44. Send a letter with pictures and/or presents to my Foster child

So why exactly did it take me years and years to write a letter to my foster brother in Ecuador? I don't have a clue. It has just been a matter of postponing every time, while the actual writing took me about half an hour all together. In the eight years that I'm sponsoring Cristián in the Manabi district, this is the second letter I have sent him. And it took me all those years to enclose a picture of myself, while I knew he and his family would really appreciate that gesture. I feel ashamed of myself. Here I am preaching about loving and caring for other people, while I let them down.

Well, somehow I found some long-needed courage yesterday and the letter is on its way now. At the same time, I read there have been huge flooding problems in the Manabi district and in other parts of Ecuador. People are struggling and it makes me hurt more. But lining up the yearly pictures of Cristián and seeing him grow (he should be around 15 years old by now) also put a smile on my face. I might be able to make a difference in this boy's life, albeit a small one.

2. Cook a 'good' meal once a month

'Better late than never' also goes for updates, right?

I've been cooking here and there, but not everything counts as healthy and/or three-course. But at Christmas, I really tried my best to cook up something nice for my parents and myself. The menu:

• A salad of smoked salmon, rucola, olive oil and pine kernels


• Oven-roasted chicken legs with sea salt and thyme, served with roasted chopped potatoes with rosemary and sea salt and stir-fried vegetables


• Fresh fruits dipped in hot chocolate sauce