Care Packages being collected

In November, last year, I had the amazing opportunity to help pass out care packages to all the children sponsored by Karen Wistrom's team. We all had our own care package to give our sponsored child. We got to sit next to them, or put them on our laps, and share what our family had put together for them, specifically. We explained what they were getting, since some of the things were foreign to them, and what they would use it for; toothbrushes, underwear, hairties, stickers, matchbox cars, an other small gifts.

The interpreters tried their best to keep up and to put into Amharic words the best they could. This was an overwhelming task on so many levels. For one, it was amazing that we were actually sitting there with our sponsor child loving them and talking with them. For another, we did this with over 200 children! Some of the more emotional care packages to hand out were from other sponsors who were not able to be there with their child. Their words of love and prayers were overwhelming to read that many times, the tears would just come and not stop.

This year, someone else will read our family's care package letter and give our gift to Bizuayehu. Maybe they will also find it difficult to read as we love her so much, yet are unable to hold her or give her unending hugs.

Karen's team will be going in Nov. again, but this time, they will be delivering over 300 care packages!! What a task that will be! We were busy every day with 200. They will graciously visit Kechene, our care point, and take pictures of our little ones with their care package and with their loving note from a family like ours from afar.

For Sponsors...

If you are a sponsor, please send me your care package before Sept. 15 and I will make sure it gets to a team member going to Kechene. Because there are so many children this year and no one from our care point going with the team to get them there, we are limited to a small care package. Please wrap a t-shirt (size ranging from 6-10) around a family picture, letter and small gifts like a toothbrush, underwear, stickers, hairties, etc. and rubber band it twice like a burrito with your child's name on it and their reference number. I know this is very disappointing not sending more, yet the team also has so many other care packages ( just as small) that have to be delivered. If someone from our care point was going, we would be dedicating one entire suitcase to the care packages and there would be more room.

If you can't send a care package to me, let me know and I will make sure your sponsored child gets a package. We certainly do not want anyone not getiing one when the entire school will be getting the packages. Please contact me if you do not have my address and I will email it to you. gretabcg@hotmail.com

It will be so amazing to see all the children receiving their packages and hearing their letters being read to them. Below are just a few pictures of the experience they will get that the other care points had last year...

This was a little book I published from Snapfish of our family for Bizuayehu. We read it together and Misikir (left) interpreted for me. What a blessing this was to explain our entire family with her through this little book to her!