Especially for Kids: “Little Angels” DVD

By bobbi
November 2, 2011
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I first heard about Roma Downey’s (did you know she was Catholic?) new DVD Little Angels at CatholicMom.com. The site has background info and is also running a contest to win an autographed copy of the DVD. (I entered!)
Here is the introduction from LittleAngels.com.

Discover the joy of learning and friendship with a heavenly new collection! From Executive Producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) and Writer Phil Lollar (“Adventures in Odyssey”) comes the much-anticipated faith-based educational series, LITTLE ANGELS, soaring onto DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
LITTLE ANGELS is an animated DVD series created exclusively for preschool-aged children to teach not only practical learning skills, like ABCs and 1,2,3s, but also to introduce them to the spiritual, moral and ethical principles of the Bible. Of course, we think it’s terrific! (We might be biased…) But don’t just take our word for it – for the first time in their organization’s history, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) has awarded a Seal-of-Approval to LITTLE ANGELS.

And here is a sneak peek. 🙂 It looks cute and educational!

CFCA: Our first letter from Abigal

By bobbi
October 31, 2011
1 Comment

A couple months ago I posted about Abigal, the little girl in Mexico that we sponsored through Christian Foundation for Children & Aging (CFCA). Yesterday we received our first letter from her and I was so touched.

Abigal tells us about her life and her family but it is the closing paragraph that brought tears to my eyes. The translation reads:

“I promise I will make a big effort in the school so that you become proud of me. I will pray every day for you from now on so that God takes care of you and pours blessings upon you wherever you are. I have to close for now. I love you.
Your sponsored friend,
Abigal”

This little girl living in poverty is praying for me, that I will be blessed. It’s amazing. I am trying to help out by giving to someone else and instead I am the one who receives the blessings. God is so good.
This sponsorship has also been a great family project! We pray for Abigal and her family every night during our decade-rosary. Bella especially has a soft spot for Abigal since she doesn’t have a sister of her own. She writes to her and draws her pictures.

I am hoping to save enough money to sponsor a second child in the future – a little boy that our boys can write to.
There are many, many more kids looking for sponsors, as well as teens and elderly. Advent will be here before you know it. As you prepare to welcome the Christ Child in your heart, prayerfully consider welcoming one of these children into your heart as well.

“Truly, I saw to you, as you do it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

Here are just a few kids waiting for someone to help them!

Evelyn from Guatemala (Age: 4) Evelyn is very dynamic at school. She lives with her mother and father and her little brother. Evelyn’s mother is a housewife. Her father sells firewood by the meter, but his income is seasonal. Evelyn’s family is very interested in moving forward. Talents and pastimes: Drawing and listening to music; Jobs at home: Sweeping in the yard of the home; Favorite school subjects: Natural science; Birthday: January 9, 2007 (CH673993)

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Niyati from India (Age: 5) Niyati is well-behaved. She lives with her parents and her younger brother and sister. Niyati has humble parents who struggle to provide an education to their children. Her father is a laborer. He works hard, but earns a low income. Niyati’s mother is a housewife. She tries to encourage her children to get an education to improve their lives. Talents and pastimes: Sketching; Jobs at home: Studying; Favorite school subjects: English; Birthday: March 13, 2006 (CH681981)

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Eliana from Bolivia (Age: 12) Eliana is a quiet child who likes to help others. She lives with her parents and has three siblings. The family moved to their current location with the hope of better opportunities. Eliana’s mother stays home to look after the household. Her father earns a meager income by cutting sugarcane and performing a variety of odd jobs. A Hope for a Family sponsorship can make this family’s dreams for a more promising future attainable. Talents and pastimes: Dancing, singing, playing; Jobs at home: Making the bed, washing the dishes; Favorite school subjects: Mathematics; Birthday: April 17, 1999 (CH643300)

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Mikel from Costa Rica (Age: 2) Mikel is a joyful and playful boy. He likes to eat a lot. He lives with his mother and grandmother. Mikel’s mother stays home to look after him. She is struggling to get ahead with her son. The family lives off the grandmother’s pension. Although it is a steady source of income, it is not enough to cover the family’s basic needs. Talents and pastimes: Crawling; Birthday: August 20, 2009 (CH652202)

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Santiago from Mexico (Age: 3) Santiago is very energetic and he likes doing new things. He lives with his mother and father. As a couple, Santiago’s parents trust each other and get along well. They spend time with their child. Santiago’s mother is a housewife. His father does upholstery work, but his job is not fixed. Talents and pastimes:
Making puzzles; Jobs at home: Sweeping and cleaning; Birthday: May 6, 2008 (CH672537)

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Ronald from Kenya (Age: 6) Ronald loves drawing and playing with his age mates. He lives in a single, rented room with his mother and father and three siblings. Both parents are tailors and they try their best to meet the family needs, especially school fees. Their income is not always enough. Talents and pastimes: Playing football and with toys; Jobs at home: Running errands; Favorite school subjects: Mathematics and English; Birthday:
January 13, 2005 (CH676845)

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Remart from the Philippines (Age: 10) Remart is shy yet playful. His ambition is to become an electrician. Remart lives with his parents and his three siblings. His family lives together in a small, rented house. Remart’s mother does laundry for others. His father is a plumber. Remart’s father works hard to provide a better life for his children. Talents and pastimes: Singing; Jobs at home: Babysitting his younger brother; Favorite school subjects: Mathematics; Birthday: May 27, 2001 (CH673199)

To specifically sponsor one of these children, go to this CFCA link and in the “Help me Find” section to the right, put in the child’s country and name. Their profile should pop up. You can also call CFCA at 800.875.6564.
God will bless you for your generosity and sacrifice.

Perspicacity: Hope For A Family – Carla’s Family

By bobbi
October 6, 2011
2 Comments

I posted a few weeks back about CFCA (Christian Foundation for Children and Aging) our sponsored child Abi. Yesterday I received an email from Paula K. who recently visited Guatemala. She is trying to find a CFCA sponsor for a little girl named Carla who lives in Guatemala. Please read her story and see if God is asking you to open your heart to bettering her life and the life of her family.
UPDATE: Here is a comment from Paula:

Bobbi, I can’t thank you enough for sharing this on your blog. In sharing Carla’s story, I have found it challenging to convey that feeling I got in Guatemala among the sponsored children and families, and getting a very true sense of how an expenditure that to a U.S. family can be relatively small (a trip for 5 to Mcdonald’s, say), can truly transform the most basic elements of a whole family’s life. If any of your readers have questions, please feel free to contact me directly! Although my sign in has my daughter’s email address, the best is opuswsk@aol.com. Thanks everyone!!!

Can You Help Catholics in the Military?

By bobbi
August 16, 2011
2 Comments

Catholic Mom.com had a great post today from Aquinas & More Catholic Goods. It’s worth reposting here:

Can You Help Catholics in the Military?

We opened our store in the aftermath of 9/11. We opened our store in Colorado Springs, a city with four military bases and the Air Force Academy.
When we opened our store we heard from one of the local chaplains who was being deployed to an “undisclosed location” that it was almost impossible to get requisitions for Catholic devotionals for the troops he was serving.
Because of that, we decided to start Catholic Chaplain registries and to upgrade all orders to military addresses to Priority Mail at no extra charge.
A plaque we were sent from thankful troops in Afghanistan.Since we launched our registry program, we have shipped over 6000 Bibles, medals and prayer books to chaplains serving in some of the most dangerous places on Earth including Baghdad and Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, the generosity that people had when the wars first started has waned along with support for the wars themselves. This means that our Catholic soldiers who are still fighting and dying, whatever you may think of the cause, are frequently short on things that can strengthen their Faith.
As an example of how difficult it is to get supplies through the military, we had a chaplain order sacramental wine from our store to be shipped overseas because he was worried that he would be reassigned before the wine arrived at his current station if he went through military requisitions!
Over the past two weeks I have received three requests for more items for our soldiers.
First, we heard from Chaplain Sheehan:
“I am the only Catholic Navy Chaplain at Parris Island SC (US Marine Corps Boot Camp). I serve the recruits in a number of ways to include teaching Religious Education, preparing recruits to receive Sacraments of Initiation, and praying The Mass on Sundays.
I am a Battalion Chaplain and have daily encounters with the recruits in training, teaching, and counseling.
There is a consistent requests for Catholic Bibles and crosses (crucifix’). I get many request for protestant Bibles and Rosaries but have generous suppliers for these items.
Catholic Bibles, Crucifix’s, and Crosses are harder to get donated.
Thank you for your generosity and possible assistance in securing these items for US Marine recruits. Thank you to your generous customers who support this ministry.”
Second, we have Chaplain Victor. Chaplain Victor was one of the first chaplains we assisted and we have sent Catholic devotionals to his troops in Afghanistan and Japan:
“I am Fr. Victor and while I was deployed in Afghanistan in January 2005 – January 2006, you have supported me with books, especially the Fulton Sheen’s Wartime Prayerbook. I want to know if you can donate more as there is a great demand for this book.”
Third, we have Catholics in the Military. This organization just changed its name to Mission Capodanno. They promote vocations to the Chaplain Corp, send Catholic items to troops in need and provide spiritual assistance to military families. We have been supplying material to them for years and they are currently in short supply.
There are several other chaplains who have requested our assistance through the years and your generosity has made those requests bear fruit.
Can you still find it in your heart to give? These soldiers don’t get paid much and are frequently in some of the worst places on Earth supported by an understaffed and undersupplied Chaplain Corp.
You can view all of the items that chaplains have requested at: http://www.aquinasandmore.com/militarychaplain

How can you deny a soldier looking for Catholic materials?? We’ve got to help! I am supposed to work on the monthly finances tonight and after I do I will see how much tithing money I have for this month. Then I’ll choose one of chaplains listed on their site and purchase some of the materials they need. There are items for any budget – from holy cards less than $1 to $5 books to $7 bible and much more. Perhaps you and your family could creatively raise a few extra dollars to purchase something for the chaplains. I know money is tight but even one bible or rosary or prayer book in the hands of a soldier could make a tremendous difference as they face danger day in and day out. Spread the word and pray for our troops!

Christian Foundation for Children & Aging: Our Sponsored Child Abi

By bobbi
August 9, 2011
5 Comments

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A couple weeks ago I read a post by Tina at My Priceless Fishers Blog about their family sponsoring a child in the Philippines through Christian Foundation for Children & Aging. I was touched by her story and looked into it for our family.
The CFCA was founded in 1981 by lay Catholics acting on the Gospel call to serve the poor. They state:

Our faith teaches us that we are one human family, and that we have a responsibility to the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters, wherever they live or whatever faith they may be.

For almost 30 years, Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA) has brought hope to families living in poverty in the 22 countries (within Mexico and the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Africa and Asia) where we work. Founded in 1981 by lay Catholics acting on the Gospel call to serve the poor, we have grown into a movement of more than 250,000 sponsors who are supporting more than 300,000 children, youth and aging friends worldwide.

I was impressed by the work that CFCA does and the percentage of funds that goes to the program vs the administration. I also liked the fact that we’d be able to write to our sponsored child and keep in touch with them through the program. (However, your personal info is kept confidential.) I talked to Brian and made sure the cost fit into our tithing budget and all looked good.

Since we have so many boys in the house I thought it would be nice to sponsor a girl that Bella could write to as well. We chose the country of Mexico and I picked a couple of cute little girls in need of help. I let Bella look over the profiles and pick the one we should sponsor. Of all the smiling faces and cute grins Bella chose a girl close to her age that didn’t look very happy. Her name is Abigal, or as her friends like to call her, Abi.

We took Abi’s photo and placed it on our home altar as a reminder to pray for her each day. We’re hoping that our prayers, our letters and our monthly sponsorship for her education and personal needs will help to brighten her day and give her a better future. We’ll keep you posted about our journey with Abi. 🙂

For information about how you and your family can sponsor a child in need, visit The Christian Foundation for Children & Aging

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Category Archives: catholic ministries

Especially for Kids: “Little Angels” DVD

CFCA: Our first letter from Abigal

Perspicacity: Hope For A Family – Carla’s Family

Can You Help Catholics in the Military?

Christian Foundation for Children & Aging: Our Sponsored Child Abi