Meeting someone for the first time can be a little nerve-wracking. Even though sponsors and children write letters to one another, meeting for the first time can still be stressful. Erica Larson, like many Compassion sponsors, was nervous about that first meeting.  

"The thing that surprised me the most was how we connected," Erica said about that first meeting with Tewarit Jankaew, her sponsored child. "I just kept tickling him at first to break the ice a little bit, and then he just kind of warmed right up to me. Before long he was holding my hand, giving me a hug, and that kind of stuff, so I was surprised that we connected so well. 

"I was so excited. It was just a great day and his mom was with us. I was so glad to meet her and I think three times during the day she thanked me. She also said that if it wasn't for me, she would not have seen the zoo. She was excited to be there. I just felt it was such a great day to be together.

"His mother was very thankful, and she thanked me for being such a good sponsor. I feel that I was very blessed that I got to meet them."   

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