Gracias! from Jhonny

In October last year we sent each of the sponsor kids a big package of photos, coloring books, stickers, postcards, and other goodies that we had picked up for them on our summer vacation. I haven't had a chance to post them before now - but these are the photos we got back from CI.



Isn't this the sweetest thing you ever saw? Jhonny took the photos of us and made a poster. He told me that he was going to hang it in his room so he could always think about us and know that we are thinking about him. It's such a sweet gesture and that "Gracias" brought tears to my eyes!



Jhonny is very anxious to get to met us in person. He always tells me all the things he would show me about his "beautiful city" in Ecuador. I hope and pray that I will get to meet him someday. He's a really special kid. It's been a privilege getting to know him.



We also got a new yearly photo of Jhonny. He's so cheerful - always smiling. In fact the first thing that he ever told me about himself is that he is a "cheerful" person. He must be a nice kid to be around. :)


Jhonny 2009

I can't wait to get a progress update on his family IGP. I hope it is going well!

Jhonny's Income Generating Project

Yesterday I showed you Hermelinda's story of poverty. It's depressing and sad and as of yet has no clear solution.

Now let me give you some good news! One poor family now has a new source of income, thanks in part to my blog readers!

These are the photos I got of Jhonny's Income Generating Project that I funded through the proceeds of the stash sale I held a few months ago. So if you bought some yarn from me, take a look and see what I did with that money. And pat yourself on the back - you helped give a whole family great hope for their future!

Children International calls these Income Generating Projects. I think they should call them Hope Generating Projects!


Jhonny shows off the new equipment that will enable his family to start their own business. Jhonny was especially grateful for the new refrigerator. He wrote:

"I am happy for your help...We didn't have a freezer and now thanks to you we have one to keep the chicken and the sausages, so that they don't go bad and we don't have to ask our neighbor to keep them for us as we used to."

Can you imagine not having a refrigerator?


Jhonny's mother Fanny was so happy about her new kitchen equipment! She told the field workers that she would "seize the opportunity to to do her best and to be able to support her children in the best way possible". She said:

"I didn't expect this, it is a big surprise for me and I want to thank the sponsor for all the support Jhonny receives. God bless you!"


In addition to the new fridge, Jhonny's family also bought some large cooking pots, a fryer and a propane tank to run the fryer. Jhonny told the field workers:

"My siblings and I will keep helping my mother in everything we can. This is very important to us and I would like to tell my sponsor that we will never forget this. Thank you so much for caring for my family and me."


Check out that fryer!! That thing kicks ass!! Jhonny's IGP plan is for his mother to cook foods such as french fries and fried chicken which they plan to sell at sporting events. I think it's a great idea! It's almost guaranteed to be a success. And it will allow Jhonny's mother Fanny to work from home which is important since she has eight boys to care for. (I'll bet the boys are really enjoying all the fresh food and cold drinks from the fridge and the french fries as well!)

Jhonny wrote:

"These things will serve for us to prepare food to sell. Delicious french fries with sausages to sell!"


Jhonny with his mother Fanny, his twin Joe David and his step-father Pedro. They all look really happy. Jhonny says:

"The money will be used for our education and the family's expenses."

The field workers also emphasized that Jhonny's parents have the goal of saving money for their children's schooling. I think that's fantastic!


Jhonny is twelve years old and lives in Ecuador. His family income is up to $200 a month. I think that is showing a small increase already and will probably get even higher once they really get under way with this business.

Jhonny wrote:

"My mom says she is very grateful and that God bless you and your family always. Thank you so much! God bless you and big hugs to you."

Jhonny and I always say "big hugs" to each other. He's such a sweetheart. I hope I can meet him and his family someday. Jhonny often tells me he very much wishes that we will meet each other someday.


Jhonny with his brothers in 2008. Only two of his other brothers have sponsors, Jhonny's twin Joe David (behind Jhonny in the white shirt) and Anthony (in front on the left). I'd love to find a sponsor for his four year old brother Jhon Michael. He is the little boy in the center of the picture wearing overalls and sitting next to Jhonny. This is a really close, wonderful family and it's been a great experience getting to know them.

Now I am looking forward to the next report which will let me know how their business is going. I've also asked Jhonny to tell me all about it in his next letter. I'll share that with you whenever I get an update.

I'll end this post with a quote from American writer Albert Pine:

What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
-Albert Pine

Jhonny's Family and Home

I've been so, so busy! Crafting like crazy! I promise to get my Hubby to take some photos tonight of all the cool stuff we have been making - otherwise we are in danger of running out of time to take any photos before we give it all away. :)

In the meantime, here are some photos of my sponsor kid Jhonny and his family at their home in Ecuador. I am going to fund Jhonny's IGP project next. Hopefully, I will have enough money right after the new year. I've raised almost enough from the stash sale. (Thanks!!)



Jhonny is the one in the yellow shirt. The boy on the opposite end of the photo in the white shirt is Jhonny's fraternal twin brother Edison. Jhonny's mother is holding the baby and his step-father is in the back in the white shirt.



In this photo from front to back and from left to right are:
Jo David, Anthony, Jhonny
middle row:
Jhon Michael and Edison
back row: Wilson and Nelson

Only Jo David and Jhonny have sponsors. If you have thought about sponsoring then I can't recommend this family highly enough. Jhonny is a very sweet, cheerful boy. His letters are so full of life! He really takes alot of trouble to tell me about himself and his family and his country. I love getting his letters. With seventeen sponsor kids it's inevitable that I have a closer relationship with some of them more than others and Jhonny definitely has a special place in my heart! If you would like to sponsor one of Jhonny's brothers please email me and I can help you set that up.



Jhonny's mother, surrounded by her seven boys. Can you imagine seven boys????

Jhonny's IGP is for his mother to cook and sell candies and other foods out of her house. I think it's a good plan since it will allow Jhonny's mom to work from her home. I'm sure she has plenty to do there with so many boys. Truly the mind boggles! They need a refrigerator and other cooking gear as well as the ingredients to get started.



Jhonny in front of his home. I can't wait to get the IGP going! It will be such a great way to start off the new year for Jhonny and his family.

Next time - crafts I promise! :)

Jhonny's Gifts

This is our other Ecuadorian sponsor child Jhonny. We sent him a money donation for Hubby's Father's Day present. Look what Jhonny got!



The family bought this nice looking wardrobe. Jhonny said that he used to keep his clothes in boxes so he was happy now to have a place to keep them where they won't get dusty.



Jhonny also got a new pair of sneakers. You can tell he loves those sneakers!



Jhonny is a really cheerful kid. He is one of seven brothers! He is very close with is family and his most favorite thing is when they can all spend time together. He also loves to play soccer.



I love this picture of Jhonny, his mother and his youngest brother. It reminds me of how I am with my son. Jhonny's father abandoned the family so they depend on his mother's income to support the family. Like many of the parents of my sponsor kids, Jhonny's mom is a street vendor. I'm glad that they were able to spend their donation money on something other than food! I think that is probably due to the fact that Jhonny's older brothers also work and contribute income to the family.

In crafting news, I had finished knitting the body of my daughter's dress only to mess up when I picked up the stitches for the sleeves. Don't ask how. :( Since this dress is knit all in one piece from the top down this is a pretty serious issue. There's no way I am ripping back to the sleeves. So I think I will be doing some serious knitting surgery and redesign in the days to come.

Wish me luck!