Archived and Closed
This conversation is no longer open for comments or replies and is no longer visible to community members. The community moderator provided the following reason for archiving: old posts
Hi everyone! . In June, I became a new sponsor of a little girl in Burkina Faso. I wrote my very first letter to her on July 14th. . As I am sure every new sponsor does, I diligently (ok...obsessively) check the app to see if my letter has finally reached its destination, leaving its "InTranslation" status far behind...
Actually...ANY other status would be welcomed...but it seems my letter is stuck in the "Bermuda Triangle" that is In Translation.
I am so excited for her to receive this letter...AND I DO NOT WANT HER TO THINK I HAVE NOT WRITTEN.I do not want her .to think she is not important. Because both are false. I did write, she is important...she is special and she is loved.
Please....if this time frame is perfectly normal then I will accept that. I'm a newbie...a very excited and passionate one! So any and all info is welcomed!!
Thank you and have a joyous rest of the summer
Actually...ANY other status would be welcomed...but it seems my letter is stuck in the "Bermuda Triangle" that is In Translation.
I am so excited for her to receive this letter...AND I DO NOT WANT HER TO THINK I HAVE NOT WRITTEN.I do not want her .to think she is not important. Because both are false. I did write, she is important...she is special and she is loved.
Please....if this time frame is perfectly normal then I will accept that. I'm a newbie...a very excited and passionate one! So any and all info is welcomed!!
Thank you and have a joyous rest of the summer
Posted 3 years ago
Right! But what's worse is that for about the first week, I was getting real time status updates....but when I returned from vacation on 8/1 and found that the status bar had not moved, nor was there a more recent date listed, I was disappointed. (IM JUST SUPER EXCITED!!) However, I figured it being the summer, people are on vacation and everything moves slower...
But now I just really would like to know what's up!!
But now I just really would like to know what's up!!
(Edited)
I sent a total of 5 letters and none of the status bar had moved either. It's stuck there.
See! I was going to do the exact same thing!! Just keep writing letters...and then I got worried if I wrote too many when the first had not yet been received...that she might not get any. So I laid low(against what my heart told me to do...write, write, write!!). I commend you! Where does your child live?
I heard the centers distribute letters once a month and I didnt want my child to not receive a letter. And his bday is coming up, so I sent a bday musical card as well. My child is from Ethiopia.
(Edited)
KristenH, Champion
Hi Sally! Do you have children in Africa possibly Ethiopia? What do they usually buy when you send a family gift? I was told that the child's family will only buy livestock after meeting immediate need or if they have a land and shelter for livestocks
KristenH, Champion
My Ethiopian kid usually bought clothing. It really depends on the family and their needs. I've had kids in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya buy livestock.
Kids have bought mattresses, food, iron sheeting for roofing their home, a birthday cake, etc.
Kids have bought mattresses, food, iron sheeting for roofing their home, a birthday cake, etc.
Hi Jenny:
My children are in a different African country. At first, a couple of them almost exclusively bought food. That's when I realized just how valuable those gifts (and sponsorship) were. As time has gone on, I'll see other things, like clothing, or income-generating purchases (for them, cloth and shoes that they sell to others). One of my children's families did eventually buy some sheep, but they live in a more agricultural city. I've also seen a bike and a bed. Livestock sounds like a cool gift, but may or may not be what a family needs. To put it in perspective, I wouldn't want someone to buy me a sheep because I live in an apartment and I have nowhere to put it and don't know how to keep it alive :)
It's actually fun to see what they buy when left to it, and humbling to be a part of it.
My children are in a different African country. At first, a couple of them almost exclusively bought food. That's when I realized just how valuable those gifts (and sponsorship) were. As time has gone on, I'll see other things, like clothing, or income-generating purchases (for them, cloth and shoes that they sell to others). One of my children's families did eventually buy some sheep, but they live in a more agricultural city. I've also seen a bike and a bed. Livestock sounds like a cool gift, but may or may not be what a family needs. To put it in perspective, I wouldn't want someone to buy me a sheep because I live in an apartment and I have nowhere to put it and don't know how to keep it alive :)
It's actually fun to see what they buy when left to it, and humbling to be a part of it.
Hi Jenny, my sponsored boy lives in Ethiopia and they did buy livestock and clothing with the gift that we sent them last year. His dad is a farmer so I'm guessing that he probably uses livestock for his livelihood. We also sponsor a girl in Colombia and her family has purchased mainly household items with their gifts. Like these ladies have said, I think it really depends on their individual circumstances and their needs at the time, but your gift will be a huge blessing to them in any case, no doubt!
Jenny, I have a little girl in Rwanda. I have sent 2 gifts to her. Each time, the family purchased a large amount of food, new clothing items and an animal. The first was a goat and this last time a pig. My daughter corresponds with a little girl in Togo. She saved up her money and was able to send a 60.00 gift last year and they bought a large amount of food, some bowls and clothes for the child. She saved up until she had 100.00 and sent that last month, so we are eager to hear what she buys this time.
Its nice to hear what they bought with these family gifts! Really helpful. Thank you! :D
One of my boys actually built a new house with a family gift (they bought the materials and built it themselves) I got to see it when I went to visit.
How wonderful!
Good morning Sally, Andrea, Jenny, Adam, Jennifer and Kristen! Thank you all so much for responding to my post and more!! I am so new to this but what I lack in experience I make up in excited passion!! I have a 6 year old son, Noah. And although it was completely unintentional, he is spoiled. He is also healthy, happy and will never face the daily challenges my little girl in Burkina Faso faces. He will never, ever, know what it's like to wake every morning and struggle just to survive...not in the ways she does. So here I am...trying desperately to tip the scales of life, just a little, in her favor. So I am grateful for any and all information. I am also starting a Cardfunder campaign. I have vast marketing and outside sales experience and I am impressed by the simplicity of this concept.
Thank you again!!
Thank you again!!
(Edited)
Hello,
hope that you are doing well, I am very thrilled for this great opportunity to
humbly requesting you the help. In fact, I was born in a poor family where to
find schools fees and meals are the big problems for our family. My mum
struggled longtime working alone searching for us food but unfortunately she
was not able to provide us school fees to accomplish our studies. We are a
family of nine children with one girl. The problem that is challenging me is
that our sponsor who helped me for my education passed away last 3 months ago
and our grand parent who helped us passed away few weeks ago. I get government
loan of school fees but the problem of registration fees, living allowance and
accommodation is the big problem. I would like to request you to help me to
find academic registration fees and other fees there is no few contribution. I know that you are able and you have heart
for giving. There is no few contribution because I really know that it can make
change. I really hope that through
education I will change something for the community, family, country, and around
the globe.
While I am waiting your favorite answer I thank you. I really appreciate the great and tremendous work you are going to provide with your heart of giving.
Sarah, Official Rep
Hi Karly! It's great to see how much excitement and joy you have in your heart for this precious little girl, Bernadette :)! I am so sorry that the letter process has left you feeling discouraged though. Historically, letters have taken between two and three months to be processed and delivered to sponsors and children. After years of feedback about sponsors having a hard time developing relationships with their kids between the long wait in letters, we decided to move to a new letter system that would allow us to process letters up to 50% faster than the old system would allow. We are currently in the transitional phase between these two systems, and have been working through many issues that have arisen with the new system. For now, letters are still taking between two and three months to be translated and given to Bernadette. This in no way means that she feels unimportant to you. These kiddos are used to letters taking that long, and I know she feels your love already simply because you chose to sponsor her! We also have Bernadette's first letter being processed as we speak, so look out for her first letter in the next few months as well. Thank you so much for loving on this sweetheart and for praying over her life!
Hi Sarah! Do I have Wogayehu's first letter being processed yet?
Hi Jenny! Yes, Wogayehu's first letter is in process. However, it can take up to four months to get that first letter, so there will be a bit more time before you receive it. I know it can really be difficult to wait for that letter, but it will come :)!
I am sooooo excited! :D
Hello,
hope that you are doing well, I am very thrilled for this great opportunity to
humbly requesting you the help. In fact, I was born in a poor family where to
find schools fees and meals are the big problems for our family. My mum
struggled longtime working alone searching for us food but unfortunately she
was not able to provide us school fees to accomplish our studies. We are a
family of nine children with one girl. The problem that is challenging me is
that our sponsor who helped me for my education passed away last 3 months ago
and our grand parent who helped us passed away few weeks ago. I get government
loan of school fees but the problem of registration fees, living allowance and
accommodation is the big problem. I would like to request you to help me to
find academic registration fees and other fees there is no few contribution. I know that you are able and you have heart
for giving. There is no few contribution because I really know that it can make
change. I really hope that through
education I will change something for the community, family, country, and around
the globe.
While I am waiting your favorite answer I thank you. I really appreciate the great and tremendous work you are going to provide with your heart of giving.
Hi Sarah!
Oh THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I am trying not to short circuit my IPhone with my tears....as soon as I read that Bernadette's first letter to me is being processed...I lost it. I look at her picture everyday. I will be driving, doing dishes, or just getting ready for bed and I try to imagine what she is doing at that very moment. I imagine her in the morning, sitting outside her home in the hot sun, playing only with her imagination. I imagine her helping her parents at meal time, or I picture her right before she falls asleep...and I wonder what thoughts calm her into peaceful slumber...or what thoughts and fears many keep her awake. And... how many of those fears are real.
As I type this, my son is jumping up and down trying to get my attention(because this is one of maybe 3 times today he does not have it in full..lol). He wants to go swimming..no...ride his scooter..."wait mom I have a great plan! I will ride my scooter TO THE POOL!" Lol lol
I am grateful every summer for our little community pool!.....and again, I cannot help but wonder why Bernadette is faced with so much...why she has to fight so hard for survival...and Noah is screaming because he cant find his fav spiderman bathing suit. Well that's my cue....but I wanted to thank you for giving me the most exciting and hopeful news!
Oh THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I am trying not to short circuit my IPhone with my tears....as soon as I read that Bernadette's first letter to me is being processed...I lost it. I look at her picture everyday. I will be driving, doing dishes, or just getting ready for bed and I try to imagine what she is doing at that very moment. I imagine her in the morning, sitting outside her home in the hot sun, playing only with her imagination. I imagine her helping her parents at meal time, or I picture her right before she falls asleep...and I wonder what thoughts calm her into peaceful slumber...or what thoughts and fears many keep her awake. And... how many of those fears are real.
As I type this, my son is jumping up and down trying to get my attention(because this is one of maybe 3 times today he does not have it in full..lol). He wants to go swimming..no...ride his scooter..."wait mom I have a great plan! I will ride my scooter TO THE POOL!" Lol lol
I am grateful every summer for our little community pool!.....and again, I cannot help but wonder why Bernadette is faced with so much...why she has to fight so hard for survival...and Noah is screaming because he cant find his fav spiderman bathing suit. Well that's my cue....but I wanted to thank you for giving me the most exciting and hopeful news!
Karly, I love your enthusiasm and your heart for Bernadette! She is already so real to you and you haven't even received her first letter yet... imagine how this relationship will grow as you two really start to correspond! It's going to be such a blessing for you to watch her grow and for her to grow up knowing that you love her and you are there for her. Thank you so much for opening your heart to this sweet little girl :).
