CARLOS' FRIENDS

I always enjoy learning about my kids' lives, families, and friends.  Carlos, the cutest little boy in El Salvador, wrote me a letter telling me about his friends.

Who is your best friend?  Kevin and Lucas

How old is your best friend?  7 and 8 years old

For how long do you know your best friend?  3 years (about the same amount of time that I have been writing to him)

Where did you meet your best friend?  My school

What grade is your best friend in?  2nd

What do you like to play with your best friend?  Play tag

Who does your best friend live with?  Mother and Father

Hi, I'm very happy to write to you, I play soccer at the CDI, I'm now able to add the numbers.  My best friends' names are Kevin and Lucas, they live with their mom.  I always ask for all your prayers and your letters.  God bless you and take good care of yourself.  Your friend that loves you very much, Carlos.

Carlos drew me a very cute picture of his friend/s playing soccer.  I'm not sure if the two boys are him and a friend, or if they are both of his friends.

I TOLD MY KIDS ABOUT MY BRAIN DAMAGE

A while ago, I wrote to my children about my brain damage and the effects it has on me.  I am just now receiving letters talking about that very letter.  The sweetest one I received last month from Daneisi, my newest correspondent in the Dominican Republic.  It was also my first letter from her.  Yesterday, I received a letter from Anabell, my now 15 year-old girl in Honduras.

Here is what is Daneisi's letter:

God bless you more!  How are you and your family?  As you have told me in the letters about your disabilities buy you know, sometimes I think really big is happening to me when as a fact is something very simple.  You know, I want to let you know that I am very happy that even with your disabilities you have such beautiful thinking, and you know, it does not matter what you might have, the Lord has allowed it and has given you the opportunity to be alive because He has something wonderful for you and He wants you to keep getting your goals.  I am sure God has much hope in you.  I thank you very much for trusting me and telling me about your life.  Here it is already summer and it is very hot, in a couple days I am going to the river, and i want to send you some pictures of the place as you told me you like the sea and the rivers and I want you to see some places of my country.  I will be praying for your health.  God bless you!

This still makes me cry.  I think she and I are going to be very close.  And this is just her first letter!  I haven't felt like this since I lost Fadeline (from Haiti, she left the project and wrote the longest, most informative letters) and Anongnard (from Thailand, her letters always made me smile, she even drew me a picture of a mouse on a birthday cake for my birthday; her project closed).  Those losses hurt me much worse than any of the others.  I had a special relationship with both girls.  And Daniesi is a gift from God (they all are, but this one especially).  Every time someone posted on here about Compassion needing more correspondents, I would always sign up for one more.  Each time, I prayed for a girl.  Each time, I got a boy.  Until Daniesi.  When I saw her, I knew she was the one I was praying for.  And, strangely, I have no desire to add any more.  I wonder if my family is complete.

Okay, onto Anabell's letter (have I mentioned I love this girl?):

Hello, appreciable sponsor (love that, by the way!)

I'm very happy to write you.  I have received all your letters and gifts that you have sent me and I like them very much. Thank you for being such a special friend.  I'm fine and I keep working very hard in my studies.  My family is also well and happy.  I think that Christmas is a very special time to share with the family and that is what we do.  Early in July I had a week off from school and I spent time with my mom because I only live with her and my sister. I didn't meet my father. I like to attend church because I learn many nice things and I also share with my friends.  I have never seen the snow, but I hope that one day I will be able to watch fall in the United States.  I have heard from your country and it is a developed country with big cities and that it is very pretty, maybe you want to tell me more about it.  I will pray for you.  I think of not as a disabled person but as somebody with special abilities.  I imagine that it must be difficult everything you are going through, but if God has not left you until now, I'm sure that He never will.  I hope that you pray for me and my country.  Honduras is a beautiful country but with lots of problems and only God can set us free.  Give my regards to your family.

Oh, my goodness, I just love that girl!  Just like Daneisi, Anabell and I have a special connection. I was meant to be her sponsor. 

STRUGGLING TO ENDURE

STRUGGLING TO ENDURE

Philippians 3:14

I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

I do not have endurance.  When things get too hard, I tend to quit.  However, God is building endurance in me.  I have learned to endure through financial struggles, emotional healing, and through physical pain.  I must develop endurance to survive this life.

One of the hardest things to do is returning to school as an adult.  During this time of my life, I am sometimes tempted to give up.  I simply cannot succeed in school.  At least, not by my standards.  My grades prove otherwise.  However, I am committed to finishing it.

I keep in mind my goal, that this is what the Lord has called me to do.  I want to be in His will.  He is guiding me, and He will continue to sustain me.  Everything He has promised will one day (pretty soon I hope) come true.

I am going where He leads me.  And, one day, I will gain the prize that the Lord has promised me.

Are there times you feel like giving up?  Keep your eyes on the prize, the promise Jesus has given you.

Lord, sometimes I feel like giving up.  Sometimes, it is just too hard to continue.  Lord, fill me with Your assurance.  Lead me and sustain me.  In Your  name, Amen

A LETTER FROM USANASE

Usanase is a new correspondent. He lives in Rwanda.  He will be 16 in November.  Usanase, who I call Fil (his last name is Fils), was assigned to me about a year ago.  This is the fourth or fifth letter that I have received from him.

His letter:

To my parent that I love so much and I wish the love of God to be with you.  I'm fine.  We have now started third term that ends the year.  I study in Senior two, in o'level (not sure what this means).  I like playing piano and guitar.  I received Christ as my Savior on 14/07/2012 (months before I was assigned to him).  How is you and your family?  I wish to see you face to face.  May you send me your photo.  Thank you!  May God bless you.  I thank you first for the letter you sent to me and we have continued to pray for you on the problems that you had and happy for the marks that you got (I've been keeping my kids up to date on my grades in school), it will give you a good job.  Psalms 97:10 and Jeremiah 31:10.  I love these verses so much.

I THINK I TALKED ABOUT FORGIVENESS

I heard from Guian Carlos, my sponsored boy in Peru.  He's not really a boy, as he is now 16 years old.  This is the second letter I have received talking about forgiveness.  Hmm. . .  Did I send a letter about forgiveness?  I don't remember.  I don't keep a copy of every letter that I write.  I must have talked about forgiving those who hurt you.  FYI - for things to write to your teen/young adult about, try spiritual issues, like forgiveness, mercy.  Talk about things that have affected you and what you learned during the experiences.  These are the subjects that I am receiving the most responses.

GUIAN CARLOS' LETTER

I greet you in the name of our lovely Jesus Christ.  I want to tell you that my family and I are fine.  I like the photo of the cute rooster and the cat.  Well, since I had the call of God I have happy life.  The last thing I did for God was to forgive my worst enemy.  I would like to be a police officer because I would like to stop crimes in my country.  Well, I have to close.  My family cannot pay my studies.  It is very expensive.  In electricity, I am learning to make bulbs.  I share soda in a company called "Kola Real".  I would like to work in an electricity company.  Would you like to come to Peru?  If you come, what places would you like to know?  Would you forgive people who hurt you?  Please pray for my grandma who is sick and for my family.  I say goodbye with a big hug.

CARLOS' CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION

I received a letter from Carlos, my correspondent in El Salvador.  He is eight years old, and just recently started writing his letters by himself.  I have dubbed him the Cutest Little Boy in El Salvador.  I think you will agree.


One thing I like about Compassion is that they teach Jesus to the children.  I know when my children go to the project, they are receiving Christian teaching.

Here is his letter:

I learn about God at my home, at my project, and at my church.
What I have learned about Jesus and I like the most is He loves me and saves me, He heals me.
When I pray to Jesus I do it for my sponsor, my project, my friends, and my family.
My favorite Bible story is David.
My favorite verse is Joshua 9:9.
What is your favorite song to sing at the project?  The Toad.
What is your favorite character from the Bible?  David.

He drew me a picture of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea.

Hello, dear sponsor, I greet you with affection.  I wanted to thank you for your letters.  I loved the stickers, I showed them to my friends and the bookmark you sent, and it's in my Bible.  thank you alot.  My family is doing well, and they send their regards.  How is your family?  I ask you to keep praying for me.  I pray for you as well.  In the project, they teach me about the creation, and I like the story of Moses.  I hope to hear from you soon.  I love you a lot.  Carlos.

MY PICTURES

Have I mentioned I love taking pictures?  One day, I would like to take a photography class, just to improve.  I don't want to be a professional photographer, but just to enhance the beauty of my personal photos.  Here are some of my favorite ones, ones that I have taken recently.

I just like the look of pathways in the midst of the forest.

How can you not think this is adorable?  A squirrel was consumed with its food it didn't notice me driving by and snapping the photo.  I did stop, by the way.  I'm not reckless!

During a severe thunderstorm, two baby birds and a hatching egg fell from the nest.  I placed all three birds back in the nest.  Unfortunately, later that day, two of the birds fell again and died.  I don't know what happened to the third bird.  But, as I took this picture, I was reminded that all new life is fragile and precious, whether it is a baby bird, or a baby human.  We must take great care of our animals and children.

I just love water.  Waterfalls, creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, the ocean.  Water has a way of restoring peace to my soul, and I am reminded of the verse that peace will wash over me, just like a river.

I was on my way downtown, to a huge craft fair.  I crossed a bridge, and happened to look over the side.  I couldn't escape this rare photo opportunity.  I tried several times to get a better photo of the duck and ducklings, but they kept swimming away from me.  I think they were trying to hide!

Have I mentioned that I love water?  This is one of my favorite pictures, and it was taken the same day as the ducks.  I truly believe God loves beauty and water just as much as I do.

Okay, I couldn't pass this up.  An old water wheel.  I reminds me of a past we are so quick to forget; a past that reminds us of how far we have come and how much we have lost.

I couldn't help but take a picture of this little beggar.  

Sunsets are a beautiful and wonderful thing, aren't they?  If we stay outside long enough, if we pause just long enough, we can be reminded of everything the Lord has in store for us, all in a sunset.