Ideas for writing your sponsored child are a very popular topic on this blog, OurCompassion, on Facebook … pretty much everywhere. In the contact center, we hear lots of questions about what you should and should not write.

While this list is not comprehensive, I hope it’s a helpful guide for you.

Topics to write about:

• Your Family
  Share everything you are comfortable sharing that is age appropriate for your sponsored child.

  Talk about your children, parents, cousins, etc. Tell stories about family members and friends, and tell your sponsored child why you’re thankful for them.

• Your Pets
  I know that my dogs are like family to my husband and me. Share pictures of your pets, things they like to do (go to the park or play fetch) and your favorite memories of having them as part of your household.

  Tell your sponsored child funny stories (remember that time Fido ate the Thanksgiving turkey right off the table when the family wasn’t looking?!).

• Your Community, State, and Country
  Share educational and fun information about where you live. Be descriptive and send photos if you have some.
• Your Favorite Things
  Have a favorite memory of growing up or a favorite Bible verse? Share it with your sponsored child and let him or her know why it means so much to you.
• Encouragement
  It may seem like you aren’t doing much, but you are! Your words of encouragement provide hope and fill your sponsored child with love.

  Don’t you remember that person who spoke into your life when you most needed it? That’s YOU to your sponsored child! Don’t take the honor lightly.

• Holidays and Traditions
  Tell your sponsored child how you celebrate Christmas or why Easter is such a big deal to your family. Share Fourth of July memories and write about the history of the holiday.

  Just as you are interested to know about your child and family, they are delighted to hear details from you!



• School and Work
  As you want to know what your sponsored child is learning at school, your child wants to know what you are learning at school or what your job is like. You might even find out you share a common interest.
• Ask Questions
  No, your questions might not always be answered (do you answer EVERY question you get in an email?) but they will show your sponsored child that you truly want to know him or her.
• Share Your Pictures
  Your sponsored child LOVES pictures. Be wise in the ones you choose, but send them often. My sponsored children can’t seem to get enough!

Topics to Avoid:

First, let me state that this is not meant in any way to make you feel guilty. You are already doing an incredible thing by sponsoring a child. This information is just to help you be wise in how you communicate with your precious sponsored child.

If you’re feeling the pangs of guilt, stop and read this first: Not Guilty: Using Your Blessings for Good.

• Money
  Don’t talk to your sponsored child about money. You and your sponsored child come from very different places. This topic won’t bring children joy, but it could promote jealousy and, possibly, anger.
• Food
  Have you ever thought about what your sponsored child eats? He or she definitely will not eat the same things you do. You can find out by logging in to your account on our website.

  Want to try your child’s diet for a while? Check this out: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor.

• Your Home or Other Belongings
  Go ahead and talk all you want about memories that were made in your home; just avoid the actual thing.

  Don’t talk about the size of your home or that you have a car (or multiple). Be cautious not to be callous when talking about things you own.

• Inappropriate Pictures
  Avoid sharing pictures that may not be appropriate, and remember that your sponsored child lives in a completely different country and culture. While that family picture at the water park may be the “best one you’ve taken in years,” the bathing suits may be quite a shock to your sponsored child. Also, try not to send pictures of your home or belongings.

  I’ve been asked if a picture of a theme park would be okay to send; I think that’s fine. Bottom line, use your best judgment and if you’re not sure, it’s best to call and ask us or don’t send it at all.

Finally, I’ve compiled some resources for you. Feel free to share your own ideas and resources for letter writing topics in the comments!

Resources:

• Follow us on Pinterest for letter writing ideas.
• Check out the Blogging from the Boonies blog.
• OurCompassion is a great resource for meeting other sponsors and asking for ideas.
• Here’s a list of items you can and cannot send with your letters.
• Letter writing ideas from our blog.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Got questions for us? How about ideas for improving our programs or processes?

Praise? We’ll take that too. Share it all, and get answers, in our online customer support community staffed by representatives in our contact center – support.compassion.com.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

As we begin to say farewell to 2010, many of us are thinking back on what we’ve done for our sponsored kids over the past year. We’ve written letters, sent cards, mailed in family gifts, and participated in the Compassion blog.

Some of us became Advocates. Others traveled far and wide, visiting our children in person.

But many of us are still looking for our place in this ministry. Many of us feel a pull on our hearts and we’ve prayed for an opportunity to do more for children in need. We have talents and gifts. We are ready to bring them to the table.

I have a suggestion.

I’ve become inspired by the stories of ordinary, everyday people who, with nothing more than an idea and some elbow grease, organized events and brought in funds for children in poverty:

• The homeschooling mother of four who planned a 5K run for Compassion’s Child Survival Program in Ethiopia;
• The summer Bible study group who organized a yard sale to benefit the Global Food Crisis Fund;
• The little boy who started a penny drive at his school when he heard that the people of Haiti needed tents after the earthquake;
• The blogger who donated $2 for every comment left on her blog in one week;
• The businessman who started the Junky Car Club, encouraging people to trade in their luxury automobiles for budget cars and donate the difference to children in need.

If you are reaching for that next level of involvement in Compassion’s program, I challenge you to find your opportunity in the area of fundraising.

We have this spot where we can share our fundraising ideas and experiences. Bake sales, aluminum can drives, Compassion parties, golf tournaments, lemonade stands – this is the place to bring it.

If you’ve organized an event already, please share what you did. What worked? What didn’t work? What would you do differently?

• If you have fundraising ideas, big or small, please share them. If you have an idea that you would like to implement, comment here and communicate with others who may be able to help or encourage.
• If you have an event coming up, post the date, time and location.

By simply posting, you are doing something for the children. You are offering information that may inspire others to great heights. And children in need will reap the benefits.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Have you ever experienced something here in the States that really made you get it?

Several months ago here at Compassion, we had a speaker at our weekly chapel. He had a pitcher full of 30,000 bbs. He told us about how 30,000 children under 5 die each day of preventable causes. Now, I’m no stranger to numbers. I could rattle off the numbers of poverty till your eyes cross.

But this speaker slowly poured 30,000 bbs into a metal basin as we sat and listened. Each ping that represented a life was like getting stuck by a pin. And they kept coming and coming and coming. Just as you thought there surely couldn’t be any more, that he must be nearing the end of the bbs, they just kept pouring. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping.

And for all my knowledge of numbers, this left me undone. God used the experience to break through my heart’s armor of cold, sterile numbers to soften it to the reality of human suffering.

I wrote Hope Lives with a prayer that God would use it to soften others’ hearts toward what he cares about so deeply. Now I’m writing a follow-up to this book that will help small groups experience and pray for the needs in this world.

So I need your help! Have you experienced something at your church or with your youth group or with your family that really helped you empathize with those in need or understand what poverty means? For example, I know of some families who have tried to eat for one day spending just $1, the amount millions of families around the world live on each day. I know another Compassion employee who used this photo as the artwork over his dining room table.

What great ideas do you have that you would like to share? How did your experience effect you?

Fine print: OK, my publisher said I need to include this here: By sharing your idea, you’re giving me permission to use this idea in publication without any form of compensation, other than my deepest gratitude and eternal friendship.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates