Welcome to Jonathan's Fundraising Page!! 

NOV 17th, 2009: I just want to update this page, so that I can send my appreciation out to all of you who have supported Jonathan and his grandmother.  This IGP will be a big blessing to a family who could use a break! 

In my most recent letter to Jonathan, I had asked him some questions.  One of them was for him to tell me of a special memory he had.  He replied: "When I lived with my parents.  They spoiled me so much.  Now they aren't with me anymore; they are with God.  I miss them a lot."

This fundraiser can not replace his parents, but it will allow for his needs to be met (and maybe his grandmother will have a little extra change to "spoil him" a bit).

Here is my original text for this fundraiser:

We have come so far with all of our fundraisers!  It is great to be a part of the Children International Family!!

My ten year old sponsor child Jonathan lives in Ecuador.  He has the sweetest smile ever, and his letters are always joy-filled.  You wouldn't know by looking at him the struggles he has been through.

I should begin back way before Jonathan was born, since that is where this story begins.  Jonathan's father was abandoned by his parents.  Jonathan's father was only a child when his parents dumped him and never looked back!!  That could have been the end of the story there.  In a country where it seems everyone is struggling to get by, who would take in a child that the parents didn't want to keep?

Jonathan's father was in luck when Ms. Lida found him and took him in.  Though she barely had enough for her own family, she was not going to sit by and watch this child whither away.  Ms. Lida brought him into her home and raised him as her son. 

Jonathan's father grew up, got married, and had one child.  Jonathan, the only child to come from the marriage was raised by his parents for only a short time.  Tragically, both of Jonathan's parents passed away. 

Once again, Ms. Lida stepped up to take in a small boy... Jonathan.  Jonathan has been living with her now for a few years.  They live in a two multi-purpose room house with a corrugated metal sheet roof.  Ms. Lida's daughter lives in a house on the same plot of land.  Ms. Lida's daughter has children that Jonathan refers to as his "cousins"

Ms. Lida, unfortunately, has some health problems that prevent her from doing the work that she has always done~ sewing.  The only income that is shown on Jonathan's report is income that comes from his "aunt".  The "aunt" (daughter of Ms. Lida) gives them enough money to cover food, electricity, and clean water.

This fundraiser will start Ms. Lida up with a business!  She would like to sell 30 bed sheets and 6 bed spreads.  Once those are sold, she will reinvest the money into other items to sell. If there are still customers that will buy the bed sheets and comforters, she will buy and sell more of those.  If the demand is not there, she will go on to selling other things: kitchen utensils, socks, towels, underwear, or other household items. 

This is a business that she could do for a lifetime.  The benefit will be an increase in income that will provide Jonathan with nutrional, health, educational benefits and more!

Thank you in advance for helping a woman who has spent her life helping others!!  And, thank you for helping my sponsor child, Jonathan!!

Heather

***SPECIAL NOTE: Since this fundraiser is getting so close to completion, and we are still in the middle of our 12 days of Christmas raffle-thon, this one may get over-funded.  Should that happen, I have several very needy children that the extra funds can help- Brayan in Mexico & Mwanza in Zambia are both in danger of losing their homes.  Therefore, any funds could help them.  Leydi is, also, in need of some items like food.  Depending on how much the excess funds are, I will help as many of them as possible.