You've decided to sponsor a child. You've studied that precious face, looked for personality clues in the choice of clothing or color of shoes. Perhaps you examined the background for hints of the reality this child faces every day.

You may feel like you have a connection already. Or you may be like me, drawn in by that sweet smile, but honestly wondering how to start this. You want to know more than what the biography says or what this picture shows, but where do you begin?

And what do you write?

I’m a new sponsor, and I’m asking those same questions. I just started sponsoring two girls, one in Bangladesh and one in Cambodia. They look very sweet, but very different.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I work at Mission of Mercy. In fact, I often write or edit the materials that you receive when you first decide to sponsor. I write bios and descriptions of the child’s country. I write articles and stories about what we do. And letters. I write a lot of letters.

The funny thing? I have no idea how to start these letters. And I work here.

So my goal in starting this blog is to create a place where we can encourage each other as sponsors to stay involved. I’d like some accountability to write more often. And I’d love to learn about what keeps you motivated.

Along the way I hope to share some of the great ideas I’ve gleaned from reading sponsor and child letters. I promise to write about this journey. You can trust that I’ll be honest… and a little sarcastic.

So what do you say? Care to join me?