An Amazing Journey

“We started this incredible journey as sponsors for Yanji 21 years ago.

Mitrata’s Executive Director, Dr. Christine Schutz located Yanji when she was three. She was very sick. She and her sister were struggling to even provide food for themselves. We figured becoming Yanji's sponsors would be a major life changing event for her, but we had no idea how life changing it would be for us. The first picture of her we received was of a tiny, beautiful, solemn three year old. It literally took our hearts away!

As that first year progressed, we became more involved in Mitrata and met so many amazing people. By the time Yanji was five, she was beginning to smile in her pictures and her letters contained cute little drawings and more English phrases. As she got older, we were sharing information about our kids and she was becoming part of the family. She was an excellent student and we were so happy that she was thriving. We were also helping with Mitrata events and forming friendships within the Mitrata group that were, and are still, deeply meaningful.

Now, years later, after many Mitrata events, many letters back and forth to and from Yanji, continuing opportunity to form new and and amazing friendships, and three trips to Nepal, words really can't describe how greatful and enriched we feel by this opportunity. We have been able to meet and interact with many Mitrata/BSF children during our three visits to Nepal, and we have seen first hand just how important their sponsors are to those kids.

So, to all Mitrata sponsors, even if you are unable or not inclined to vistit Nepal and meet your child, and even if your child has a parent or other family members, know that you are so important to them.

These kids are very grateful and feel a huge connection to their sponsors. The children want to know about their sponsors lives, their kids and grandkids, their travels, and the children LOVE to get pictures. They love feeling like they are a part of their sponsors' lives.

We have just attended the Mitrata/BSF special graduation celebration for our beautiful Yanji, as she just received her Bachelor's Degree in Business Studies a few months ago. We were here to celebrate her wonderful achievement, but we weren't really prepared for how emotional this would be for us. It was hard to keep the tears back a few times, and we were almost overwhelmed by the attention paid to us too. Again, we cannot find words to describe this amazing journey.”

Don and Cheryl Apperson

Yanji’s Sponsors and Mitrata Volunteers