When I first became Alison’s sponsor, I was SO excited. I felt led to sponsor her for three reasons: she was a girl, she was a teenager (which I knew meant it would be harder to find her a sponsor), and she lived not far from where I spent a year working in Ecuador. It was perfect.
I quickly wrote my first letter to her, telling her all about my family, where I lived and why I had chosen to sponsor her. I included photos I thought she might like. And I excitedly asked a handful of questions about her life. Needless to say, I already couldn’t wait to receive her response!
I knew it would probably take a little while, so I was determined to be patient. A handful of months went by without hearing from her, but I knew that was normal. I kept waiting. A few more months passed — still no letter. Then a few more …
It took nearly a year to receive my first letter from Alison! And if I’m being completely honest, I often felt disappointed as I waited. I had been so excited to begin a relationship with her, and it felt like that dream was on hold.
What I came to later find out was that there had been a translation mishap somewhere along the way, causing the letter to be delayed. Even though there was a delay that was out of my control, I was so happy to know Alison had indeed written me back and that the letter had not been lost.
Now, my letters from Alison come much more quickly. But that didn’t mean that the season of waiting at the beginning of our relationship didn’t feel long.
Have you ever felt that way in your letter-writing experience? Like you’re just so excited to receive a letter but it feels like it’s been forever? I’m sure a lot of us have. And it’s highly likely that you might feel that way during this global pandemic.
Coronavirus and Letter Delays
Due to constant and ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines across the globe, letters to and from your sponsored child will likely be delayed. And at this point, we’re not exactly sure by how long.
Compassion is extremely committed to doing all we can to protect children, global staff and volunteers from this virus. That means encouraging social distancing, which makes handing out and collecting letters nearly impossible.
This might feel upsetting, disappointing or sad to you — and that’s completely fair. We’re feeling a lot of those same emotions lately. You’re probably longing to know how the child you sponsor is doing. To ask how her family is holding up. To tell him you are praying for him.
This season is testing all our patience. We ask you to continue being patient as you wait to hear from your sponsored child.
In the meantime, we’d love to share some tips while you wait — whether you’re waiting to hear from the child you sponsor due to the coronavirus or for non-pandemic-related reasons.
Keep Writing
Even if you haven’t received a letter from your sponsored child in a while, it’s important to continue to write! Your words remind your child that he or she is loved, remembered and cared for — even from thousands of miles away. Plus, it’s possible that your child has written you but that there is a delay in delivery that is completely out of his or her control.
We typically recommend that a sponsor sends at least two to three letters per year. So, if it’s been a few months since you last wrote, take a few minutes to send a letter to the child you sponsor even if you’re still waiting to hear from him or her.
If you’d like some tips for writing letters during the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.
Reach Out to Us After Six Months of Waiting
It is very important for you to know that this tip does NOT apply to the coronavirus delays. You can check our website for updates as global offices open and letters begin sending again. Once they do, your letters will be on the way.
This tip applies to normal delayed-letter situations. In our typical, non-pandemic world, our hope is that you’re receiving letters at least once every six months — or up to six per year (if you’re writing regularly, the child you sponsor will respond). When I was waiting for my first letter from Alison, I didn’t know this. I waited much more than six months before hearing about the delay in my letter. I wish I would have reached out sooner — but now I know for the future! So, if it’s been MORE THAN six months since you received a letter, please feel free to reach out to us at 800-336-7676, and we’ll try to find out what’s going on.
Read Through Old Letters
If it feels like it’s been forever since you last heard from the child you sponsor and you’re finding yourself missing his or her letters, consider reading through old ones! It’s so fun to reminisce about how your relationship with him or her has grown and developed. Plus, you can hang one of the letters on your fridge so that you’re daily reminded to pray for your sponsored child!
Pray Without Ceasing
This tip could probably go without saying, but never forget to pray — even while you’re waiting. Take the experiences and stories from old letters that you already know about the child you sponsor and pray for him or her! Pray for his or her family, health, friends, schoolwork, community and relationship with Jesus. God moves in powerful ways in our waiting — invite him to do so!
Waiting for a letter can feel hard — trust me, I know! But I hope these tips will help you along the way. If you have any questions about how Compassion is responding to this COVID-19 crisis, click here. And as you wait to hear from your sponsored child in these unprecedented times, consider writing a letter to him or her today!
Photos by Tigist Gizachew
