Love Lempira Backpacks 2023

As many of you know, I sponsor 7 beautiful girls through the child sponsorship organization Love Lempira (formerly called Manna 4 Lempira).  Sponsorship gives children a strong start in life by providing the tools they need to reach their God-given potential.  This is done through feeding programs, school supply distributions, medical care, bible classes, and letters of mentorship/discipleship from their sponsors.  Part of the program includes the opportunity to send a backpack filled with school supplies and gifts to your sponsored child every year.  For any sponsors who are unable to do this, your monthly fees will ensure your sponsored child receives at least the basic supplies from the program.

I love joining in with other sponsors to share photos and ideas of what we're sending to our kids each year.  Since it will be several months before we get to see the children receive these gifts, it's fun to fill some of that time by seeing what everyone else is sending.  That being said, do not compare yourself to me.   Sure, get ideas from me; but it's ok if you are sending more or less than I am.  God leads every sponsor differently based on their sponsored children's specific needs.  

This is an overview of the gifts I'm giving to my 7 sponsored children (plus gifts for two of their siblings) this year, between their backpacks and our upcoming visit.  I haven't decided yet exactly how the items will be divided between backpacks and visits, so I'm sharing it all together. 

I had a goal of spending under $100 total for everyone's school supplies and hygiene items combined.  I stuck to this almost exactly, spending a total of $96.38.  For school supplies, each child will receive pencils, colored pencils, crayons, pencil sharpeners, erasers, glue, scissors, and a protractor.  I also added a few small fun supplies to each bag such as fidget pens, other pretty pens, character pencil toppers, heart shaped erasers, or colorful pencil grips.  Some of the older girls will receive a few extra supplies depending on their schools' requirements.  These include grid paper, pens, highlighters, Wite Out correction tape, and compasses.  I didn't include notebooks this year, because the program plans to purchase them for the children locally, so they have the specific types their schools require.  So know they will receive these too, just not from me.

Each girl will also receive toothbrushes and dental floss from me.  The program will provide them with toothpaste and soap.

Example of supplies for 1 older girl

Just some of the fun extras

Thanks to the donations of friends and family, I was able to send a solar lantern to each child's family at no cost to me.  I recommend these even for families who have electricity at home, as some rural areas don't have streetlights.  This can make it difficult to walk to evening church services (which are common in Honduras) or early morning work/school hours.

For most of my girls ages 14+, I am also sending safety alarm keychains.  You will see these featured in the gift photos, but I wanted to specifically highlight them here to explain the importance.  During my visit last year, I heard multiple stories of teens and tweens staying home unsupervised while their parents work.  This made me want to be sure they had some extra tools to alert someone if they are ever in a dangerous situation.  Some of the ones I'm sending also have a whistle at the bottom, so they can be used even when the battery dies. 

After the required items, I set a budget of $100 per girl to get them each some things they wanted and needed.  Praise God, I successfully stuck to this budget and was able to get them each a wide range of items that fit their interests. 

Click on photos to enlarge.

Flor (almost 7) loves unicorns and dolls.  She asked for shoes and socks.  She will receive: A Chelsea unicorn doll with accessories, FAO Schwarz stuffed unicorn, daisy sweatshirt, tennis shoes, croc style shoes, 5 headbands, unicorn fidget toy, tea set, socks, princess coloring pack, white tshirt, jeans with white floral design, 2 dance ribbons, 2 shirts, 3 dresses, jewelry set, and personalized sunglasses with hair bow set.  Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, solar lantern, a unicorn keychain, and a letter.

 

Katrin (almost 10) loves hair accessories, toys, and animals.  She will receive: A Chelsea mermaid doll play set with extra doll, coloring set, extra colored pencils, diary, unicorn fidget toy, 4 headbands, princess sweatshirt, hair bow, Squishmallow stuffed animal, 2 Hello Kitty plush bag clips, tennis shoes, croc style shoes, gel pens, jeans, socks, watch, 2 dance ribbons, 3 shirts, 1 dress, 3 pieces of jewelry, fake hair with bow clip, and personalized sunglasses with bow with hair bow set.   Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, solar lantern, Squishmallow keychain, and a letter.

Cristel (10) is receiving her very first backpack from me this year, so I stuck to the items I like to be sure all of my new children receive such as a bible and a bigger toy.  She will receive: Glitter combat boots, a coloring set, socks, bead set, 2 headbands, Squishmallow stuffed animal, cupcake fidget toy, personalized bracelet, glitter hair bow, white shirt, dress, Our Generation doll, and bible.   Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, and a letter.

Emely (11) loves soccer, art, and the colors grey and black.  She will receive: A prayer journal, watercolor paper for painting, bead set with string, jeans, black sweatshirt, Under Armour tennis shoes, extra colored pencils, gel pens, paint with brush set, socks, white tshirt, soccer ball, soccer shirt, 2 dresses, 2 headbands, personalized bracelet, butterfly fidget toy, and Squishmallow stuffed animal.  If the dress on the right looks photoshopped, that’s because it is.  I swapped out one of her dresses after taking the original photo, and edited it so the photo would be accurate for my records.  Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, and a letter with extra hair ties added to the envelope.

Amy (13) loves crocheting.  She will receive: Jeans, a long sleeve shirt, 8 rolls of yarn, the book Anne of Green Gables, a prayer journal, gel pens, headband, sandals, embroidery set, crochet hooks, knitting needles, book light, fidget toy, personalized bracelet, hair ties, socks, hair clips, Squishmallow stuffed animal, hair brush, purse, and 2 short sleeve shirts.  Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, solar lantern, and a letter.

Adiany (14) loved the color black and Kawaii accessories.  She will receive: Black Under Armour tennis shoes, extra colored pencils, a prayer journal, Kawaii pencil bag, Kawaii pens, 2 long sleeve shirts, a watch with bracelet set, socks, emergency alarm keychain, fidget toy, 3 nail polish, gel pens, gel pen coloring book set, Squishmallow stuffed animal, beads, personalized bracelet, jeans, 2 short sleeve shirts, headband, black dress, and hair bow set.  Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, solar lantern, Kawaii keychain and pins, stickers, and a letter with extra hair ties added to the envelope.

Saudy (14) loves video games and making jewelry.  She will receive: Spiral hair ties, Pura Vida bracelet set, gaming fidget toy, gel pens, personalized bracelet, prayer journal, beads with bead spinner set, socks, Yoshi stuffed animal, 2 shirts, sweatshirt, and jeans.  Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, and a letter.

Paola (15) has her quinceañera shortly before she receives these gifts, so I tried to get her lots of pink girly items.  She will receive: A bead set, plush bear bag clip, safety alarm keychain, cupcake fidget toy, cosmetic bag with makeup/scented soap/mirror, hair ties, hair brush, jeans, prayer journal, gel pens, sandals, personalized bracelet, hair clips, socks, headband, a watch with bracelet set, white shirt, skirt, sweatshirt, and blanket.  Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, solar lantern, and a letter.

Hiliany (16) requested items to learn acrylic nail design.  She will receive: Many nail design supplies including a drying lamp and nail drill, tote bag to hold the nail supplies, a safety alarm keychain, headband, hair clips, personalized bracelet, plush bear bag clip, gel pens, prayer journal, jeans, long sleeve pajama shirt, 3 regular shirts, and socks.  Not pictured are her school supplies, hygiene items, solar lantern, and a letter.