Christmas 2025

 Hello my Compassion friends. Here is my Christmas letter for 2025. I focused on the star that the wise men followed to Jesus. Focusing on how Christ is the light of the world and how we reflect him in the light he gives us. May you have a blessed season and feel the love of God. Merry Christmas to all of you. As always, feel free to copy and use for your kids. God bless and be inspired. At the end of the post there’s a copy for Christmas letters for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh version. 

Merry Christmas our beloved family! We love you so much and want to let you know how important you are to us! We pray you have a blessed day on Christmas and that you may feel the love of Christs shine upon your face. Talking about light This year I have been reflecting on the star the Wiseman followed in search of the baby Jesus. 

A long time ago The Wiseman looked up to the sky and saw the bright shining star. In their hearts, they knew they had to follow it. They felt the calling of God to go into search of Jesus.

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star , they were overjoyed.” Matthew 2:9-10

Just like the wise men we can look to God for direction in all we do. They looked to the sky and followed Gods light. We to can look around ourselves and see Gods guiding direction. His  light shines in our life even when we feel lost or in the dark. “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17

God promised long ago long ago he  would send us a savior. God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son to live among us. To be born in a stable and among animals, hay and love. The star of Bethlehem was not just a spot in the sky it was a gift from God and a promise. 

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Not only was the star I promise it was a gift. Jesus was also a gift to us. A gift that lights our path and is free for all to see. His salvation is a light for our heart a guiding star to help us see the way. 

“shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:15

now, you have this light in you. You shine with Christ and our reflection of him. As you head into this Christmas season, remember your foundation and  let Christ path guide you. 

“I, Jesus… am the bright Morning Star.” Revelations 22:16

As you wake up this morning and you look to Christ our bright morning star. We pray that this Christmas season will uplift you. When you lean on Jesus and reflect his love, you are shining bright and people will see that light. Shine his kindness, love, hope, and salvation. Be a bright star for those in need, pain and are lost. As you reflect Jesus this season, we pray that you feel his love, guidance, and hope.

We love you and are praying for you. MerryChristmas

Love mark and Laura

(Bangladesh and Sri Lanka letters)

Merry Christmas, our beloved family!

We love you so much and want you to know how special you are to us! We pray that your Christmas is filled with joy, peace, and moments that make you smile. May you feel surrounded by warmth and love wherever you are.

This year, I’ve been thinking about the star that shone in the sky long ago — the one that guided the wise men on their journey. It was a beautiful light that helped them find something wonderful.

Sometimes, life feels dark or uncertain, but just like those travelers, we can look for light to guide us — the kind of light that shows us the way to hope, peace, and love.

Long ago, a promise was made that a light would shine for everyone, bringing comfort and joy to the world. That light still shines today — not just in the sky, but in our hearts when we share kindness and goodness with others.

Christmas reminds us that the most precious gifts don’t come in boxes or with ribbons. They come through love, peace, kindness, and caring for others. When we share those gifts, it’s like we’re shining our own little stars to help brighten someone else’s path.

Each of us carries a small light inside — a light that can bring hope and happiness to others. When we choose love, forgiveness, and kindness, that light shines brightly for all to see.

As you celebrate this Christmas season, remember that you are a light in this world. You make a difference just by sharing your smile, helping others, and spreading love wherever you go.

May your days be filled with hope, and may you always find the light to guide your way. We pray that you feel loved by the people around you — your family, teachers, and everyone at your Compassion center.

May you always feel safe, at peace, and surrounded by hope that refreshes your heart.

You are deeply loved, and we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Love always 

Mark and Laura

safety in Gods arms

 Hi my Compassion friends. I found myself wanting to write today and wanted to share my letter with you. This month is about God’s safety. I love the concept that God holds us in his arms and that we can trust him in all things. I pray as you head into this week that you feel inspiration to write your kiddos. There is also a letter  for our Bangladesh and Sri Lanka  kids also. As always, feel free to copy and use my letters for your kids. God bless and be inspired! 

Hello from Wisconsin my friend! We want to write to you about God‘s safety today! God is our refuge and our strength! We can trust in Him who gives us life for all things. I love this Bible verse that I am going to write to you about today. 

Psalm 91:1–2 – “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’

God  is our shelter and we can rest and trust in Him in all things. Trusting in God in all things can be hard at times when we are struggling in life.  But I want to encourage you to look to His path in days of abundance and days of need. He will shine a light for you and provide all you need including safety. We can rest in His shadow and let Him keep us safe. When you feel sad remember He is your fortress and He provides you with peace. 

We know that life can be hard for you at times. But the hardships in our lives can draw us closer to the Lord because we then have to trust Him more. The Lord provides and His safety net never lets us down. We pray as you head into this week you would look around yourself and see all that God does for you. We also pray for your safety and your family safety. That Gods mighty fortress and haven’s angels would shelter you and give you all you need. We also pray you would run into your heavenly Fathers arms and love Him with all your heart. 

Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” We praise Christ in the days of plenty and the days of want! For God is good all the time! 

Bangladesh/ Sri Lanka letter adjusted for the restrictions

Hello from Wisconsin my friend and adopted family! We love you so much and want to you to know you are thought of all of the time. I want to write to you about safety today. My life has been a good life but I have struggled with sadness at times and the only thing that carries my through it is Gods love and His arms of safety. I feel safe and at peace’s with all He has blessed me with. My husband Mark is one of those blessings. God gave Him to me and I trust Him and feel safe in His presence. 

Whoever rest in the shadow of God can trust that His fortress is a refuge. Life can give us ups and downs. We can have years of abundance and years of need.  A week that is full of joy and a week that is full of sadness. Wherever you are in your life we pray that you would look to the blessings in your life. Your friends, family, neighbors and teachers. Know that God put them in your lives to give you guidance and to help you be protected from the things of this world. 

We pray that you would run to the safety of the people around you knowing that God gave them to you as helpers and people you can trust. We are so thankful for the people at your compassion center who are there for you and we know that you can trust them. You may struggle with things in this life but know you are never alone. We will be praying for you and we love you so much. 

Adonai our Lord

 Hi my Compassion friends writing about names of God this month. The name of God I picked for this month letter is Adonai meaning our Lord. I like to bounce around from different series and this one is one of my favorites. Being able  to focus on the different names we use for our Lord Jesus Christ gives me hope. I pray as  you read them that you feel God‘s love as my kids do. A reminder that there is a Sri Lanka/Bangladesh version at the end of this post. As always, feel free to copy my letters and use them for your kids. God bless and be inspired! 

Hi my friends. We love you so much and we’re thinking of you today and I thought it’d be a good day to write you a letter. The Lord is good we are halfway through the year. I know it’s a crazy thought to think that we’re in July. I’ve been thinking a lot about God’s names again and wanted to write you about the name of God, Adonai which means the Lord. Our Lord is  a Great and wonderful God.  When I think of the name Adonai I reflect on the word reverence. What does the word reverence mean in biblical words. The word reverence means holy fear. Fear not in the sense of terror, but fear in the meaning of awe, honor and deep love. Psalm 33:8,18 talks about reverence in the context of holy fear. 

“Let all the earth fear the Lord (Adonai)  let all the people of the world revere (reverence)him…

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear (awe) him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” 

Our firm foundation is in our Lord Jesus Christ are Adonai, are protecter, are hope and are salvation.  How can we give are Adonai reverence in our everyday life? 

We can have reverence for God when we treat Him like our Lord and King. We can do this by listening when the Bible is read, praying with our hearts, worshiping with meaning, obeying his word and loving him more than anything else.  Here is a simple prayer you can pray to God when giving him the honor and respect He longs for. 

Dear God,

Help me show You how special You are.

Teach me to listen, obey, and talk to You with love and respect.

I love You and want to treat You like the King You are. Amen.”

We pray as you head into this week you reflect on your relationship with God. May you feel His love and give Him the the love and respect He deserves as our Lord and King. 

We took a trip to a state park called wildcat mountain this last week. The views were beautiful and we got a lot of birding in. Feeling blessed that the Lord has given us a beautiful world to live in. 

God bless and we love you so much 

Mark and Laura

Bangladesh/ Sri Lanka letter adjusted for their restrictions. 

Hi my friends. We love you so much and we’re thinking of you today and I thought it’d be a good day to write you a letter. The Lord is good we are halfway through the year. I know it’s a crazy thought to think that we’re in July. I’ve been thinking a lot about God’s names again and wanted to write you about the name of God, Adonai. God is caring and He loves everyone in this world. When I think of the name Adonai I reflect on the word reverence. The word reverence means awe, honor and deep love.  When you think about the people you respect in your life how do you treat them? You honor them by listening and following their will and guidances. You trust them with your thoughts and your dreams. You love them and show this love to them. When I think about Jesus and what He has done for me like provide me with a home, family and safety I am grateful. I am also thankful for my family, friends and job. I like to show respect to those I love and trust. Reverence it’s more than just being polite. It’s recognizing the value and dignity of the person often because of the role, wisdom and a place they have in our lives. 

We pray as you head into this week you reflect on your relationships and how you can honor and respect the people you love. 

We took a trip to a state park called wildcat mountain this last week. The views were beautiful and we got a lot of birding in. Feeling blessed that the Lord has given us a beautiful world to live in. 

God bless and we love you so much 

Mark and Laura

Word of Peace: the Bible

 Hello my Compassion friends. I decided to write about Hebrews 4:12 This month. It is a Bible verse about how the word of God is alive and active. I pray you enjoy it and as always, feel free to use for your kids, letters or change in anyway that works for you. God bless and be inspired.

We want to write to you about the word of God today. The Bible is alive and it is our guide God gave us to turn to and learn from.  In Hebrews 4:12 God says the Bible is alive and living and is like a double edge sword that pierce the soul and spirit. God‘s word is not dead. It can  speak to us, guide, convict us, give us wisdom, hope and joy. most of all it talks about the salvation of Jesus. A double edge sword can cut in both directions piercing you to the very depth of who you are. This represents the truth how deep the Bible can reach into you and penetrate your soul. The Bible holds a mirror up to us convicting us when needed and helping us to see who we really are and how much we need Jesus. God‘s word is not just information. It’s a rebirth and an awakening to the truth. This Bible verse is both a warning and a comfort. Nothing is hidden from God and comforting because he speaks personally into our lives. When you read it or hear it God uses it to show you His love and your sins. Show you His grace and your faults. Show you His salvation and your need for it. There’s no hiding in the light, but there is healing in surrendering. We pray as you head into this week that you remember the healing grace of God‘s love. And that you would pick up the Bible and read it. Letting God pierce your heart and lead you down the path he wants you to go this week.  

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

We love you! Stay strong and keep looking to the Lord!

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh versions adjusted for their  restrictions.

We want to write to you about the word of God today.  For Mark and it is our guiding light. It is also the light for the whole world. When I read the Bible, I feel that is alive guiding humanity. Joy, love, peace, hope all fill its pages. These things in a whole give me and the people of this world the comfort we need. When we look in a mirror, we see the reflection of ourselves. When you look at a sunset or a sunrise, you can see its beauty. Sometimes we can be blinded by the information of this world. But there’s some things we can lean on and trust in. Joy, love, peace, hope are the things we can trust in. I remember when I was lost Jesus reached down and lifted me up dusted me off and gave me hope. Sometimes you just feel like you have to grab onto something. We pray as you head into this week that you would look to love to uphold you. 

dove of peace (Sri Lanka)

 This is a new journey for me, writing letters for areas where religion is a little bit more restricted. So this will be my first letter that’s modified for Sri Lanka. Feel free to take a look at my other post for the Dove of peace if you’re looking for more spiritual letter. This one’s also spiritually worded but a little bit differently.  as always, feel free to copy and use my letters. Combined both whatever works for you it’s all about our love for the kids we write.  Be inspired God bless 

Hello our dear friends! Was sitting and thinking of you today and wanted tell you that we love you. As we’re heading into spring on this side of the world I think about how much Mark and I love birding. So I wanted to do another bird letter about the dove. Here in Wisconsin we have a bird called the mourning dove. There are all different types of doves found all over the world. In general, the dove represents peace. 

I love the image of the dove and peace.  When we live in peace, I feel God‘s presence in the world around us.  When I struggle, God‘s peace uplifts me. I went through a medical problem last year, and I felt his protection. 

I love the power that I feel from protection. The hope that it gives me when I’m washed in love. In our lives being made clean by grace gives me hope. Grace by forgiveness by loved ones, by friends and people in the community when I make a mistake. I see Gods grace when I see the world around me. 

The Dove also symbolizes purity and its gentle nature reminds me of the empowering, feeling of love. Love is a powerful thing and we want to  let you know that even though we just met you, we love you. We pray that you would feel the love that is covered over you through prayer. Jesus loves everybody from one end of the Earth to the other. It is comforting to know that he loves us all. And then in some of my darkest moments, the purity and thought of that gives us comfort.

Another thing when I think about the Dove is new beginnings. I think a lot about the truth that up hold us in our lives. From the creation of the world, the formation of the mountains, the seas and the skies. In our lives when I think about new beginnings, I think about all that God has done for us. We each go through trials in our lives and the thing that upholds us is that when we feel that there’s no hope God is there for us. 

We love you and pray as you head into this week that you feel the peace that is provided for you through family friends and us from on the other side of the world. We love you and we’re praying for

Love always mark and Laura

dove of peace

 Hello my writing friends. This month I’m writing another bird letter about the mourning dove. I’m also starting a new journey where I’ll be writing a letter for more restricted area Sri Lanka. I will make another post with letter for those special kids. As always, feel free to copy and use my letters. God bless and be inspired. This letter in this post will be my more faith-based one. The other one for Sri  Lanka is also spiritual, but worded differently. 

Hello our dear friends! Was sitting and thinking of you today and wanted tell you that we love you. As we’re heading into spring on this side of the world I think about how much Mark and I love birding. So I wanted to do another bird letter about the dove. Here in Wisconsin we have a bird called the mourning dove. There are all different types of doves found all over the world. In general, the dove represents peace. But in the Bible, there are a few passages where a dove is mentioned that I want to talk to you about.

The Holy Spirit at Jesus' Baptism Matthew 3:16 and Noah's Ark in Genesis 8:8-12. 

I wanna start with Matthew 3:16-17. 

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

When I think about these verses, they give me a vivid imagine. 

The Symbol of the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is often associated with a dove in christianity, representing peace, purity, and the presence of God. The dove’s gentle nature reflects the Holy Spirit’s work in guiding and empowering believers.The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, comforting us and guiding us. When you accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes into you and it guides you comforts you and gives you direction. The gift of the Holy Spirit the great comforter is something that you can lean and trust on. 

The other Bible verses in Genesis 8:8-12 is another great example of a dove in the Bible.

After the flood, Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters had receded. When it returned with an olive leaf, it symbolized peace and God’s restoration. God uses this bird to remind us of Gods truth He never leaves us or forsakes us. In Noah’s time there was great evil and when you take the time to read Genesis, you will see that Noah had to build an ark to save humanity. And God use the dove to let them know when the water is receded and that Noah’s family and the animals on the ark could go back on land. 

We pray as you go into this week that you see the beauty around you from the birds, the trees, the land and the sea . That you would trust in him who gives life and that you would see the beauty around you as a gift. We are are doing well and enjoying the blessing God has given us which includes you! 

We love you and are praying for you 

Love mark and Laura

Easter 2025

Hello Compassion friends. I wanted to get started on my Easter letter and again this year. I’m doing another Petra song. The coloring song is one of my favorite songs by Petra. As you head into this Easter season and I pray that you remember The blessings and the forgiveness of Christ. As always, feel free to copy and use my letters. Be inspired.

Hello my beloved family and friend. I have been thinking about the blessings of Easter today. And as I reflect on it one of our favorite songs comes to mind. It is written by a group called Petra and it is called the Coloring Song. I want to talk about Easter using the idea of this song that we love so much. Here are the lyrics to the song by Petra 

Red is the color of the blood that flowed Down the face of someone who loved us so He's the perfect man, He's the Lord's own son He's the lamb of God, He's the only one That can give us life, that can make us grow that  can make the love between us flow

Blue is the color of a heart so cold That will not bend when the story's told Of the love of God for a sinful race Of the blood that flowed down Jesus' face That can give us life, that can make us grow

That can keep our hearts from growing cold

Gold is the color of the morning sun That shines so freely on everyone It's the sun above that keeps us warm It's the Son of Love that calms the storm That can give us life, that can make us grow

That can turn our mornings into gold

That can give us life, that can make us grow That can turn our mornings into gold That can give us life that can make us grow That can keep our hearts from growing cold That can give us life that can make us grow That can make the love between us flow

Red is the color of the blood that flowed. Jesus lived a life with us and He was all knowing because He was Gods son. He is perfect and He never sinned and He loves us even though we can’t go without sinning. What an amazing God we have that He lived among us and lives us.Wile on this earth he showed compassion, love, grace and mercy . Yet was firm and displayed strength in His 33 years of living with us. 

Blue is the color of a heart that’s cold. There are so many people who don’t know God and they will not bend to his love. But God loves them and died for all including people who don’t know or love him. 

Gold is the color of gods love. It is free to all who accept Him as their Savior. He is there in our lives in all things. Our foundation, our peace and or Salvation. Easter is a day we reflect on Christ raising from the dead and building us a bridge to heaven for those who believe in Him. 

We pray as you head into this Easter season you reflect on Christ love for you. The sacrifice of him dying on the cross and Gods gift of Easter when he raised to life. Gods grace and unconditional love for us is something you can trust in and believe in. He never wavers in his love for you! 

God bless and we love you 

Mark and Laura