The boys

I always use to think getting snail mail was just about the greatest excitement life had to offer---at almost 26---still true!

I feel like I find myself rushing home from work, just to check the mail. This seems strange seeing as how now that I am almost 26, the majority of mail I get is bills, invoices, bills, and companies collecting payment (notice the common theme here). BUT, once John and I made the committment to sponsor through Compassion International, getting the mail is quite the emotional experience. So far I have heard from Stanly twice and both times I have teared up reading his writing. He is very young, 6, and his thoughts are so simplistic but so powerful. He talks about his family and his hobbies of playing in the front yard. He loves going to Compassion program on Saturdays. He mentions that when it is sunny that they are used to that. He also hopes that my child Nate is doing well (a little miscommunication/misconception-I clarified in my latest letter that Nate is my nephew...same thing right?)

He mentions several times throughout the letter that he looks at our picture and prays for us, and he thanks God that he is being sponsored! Whoa! How about a fat reality check for Kylie! I have a 6 year old, in Indonesia, that prays for me. He is fighting to survive in an AIDS dominated area and lives in a family with 5 other siblings all sharing the same hut. He is thanking God for me......for what? For my minimal 38.00 a month?

Reality Check, pride check, blessings check, whatever you want to label it.

We are blessed in this country.
To see a 6 year old who has nothing be thankful for his nothingness- I am humbled.

Stanly-some day I will visit you. I will hug you and thank God that you are in my life to teach me and grow me. I will also probably try to secretly steal you as I have tried to con John into doing it with me, although he is resistant to breaking the law--I'm working on him! I don't know how but I love you and you are rocking my world. Until the next snail mail date we have....I'm praying for you!


(below is a picture of Isaac-my 6th grade students sponsor him as a class)


(below is Apner-John's little guy)


(I'm not panicking...but I am....I can't find Stanly's picture on my computer and he is the cutest!! No I'm not being partial ;)