Triple Mail Call!

I love this time when I get a letter from all of my kids!!! Here they are!!

The first is from Chatchai from Thailand - Dated May 2, 2012:

Dear Maria,

I'm writing on behalf of Chatchai because he is unable to write by himself. He is wondering how you and your family are right now. Are you keeping very well? He and his family are very fine. Again, he is wondering how the weather in your country is right now. Is it so hot or not? He can go to Church sometimes and he can join in the Christmas celebration with the project. He says he is very glad and very happy on Christmas Day recently. He says he prefers both Christmas Day and Easter Day. He says right now his family is preparing for growing corn crops. He says he can join in his birthday party in the project because the project has arranged for him and many other friends. Also, the Easter celebration has been arranged in the project as well. He asks you to take good care of your health because right now the weather is very hot. He asks you to say a prayer for him in coming to learn in the project and for his preparation for learning in a new grade, and for his parents in their work also. He prays the blessing of the Lord to stay with you and your family.

Love in Christ and With love and highly respect,

Chatchai and child worker on his behalf

Even though someone at the project is writing for him... I imagine my little guy saying "And tell her this... and this... and this...!!!" :) How I love his letters! So much detail from such a little tike!

This next one is Nury from Mexico - Dated July 9, 2012.

Hello Sponsor Maria!

How is your health? I am fine. My holidays are Christmas, Easter, and New Year's Eve. On my birthday, my grandmother cooked tamales. I had a great time! Ho has everything gone with your students. What grade will you be teaching in? I am going to have a female teacher. I am passing onto 5th grade meanwhile my sister is moving onto 8th grade. We are doing good in school. Thanks for the letter you sent me, it is very pretty and the drawings were nice. I wish you could pray for my family. I am about to get out on vacation, and when  that happens, I am going to attend the Vacation Bible School, both at church and at Compassion. I hope you have a good time. God Bless you.

Nury

Oh Nury, you are growing beautifully into the woman God has created you to be!

Last but not least is Yamairy from Dominican Republic - Dated June 19, 2012.

Dear Maria,

How are you? The child and her mother send warm regards and blessings to you. The child says she did well in school because she got promoted to 4th grade! The child thanks you for the letter, stickers, and for the pictures. The child wants to know, do you like bread with salami? She asks for prayers for her whole family and for you. May God bless you.

With love and affection,

Yamairy and Compassion tutor

Hooray!! I love getting updates on my little ones! I need to write them another letter!! Please share your letters as well! Provide the links in your comments. I would love to hear how your kids are doing!

Planting seeds & playing catch up....

 

Wow, it has been such a long time since I have posted last! This has proven to be a very busy, emotional, and God-fearing summer! I hope to get back into the groove as another school year comes close.

Couple of updates, have continued to get my wonderful letters coming in from Nury, Chatchai, and Yamairy. I received birthday "thank yous" from all three of them. If there has one thing that has been consistent this summer, it has been my daily prayers for them, striving to write to them each month, and thanking God that I continue to have the ability to sponsor them.

On the Compassion front, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Joyful Noise concert in June. I was unable to attend the entire event, but I was able to see Mandisa, Peter Fuler, and TobyMac! When I left for the evening, we had between 35-40 sponsored children!



I was also successful in recruiting a new sponsor at my church! I haven't been able to do a Compassion Sunday presentation for the past 2 years. Surprisingly, one of our church members remembered the presentation and came up to me one weekend as said, " I want to sponsor a child through Compassion." Whoo-hoo! That was a "Praise God" moment. It just made me think about the seeds that are planted. God calls us to plant the seeds and to be in prayer. As time goes on, the seed gets water and sun and grows. You never know when God allows something like this to flourish!!

As summer comes to an end, what seeds have you planted? How have you seen how God has been watering the seed you planted?

 

Team Up To Support Compassion

Compassion International and the Minnesota Twins have teamed up for “The Compassion Pitch,” a unique opportunity to join other Compassion supporters at magnificent Target Field to enjoy Major League baseball while raising funds for Compassion’s programs. For this occasion the Twins will be hosting the Seattle Mariners, Monday, Aug. 27. Here is how it works: Between today and July 30, call (800) 33-TWINS, press “0” to speak to an attendant, and mention you are purchasing tickets as a part of the Compassion International promotion for the 7:10 p.m. game on Monday, Aug. 27. For every $25 ticket you purchase, $6 goes to Compassion’s Unsponsored Children’s Fund. A limited number of tickets are available, and if demand exceeds supply, the Twins will provide additional game date options in September. Major credit cards are accepted, and a $5 one-time service fee is added to each order for any number of seats. The tickets will be mailed directly to the person placing the order. This is a great opportunity to show your team support and to tell your friends about Compassion. Consider purchasing extra tickets to treat your pastor, a neighbor or friend and you could use this baseball game as a fun outing for church, family or business. Join us to cheer on your favorite team while supporting a ministry that is close to your heart.

National Day of Prayer - May 3, 2012

 

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

According to dictionary.com

prayer: (noun)

1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.

2.a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

Today was an amazing day with my first graders. Though, it wasn't exactly the perfect day by any means - because we all know the enemy will try to throw anything at you when a strong number of people gather in prayer - it has been a day filled with prayer, praise, worship, and complete devotion to my Savior. 

Here are a couple of my favorite verses on prayer.

Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

James 5:13, 15-16
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

What are your favorite verses on prayer? 

How did you spend your National Day of Prayer day today? 

Also, if you haven't yet, please check out the Compassion Blog about this special day!