By Pablo Villagran-

While many children who come to Dorie’s Promise are here because of sad circumstances in their lives, the progress they make here is quite heartwarming.

Take nine-year-old Ana, who has progressed from having little education to making notable classroom achievements.

When Ana arrived in February of 2010, she was a shy, reluctant girl. She was dirty, had lice in her hair, and suffered from a lack of proper nourishment. These are the kind of cases that touch our hearts and make us determined to keep going.

The changes we have observed are nothing short of inspiring. After arriving in such a desperate condition, Ana has learned to read, has more self-confidence, and can think more clearly. While she has had some struggles, with her teacher’s help she is taking huge steps forward.

During Ana’s first year with us, we could also see that—because of the ill treatment she had suffered early in life—she didn’t think much of herself. Today Ana likes to dress up like a princess, which we believe shows an incredible boost in how she looks at herself.

The pretty young girl also likes to paint. To demonstrate the classroom progress she has made, she loves counting objects—in fact, anything to do with mathematics.

Teacher Claudia Roncal has noticed Ana’s social development. They went to two birthday parties, one in a restaurant and one at a friend’s house. Claudia says Ana loved interacting with her friend’s family and seeing the home: “She was very surprised by the surroundings.”

Ana is reading at about 70 percent of grade level,” says the Special Mother who watches her most often. “Because of her background, Ana was delayed in starting studies, but now can write in cursive,” she says. “As Ana continues in her studies and other activities, she will be able to develop as a normal, healthy child.”

Is your heart singing yet? Mine does every time I consider the development in so many children’s lives at our orphanage.

This is what our sponsors make possible. By donating each month, and combining their gifts with many others, we are able to provide a safe home, food, medicine, health care, and education to children who might otherwise go through life illiterate, underfed, and hopeless.

Even though we have seen an increase in the number of sponsors over the past year, our needs are increasing as well.

Director Alejandra Diaz says daily expenses are increasing, especially the price of food: “We are in a situation where we need more sponsors.”

“In order to reach out to more of the forgotten children of Guatemala, we need more people who are willing to get involved. Not just to donate money, but to form relationships and become a positive influence in these children’s lives.”

If you want to help, click on this link for more information about becoming a sponsor. Or click here to sponsor Ana.

By Pablo Villagran-

One of our strengths is our sponsorship program, which provides continuing financial support. More importantly, it establishes ongoing relationships between sponsors and children.

Some people decide to become sponsors after a mission trip to Guatemala.

These benefactors often want to spend considerable one-on-one time with their child during a mission trip or other visit. They may have seen the youngsters in videos and photos, but not had the opportunity for “face time.”

Sponsors do all kinds of things with their child. This can be playing in the backyard, doing craft projects, watching TV or—in the case of infants—helping feed them.

The kids love this kind of attention, which makes them feel loved. Since the program is relatively new, at this point many of the children are too young to give us feedback. However, I can see that these connections are making a dramatic impact.

Among the children who have been touched by such interaction are Fredy and Estephania, who recently received personal greetings from new friends.

Robin Sarkees and their family have sponsored Fredy since he arrived at Dorie’s Promise last February. They anxiously await quarterly updates and love seeing his beautiful smile in photographs.

These exchanges have helped them learn that some of Fredy’s favorite things are beans, sandwiches, soda, juice and the color purple.

Knowing that they can help provide Fredy with such things as quality medical and dental care, nutritious meals and educational materials is a blessing, Robin says.

“The video that we received melts our hearts,” he comments. “We watch it over and over again, noticing something new each time.

“Our monthly sponsorship means that we may eat out less, take our lunch every day to work and not update our electronics as often as our friends. But by making these simple sacrifices, we are making life-changing differences in his.”

While Peyton Bach isn’t a sponsor yet, she developed a “forever friend” relationship with Estephania during a visit earlier this year with her mother, Beth.

When Peyton returned home she missed the children so much she was sad and felt like crying. Those feelings prompted her to e-mail a note to Estaphania and attach photos, including one of the two of them playing on “Water Day.”

“I also added a drawing for Estaphania because when I was there we drew pictures for each other because we didn’t speak each other’s language,” Peyton says. “I hope to keep in touch with the kids there.”

In the process of adopting their daughter, Marcela; Becky Kurtz and her husband, Paul Kvinta, became sponsors for Ingrid.

The girl came to Dorie’s Promise with three of her siblings. Becky and Paul have enjoyed watching Ingrid’s videos and keeping up with her via our website.

When friends visited Dorie’s Promise this spring, the couple asked them to deliver Ingrid a small gift and photos.

“We hope to find other ways to communicate our support for Ingrid in coming years,” Becky says. “Meanwhile, we hope and pray that Ingrid will be blessed with happiness.”

If you would like to share in the joy and heart-touching experiences that accompany sponsorship, you can send us an e-mail. Or go to our sponsorship page by clicking here.