First, a heart-felt Testimony

"To Sharon, Did you ever realize that you could make such a difference. Do you realize the extent of what you do? How blessed we are to come as orphans and leave as beloved children who no longer need to abandon ourselves for past fears, guilt and shame. God bless you, Sharon. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, as do, I suspect, all do whose lives you touch. How fortunate we are to have you on this planet. Sitting here drinking chai and knowing I am so blessed, Lola

A Christmas Story

Dear mama Sharon thanks for the things you send me. I send you all my love to you and the people here love you too mama. I have a good idea for the children from the comunites because they will need for 25 of december. I will realise a congress for these children they are about 400 children and they live in la cuenca del Patacancha. You remember Willoc Patacancha when you stayed here in Peru, they are the valley where they use tipical clothes and the same costume like incas. You remember the children they are very nice and beautiful people.

On december 25 Carlos and me we will prepare about 7 buses for these children for coming to Ollantaytambo and in Ollantaytambo we will prepare chocolate and bread for these children and on Saturday 16 we will send a document with this project to the principal people of these comunites who will prepare the children for this day. So mama Sharon if you can help us, it is a good idea, not to much, I am short of money if only you can help us with 150 dollars I have the rest. Thank you mama Sharon I will say to the people you help them too.

Your son from Peru. Washington.

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Dear Mama Sharon,
These Holidays are the Symbol of the existence of God the Divine who manifests alive each time we are generous along the year.

His angel usually goes wrapped in turquoise clothes and scintillates intensely, speaking a foreign language. She wear golden hair and heal with her eyes and her hands. She speaks of love and sings forgiveness. To the children she and her friends bring gifts, respecting and loving them they give them hope. Those angels are celestial lovers who create miracles.

You, Angel, you touched me and you and your angelic friends filled up my hands with gifts.

Sweet Christmas, ANGEL OF THE CHILDREN, a big hug and my deep love. Live in love

Thank you Angel

Your friend Pavela (a nun in Peru)
December 25th, 2002

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HELLO MAMA SHARON,

This is CARLOS writing to thank you for the great support you give me. Because in a way you have made me realize many things that I wanted to realize, desires that would be impossible to fulfill without your help. As before I felt like a prisoner of the system, a system that obliges a man to live for himself without thinking of others. My change in thinking in this area I owe to you.

I am thankful, that from you I learned that one can be happier giving than receiving, and it is out of this lesson Mama Sharon that I acted this Christmas by giving a small gift to the children of a destitute community 30 minutes from Cusco with the help of some friends from the University. We organized a little party with hot chocolate and cookies, which wasn't very difficult for us to arrange, but for them, it was something that made them very happy.

And, from this I learned that it doesn't take much to make others happy, only that magic word which is love. Mama Sharon, I now say good-bye and may you be happy wherever you are.

Heart Warming Letters of Appreciation

Dear Mama Sharon,

Thank you very much for all the things you are doing for our People here in Peru. Thank you for supporting the food lines which are feeding almost 500 children by now and for updating our schools with supplies that you bring from the United States. The clothes you bring to the families and children help them to be warm in the cold winter.

Thank you so very much for the shoes you sent the other day so our first group of children from Huilloc can go to school wearing regular shoes instead of the traditional mountain ones. They were so proud wearing them for the first time, as well as for their "regular clothes". They went down to the Valley without the fear that they would be teased because of their mountain clothing.

Many families and many many children await exited your arrival knowing that with your warmth and love comes much of what they need to feel warm and dignified, deserving of being treated as equal. Thank you again and we'll be waiting for you at the airport. Love from your Peruvian family and friends.

Washington

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Very Dear Dr. Forrest

Thank you for the money you sent for the children and for Maria Liliana, with this money I
bought her some clothes because the 21st of January is her birthday. I’ll send you some pictures by airmail of Maria Liliana in her new clothes I bought her and another picture of her in her new school uniform. I will also send a picture of the orphanage children receiving their gifts, those that we bought with the money that you sent us for toys for them.

I don’t know whether the things that Maria Liliana sent you have arrived.. she made them herself with such affection. She loves you very much and you don’t know how happy it makes her to be able to receive you in May. She even told me to get her to study English so that when you are here she can speak in English and she is also learning to play the guitar and to sing songs of gratefulness. Ah, I forgot to say that she also sent her grades to you, I think they are very good, she is very studious. I will stop here because she says she wants to write you and she is asking me to leave space to do it. Well, as always I remain grateful to you and pray for you to the Creator.

Have happy days. Until soon Sister Yudid

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Unforgettable Mama Sharon,

It makes me so happy to think about you coming to Cusco. It will be an honor to introduce you to my parents and brothers and sisters. I so want May to come soon to have you here with me.

Thank you for sending me money because Sister Yudid has bought me my school uniform and paid the tuition with that money. I am so happy I am going to high school now. I want to grow up quickly, finish high school and go on to study for a career so I can help other children.

I promise you that when I am a professional I will travel to the United States take care of you and to pamper you when you are old.

Until soon, I love you very much. Maria Liliana

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Dear Mama Sharon

Sorry that I could not write to you recently. I was on a very important trip on the Inca trail with a friend who is guide and I wanted to learn how to explain the Inca Trail. I loved it a lot. It was my first time. The entrance in Machupicchu made a big impression on me, it is so beautiful, I never saw anything as beautiful. We walk for 4 days and I was back at night in Ollantaytambo and I was so happy to tell my friends how beautiful is the Inca Trail and they all love what I was telling them.

I am back to school and we are doing exams and I am very happy because everything goes well for me, I am receiving good grades. Every day is wonderful because I am learning how to live life with a lot of love. Thank you for giving me hope in life Many salutations from my family to yours.

With a lot of love Eddy

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Very Dear Mama Sharon,

I send you a big bear hug and lots of affectionate kisses and may the Baby Jesus bless you and
bring you good health. Mama Sharon, I am sad that the package that I sent you and for Ms. Carol Reed has not arrived. I am sending you a picture of me in the clothes that Sister Yudid bought me. I have discovered that I am pretty and beautiful.

Mama Sharon, in your e-mail that you sent me you said that you will be in the town with the
children in the orphanage. That makes me so happy, but my biggest wish is that you come to the house where my family and I live, please, I want to take you there. In addition, I am going to make you something delicious. I know how to cook, and don't worry, I won't take too much of your time because I live close by, very close by, to the town and it will be easy to get there.

I am anxious for your visit and my body quivers with emotion. I just want to tell you that I love
you much and my heart is big from loving you. Thank you for the money that you send me, I am
very grateful because with this month I paid for school and I could help my older brother (Wiliam) who needed money urgently in order to sign up for the police academy. It would be a real gift from God in my brother could register in that school because it costs a lot of money to do so.

My parents and my brothers and sisters also send their love and give thanks to God for you are a truly good soul. Good Bye. Until soon, dear Mama Sharon. With much love, Maria Liliana

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Mama let me thank you for the money order of 250 dollars that you sent me and I received. Mama I am very anxious to see you soon. Mama Sharon there is a surprise for you from the children and me and I know that you are going to like it a lot as well as the group coming with you.

I want to talk to you about a project that I have with my brother Carlos for the poor people. When you will be here I will tell you what it is about. I went to Willoc, there the people are excellent persons and I love them a lot.

Ciao Mama, I love you with all my pure heart. Thank you for everything.

Your son washington from peru who has a big plase in his heart for you

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I really love you Mama Sharon, with all my Heart. I felt so sorry that I could not get in touch with you earlier. I went to sister Judid's many times, but her email was not working. I feel happy now that I can say hi to you. And I am so happy that you are learning Spanish. Study hard; because I will check your Spanish next time you come.

Mamita Sharon, you are the most beautiful one in the world and the nicest mama on the whole
planet earth. I remember you every single day with so much love in my heart and I always pray
God to take care of you and to protect you from any possible danger. And I also thank him
because he has given me a mother like you. Some day, I will take care of you and I will always love you.

I am doing very well at school. I am waiting for October to come with great expectation, because I will be able to see you, to hug you and kiss you. My greetings to all your friends and to all the people you see each day.

Lots of love to you from your daughter who loves you more than anyone else. Maria Liliana

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Dear Mama Sharon

Thank you very much for the letter. I am very happy because I have a wonderful mama who deserves all the Love of the world. I love you a lot and I love the gift for my birthday. The chocolates were absolutely delicious and the Jacket is beautiful.

I went to Urubamba and received a check that they could change, so I paid the institute. Than you so much for your interest in my studies and for being proud of me. I am studying a lot and I love to study.

I am going to go to Ollantaytambo to spend the weekend with my family. I hope you will have a nice weekend and that the Sun God will always be with you and your whole family.

With a lot of love from your son Eddy. Best wishes for your travel.

These darling children line up to receive their gift and school supplies, run and hide them and then get back in line again.