My Dream Job

Hey guys, as you may know, I am applying for an internship position with Compassion this summer (well actually three).  I love this organization and would be thrilled to get the opportunity to spend a summer in Colorado Springs working with them.  As of right now I have completed the first hurdle by submitting my applications including a couple of essay questions.  I worked on them for weeks and hope that they will stand out from the rest.  These internships are very competitive so my chances of even getting an interview are not great.  Here's where you come in.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers that God's plan for me will be fulfilled, whether that means I get the job or not.  As for me, I have officially begun the waiting game until they begin phone interviews in a few weeks.  But no worries, I have plenty of other things to keep me busy until then.

Also, don't forget that Easter is early this year.  If you haven't sent out an Easter card to your sponsored kids, you should do so soon.  I just sent mine this week so hopefully they'll get there on time

Hobby Lobby has some great Christian themed Easter stuff!

Even a short note will be treasured by your kids!  Just don't forget everything has to be paper and 8 1/2" x 11" x 1/4" and must be labeled with your name and sponsor number as well as your child's name and number.

UPDATE:  I got a call this week and am scheduled to do a phone interview next Thursday for one of the three positions I applied for.  Hoping all will go well!

Another Letter

Well this weekend has become extra exciting since I got another letter in the mail.  I often go weeks without letters so two days in a row is a special treat.  This one was from my sweet Marlen in El Salvador.

Marlen just turned 11.

The letter was written on Nov. 12.  She writes, "Hello dear friend Emily, on this occasion I want to write to you about my project.  (On their forms they can choose what theme to write about.)  It is called Generation for Christ and we have 413 children.  (Wow, that seems like a lot of kids!)  My tutor is ... Some benefits that we have are celebrating birthday parties, camps, Christmas dinner, food, shoes, medical checks, dental checks, and clinic tests.  The thing I like most is learning and having fun with my friends.  I'm so thankful for the project because they give us a lot of attention and they teach us how to be a good person.  I want to thank you for the letter you sent me.  I like your church and I want to ask if you serve in any ministry.  (I sent letters to all the kids last fall talking about my church.)I want to ask you to please pray for my family so that they can seek more about God and I will pray for you.  I want to tell you that I'm so happy to attend the bakery workshop.  They teach us the different types of flour and the amount of ingredients that we have to use in the different recipes to make the bread so delicious.  Well, I want to say goodbye, with love, God bless you, Marlen."

She also drew a cute picture of her in the bakery making lots of yummy treats.  

I love Marlen's letters because they are always so full of information (she uses every line on the paper) and so loving.  I am thankful to have this sweet girl in my life!

If you sponsor a child, set aside a few minutes this week to write to them.  Even if you don't hear back for a few months, your words mean so much to your kids!

A Letter from the Baby!

Today I came home to a cream-colored envelope waiting for me in my room.  As Compassion sponsors know the cream envelopes mean letters from kids.  I tried to decide who it might be from as I opened the letter.  To my delight, it was from sweet little Rhean from the Philippines.

Rhean just turned four, making her the baby of the family.

This was my second letter from Rhean, the first being an introduction.  It is a form 'about me.'  She lets me know that she has 2 siblings and she is the youngest.  She is 87 cm tall and her feet are 14.5 cm long (about 3 feet tall and 6in feet).  She circled that she likes to sing and play with dolls and said that her favorite part of her body is her nose (how precious!).  On the back she colored a picture of her house then her mom wrote me a note.  I will probably be communicating mainly with her parents for now since Rhean is so young, so I'm glad they are able to write.  Her mom tells me that they are doing well and thanks me for the letter I sent.  Since this was written in October, they had likely only received my first letter after I was assigned to write to Rhean in August.  She says that their family has 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a chicken, and that Rhean enjoys singing, dancing, writing, and drawing.  She also asks me about the classes I'm taking.  The letter is signed 'Love and Care, Angeline (the mom) and Rhean.'  So sweet!

I was so happy to get this lovely note today and will be writing a response soon.  

In other news, I am currently in the process of applying for an internship with Compassion in CO this summer.  Please pray that everything will go smoothly in this process and I will try to keep you updated as I progress.

Completing the Family

Well, looks like I've neglected my blog once again as life got busy and I forgot to write.  Maybe I'll keep up with it better in the new year.

Recently I found out that Compassion had over 500 children in need of correspondents to write to them.  These children, like my Predilien and Rhean, have financial sponsors who have chosen not to write for some reason and so they are given correspondent sponsors to write letters and develop relationships with the kids.  I love this program so I immediately emailed Compassion and volunteered to write to any kids who needed someone.  I have now been asked to write to 2 new children and I am thrilled to get to know them.

Up first is a young lady from Uganda named Joan.

Joan is 18 years old and lives with her older sister and younger siblings.  Her father passed away, and although her mother is alive, she does not live with the children.  She is in 6th grade (not uncommon for kids to start late) and enjoys singing, reading, and walking for fun.  I am so excited to have been assigned an older child who is close to my age.  I can't wait to hear from her and hope that we will have a wonderful relationship.

Next is this sweet boy from Ecuador, Rafael.

Rafael is 12 but will turn 13 next week.  He lives in the south of the country with his parents and siblings.  He is also in 6th grade and likes soccer, swimming, and cars (what a boy!).  I'm so happy to welcome another boy to my family of girls and look forward to getting to know him as well.

With the addition of Joan and Rafael, my Compassion family has grown to 5 and spans every area Compassion works in: Central America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and South America.  I have been so blessed by my relationships with this organization and these children.  2012 was a great Compassion year and I can't wait to see what 2013 will hold for us!