorite)
• season - spring (she loves flowers. One letter said "she gets sad when flowers die.")
• day of the week - Sunday because she goes to church
• subject - math / music
• book of Bible - Psalms
• Bible character - Samson
• chore - washing dishes
• food - pique
• sport - field and track
• activity - playing dolls
• color - pink
• animal - cat
• cartoon - Frozen
• hero -Jesus
• Christmas Song - Merry Christmas

Miscellaneous info:

• wants to be a doctor
• wants to visit Lake Titicaca
• lives in a brick house
• gets water from tanker truck
• has electricity in house
• Feb 2014 - best student of kindergarten
• bought shoes, uniform for school and backpack with gifted money / bought sport clothes
• likes watching television with family
• likes playing jump rope with friends
• likes the food at the project because it's delicious
• Dec 2016 - won second place in poetry contest
• Sept 2017 - went on vacation to Corani with family
• learning 12 verses for verse contest at project

Many of the letter templates had a small blurb with statistics from Bolivia....

Ruth loves to draw and so many of her letters include beautiful, colorful drawings for us.

These next few show that she started drawing a familiar scene on each letter, and eventually started adding new things to the scene.

When Wess Stafford retired, I invited all my sponsored children to write a brief note to him and this is what Rut's mother sent....

Dear Mr. Wess Stafford,
Greetings! Ruth sends her regards to you with love. It is really a great joy and a privilege to be able to talk with you, because you got a ministry with children throughout the world. And one of the children who received love and support is Ruth. She and her family are very thankful to be able to meet you by the photo Jill has sent for us. Ruth wishes the best for you and your whole family. And, may God be with you in every activity that you do. Through this ministry, many children and families know Jesus. Thanks to the years that you were involved in this work. You will remain in our prayers and hearts of many children. God bless you. Ruth will say bye with all her gratitude and love, Zaida (mother).