Given all the recent sports topics, I got to thinking. What is my area of the country known for? I live in Colorado, so the short answer would probably be skiing. But I grew up in Indiana, so the only answer is basketball.

Okay, maybe not the only answer. There's also the Indianapolis 500. That would be a fun event to explain. Yes, people drive tiny cars with crazy-shaped tires in a giant oval for several hours all the while going more than 150 mph. Just to see a checkered flag and drink a swig of milk. What a tradition!

This type of notoriety is a great subject for a letter to your sponsored child. You can share what your area is known for – and this can apply to other things than sports. My husband is from Hershey, Pennsylvania, so it would be very easy to write about one of America’s most famous chocolate brands. Perhaps we have a postcard or two that highlights the best of Hershey, or Colorado, or other places we have lived.

(How I wish I could send Munni and Sovanna some chocolate, but that would only create a giant mess in the envelope! Did you know that most candy melts or breaks into tiny pieces before it gets to our offices – let alone if we try to mail it to your sponsored child’s country? I’ll have to get more creative if I want to send them a souvenir.)

Every area is known for something, even if it’s the world’s largest ball of twine. Ask your sponsored child if his town or region is known for something special. There are many cultural festivals celebrated near our projects each year. Or your sponsored child’s parent may work in an industry that speaks to the economic forces (or lack thereof) in an area.

Every letter is a chance to learn more and ask better questions. And every letter is an opportunity to show that you care and you want to know about your sponsored child’s life. It’s a very different type of ministry, but it is a vital one. Keep asking the questions and pressing into your sponsored child’s heart!