I just returned from a mission trip to our children’s program in El Cobre, Cuba and spent several days with not only my sponsored child but some of yours as well! What a joy to see them face to face, hug them, and to share some quality time.
TyAnn Hunt, Forward Edge Child Sponsorship Administrator and child sponsor, on a mission trip to Cuba.
One of the things that I was really struck by on this visit was the huge importance children place on communication from their sponsors. I already knew this to be true but what I witnessed brought it home once again. We visited some of the children in their homes and brought letters or short video clips from their sponsors, and the reactions were extremely emotional. From laughter to tears, their joy was palpable and spoke volumes.
For those children who do not receive any communication from their sponsors, the response was just as moving. Children were quick to ask when their sponsors were going to write them or if they were going to come and see them, and the disappointment and longing were evident in their eyes.
Letters are such an easy way to communicate to a child your love and that they’re in your thoughts. Therefore, I would like to challenge you, beginning this month, to write your sponsored child consistently for the remainder of the year.
You might be a person who writes regularly already, and that’s terrific! Or you might be someone who doesn’t, and that’s OK too, but perhaps there is room for improvement in this area. Wherever you are in your letter-writing journey, here are some helpful tips on how to communicate more consistently and share your love with the child you sponsor!
On your PC, tablet or phone, pick a day of the month and commit to writing your letter on that day – then set recurring appointments for future months. Try to set a goal for writing that doesn’t feel overwhelming. Perhaps start with every other month – and give yourself some grace if you end up missing the date; it’s never too late to pick it back up. It’s simply the commitment to writing throughout the year that will mean so much to your child.
If it helps, think of some topics in advance and note them in your letter-writing appointment. Maybe one topic is your family, the next one a holiday or special time of year, then perhaps about your job or your church. Don’t forget to ask your child about their lives; the kids love to share about themselves and it makes them feel important that you ask. If you need help getting started, check out these blogs:
On the refrigerator, your morning mirror, your desk – wherever you know you’re going to look, post your child’s photo there. The out-of-sight, out-of-mind phenomenon is real, and we can all think of examples in our lives in which this has played out. The likelihood that you will think about your commitment to writing should increase each time you see your child’s smiling face staring back at you. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to also have his or her latest letter handy as an added motivator.
Through your My Account, easily send letters, photos, video messages, or gifts. You can also use email or traditional mail. Every note lets your child know they are known and loved.
Once you create your account, just log in, go to My Sponsorships and select the link to write your child. Then, write, add photos if you’d like, and hit SEND LETTER. It couldn’t be easier. Of course, if you’re old-school (like me) you can also just send an e-mail to children@forwardedge.org or send it by snail mail; we aren’t picky.
If you are having trouble connecting to your My Account, please contact me at tyannhunt@forwardedge.org or (360) 558-5897.
One of the easiest things we can do is often the one we overlook the most. We may think that praying over something as simple as writing a letter is silly and unnecessary, but it is actually a great way to remind ourselves to do it. When we take the time to pray for our sponsored child and his or her family, it is the perfect opportunity to ask God to remind us of this small physical task that carries so much emotional weight.
Child sponsorship means many things to many people. For us at Forward Edge, it means facilitating a relationship between a sponsor and a child that will not only help to break the cycle of poverty in their life but show them the love of Jesus Christ and the value they have as a unique child of God. As sponsors, we get the privilege and the blessing of being conduits in that process; so let’s commit ourselves for the rest of the year to consistently communicating those truths to our kids.
Photography is more than just a way to document your mission trip—it’s a bridge to connection, a chance to honor the stories of those you encounter. As you step into communities, camera in hand, pause to reflect. Are you capturing moments with care and respect? Are your photos fostering dignity rather than reducing people to subjects?
Berenice was used to seeing the same narrative play out around her growing up: a life marked by poverty, wealth inequality, and barriers to education. Most families in her area in Oaxaca, Mexico have traditionally come from smaller villages in search of a better life and are facing severe unemployment
Why give to International Missions when there are people in need in our own backyard? This is a legitimate question. Sometimes conflicting feelings can arise about where our money “should” go. After all, most of us are familiar with the old adage that “charity begins at home.” There are many
When it comes to sharing with others about your mission, calling, or passion for a particular cause, your main objective should be to connect with your audience. Get them engaged emotionally and intellectually so that they are ready to receive what you have to say. Whether you are one-on-one or
10 yrs. old
Entered the program: October 2025
Suad lives with his grandparents, uncle, aunt, cousin, his mother and sister in very poor conditions. The family of 8 occupy one room of an old house that is shared by three other families. There is one outdoor bathroom to accommodate all of the tenants. During the summer, Suad goes to stay at his uncle’s house in a village where they can have more space.
Suad’s father abandoned him and his mother due to poverty, and moved to another country; they do not hear from him. His mother is illiterate and tries to find work cleaning for other people to provide for her son.
Suad's cousin, Daim, is also in the Cornerstone program.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
