I sponsor a child in Santo Domingo through Children International. The number is 1-800-888-3089. The web site is http://www.children.org/. It's a wonderful organization, and it's only $12.00 per month. Below is a copy of a letter that I sent to Children I'ntl about a recent visit to meet my sponsored child. Please feel fre to ask (via email, if you'd like) any questions you may have. It's a long read, but maybe you'll see how satisfying something like this can be:
To whom it may concern,
I am sponsoring a girl in the Dominican Republic (Nona), and I had the good fortune of being able to meet her and her mother while vacationing there. I am writing to, first of all, thank you and the staff in DR. Everyone down there was very helpful, and I got the feeling that I was really welcome there. Ramon Almont and his staff (especially Jose) really care about these kids, and it shows.
Secondly, I wanted to share a little of what happened. Prior to my coming to DR for a long weekend of "R & R", I made arrangements with your office in Kansas City to meet the local Children International representative in Santo Domingo and Nona. I got to the office in SD around 11:00am, and first met Ramon Almont. He was very helpful in making the arrangements, and his assistance was greatly appreciated, especially with the phone conversations we had prior to my coming down there. He then introduced me to Jose, who had "orchestrated" the meeting between Nona and myself, and also served as translator. It was quite obvious that Jose really enjoys his work, and although I'm sure it's trying sometimes, he seems to feel alot of satisfaction at the good he is doing there. After meeting Ramon, Jose, and the rest of the staff, I met Nona and her mother.
At first it was a little awkward - I didn't quite know what to say to her, but with help from Jose, the awkwardness quickly left. Nona and I exchanged some questions and answers (with Jose translating), and after becoming a little more comfortable with each other, Jose, Nona, her mother, and I were off to one of the local malls in Santo Domingo. I had suggested doing this, as opposed to me going to a store and getting her a gift before I met her, because I wanted to get her something that I was sure she would like. We walked through a few stores browsing when Nona found a pair shoes she really liked.
When I got her those shoes, the expression on her face was as if someone had wrapped up the world and given it her. I'll remember her expression for a long time to come. After that, we had some pizza for lunch (also in the mall), and then went back to the office. During all this time Nona and I talked, got to know each other, and quickly became fast friends. In a few short hours, I think we touched each others lives in a way that we will always remember.
After a few hours, we went back to the office, and it was time to say goodbye to Nona, her mom, and the staff. Jose called me a cab, and off I went, back to continue my R & R, but not before hugging Nona's mother goodbye (along with a promise of my cooking dinner for the family at their house the next time I come down), and kissing Nona goodbye (along with the promise of keeping in touch with each other, and her learning some English, and me some Spanish).
The whole experience of sponsoring (her name) and meeting her is one of the gratifying experiences I have ever had, and I am looking forward to see her and her family again, and to continue to help make a little bit of a difference in her life. In time, I think Nona, her family and I will forge a realtionship with each other that will last for a long time to come.
Thank you for the opportunity to be (and continue being) a sponsor for Nona. I'm sure I have gained as much (maybe even more) from this experience as she and her family has.
