Backpacks on a Budget

Each year towards the end of summer, I share an overview of what I’m sending to my sponsored children in their backpacks.  I love to share my excitement and give other sponsors ideas of things to send.  I plan to do the same this year.  However, this time I’m sticking to a strict budget, which involves shopping slowly throughout the year as I find deals.  So, I decided to also do a post sharing the budget of the 1 bag I’ve finished so far, for anyone who is shopping slowly and looking for deals like I am.  

Not counting the required school supplies, which I’ll get to in a separate post, I set a budget of $100 per child to get them some things they wanted and needed.  It may sound like a lot, but it’s amazing how quickly that budget can get used up if you aren’t careful.  This budget doesn’t include shipping, tax, items donated to me, or items left over from other projects that I would have had anyway.  I’m part of a Buy Nothing group on Facebook and relatives have donated some items, which helped to stretch my budget farther.  I also stretched my budget buying gently used items at places like Once Upon a Child, Just Between Friends, Ebay, and yard sales.  Some of my teens even got some of my gently used clothes that I no longer wear.  Additionally, I used member rewards at places like Target and Temu.  While some items are used or discounted, I only buy things that are in like new condition and will last a long time, and only things that fit the child’s personality.

With last year’s backpacks, I sent each girl a question sheet to fill out with questions like their favorite item they received and whether the clothing I sent was the right size.  During my visit last fall, I also wrote down any of their needs and interests I noticed.   These things helped me to be intentional with my shopping.

Today, I want to show you one backpack I have completed so far as an example of how much you can get for $100 if you look for deals.  Even if your budget is smaller or larger than mine, a lot of the same shopping tips can apply, to get the most for your money.  This backpack is for my sponsored child Flor who will turn 7 years old shortly after she receives it.  Flor loves unicorns and dolls.  She recently mentioned tennis shoes and socks as her biggest need.

I plan to visit my kids later this year.  If I do, a few of these items will be removed from her backpack and given during the visit instead.

Stuffed FAO Schwarz unicorn, $14.25 from Target.  Used 5% Red Card discount, worth $15.

Chelsea unicorn doll, $11.89 from Target.  Purchased on sale after Christmas, originally $16.99.  Also, a Chelsea backpack accessory set, $0.  Donated by my mom who got it at Dollar Tree for $1.25.

Pop It fidget toy, $0.87 from Walmart’s Valentine section.  Purchased in a pack for $3.48 and split between 4 kids.

Tea set, $0.  Left over from another project.  Originally from Dollar Tree for $1.25.

2 dance ribbons, $0.  Donated by a friend.  Originally from Amazon, worth $2.84 ($1.42 each).

Disney Princess coloring set, $1 from Target

Snowflake dress, $8.50 from Once Upon a child.  Gently used, worth around $20 new

Denim dress, $6.50 from Just Between Friends which is a kids consignment event held all over the US.  Gently used.  The exact original price is unknown, but is at least $10 based on similar styles I found online.

Color block dress, $0 from Temu.  Free gift with purchase of other items.  Worth $4.94.

Jeans, $5.99 from Old Navy.  Purchased during Memorial Day sale.  Worth $34.99.

Unicorn flip sequin shirt, $9.55 from Target.  Used 5% Red Card discount and Target Circle reward points.  Worth $10.20.

Butterfly shirt, $5 from Just Between Friends consignment sale.  Gently used.

Plain white tshirt, $2.87 from Target.  Used Memorial Day sale and Target Circle reward points.  Worth $4.  I tried to put a white shirt in every backpack because their school uniform tops are white.  In case they ever can’t afford a uniform (which has to be purchased in Honduras), at least they will have the right colors to wear.

Daisy sweatshirt, $3.28 from Temu

Tennis shoes, $10.09 from Temu.  Used member rewards, worth $12.59.

Croc style shoes, $7.19 from Temu

Pack of 10 pairs colored socks, $4.99 from TJ Max.  

White socks, $0.27 from Temu.  I split up a pack between kids and used a discount code.  They are worth $0.39 without the discount.

4 tiara headbands, $0 left over from another project.  Originally from Amazon.  They come in a pack of 12 for $9.99, so I would have paid $3.36 for 4.

Heart headband, $0.89 from Temu

Necklace set, $4.98 from The Children’s Place

Personalized sunglasses and bow set, $0.  These are a DIY project I did myself.  Technically the supplies did cost me a few dollars, but they are supplies I bought to do DIY for multiple projects, so it didn’t cost me any extra to make this for Flor’s backpack.  

These items would total $168.87 if they were purchased new without any discounts.  I paid $98.11.  This is a savings of $70.76.

My Testimony (Easter Letters 2023)

If you sponsor a child through Manna 4 Lempira, the deadline to send an Easter card to your sponsored child is March 5.  For this mailing, you may send an envelope containing a card or letter, and flat gifts such as stickers or flat jewelry less than 1/4 inch thick.  Here is what I am sending.  Click on photos to enlarge.

Last year, I wrote to my sponsored children about what it means to follow Jesus.  This year, I decided to check another important topic off of my writing list for the older girls and share my testimony with them.  I started by handwriting a card with a short greeting inside, along with the verse 1 John 4:16. 

The younger girls will receive just this handwritten card and the flat gifts which you’ll see later in this post.  For the older girls, I included a typed page sharing my testimony and a photo of me at the cabin where I first surrendered to Jesus.  Here is the typed letter:

I am writing this letter around the time of Easter 2023.  Last year for Easter, I wrote to you about following Jesus.   This year, I want to share a story with you about how I became a Christian when I was 16 years old.  In the bible, Revelation 12:11 tells us that we will overcome by the blood of Christ and the word of our testimony.  This means that the story of how Jesus saved you and what God has done in your life will encourage you to overcome in difficult times.  What has God done in your life?

When I was a child, I believed that God existed, but I didn’t know who He really was or how to become His child.  When I was 16, a friend at my school invited me to the youth group at her church.   The people there were very nice and loving, so I continued to attend.  One day, the youth group invited me to go on a camping trip with them to a cabin where we would learn about God and have fun playing outside and sledding in the snow.  Even the fact that God brought me to a camp to get my attention was evidence of His love, because as a child I always dreamed of going to camp.  In the middle of the night while we were in our cabin, some of the girls wanted to read the bible. I didn’t know much about the bible yet, so I just listened to what the other girls were saying.  As they were reading, I kept thinking about the story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22.   In the story, God told a man named Abraham to give his son Isaac back to God.  But it was only a test of Abraham’s faith, and God let Abraham keep his son.  This story made me realize that I was imperfect, because I knew I couldn’t sacrifice something I loved so much to put God first. That night, I cried and told God that I didn’t know who He was or what I was supposed to do about it and I asked Him to show me. 

Over the next few weeks, as I continued to attend youth group, I learned that God created humans to love and be loved by Himself and other people.  To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  Instead, we turned away and sinned.  I learned that our sin would separate us from the perfect God and Heaven when our lives are over.  BUT, God loved us so much He still wanted us back.  Jesus came, died, and rose again to pay the penalty for our sins so we could be free to be His children and live with Him forever instead.  So our Spirits can be reborn into His family.  It’s not something we can earn or deserve, because we’re all imperfect on our own.  We just have to turn to Him in repentance and receive it.  

Since then, God has done so many amazing things in my life, one step of faith at a time.  Including leading me on adventures to places like Honduras and allowing me to be your sponsor.  My favorite bible verse is Romans 8:30, “...and  these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  The word glorified means fills with great beauty.  God didn’t just save me, He filled my life with His beauty.  This doesn’t mean we won’t ever have struggles or make mistakes.  But it means God will be our solid rock, something that never changes or leaves, when things become difficult.  We are His children forever!

Along with this letter, each girl will receive a few gifts. The youngest 3 who haven't yet gotten a special necklace from me will get a cross necklace with a pink gem (shown here in the little plastic bag attached to the cardstock). The older girls will each get a couple of gifts including cross stickers, a bookmark with Romans 8:38-39 on it, or a pretty pink beaded bracelet.

Older girl

Younger girl

Christmas Letters 2022

If you sponsor a child through Manna 4 Lempira, the deadline has already passed to send Christmas letters.  Even though I’m late to sharing what I wrote to my sponsored kids, I still wanted to share in case you want to use this theme while writing letters for another organization or for future years.  Here is what I wrote:

Hello beautiful!  I am writing this letter around the time of Christmas 2022.  I hope you have a beautiful Christmas celebration with your family!  Christmas is a time to celebrate that Jesus was born to save us from sin so we can be children of God.  

There is a song I like to listen to at Christmastime called Oh Holy Night.  One of the lines of the song says “He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.”  This is so beautiful to me because it reminds us that we are worth so much to God, He sent His Son here just to save us!  Because He wanted us to be His children!  I have a shirt I like to wear at Christmas that has the words to the song on it, “…and the soul felt its worth.”

Precious girl, you are worth so much to God.  He sees you and loves you.  I pray that your heart is filled with so much joy this Christmas season, knowing you are deeply loved forever.

Manna 4 Lempira Backpacks 2022

Sponsoring a child through Manna 4 Lempira means getting the chance to send a backpack filled with school supplies and gifts once a year. I hope this overview of the backpacks I packed for my sponsored children will help you as you pack! 

Most important are the school supplies themselves!  While I love to fit as many fun gifts into backpacks as possible, I try to remember that the main point of the program is to send children to school and send fun and quality school supplies.  The items I am sending to each child are: 5-6 composition notebooks (chosen because the harder covers are less likely to bend en route), 24 pencils, 2 packs of colored pencils, 2 pencil sharpeners, and 2+ erasers.  Older children are also receiving pens and scientific calculators.  Younger children are also receiving crayons.  One girl specifically requested Wite Out correction tape, so she will receive this too.  I especially love the pencils I chose for some of my older girls, which are pastel colored on the outside but have rainbow shavings when sharpened.  The older girls’ backpacks have clear pockets in the front where they can display whatever they choose, even photos.

Both styles of older girl bags with one set of supplies

Both styles of younger girl bags with one set of supplies

Close up of the pencils

I’ve been sponsoring children for ten years now, which means many of the girls who I’ve sponsored since they were little are becoming teenagers. Their needs are increasing and they are starting to express more of their goals and interests. Two girls specifically are already working towards their careers.  Saudy (13) is learning to make and sell jewelry.  Estefani (16) is taking lessons to style acrylic nails.  So, I gathered a bunch of supplies to help as they get started.  I plan to visit Honduras right around the time backpacks are sent, so half of each girls’ supplies will actually be given to them during the visit and half will be sent in backpacks. I am showing all of it here since I’m not sure exactly how it will be divided.

All of Saudy's bead supplies

All of Estefani’s nail styling supplies

In addition to school supplies, the program is great about making sure a toy is added to every backpack, to bring some extra joy and excitement to the children on backpack distribution day.  I like to send the toy myself, just so I know my sponsored children will get things that cater to their interests.  This year, my older girls are each getting a soccer ball.  My younger girls are each getting either a doll or a stuffed animal.

After the school supplies and toy, sponsors can fill the remaining space in their child’s backpack with just about anything.  When I asked for feedback on their favorite gifts from last year’s backpacks, almost all of my girls mentioned the diaries.  So, I wanted to send more writing supplies.  I filled these organza bags with journals, colored pen sets, and stickers.  My younger girls who aren’t old enough to write yet are instead getting plastic beads.

Next, I try to always include clothing.  Not only is it a necessity that helps the families, but it’s fun for the kids to dress up and fun for us sponsors to see photos of them wearing the clothing throughout the year.  As I’ve watched several of my girls grow into teens and pre teens, I’ve realized many of them may be starting to outgrow some of the frilly dresses and colorful graphic t-shirts I’ve sent in the past.  So, I wanted to focus on sending practical clothing and accessories.  Each girl will receive at least 2 shirts, a pair of jeans, and a set of hair accessories.  Most ended up with more clothing and accessories than this.  Here are just a few of my favorites

Most of the clothing all together

Most of the accessories all together

Katrin (age 9)

Flor (age 6)

Multiple girls ages 13-14

Most of my girls in the 12-17 age range will also receive a nail polish set.  I wanted to send an extra pretty gift since their clothing isn’t as colorful and fun as the younger girls.  I chose nail polish rather than more jewelry because it’s an activity they can do with friends.  I usually avoid liquids for fear they will break and leak; but I felt strongly that this was the right gift, so I am taking the risk.  One of the program leaders told me nail polish has arrived safely in the past and was greatly loved by the girls.  The nail polish bottles will be individually wrapped in paper towels, placed inside of a ziplock bag, and then inside of a cosmetic bag.  If you don’t want to send liquids, you can send nail stickers such as these, these, and these.  Or fake nails like these.  I’m sending these floral nail stickers with their upcoming letters, which should arrive around the same time as backpacks.  Another idea of a beauty item that can be shared with friends is hair chalk, though this is less practical for everyday use.  

To encourage spiritual growth, I included bibles for the 4 girls who haven’t gotten one from me before, and Christian books for everyone else.  The older girls will receive either Live Your Faith or A Girl’s Guide to Making Good Decisions.  These books by Elizabeth George are extremely important topics for this age range- encouraging girls to not simply learn the Word of God, but also to live it.  The younger girls will receive The Jesus Storybook Bible, which is a wonderful storybook that points all stories, both old and new testament, to salvation in Jesus.

Older girl books

This bible for Hiliany (15) has floral pages

Younger girl books

I still hope to add toothbrushes, and keychains to hang on the backpacks.  Other than these things, my gifts are complete!

Princess Letter

This is a copy of the princess-themed letter I send to all of my sponsored girls towards the beginning of our sponsorship.  It teaches about being a child of God in a fun age-appropriate way.  

Dear (name),

Today I want to tell you something very special. Did you know you can be a princess? God is the King of the universe. He loves you so much that He wants to crown your heart with glory (great beauty) and let you be His daughter and His princess forever. Do you want to know how?

God loves us so much that He sent His perfect Son, Jesus, to earth to die and receive the punishment of our sins so that we can be free from sin and be children of the perfect God.  Sins are things we do wrong like lying, arguing, having jealousy, or disobeying our parents. Three days after Jesus died, He rose back to life and defeated sin! If we want to become children of God forever, we just need to believe this, confess that Jesus saved us from our sins, and turn to follow him. 

If we do this, He will fill us with His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with great beauty. The Holy Spirit will always be with us to comfort us, teach us, and help us make good decisions. Because God is the King, if we are His children, we are princesses!

You are so special and loved, princess. See you soon!

Princess letter I sent to my Ashley in 2019, including princess stickers & necklace

Baptism Letter

In my Christmas and Easter letters, I wrote on the theme of salvation and following Jesus.  For all of my children ages 11 and up, I am continuing this theme into my May letters where I will be talking about baptism and sharing the story of my baptism.  Here is what I wrote:

Hello, beautiful girl!  How are you?  I am well, thanks to God.  I am writing this letter in May 2022.  In my Easter letter, I wrote to you about being a follower of Jesus.  Today, I want to write to you about one more part of that- baptism.  Baptism is a celebration that the bible tells us to do when we become followers of Jesus, to declare our faith to others.  Baptism is when you go somewhere like a river or pool and get dunked under the water.  Going under the water symbolizes our sins being washed away and our old sinful spirits dying.  When we rise up out of the water, it symbolizes being born again; which means starting life as a child of God.  Have you been baptized, or do you want to?  If you want to, please tell a leader at church, the sponsorship program, your family, or me when I visit.  

I was baptized when I was 17 years old.  My baptism was at the pool of a hotel near where I live.  I was baptized by my pastor and his son.  My mom and my friends came to watch.  I wore a shirt with a cross on it that my sister painted for me.  The shirt had the bible verse John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

With this letter, I'm sending you a photo of my baptism.  I'm also sending you a coloring page of some ocean waves, to remind you of baptism.  You can color the waves, write prayers in between them or under them, or cut them out to use as a bookmark in your bible or decoration in your diary.  While you do this, I encourage you to talk to God about baptism and all of the other ways you can celebrate your faith.

You can send any number of things along with this letter: photos of your own baptism, water-themed coloring pages or stickers, bible chapters mentioning baptism, and so much more.

And while I didn't do it this time due to space limits (I sent the letter by email to be printed for the children in country), you can also send baptism-related journaling prompts or questions for the child to dwell on if they are considering being baptized.  If any of my children respond expressing interest in baptism, I will do this for them in the future.  Some questions you can send are:

- Why do you want to be baptized?
- What do you think baptism means?
- What is sin?
- What is the consequence of sin?
- Do you believe that to be free from sin, be children of God, and go to Heaven, we need a perfect Savior (Jesus) to take that consequence for us? 
- Do you believe that Jesus died to take this consequence for you and rose again to defeat sin?
- How can someone receive this free gift and become a Christian?

Following Jesus (Easter 2022)

If you sponsor a child through Manna 4 Lempira, the deadline to send Easter cards has already passed.  I was delayed in posting these blogs, but still wanted to share what I wrote in my Easter cards in case you need ideas for children through other sponsorship organizations, or for future years.  Truly, though, this theme can be used at any time of year.

In my Christmas letters, I started a theme of salvation and repentance.  Click here to view that post.  I continued this theme for Easter, talking about being a true follower of Jesus.  Here is the letter I wrote to my older girls (ages 11 and up).  My two younger girls got a much simpler version of the message.

 Happy Easter (name)!

 On Easter, we celebrate the love of God. God loves us so much that he sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from sin so we could be His children and live forever in heaven as children of God. Jesus died to pay for our sins and rose again to defeat them. To become children of God forever, we just need to believe this and turn to Him in repentance.

 In the Bible, in Luke 9:23, Jesus says, "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

 This verse tells us to put aside our own ways and sins and turn to following Jesus. Just like Jesus sacrificed for us on the cross, He asks us to sacrifice our own ways and sins and turn to what He has for us. That is what this verse means when it says "take up your cross." We don't need to know everything right away. Just take the first step to follow Jesus and He will show us. 

In addition to this handwritten card with a cross design on the front, each girl received some floral cross stickers.  Some also received a few extra floral and/or Christian stickers I had saved.