muhozi

All my adult life I've had a sponsor child. Either as a teacher or an individual or as a couple, now as a family, I've had the privilege of helping to provide an education, family health care and community development at so little personal cost.

Muhozi is our current sponsor child with Compassion. He's been with us since he was just starting school. Now he's in Grade 6 and about to take the National Exam in Rwanda. He adores soccer more than he can put into words and writes us letters about how the national 'football' team is faring. We love his letters. Of all the kids I've sponsored, Muhozi writes the most personal letters. The kind that aren't all syrupy and scripted, but kind of raw and give you the feeling that you really are getting to know him. We had seriously looked into Africa for our sabbatical. It's a place I've dreamed of all my life. We would have loved the chance to meet Muhozi. Maybe one day.

Our girls are now old enough -- especially Maia at 5 -- to understand a bit of what it means to sponsor a child. Even Ellie can understand we have a faraway friend who we write to and get letters from. Today we received a new letter from Muhozi, which we read to the girls just before dinner. Then after dinner, the girls stayed at the table to draw pictures for him while Tim and I wrote him a birthday card and found a family photo to send. Muhozi is always asking for a current photo. And always trying to figure out how old 'the baby' is now. (This time, it's a pic of Tim with his full 'sabbatical beard'. Muhozi's going to think I've remarried!) The girls loved preparing their pictures and we loved doing this as a family. I think this will be a new family tradition.

Here they are with their drawings. You'll notice Eliana is now very much into wearing princess dresses. And peeking at the LCD on the camera....