A Letter to Our Sponsors

This week, we received an email from one of our sponsors expressing concern about a recent report card received from their sponsored child.  Below is my response, which I am sharing with you this Christmastide, so that you can have a better understanding of some of the difficulties faced by many of our sponsored children.  Many Christmas blessings to you and yours as you enjoy the holidays surrounded with friends, family and love.  It is the gift that was given that first Christmas, our Lord and Savior, that guarantees for us and our friends in Kenya blessings both now and forever!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Lepley on behalf of the CSCM Board

Dear <Sponsors>,
THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR CARING ENOUGH ABOUT <SPONSORED CHILD’S NAME> TO WANT THE BEST FOR HER!
Just last week, I had a long conversation with Pastor and Dcs. Meeker about many of our sponsored children in the same position as <child>.  I too wondered if some of the sponsorships should be moved around to children who I thought would be more motivated or, for lack of a better word “deserving” than students who don’t seem to be holding up their end of the deal.
What I learned is that many of these children who seem to be under-performing are having difficulties because of the terrible situations they are coming from.  For many, school is a difficult adjustment because it is the first experience they have in a structured environment.  According to Lorna, the children who struggle most academically are some of the kids who most desperately need to be sponsored because school takes them out of potentially abusive and otherwise unhealthy situations.  As long as they pass, even with D-’s across the board, they can pass their exams and get a diploma.  With that certificate, they can be hired as housekeepers or laborers and have a future.  Without that diploma, they really have no hope for employment, which means their story will be a rerun of one more generation of destitution and hopelessness compounded by disease and poverty.
We are struggling as a board to figure out who to sponsor and who not to because our situation is compounded by the fact that we are sending 225 children to school, but only have 124 sponsors.  Again, we never want to turn down a child, knowing that they would be stuck in a terrible place without our help.  But the reality of financial limitations puts pressure on us to make sure that the students who are most in need have a sponsor. 
Educational support through sponsorships is important, but through CSCM, you are meeting other needs for your sponsored child as well.  CSCM offers care beyond that of just an education.  Education is vitally important for a child’s future, but not if he or she doesn’t have anything to eat.  At CSCM, your sponsorship money is often used to buy sponsored children a bag of rice or other food for the child to take home between semesters.  In some cases, that bag of food may be the only thing the family has to live on while the child is back home.
But even more important than the physical and educational needs of these children are the spiritual need of a Savior.  Literally hundreds of children have had that need met through the ministry of Pastor and Deaconess Meeker in the waters of Holy baptism and through confirmation instruction.  This Christmas, you are sharing the gift of a Savior with <child> through your sponsorship!  What an awesome privilege and great blessing for you!!
You are the angel God is using right now to tell one of His children in Kenya, “Behold!  I Bring you good tidings of great joy.  For today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born, Christ the King.  You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger…”
Again, I thank you for your concern and appreciate your support of this ministry.  The need is immense with some 1.7 million children in Kenya who are orphaned.  I want you to know that we share your concern and will do the absolute best we can with your sponsorship.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.  I will check with the Meekers and share with them your concerns.
Glory to God in the Highest, and Peace to His people on earth!
In Christ,
Pastor Lepley and the CSCM Board