“Sponsorship was my big, grand entry point to a better future.”
— Lery, former sponsored child
Lery still treasures the love, letters, photos, and homemade bracelet she received from her sponsors as a child growing up in the Philippines.
She says those heartfelt exchanges “boosted my confidence and helped me do well at school.
“Most of all, it grew my faith and desire to help others.”
Lery’s journey is a testament to the miracle God can work through faithful sponsorship — planting seeds of love that grow into a flourishing future.
Growing up with little food or hope
Growing up in a fishing village near Manila Bay, Lery remembers what life was like before her community partnered with a loving supporter like you.
“A lot of people were really struggling in terms of food,” she says. “Eating three times a day or sending your kids to school wasn’t common.” Her father worked on large fishing vessels and would be away for months at a time. “I seldom saw my father when I was young… That was the most sure way he could earn money. He sacrificed a lot to get us to school,” she says.
Meanwhile, Lery’s mom sold vegetables to support her children, teaching them to be content with what little they had and to always finish their breakfast — even if it was fish every single day.
A life-changing connection
“I was in Grade 4 when my child sponsorship began,” says Lery. “Sponsorship was my big, grand entry point to a better future.”
Lery was sponsored by a kind couple, whom she still calls ‘Daddy Will and Mommy Joanie.’
Looking back, Lery says what touched her heart the most wasn’t the food and school supplies she received, though she is really grateful for that support. It was the relationship with her sponsor family.
“They helped mold me into who I am today,” she says.
Their kindness made her feel seen and valued. “They sent me letters, photos, stickers, and small gifts… even a bracelet Mommy Joanie made for me.”
And Lery loved writing back. “We exchanged photos and letters. That really helped me improve my English and confidence in writing. It even sparked my love for the arts.”
A place to belong, believe, and grow
“I was a very shy kid. I didn’t like the idea of meeting new children,” says Lery.
But as she went to child sponsorship activities every Saturday, her confidence grew. The activities were based in the local church. Along with educational support, she found love, community, and belonging there.
“Meeting other kids every week in church, I felt so welcome. I felt accepted.”
“Our Saturday gatherings were full of activities. We did arts and crafts, letter writing for our sponsors, storytelling, songs, and sometimes preparing for Sunday church presentations.”
It was here she met a wonderful mentor, Ate Glenda (pronounced “ah-teh”, ate is a Filipino term of respect), who recognized her potential.
“I didn’t realize I could teach or sing. But she encouraged me to join the children’s choir, to lead storytelling. She pushed me to believe in myself,” says Lery.
Faith becomes an anchor
Even in the hardest seasons — poverty, discouragement, and months off school with bronchitis — Lery’s faith in God carried her through.
“I believe faith is very, very vital to push through,” she says.
“Because with all my experiences in life, if I didn’t have faith, maybe I would have decided to give up.
“But faith is what helped me make it through, because I’ve received the promise that God is with me, that God loves me,” she says.
“It’s faith that gives me hope to keep going.”
— Lery, former sponsored child
Her family was nurtured spiritually too. Lery says the support from her sponsors and our local team “helped our whole family grow in faith and strengthened us as a unit.”
A flourishing purpose
Inspired by the teachers in her community, Lery studied education and became a passionate teacher in one of the biggest schools in her area. Today, she designs school curriculums for Filipino students.
“Helping others is a good way to give back — not just to the people around me, but to the world,” she says.
Her dream is to become financially stable — to support her family, her younger cousins, and to give generously to others, just like her caring sponsors did for her.
Lery’s message to you
To every supporter who believes in a child, including her former sponsors, Lery’s message is simple: “You make so much impact — you made my life better. Thank you!”
Will you sponsor the next Lery? Sponsor a child now and help them build the future God intends for them.
