Every year, Answered Prayers sponsors a Christmas Stocking Drive complete with a Haitian Santa Claus and presents for each child and nanny at BRESMA. Parents are invited to sponsor their own children if they would like. They didn't have to ask US twice! We also chose to sponsor one of the nannies. We had fun choosing these recommended items for each: an outfit, sandals (hard to find in SD in November!), soap, toothbrush, book, and a couple toys. It is so fun now that we know their favorites in characters, types of toys, and colors. Since it is Christmas, we didn't worry as much either about if it was a toy that would get destroyed or if it could be shared easily. All the kids would have something their very own (for the day), so we could splurge. :) Ange-Laurette got a doll with hair, which she always requests. Fixing hair is a BIG thing in their culture, and she does it well! We also found a "skipper" which they spin around one ankle as they jump. That will keep her endless energy channeled. :) 
For Pierre, we enclosed an "American futbol" for him and the other big boys. That will be a skill he will definitely want to have once he arrives here, between his younger brother's obsession and the recesses with other boys at school. Then, we added his hero, Spiderman, on a battery operated 3-wheeler. I can see all the younger kids making their Spiderman hand gestures now! We so wish we could be there to witness the frenzy when the packages arrive. It is so much like our Christmas morning....yet so very different. I was laughing with the postal worker as I mailed each child's package yesterday: If only we could limit our American children's gifts to one shoe box in size!
We prayed they'd sense our love as they were opened. Bon fet Noel, to our kids a world away!
