Focus!

I think I’m ready…

I’ve had more precautionary immunizations than I’d probably need to travel to the moon. Passport has been acquired after a brief holdup because of a misplaced birth certificate. Flights have been booked. Lodging in the Dominican Republic is in the works with help from the child sponsorship organization. Agendas for the days I’ll be visiting are being planned and my packing list has grown a bit out of proportion trying to plan for unknown conditions.

I know there’s plenty of time to finalize anything I may have left out or think I may be forgetting.

As the spring season ends and routines in my household start to change I realize summer is here and I am eager for this trip to arrive. As I count the days again, I’m having for force myself to focus and stay on task.

Sweet dreams

Not much time was wasted before I received a response to my question asking if there might be items that I may be able to help with for José as well. I was a bit surprised that the letter said he needed a bed.

It made me wonder if he currently had an old one that was in need of being replaced or if he had been sharing a bed with his mother or sister. I know many children in families short on money or with little living space share a bed with their siblings or even their parents.

Maybe getting this bed would give him a little more self-esteem or independence because he would have his very own bed. It could be that both children are currently sharing a bed with their mother and this new bed may possibly allow her to have her own sleeping space.

I quickly sent a letter back saying that I would gladly support the purchase of a bed.

Health and hygiene education

There are many reasons I’m glad to take on the responsibility of being a child sponsor. Not only are the children being provided with clothing and needed food items as well as helping with the cost of their schooling, the child sponsorship organization is able to help these families with basic healthcare needs for their children.

These children have access to a doctor, dentist, vaccines and medicine, as well as health and hygiene education.

Telling children to “Wash your hands before eating.”, “Don’t walk barefoot through the dirt and mud.”, and making sure families boil water before drinking or cooking, seem simple, but they are the most common source of parasitic contamination. 

Most families in these impoverished communities have never been informed on basic hygiene steps they can take to avoid parasitic infections and the many illnesses that could follow.

Parasites are everywhere and poor hygiene habits in areas that have contaminated water and soil and lacking proper sanitation systems increase the possibilities of parasitic infections in these families and their children.

An important goal in each of these sponsorship communities is to keep kids healthy with hygiene education, doses of anti-parasitic medication as well finding solutions to improve the community’s sanitary conditions.

I’m very glad to be such a small part of that initiative.

Letters each month

Hello Dear Mr. & Mrs. Nieman,

This is Kelmia writing on behalf of your sponsored child, Daichela. The child is very happy to be able to write you for telling you what activities and places she likes the most. She likes to eat ice cream. She likes to attend school. Her favorite subject is Math. She likes to share with her friends. What catches her attention the most and what she likes most is to ride bikes. She likes to be friendly and overall helpful at home. She likes to do her homework in the house. Thank you for everything you do for your sponsored child!

With much affection, says bye.

-Daichela and her aunt, Kelmia

I’m so very glad I got to meet them in person this summer. What a blessing that was!

Hello Dear Mr. & Mrs. Nieman,

This is Quircia writing on behalf of your sponsored child, Jose Rene. The child is very happy to be able to write you for telling you what activities and places he likes the most. He likes to watch cartoons and to play with toy truck because his dad is a driver and he would like to be like him. We lovely (lovingly) call Jose Rene as Renesito. He likes to play and to share with his sister Daichela and his cousin Sayeris. His favorite sport is baseball. Also, he loves eating. Thank you for everything you do for your sponsored child!

With affection, says bye.

-Jose Rene and his aunt, Quircia


All of the letters I receive from Daichela and Jose make me smile, but Jose’s letters always make me think of my own son. They share a lot of similarities. When my son was Jose’s age his favorite things seem to be very similar to the things Jose likes now. My son and Jose also coincidentally share the same birthday which I think is a great twist of fate.

I've actually started getting letters almost monthly, which is a great surprise.

Such necessary items

A few weeks ago I asked the children’s sponsorship organization if there were any special items that Daichela or her family may need or want that I could help with.

The organization explained to me that they let the sponsor set an amount they’d like to spend and then the project office near the sponsored child finds out from the parents what the child needs most and compiles a small list. The field office then purchases the items within the sponsor’s specified amount and provides them to the child and family for the sponsor.

Last week I received a list of items they told me Daichela currently needed most: a set of sheets, a towel, a pair of shoes, a mosquito net, a package of underwear and a backpack. They mentioned that the family also needed a set of dishes.

All of the requested items seem like such necessary things that I am again reminded what “needs” vs. “wants” really means.

I happily requested a list of needed items for José as well.