18 Reasons to Write a Letter to Your Sponsored Child

1. Jesus

"There are children who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior due to sponsor letters’ impact and prayers."

— from Ethiopia

2. Love

"Every Saturday we pray for the sponsors. The other day, I took a giant world map, and a 9-year-old girl stood up, pointed to the country where her sponsor lives, and said: 'How is it that someone who lives so far away can love me? Maybe it is like God, that even when we are far away and don’t know him, he still loves us.'

I cried. I cried a lot."

— from Ecuador

3. Healing

"Once, a child’s parent told me that when my assistant brought a letter to her sick child, the child got up immediately from the sick bed. After the letter was read to him, he embraced the photo contained in the letter for a long time. And that marked the sudden end of that sickness."

— from Togo

4. Motivation

"When a child receives a letter, it is like a little message of love that moves him or her to do extraordinary things and to dream."

— from Nicaragua

5. Assurance

"One time I went for facilitation, and I saw an appreciation card written by a child to the sponsor, and the child kept carrying her sponsor’s letters to school. She said when there is no one near her to encourage her through difficulties, she reads her sponsor’s letter, and she feels assured to be a winner."

— from Kenya

6. Affection

"It is wonderful to see the children’s smiles when they receive letters from their sponsors, as they feel the love and care from people who, without knowing them, express how important and valuable the children are."

— from El Salvador

7. The Warmth of God

"We are happy about the sponsors coming forward with kindness, compassion, love, and dedication to help these children, whom they haven't known or met before. We are also happy about these sponsors who are providing gifts, motivation and love through their letters. The children's hearts are attracted to these letters, and they can feel the warmth and love of God."

— from Sri Lanka

8. Confidence

"When sponsor letters tell children that they are the best and God loves them, the children’s self-worth is lifted forever, and they live with confidence.

The children cannot hide their emotions when they receive such messages. They are moved to tears, and they bless God for giving them such wonderful friends to walk closely with through the journey of life. They forget the weary burdens that sometimes pull them down. The children are compelled to keep these letters; they read them time and again."

— from Kenya

9. Emotional Support

"When sponsors share their feelings and prayer requests, the children feel more wanted and cared for. This helps boost the emotional status of these children. They have a shoulder to lean on."

— from Kenya

10. Self-Worth

"The letters are like gifts for children. When they receive them, it makes them feel that they are worth it, that they are taken into account, that someone loves, remembers and cares for them."

— from Ecuador

11. Validation

"Children take your letters as a sign of your concern and an expression of your love. Parents are amazed that somebody is taking time to think of them, as poor as they are. Sponsor letters are making church leaders and child development center staff renew their concern and love for the children and families they serve."

— from Ethiopia

12. Joy

"Our partner church is so grateful to God, our strong rock, as well as to our sponsors who provide us with resources, prayers and loving letters to each participant. This support fills everyone at our center with joy, making them feel like they are part of the kingdom of God."

— from Colombia

13. Anticipation

"We are very proud to see so many children come to the center with great enthusiasm and joy and learn more about Jesus. When we inform a child that their sponsor has sent them a letter, seeing how they long to read it fills our hearts with great joy."

— from the Dominican Republic

14. Literacy Skills

"We are so proud of the holistic development of our youth at the center. Many struggled with deficiencies in reading and writing. We addressed this problem through our program activities and now they are able to read and write well and are writing sponsor letters all on their own."

— from Honduras

15. A Turning Point

"Thank you for your letters to our children. These letters are turning points in their lives so that they truly feel your love. We pray that you continue sending your thoughts and words of encouragement.

— from Kenya

16. Smiles

"We are so thankful for our sponsors and donors — people outside our country who care about the well-being of Nicaraguan children and youth and are helping to improve their holistic development. It is our privilege to see the children's happy faces when their sponsor sends them a letter or gift."

— from Nicaragua

17. Computer Skills

"We are proud to see our youth writing letters to their sponsors and reading their replies through Compassion's Beneficiary Letter Portal tool. At our center, youth who are 15 years of age or older can now use computers and smartphones to write and receive letters from supporters. The system has improved their communication with supporters, since writing paper letters delayed communication and is costly compared to online letter writing."

— from Uganda

18. Happiness

"Whenever children are surprised by the arrival of letters from their sponsors, we can see their faces shine with happiness, and we see that this reflects the joy in their hearts. Nothing compares to their joy, and it is something that comes from inside."

— from Brazil