Frequently Asked Questions
We are committed to using all of our resources wisely. We have consistently used over 85% of all donated funds directly for ministry projects.
We encourage you to send a monetary gift of up to $30 for Christmas, birthdays, or family necessities. You can enclose coloring sheets, stickers or other small inexpensive paper type gifts in your letters, too. Monetary gifts can be sent to our Special Gifts fund. We encourage monetary gifts to protect the children from jealous family members and/or the unevenness in the value of different gifts. For children in our children’s home, Christmas gifts will be pooled to make sure every child benefits from the joy of the season.
Your child would like to hear about your family and life, but avoid references to how big a house you live in, new cars, many possessions, etc. Talk about daily life and activities. Talk about your children or grandchildren, if appropriate, and their activities. Avoid making political remarks or other potentially divisive or confusing comments about government leadership.
Feel free to share Bible verses and things God is teaching you. Remember that your child knows nothing about American life, so any small event can seem an adventure to him or her. Please do not mention the child coming to visit you in the US. Please do not tell your child to let you know if he needs anything. Your letters need not be long. You may want to keep copies so that you can more easily remember what you have already written about. Be sure to ask questions and show interest in the child’s life and achievements, too. Your child will be greatly encouraged to know that you care!Feel free to contact us at any time—by phone, mail, or e-mail. We have e-mail and phone communication with our workers on the field, so we can get an answer for you if we don’t know the answer ourselves. Your questions are welcome at any time.
We try to send you 2 or 3 pictures of your child each year, and we encourage you to send an individual or family photo along with your letters.