Last year, we launched a new sponsorship feature where we share a TRS sponsor and how sponsorship has impacted them. We couldn’t do what we do without our sponsors. Not only do they support The Raining Season and our children financially, but they also love, encourage, and celebrate our children through letters, Skype, and even travel. Whether you have been sponsoring for years or days, the sacrifices our sponsors make each month do not go unnoticed.
Meet Ann Guddall – Ann and her husband, Doug, live in Ankeny, Iowa. They have three grown sons, including their oldest, his wife, and one grandson. Ann works as a budget manager for Drake University, while her husband works in production at John Deere.
Ann has been connected to The Raining Season for many years. Their family began sponsoring in 2010 when two boys, Dauda and James, came to TRS after their father passed away in a tragic ferry accident. Ann was introduced to TRS by the Diers family. Jen Diers was a graduate student at Iowa State University in the same department that Ann worked in at the time. Jen had recently returned from her first of many trips to Sierra Leone and came back ready to tell the world about TRS. Jen shared a presentation about The Raining Season and had pictures of the children who came to TRS after the tragic Shenge ferry accident in 2009. Ann was instantly drawn in and desired to make a difference through sponsorship and began sponsoring brothers Dauda and James in 2010. As someone who loves helping others, the decision to start sponsoring was easy. Ann also felt that having personal connections and knowing someone who had traveled to The Covering made it more “real” to her. Through the years, Ann has learned of others who were also connected to TRS, realizing what a small world is.
A unique part of The Raining Season’s sponsorship program is the opportunity to Skype monthly with the child you support through sponsorship. For Ann, connecting with the children through Skype is special and makes the experience even more personal. Through the years, Ann and her family got to know James and Dauda through monthly Skype calls. The personal connection became especially true and more relevant after traveling there and meeting the boys she sponsored, as well as the other kids. Ann shared, “I had the best Skype ever this month after being there last month!”
While Ann and her family have sponsored for many years, she finally had the opportunity to travel with a team in June. Getting to meet both boys that she has sponsored for fourteen years was exciting, but meeting Dauda in person was a special experience. “It was AMAZING to finally get to travel to TRS! I had planned to go last fall and had to cancel last minute, which was so disappointing for myself and for Dauda. The opportunity to go in June came up somewhat at the last minute in May, so I didn’t tell Dauda I was coming. Dauda was on the balcony as the team walked up the hill when we arrived on the first day, with everyone lined up to greet us. The moment he recognized me, he looked absolutely stunned, and then he ran down the stairs to greet me with the best hug ever!”
While Ann’s children are grown now, she hopes that everything they have experienced together through sponsorship has taught her children the importance of giving and investing in the lives of others, especially vulnerable people like children and widows. Ann shared, “It has been good for my family to see firsthand the impact we can have on others and to realize how blessed we are.”
Ann, thank you for you and your family’s heart for the children at The Raining Season, especially James and Dauda. Your dedication, kindness, and compassion have been a tremendous blessing to our children. Thank you for saying “yes” to sponsorship, traveling, and committing to Skype each month.
Are you interested in learning more about sponsorship? Email sponsorship@therainingseason.org to learn more.
Many blessings,
The Raining Season
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