Re-emerging

Looks like May 2009 was a sparse month for blogging--but it was full of personal and professional activity. With that winding down, we'll be diving full-on into preparations for our 2009 visit to Sovietsk. Our team is settling in to be an excellent group of individuals whose skills and strengths will complement each other well. And the kids will be so excited to have more visitors!

We just got another update from the orphanage--as always, heartwarming and hopeful. I am ready to get back to see them!

Here is the first part, a sweet note from some of the littlest children:

Dear American Friends,

We want to congratulate you on the past St.Valentine’s day. We celebrate it, though it is not our holiday. We exchanged handmade valentine cards. Now we want to congratulate you on this holiday with a small poem and we want to wish you lots of love.

Roses are red, Violets are blue, You are so kind, We love you.

Vova L., Lesha K., Larisa K.

We just got that last week, so there's an example of how long it takes our letters to travel.

Here is the sweetest part, though: none of these children have sponsors! Both Vova and Larisa have pen-pals, though, and Lesha is brand-new to the orphanage (I believe--this is the first I have seen her name.) Sponsorship is so important, and we are thrilled to share that 18 of 29 children now have sponsors. But letters are the MOST important!

Have we said that enough here?

Of the 29 children, 4 of them do not have pen pals. 3 of those children will graduate soon and must face the world, and 1 is a sweet little boy who has overcome many challenges in his little life. Sponsorship is wonderful, and it requires a financial commitment of $34 a month. But letter writing can have an immense impact, and it is FREE! It only requires an email or a letter every month.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a pen-pal for a child in the orphanage, please drop us an email. For those of you who are already writing, the kids said it best:

You are so kind, we love you.