Dos and Don’ts of letter writing SHARE Photos of yourself and your family | Your walk with Christ and your favorite Bible verse | Your hobbies, interests, and fun stories

ASK About their lives and their interests | How you can pray for them

BE CONSISTENT About writing them (we suggest at least once every three months) | About telling your child you are praying for them/thinking about them

To protect the relationship:

WHAT YOU SHOULD SEND Only what will fit inside of a flat envelope! (This excludes gifts and money.)

FOR YOUR PRIVACY Do not share personal communication information (this includes your address, email, phone numbers, Facebook…etc) or financial information with your sponsor child.

RESIST MAKING PROMISES

Empty promises, or making promises that you cannot keep, hurts the trust in your relationship with your sponsor child. This includes saying that you will visit “sometime” or suggesting that you will adopt them or bring them to the U.S.

Tips for writing your sponsored child Tell them about: • • • • • • •

Your hobbies, interests, activities Your job School travel family share your favorite bible verse or story share your dreams for your future with them

Ask them questions about: their life, goals, dreams Helpful hints: • Keep it simple and short (easier for translation) • Be specific if responding to their letter. Ask more information about the chore, event, person they may have requested prayers for • Share what you do every day, they will find it interesting, our cultures are very different • Pick a bible verse and explain why it speaks to you • Send a picture of you doing something unique to them (i.e. snowboarding, kayaking, dog agility)- it opens the world for them Mail letters to: Children’s HopeChest P.O. Box 1190 Palmer Lake, CO 80133

**Include child’s full name and reference number on all mail

Tips for writing to unsponsored children Tell them about: • • • • • • • •

Your hobbies, interests, activities Your job School travel family share your favorite bible verse or story share your dreams for your future with them tell them how you will celebrate the holiday

Helpful hints: • Keep it simple and short (easier for translation) • Share what you do every day, they will find it interesting, our cultures are very different • Pick a bible verse and explain why it speaks to you • Send a picture of you doing something unique to them (i.e. snowboarding, kayaking, dog agility)- it opens the world for them (staple it to your letter)

***Drop your card/letter in the large envelope on the bulletin board, they will be sent in batches. Thank you!!!

Phrases to be used in Christmas cards • We always remember you in our prayers---- Siempre te recordamos en nuestras oraciones. • As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, we also celebrate our friendship with you, our friends in Puerta Abajo.---- Mientras nos para celebrar el Nacimiento de nuestro Senor y Salvador Jesucristo, tambien los celebramos a ustedes, nuestros amigos en Puerta Abajo. • We give many thanks for the blessings of friendship. ---Damos muchas gracias por las benediciones de la Amistad. • We love to see the pictures and hear the stories from those who visit Puerta Abajo. --Nos encanta ver las fotos y eschuchar las historias de quienes visitan la Puerta Abajo. • The smiles of the children warm our hearts. --- Las sonrisas de los ninos calientan nuestros corazones. • We ask that you also remember us in your prayers. ---Te pedimos que Tambien nos recuerdes en tus oraciones.