About ten years ago, Rick and I heard about a little known organization that functioned like so many others you have heard about. For a set monthly fee, you could send money to the organization, and they in turn would send you a picture and updates on the child you were helping. It seemed like something we should do, and Julia Tuj Chaval of Guatemala became our "foster child."

Julia is a young woman now, and we have had the privilege of staying in touch with her over the years of her growing up. Julia is still under our wing, because she is unable to live on her own. She is plagued by severe headaches and seizures, and it was a great joy to us to be able to fund a trip to a hospital where she had a full work up, and medicines were found to help bring her seizures at least a bit under control. Here in the U.S. it would have cost thousands of dollars to do this; in her world, it was mere hundreds. Whenever I become sad or overwhelmed by the health of my kids here, I remember how lucky we are to live in a country with the very best medical care. I cannot comprehend Julia's suffering nor that of her mother.

So, if you have ever considered sponsoring a child, I want to highly recommend this organization, Christian Foundation for Children & Aging. As soon as I get a picture scanned of Julia I will add it. You can write to your child, and Julia writes to us regularly, through an interpreter. She cannot read or write, but she does send us drawings, and pieces of cloth work that she does. We are humbled by her gratitude.

This is what CFCA says about itself: CFCA is a lay Catholic organization creating relationships between sponsors in the United States and children and elderly people in 25 developing nations around the world. When you become a CFCA sponsor, your monthly contribution provides life-changing benefits such as education, nutrition, clothing and medical care to your sponsored friend.

We are very pleased that our oldest son, Chris, will be going to Guatemala this summer on a mission trip to meet Julia and her family, and to assist with projects in her village.

Here is a pic of Julia:

Page updated June 18, 2004