I don’t know if I ever mentioned it before, but I sponsor a little girl in the Dominican Republic through Compassion International. The approximately $400 I donate a year helps feed Erianny, send her to school, and takes care of her family. Although I’m a pretty poor college student dependent on my parents’ love right now, even I can pull that much money together.

She’s four years old and adorable. She can’t write yet but sends letters to me with the help of an adult and a translator- she signs the letters with her fingerprints in blue ink. She calls me Aunt Rachael and has told me that she likes apples and taking care of red flowers.

I won’t post any pictures of her up because I don’t want to endanger her in any way, but here’s a picture of a dinosaur she sent me. It’s too cool!

I was inspired to first sponsor Erianny last October after Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University had a weekend retreat that looked at the effect of hunger and poverty on our world.

At the time, I did have a close friend try to discourage me from doing the sponsorship, as he said that it didn’t really do anything to solve the greater problem. However, I decided I wanted to do something that would have an effect on the world, no matter how small. My sister sponsored a little girl in Africa for a long time named Aziza.

I write her letters online because I’m pretty bad about actually mailing out letters, but I hope to send her some pictures of me soon.

I know it’s random, but I know it’s something little I do that fulfills me and makes me feel like I have a positive effect on the world.

: )