Praise God for Letters From Faraway

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!??

    We got a long awaited letter from Mehameden last week! We have been anxiously looking for one from him so we'd know how he was doing. He's old enough to write his own letters now. Then they get translated by a Compassion worker into English for us. This time, he told us some really exciting news. He got to go to Adis Ababa (the capital) and get some training with 3 other students from his center. He "exchanged experiences with children from other projects." I can't help wondering how much fun he had with all of the other kids. He asked how we were doing. He asked if we were safe. He says he and his mom are fine. Attached to the letter is his school report for the year. He is 3rd in his class of 41. He's being promoted to the next grade. He has been asking for prayer for his studies. His must be working hard and it's paying off. They just celebrated their New Year in September, and he asks for prayer for his mom and "lessons of spiritual life."
He wishes us Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
These letters are so precious to us. We are so thankful that we can be a small part of his life.

Compassion International's Cards for Unsponsored Kids

Because Compassion International allows sponsors to send up to 25 Christmas cards to unsponsored children, we went out and got some and put a simple message in them that said something like this: Greetings in the name of Jesus. We are praying for you to know the love of God this Christmas. Jesus said "Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." You are so special.
God loves you! God bless you."

You can do this too by sending them to
Compassion International,
 Attn: Suzanne Hall
 (Christmas Cards for Unsponsored Children)
 Colorado Springs, Co. 80997

We got our first letter!!

On Saturday, we got our first letter from Deborah, our Compassion International child. (We are sponsoring her primarily because God allowed me to come across a blog called Blogging From the Boonies. Michelle has a huge heart for Compassion International. She showed us how much better we could make our relationship with Mehameden. And her passion is contagious! So we sponsored Deborah, too!)

We were so excited we could hardly stand it!!! She is 8 years old and a real cutie! She tells us that her mother is her only caregiver. She has 2 sisters and a brother. She says she likes to play Ampe and sing gospel music. Her favorite food is Jollof Rice. It sounds really yummy and we are hoping to make it soon. Her favorite color is red and she likes to draw.

The neatest thing about this letter is that she colored on it. She ACTUALLY held this little letter in her hands and colored on it!! That just blesses us so much!
She says "God bless you for choosing to sponsor her, she is very grateful and happy. Do you have a child?"
"God bless the work of your hands." She wants God to give her peace and long life.
God bless you, too our little Deborah!
Our kids here at home are loving getting to know both of the kids we have the privilege to sponsor.