Sponsorship Program

Saulo's mom is head of a feeding/sponsorship program and asked us to help for a few days. When someone sponsors a child, it usually means that they get to go to school with a uniform, supplies, and a smile. They (and their family) also get food to help supplement for the month.

Blanca (Saulo's mom) and her grandson Ivan. Ivan handed me the flower, took it back and put it in my hair and said it was for me. He's a sweetie. 

 Our involvement with this specific program started with Kyle translating letters from American sponsors to their child. We felt funny reading mail from and to people other than ourselves, but quickly got over this when we realized we needed to type out 63 letters and translate them. Some of the letters were short and sweet, loving and encouraging to their child, the way they should be. Others were long, long, long with way too many adverbs. Difficult to translate and just long. I don't think sponsors realize that if they are not writing in Spanish or using google translate, someone has to translate their 1 page typed 10 font letter to an 8 year old. Lesson to learn: sponsoring a child is an AMAZING thing to do, just realize that if you are not using a translator, someone along the line will have to. Keep it short and sweet or translate it yourself.

I'd like to say I had something to do with this process, but I really didn't. I typed a few letters to give Kyle a break. The real work took place yesterday while he sat at the computer all day translating. Saulo said if it were a test, Kyle would have received 95%!!! Buen español Kyle!!!  I'm amazed everyday at his ability to communicate with those around us. This was great practice for him and not to mention the hours he saved Saulo (who is a father to technically 22 and in law school. he would find time to translate, but would have been his sleeping time).

The second day of our involvement took us to the church building to hand out the letters, collect hand drawn pictures/letters and grades to send back to the sponsors, and of course, to distribute the food. This was cool. To see at least 60 moms or dads present to hand in beautiful pictures from their children and pick up food. Today was 1 of 3 days in the month that they distribute food and pass out sponsor letters. In one month 290 families are feed through this program. That's pretty cool.

Each family that brought a hand drawn picture or letter to the sponsor and their grades was given 10 lbs rice, 10 lbs beans, 10 lbs corn (to be crushed and used for tortillas and tamales), flour, sugar, shortening, spaghetti, tomato paste, laundry soap (a bar used for hand washing...no machines here), and oats.

If you'd like to sponsor a kid, let me know and we can send you the info. Sponsoring a child whether in the states or elsewhere not only changes their life, but yours as well. It provides food, education, and hope of a better life for the child while softening our hearts and opening our eyes to those who have much, much less than we do. It's truly a blessing to all involved.