Sponsor visits 2019-2020 Cancel Title is required

Hello

I thought this would be fun to see who will be visiting their sponsored child/children. My sister and I plan on visiting our sponsored kids in June of 2020. We will be visiting them in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Who else is going to visit kids

I'm planning a trip to Colombia in February to visit a boy I sponsor through another organization. He is the first child I started sponsoring back in 2009, and this will be my first sponsor visit. Next will be either Ecuador or the Philippines to visit my CI kids. I was originally thinking of combining my Ecuador and Colombia trips, but the logistics were too complicated.

We're headed to Manila in late January 2020, and are planning on seeing both our guys then!  We've already sent off the paperwork to CI since the whole trip is booked.  Looking forward to a smooth vacation with no bumps and a great visit with the CI kiddos at the start of the trip.  :)


We're thinking of gifts to bring but nothing is really standing out as a "must have" gift from America.  We've purchased a gold cross necklace for Mariz since she will turn 20 just before our arrival, and "Chicago" themed photo frames for each of the boys so they can put a photo of us together on our visit in it!  Is it appropriate to bring something for the other siblings and, if so, what would be recommended? 

We took extra things like playing cards with pictures of places in our state. Bags of dice with dragons printed on the bags. For older girls bags with makeup. I had no idea that costs a lot. Kitchen towels etc for moms. Flarp was a big hit with the boys. We had extra soccer balls and a pump to inflate them. Also you can do a family gift so you aren't trying to cover everyone like Jenga or some family game. We took some things for the CI staff also. A portable photo printer. Who doesn't like getting pictures and watch as they print out. Oh, and pack some old phones in case someone wants to jack yours. We had 30 to 50 year old coins in local currency we would give to hotel staff for their birth year. They had never seen some of them. These we just the gift ideas for everyone. We took specific things for the sponsor children.

I will be visiting my sponsored children from Guatemala from January 2 to January 10, 2020.  Originally I had 10 kids and now I have 8 kids because two of them have already graduated from the Program.  I will visit them too and also I will be seeing my first sponsored child who is 36 years old after 18 yrs.  I will meet his wife and his two little girls personally.  We have been in touch through the years since he graduated from the program.  I visited him four times when he was in the child sponsorship program.

Are you seeing them individually, or both at the same time? I have four kids in the Philippines, and I'm trying to figure out the logistics for my first trip there (one in Manila and three in Bicol).

We've requested 2 days​: one for each.  Both are in Manila/QC so aside from what we'll assume is a traffic nightmare, it should be good. :)

I'm hoping to visit my kids in the Philippines in late January-early February 2020, but haven't started the paperwork yet.    On my last visit in 2016, I booked my stay at Discovery Suites Hotel in Manila through agoda.com.  Great prices.  And I flew Philippine Airlines to Bicol.  Allow a whole day for that.  I stayed in Hotel St. Ellis in Legaspi.   Traffic in Manila/Quezon City is crazy and takes forever.  I took combs and wax paper so I could show the kids how to play a kazoo.  They loved it.  I took Mentos candy for the kids, and assume the moms would know what the siblings might need most, that could be purchased there.  

Nancy,
Are all your youth in Bicol?

Bill, my sponsored kids are divided between Manila (6) and Bicol (6).  I hope at least to be able to see all my kids in one area before flying to the other district.  

BennyNJun, n23foster, Joaniedear, and Bob_c2956:  I can't wait to hear about your trips.  I have two kids in Manila/Quezon City, one kid in Colombia, and on kid in Ecuador who I'd like to go visit someday and its great to hear about others visits so I know what to expect.  Plus, I just love hearing about visits in general.  The kids always seem so thrilled to see their sponsors.  I can't wait until I'm able to go visit my kids.

Nancy, I like your plan by visiting Bicol first and then onto Manila.

Bill, actually I fly into Manila, so seeing my kids there would be easiest.  But I'll take whatever CI plans for me.  :)

If you sponsor boys in the Philippines anything NBA related would most likely be very appreciated. I saw on FB recently one of the boys I sponsored, he is now 20, wearing some Bulls shorts I brought him 6 years ago.

I am going to the Philippines in December (confirmed) and Zambia in September 2020 (still in planning phase).  6th trip to the Phils and 3rd to Zambia.

Thanks, Mike!  We're also in Chicago (hi neighbor!) and actually already sent them custom youth Bulls jerseys in a package last Christmas (one of our MSC stories, if you're curious!).  We WERE thinking about a little stuffed Benny the Bull and Clark the Cubbie for one of their little brothers, though. ;)

Bill, I have 6 kids in Bicol and 6 in Manila/Quezon City.   CI has arranged my visits to see 3 kids on each of 4 days, and I've asked if I can see fewer each day so I can really know them better.  No word back yet.  I'm going in early February, the best weather time.

Hey Bob, how did your trip to Colombia go? 
i realize your post is older, but 
i just came across it due to my interest in visiting a child in 
Columbia.

Thanks!

Hi Barry,
     Sorry for the delay--I haven't been checking the message board regularly, so I just came across your post.  My Colombia trip was awesome, and thankfully I timed it so that I returned to the U.S. within a week or so of the beginning of the COVID situation.  The boy I sponsor lives in Cúcuta, which is in the north of Colombia on the Venezuelan border.  I spent a day with him and his mom, and got to visit his home and the other organization's center.  We had a great day and there was lots of emotion when it was time to say goodbye.  I spent the remainder of that week in Cartagena, which is a beautiful city with lots of colonial history.  I definitely recommend a couple days there if it works with your itinerary.