Lizzie and her mum Caroline were so excited when they met Odalis, their sponsored child from Honduras, for the first time. Lizzie explains how special that connection was for them, and what it was like meeting her sponsored child virtually on a video call.
Visiting my sponsored child, six-year-old Odalis, has been my dream since I began sponsoring her back in 2018. I researched how to get to Honduras, but soon realised flights could be trickier to get there than I expected. I knew then it would be very hard to meet Odalis. I didn’t expect I’d ever be able to realise my dream of meeting her – let alone in the middle of a global pandemic!
We have been sponsoring children through World Vision as a family for a very long time. My mum and I now sponsor nine children between us. Odalis was the first child I chose to sponsor on my own, so I feel a special connection to her. I remember when I started sponsoring her, I was so excited. Being able to finally meet her with my mum, makes it even more special.
I’ve been looking forward to this moment for so long, and now finally the day has come! I am so happy, but also a bit nervous. I have so many things I want to ask her. It’s like I’ve known her for so long, but don’t know as much as I’d like to about her. And now I’m going to meet her via the magic of a face-to-face call over my laptop!
Odalis, 6, calls Lizzie with her mum, Areli, and 12-year-old big brother, Christian.
When Odalis appeared on the screen, I could hardly believe how much she’s grown. As we chat, I learn more about Odalis. Her favourite game is to play chief cook, and she makes the best pretend hamburgers. I must admit I enjoy a good hamburger! She has a cousin she likes to play with and, when she visits, they pretend to be chefs together. Odalis often helps her mum make tortillas. Rider, the Sponsorship Manager in Honduras, says tortillas are very common there and are eaten basically with everything. I would really love to share tortillas with them.
Odalis wants to be a painter when she grows up. She likes drawing and her last drawing was of a mountain with a lot of trees. She also likes to sing: her favorite song is about a duck named Juan, who obeys his mum and dad. She sings it for me during the call. She is just adorable.
Odalis has a cute little puppy called Princess. She also has four ducks, but she hasn’t named them yet. I reckon one might be called Juan, like the obedient duck.
I really enjoy receiving letters from Odalis and her community. She says that she loves receiving letters from me too, bringing one with her to show me. It’s the one I sent when my sister got married last year and Odalis likes to read it often. I’m so pleased. Odalis still remembers the first letter she got from me two years ago. She remembers how happy she felt.
From the start of our sponsorship journey as a family, we have felt humbled and privileged to meet so many children and communities whose lives are being transformed. Odalis says she felt so happy when she found out she was being sponsored. She calls me “madrina” (“godmother” in English), which I find so meaningful.
It is a privilege to virtually visit Odalis and to be able to sponsor her. I feel so lucky. Sponsoring her makes such a massive difference in our lives. Having her as part of our family is a blessing.
Strengthen your connection with your sponsored child today by registering your interest in a virtual sponsor visit.