If you are sponsoring a child, chances are you have had a million questions running through your mind about how your child and their community are doing. Our partners have been working very hard to give updates about the current state of the communities and countries where they work but I know many of you are eager to hear from your sponsored child. Now, more than ever, it is important to keep praying for your child, their country and keep open communication with them by writing letters.
As many of you know, international trips are canceled. To deliver your letters, our partners usually take them on a trip and will hand deliver them to the children. Once the children write back, those letters will come back on a trip so we can mail them to you. With all of the changes that have happened, we want to keep encouraging you to write to your child. In addition, we want to give you some ideas about how to write your sponsor child during this pandemic.
Writing Digitally
Social media, Zoom calls, email, cell phones are all different ways technology has helped us to stay in communication with people in the U.S. – especially if they live far away! At BrightPoint, we are also using technology to help you stay in contact with your sponsored student. Since we can no longer deliver letters personally, we are sending them electronically to staff in-country, where they are printing letters and distributing them to the children. They are also collecting letters from children when they can, scanning them, and returning them to us digitally so we can email them to you.
There are two ways we can collect your letters electronically. You can log into your account and write a letter or you can email one to us at connect@childsponsorshipservices.org. Soon, we will be launching a brand new online portal for sponsors that will show a timeline of the letters you have written and the letters you will receive from your child! Stay tuned for more updates about this upgrade later!
Appropriate questions to ask
The crisis we are facing is worldwide, so writing to your sponsored child during this time requires thoughtfulness and sensitivity. Here are a few questions you can ask your child that are sensitive to the situation but also show you care and you are thinking about them:
- How have you and your family been feeling during this time?
- Have there been any changes in your community?
- How can I be praying for you?
- How has school been affected for you?
It’s okay to write about COVID-19 in your letter but be sensitive. You can share things such as:
- How this pandemic has affected you – this will let your child know how you are doing but will also make them feel safe to open up to you.
- Let them know you are praying for them – you can write out a personal prayer just for them!
- If you feel comfortable, let them know of a time where God has comforted you during a time of uncertainty.
The important thing to remember is that the children know this pandemic is happening worldwide and many are scared and have questions. Let’s all be a comfort to them during this time and let them know that we care and we are praying for them!
I hope this helps to encourage you to write to your child today! If you are interested in sponsoring a child, you can click here to learn more and write your first letter!
Alicia Stever
Sponsorship Program Coordinator
BrightPoint for Children