Letter to Mukashyaka

I've had quite a bit of correspondence with Compassion regarding our sponsorship of Mukashyaka. David and I desperately want to bond with her. Considering she is a little girl from Rwanda and for the most part actual handwritten letter correspondence is nearly obsolete now, we try to include along with our letters a small gift. One letter will have a length of ribbon. The next will have a packet of stickers.

The problem is, we try to send items that are a smidgen over 1/4" thick. Do you know how hard it is to find items to send that are that skinny??? We included a sweet little Golden Book with the last letter we sent. Remember the beautiful illustrations from Eloise Wilkin? The particular book was too thick. Ugh! I grow weary of such restraints.

I had been trying to figure out a way to add interest to what must be very boring letters from us. The last letter from her began with, "your daughter, Mukashyaka Alphonsine greets you in the name of Jesus." Oh, my goodness...she had me. I knew I had to do something more.

Last night I had 5 of the kids from Child 2 Child write her letters. I hadn't had time to read them until just a bit ago. They are all lovely and sweet, handwritten, and from the heart. I was almost finished with them and about to grab an envelope to mail when I read the last one in my hand. Keep in mind that this is from a 10 yr old New Hope girl. Here's a portion:

"Do you know that every day and every second of your life God and my church and I are caring for you? We love you. God cares for you and knows what's happening however you're feeling."

Can there be much better testimony of how the Lord is working in the heart of our kids at New Hope?

I'm discovering that most problems that develop within a church are brought on by adults.

The people brought children to Jesus, hoping He might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and Me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. (Mark 10:15)

If only... Why is it so hard for us? What happens to adults that we have such trouble seeing the good in life?

I want to be like New Hope's little 10 yr old girl. I want to be an encourager that shares the Good News easily and simply.