It’s that time of year again—Sponsor a Child Month—and one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and say thank you to the many people who make life at AGAPE possible.

Some of you walk closely with a specific child through sponsorship. Others support AGAPE through generous annual gifts, special donations, or faithful giving whenever a need arises. However you give, please know this from the start: you are deeply valued, and you are essential to this work.

Each year during Sponsor a Child Month, we send letters and photos to those who sponsor a child, and I always look forward to that. But this season, I wanted to do something a little more inclusive. Even if you don’t sponsor a specific child, your generosity has helped care for the children of AGAPE in very real ways.

That’s why everyone receiving this letter will also receive a child’s photo this year. If you sponsor a child, you’ll receive a photo of your sponsored child. And if you support AGAPE through general giving, you’ll receive a photo of a child whose life you’ve helped touch—because your generosity truly matters, and you deserve to see the impact of your giving. In some cases, where available, a sponsor letter may also be included from a child who is not yet sponsored,as all of our children write letters each year.

This year, I’m approaching sponsor photos a little differently.

If I’m being honest, I’ve never fully loved traditional sponsor photos the perfectly straight uniforms, carefully arranged hair, standing in the sun and being told how to smile. They never quite captured the children I know and love.

So this summer, when my son James and I spent June, July, and most of August in India, I made a conscious decision to slow down. Yes, we had a long list of projects (James stayed busy fixing IT issues, repairing windows no one else could, and installing CCTV cameras—thank you to the donors who often step in with practical solutions!). But I also wanted to simply be with the kids.

That’s what I miss most about India—not the paperwork or logistics, just time with them.

We had game nights and laughter-filled evenings where kids crowded around my table insisting, “Play with us!” Somewhere in the middle of those moments, I started picking up my camera—not to stage photos, but to capture who they were right then. When no one was telling them how to pose, they were relaxed, natural, and completely themselves.

Those are the photos many of you are receiving this year.They aren’t polished. They’re family-album photos—kids laughing during game night, kids surprised with new backpacks, kids just being kids. Many of you have been part of the Agape family for years, and I wanted you to see the children the way I see them.

As you read this, I may be in India—or just returning from my February trip. Please know that I truly love hearing from you. If you ever want to reach out with a question or simply to say hello, I’m always glad to connect. You are not just donors or sponsors—you are family.I also want to share something openly. While sponsorship is the backbone of our care model, we are never near to 100% sponsorship for every child. And like any family, there are always unexpected needs—medical expenses, education gaps, repairs, and moments when we must respond quickly

That’s where so many of you come in.Your generous, unrestricted giving allows AGAPE to remain steady and responsive. You help fill the gaps. You help us meet needs that don’t always show up on a budget line. Quite simply, your support allows everything else to work. To those who sponsor a child, thank you. Your monthly commitment brings stability and consistency to a child’s life.

And to those who give in other ways—often quietly and faithfully—thank you. You make the day-to-day possible and the unexpected manageable.AGAPE has always grown through relationships. Most of you came to us because someone you trusted shared our story. If you feel led to share AGAPE with someone else, we would be grateful.