PO Box 354150 Palm Coast, FL 32135

Child Sponsorship

Tips for Writing to Your Child

Thank you!
Greetings Friend! Every day, we are reminded that people accomplish amazing things when given a chance. The heart of LifeLink Internationals work in Nicaragua is education. By providing a quality Christian education in the very midst of poverty and despair, we become the catalyst for change. Research shows when a child has hope for the future and is provided an opportunity, their confidence and outlook improves, and they are far more likely to reach their full, God-given potential in life. Sponsoring a child to attend The LifeLink School is a powerful way to offer hope and opportunity to a child in Nicaragua. While sponsorship centers on a personal relationship with a student, sponsorships benefit the entire family as well. The knowledge that you are providing food for your child, an education to give them hope for the future and the opportunity to grow in a caring environment is rewarding enough, but for your sponsored child, it is more than this it is knowing that someone, somewhere, cares for them. We believe that this knowledge has a far-reaching effect on the childs life and attitude to God, family and society. On behalf of the beautiful children of Nicaragua, we want to personally thank you for opening your heart to Gods love and your willingness to share with others. Serving Christ, Mike & Deborah Turner LifeLink International, Founders

Be encouraging! And please be sensitive to the childs economic situation. Please avoid discussing the material aspects of your life. Describe your family. Talk about important events weddings , graduation, trips, new jobs, holidays, etc. Write about the terrain/climate/people where you live. Talk about an important life lesson you learned, something you learned in school, or something youre learning now. Share your favorite Bible stories and verses. Remind your child that your pray for him or her regularly. Mention specific items your child has mentioned in his or her letters. Explain how your family includes your sponsored child in daily life. Share your prayer requests and praise reports. Express what a privilege it is to be your childs sponsor. Affirm that God loves him or her and has a great plan for his or her life. Include a Bible verse: about Gods provision for the future (Jeremiah 29:11); about Gods love for us (John 3:16); the value of each child (Psalms 139:13-14); loving one another (1 John 4:7); about the importance of learning (Proverbs 4:13). Encourage your child to write back and/or draw pictures for you. And ASK QUESTIONS. Please DO NOT send your personal contact information. This protects your privacy. Pictures are highly treasured in developing countries and a photo of you will help increase the depths of relationship you have with your child. We encourage you to send a family photo with your first letter. Please remember to put your childs name and control number on your letters and photographs. All Correspondence can be mailed to: LifeLink Sponsorship * PO Box 354150 * Palm Coast, FL 32135-4150

Page 2

Page 7

Frequently Asked Questions (cont)

How important is prayer in LifeLink sponsorship? Prayer is a critical link between LifeLink sponsors and the children they help. Your sponsored child is in need and vulnerable. Your prayers for the health, safety, education and spiritual development of your child are critical. Sponsored children are greatly encouraged when they hear that their sponsors are praying for them. Are my contributions to LifeLink, including my sponsorship support and gifts, tax-deductible? Yes. All contributions to LifeLink International are tax-deductible in the United States. As a requirement of the 1993 Revenue Reconciliation Act, we verify that no goods or services of value are given to you for your contribution. How can I communicate with the child I sponsor? We encourage you to send your sponsored child a personal or family photograph and a short letter of introduction. LifeLink's field staff will translate your letter and deliver it to the child you support. You may write to the child you sponsor as often as you like. When you write, your sponsored child will benefit from knowing that someone in addition to his or her family really cares. You will receive at least four letters from your child each year. May I visit the child I sponsor? Yes, LifeLink will hold two Child Sponsor Weekends annually and can also make other arrangements for visits. Please contact us for more information. Who is LifeLink International? LifeLink International is a Christian relief, development and training organization that responds to Biblical mandates by providing and supporting solutions in education, healthcare, and community development, along with hope and help for the purpose of world evangelism through Jesus Christ. LifeLink International is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit missions organization registered in the U.S., and is registered in Nicaragua as a Non-Government Organization (NGO). LifeLink International works in conjunction and in compliance with the Nicaraguan national government, including education and health departments, and by invitation of the local government.

The LifeLink School

Centro Escolar LifeLink or the LifeLink School in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua is a safe, Christian environment for learning. Students receive a top-rate education, with the addition of English as a Second Language and Bible studies. Our staff consists of trained Nicaraguan teachers under the leadership of our team in the field. For $35 a month, you are helping provide your sponsored child with: a daily, nutritious meal medical care life-skills training an education in a Christian school books and other school materials the hope of Jesus Christ!

By giving children the tools to live healthy, successful, Christcentered lives, we can encourage and empower them to overcome poverty and, ultimately, change their communities and nation. The LifeLink School opened in February 2010 with three levels of Preschool. We will add one new grade each year as our students advance their studies.

Page 6

Page 3

Area Info
Education Statistics
An estimated half the population of

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a LifeLink Sponsor? A LifeLink sponsor is someone like you who has made the decision to personally invest in the life of a child in need. As a LifeLink sponsor, you enable your sponsored child to participate in a Christian program that offers lifechanging benefits including: education, health care, social skills development and Christian training.

Nicaragua has not completed primary school. Only 29% of children who being first grade will complete primary school. It takes an average 10.3 years to complete the mandatory six years of schooling. The average Nicaraguan has 4.6 years of schooling, and in rural areas only 2.1 years of schooling. Nearly 500,000 children remain outside of the school system. Recent statistics reveal that the public school system in Nicaragua only invests between $54 and $82 per child per year (compared with $6,000-$12,000 in the U.S.)

And more than this, you can help your sponsored child develop a sense of confidence and self-worth with the love you express through letters and prayers. As a LifeLink sponsor, you are assured that there is a real connection between you and the specific child you support. The child you sponsor will know your name, write to you and benefit directly from your monthly sponsorship. Your relationship with your sponsored child makes you a very important person who has a significant role in his or her development. You stand alongside parents, pastors, teachers, family and friends who are taking an active role in encouraging and developing the child. Will I be the only person sponsoring the child I'm helping? Yes. The child you're helping has just one sponsor: you. That's why your prayers, letters and support mean so much to your sponsored child. Even if you choose to sponsor a child as a family or a group (for example, a youth group), the child you help will still be relating to your family or group as his or her only sponsor. No other group or individual will also sponsor the child you help. How long should my child sponsorship last? LifeLink child sponsorship offers you the opportunity to stay with a child for a number of years. We ask for an initial commitment of one year. We hope that you will be able to continue in your support of your sponsored child until he or she completes the LifeLink educational program.

Living Conditions
Nicaragua is the second poorest country

in the Western Hemisphere. An estimated 75% of the population lives on less than $2 US per day. An estimated 250,000 children 5-14 years of age are illegally employed to supplement their familys income Most of the houses near the LifeLink School Center are shacks made of tin, scrap wood and tarps with dirt floors. Over 60% of the children of Nicaragua are considered severely malnourished.

Page 4

Page 5