a letter from Africa

“We try and make the world safe, knowing that the world will never be safe as long as millions live in poverty so a few can live as they wish.” Shane Claiborne

At the end of last year, I sent my sponsored children family gifts. These are monetary gifts of between $25 to $300 dollars per year used to help the sponsored child, in this case, Stela, and her family. Often these gifts are used to buy items such as new beds, livestock and food supplies. When the money is received, social workers at the center help them purchase items locally, also helping the economy.I received a letter and drawing this week written after Stela received this gift and shared it with her brother, mother and father. This letter is over a month ago when Stela received the family gift. Time is different when communicating with Stela. I can instantly email her, I also hand write letters and send pictures and stickers or other flat gifts such as coloring pages to her. Letters from Stela are between 6 and 8 months apart due to customs, translations and basic letter travel. I’ve come to cherish these small glimpse into Stela’s world. A world with no internet café’s, cement sidewalks or box stores.This letter was translated by one of the social workers at the KMT Kigurunyembe Student Center in Tanzania.

Dear Deana Hartman,

Receive much greetings from Stela. She says she hopes that you are fine. She is also fine. She says, she thanks you so much for the nice family gift which you sent her.

She says, she was able to buy a mattress, mosquito net, a pillow, rice, sugar, soap for washing and for bathing, a dress, blouse soda and water.

She says, she thanks you so much because she will now sleep in a good place and she will not get troubles with mosquitoes. She also thanks you for the nice letter and many stickers which you sent to her. She says, may God bless you for everything and may He give you good health always together with your family. She says, she wishes you a wonderful journey to visit your parents. She bids you goodbye for today and she hopes that one day you will see each other.

She asks you to receive her drawing she drew for you.

Your beloved,
Stela

For a couple less movies and dinners out, Stela was provided with much needed mosquito protection, a bed to sleep on, food stuffs, washing soap and clothes. Basics for a child seems a very good trade for entertainment spending money. And in the end, both Stela and I we were blessed

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 2 Corinthians 9 11-12

Thankful for letters from Africa, wondering if I will really meet Stela one day.