Thursday, April 23, 2009

Delivering Packages

The best part of my job is going and delivering gifts to the children. It's the part that makes me think of all of you, it's the part that makes me smile (actually, that's usually all the time), and it's the part that the children LOVE! Here is a glimpse into what it's like being the one getting the hugs and hearing the little voices saying "gracias." They should be given to each of you, so I will try my best to pass them your way! Thank all of you for allowing me to receive even more hugs than I already do, :) and of course for your continued support and gifts!

Sonia receiving her special present!


Thank you Devon for your thoughtfulness!

Amanda's Lucky Day!
When we pulled up to her house, she went running to get her cousin, thinking she was getting a delivery since that is what happened last time. When she found out it was for her, she was ecstatic


Thank you Jim & Nancy for making her day!

Randy's day of fame!
He was surrounded by so may friends when we delivered his package, we joked that he was going to be the most popular kid in town for the next week.


Thank you Doug and Family for your generosity!

Mishell meeting her sponsors!


Thank you Todd & Kelly for having the hearts you do!


Kevin's packaged delivered!


Thank you Eva for your unbelievable thoughtfulness!


Katherin's time to remember!
She met her sponsor earlier in the year and was sent pictures of the 2 of them being silly!


Thank you Kent for sharing your life and love with Katherin!


Andrea's patient wait has paid off!
After trying to deliver her package once and forgetting to take it the second time, we finally made her day on the 3rd attempt. She assured us it was well worth the wait! Aftereach item she pulled out of the bag, she would get a huge smile, look at us and say "Gracias!"



Thank you Eva for blessing her life!

Joel meeting his Sponsors through a picture!


Thank you Donna for your love and support!

Sending packages

If you are interested in sending a package to your sponsored child, it is very welcome and absolutely possible. We ask that you send your package to the Hearts In Motion office in Indiana. There have been several emails about ideas of items you might inlcude in your package. Of course it is up to you what you wish to include. Some people have included gifts both big and small for other family members. This is a generous act, welcomed, but not a must. If you need ideas here are a few: Clothes, shoes, hair accessories, tooth brushes & paste, stuffed animals, books in spanish, coloring books, crayons or markers, do-it-yourself craft projects, toys (cars, balls, action figures, etc), underwear, learning items, socks, etc. We ask that when sending a package you try and include a mix of items. Such as toys accompanied by hygiene products and/or learning items. These children and families are thankful for anything and everything they receive. Thank you for your support and generous gifts!

Daniel Meeting his Sponsor

Jan had the rewarding experience of meeting her sponsored child in March and what a sight to watch. The excitement, joy, love, smiles, hugs and tears were so overwhelmingly powerful! It's a true gift to have the opportunity to create a relationship seperated by language, land, water, and money. Feeling so very close to an individual, having never met them, but knowing what an impact you are having on their life is priceless... especially once you get the opportunity to meet them in person!
Share in Jan's experience of meeting Daniel through her words and pictures.
"Daniel - Kids are very special no matter where they live! Daniel is one of those really special kids that have come into my life and my grandchildrens' lives. At Christmas time his sponsorship was a gift to my grandchildren. I was able to meet him when I was in Guatemala in March. Part of my mission was to bring pictures and stories back home with me. Daniel lives on a beautiful mountain with his family. His family includes his mother, grandmother, older brother and younger sister. I was able to meet him and hug him. What an emotional experience for me. He was such a handsome boy and thrilled to meet me 'face to face' as I was to meet him. He is a very bright young man and the note he wrote me was such beautiful handwriting and so well done for a 6 year old. He was thrilled with the gifts I took and the pictures he received of my family. Daniel hopes to become a doctor and I truly hope he can accomplish that goal. Maybe the little help that we are giving him now will help him become a doctor. I have been on 4 HIM trips but this was truly the highlight of them all. Thanks to all that made Daniel and my meeting possible."
- Jan Broders

First meeting

Reading the note Daniel wrote her

Daniel opening presents

Jan introducing him to her family through photos

Daniel is now "officially" part of the family.

Presents for Daniel and his brother

Jan with Daniel's family

Tears of Joy

Saying goodbye

Meeting Daniel's grandmother as she was leaving.
Daniel is now fortunate to have a grandmother in Guatemala and one in the US.

The hike down from Daniel's home

Thank you Jan for your love, kindness and support to Daniel and his family!

David meeting his sponsor

In March David had the opportunity to meet his sponsor and long time support in a different way then he had in the years past.
Scroll down and read about Leeanne's experience!
"The first time I saw David was our first trip to Guatemala with HIM in April 2006. I saw him at the hospital - he had come in for a cleft lip repair. He was one of the cutest kids I'd ever seen!! I took a great picture of him, and when I got home, I enlarged it and put it on my wall. He became my "poster boy." The following year he came back to the hospital for us to fix his cleft palate. The minute I saw him, I immediately recognized him and was very excited to see him again, and I was thrilled at how handsome he was after his lip repair!!! I took another photo of him, and put that with the first photo when I got home. Unfortunately, he got sick and we couldn't do his surgery in 2007. David returned in 2008 for his palate repair. Again, I recognized my "poster boy," hugged him and his mother, got another picture to add to my wall collection, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to assist with his surgery. Just before our HIM trip in 2009, my daughter, Lauren, in setting up the sponsorship program, called me to say that one of the children needing sponsorship looked familiar, and she thought he may have been my poster boy. She sent me pictures, and sure enough, I immediately recognized David!! Words cannot express how thrilled I was to have found him yet again, and to have the awesome opportunity to make him a long term part of our lives by sponsoring him. March 21, 2009- I had the thrilling experience to meet David (and his mom) again - only now he was our official sponsored child! A beautiful, loving, affectionate and sweet 4 year old! I got to give him simple gifts of new shoes, clothes and some toys, and he gave me the priceless gifts of warm hugs and a child's love! I hope David will forever be a part of our lives."
-Leeanne Patterson





Thank you Leeanne & Pat for your continued love and support to David and his Family!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Jason meeting his Sponsors

In March, Glenn and Linda got the opportunity to go to their sponsored child's home and meet not only him, but also his family and neighbors. Here is what Linda says about the experience:
"We loved being able to meet Jason and his siblings at their home- I think it is wonderful for him to be able to have faces and words of encouragement so that he can understand how important education is. It was so cute that he was so worried about the police blockade so he was going there to help us get through- the neighbors understood how important it was for him to meet us so off they went on their motorcycle to find him- up he pulled- very clean in still pressed clothes and his hair with a little gel in it- we must be very important!!!- we played and gave him some clothes and toys along with lots of toothpaste and toothbrushes- his little brother is a pistol!! very cute with lots of personality- hopefully he will get sponsored next year so he will stay in school also- his mother was not home because she was working but that helped to confirm how important it is to sponsor Jason-"
-Linda Davis

Glenn, Jason and Linda
Jason with his new soccer ball.

Linda passing out gifts - the neighbor boys joining in on the fun.

Jason thanking Linda for the gifts.

Thanking Glenn too.

Glenn playing frisbee with the boys.

A picture with Jason and his brothers and sister.

A picture with all the neighborhood boys.

Saying goodbye.
It truly was a terrific experience watching the interactions between Jason, Glenn and Linda. Though they could hardly communicate without a translator, there was so much love in the air. What a fortunate little boy he is to have such wonderful people supporting his future!
Thank you Glenn and Linda for your continued support!