From a participant in Iraq to her sponsor

March 19, 2004
Dear friend Theresa:

God blessing and peace be upon you…

Allow me to call you my friend in spite of this is the first time I write to you, but I hope this letter will be the first step in the way of our friendship.

My name is Najla. I am 44 years old with 5 sons and a daughter. We live in a small house that consists of 3 rooms and a small kitchen. We have a big cage fill of beautiful love birds which my son raises. We like them very much and take care of them. We like to look at them and enjoy their flying and chirp, but in spite of that I have a very little time to sit with my sons and enjoy in looking at them because I am impelled to work for a long time to maintain myself and my sons. The rest times are very little, but in spite of that, I feel happy and satisfied with my life because any human being may face hard situations during his life and when he is patient and satisfied and cling to wisdom and hope, he will be happy and satisfied with is life. I also have the most precious thing in the world, I have my sons whom I consider the hope of my life and when they will achieve what they dream of in future, then I will achieve what I want in life.

I would like to tell you something about my country because I am semi-certain that you heard and saw a lot about my country. You must heard and knew a lot about the pains and killing and terrorism that we faced and still face it. I would like to tell you that we are magnificent people and in spite of all pains that we faced, we still feel the hope and confidence that we will see better future and we are working for that but we must be patient a little, must we?

I tried to give you a brief about my life and I will tell you more in the future, if God wills. I wish you tell me something about your life and work and sons (I do not know whether you have sons or not, but I wish you are a mother like me and have sons because sons are great gift that we have to thank God for it.) I wish also to tell me about your ambitions in life and also about things that you like to do and I will tell you about mine in future, if God wills. Please do not be late in your answer because I miss your letter from now.

Your friend,
Najla

From a participant in Nigeria to her sponsor

June 3, 2004
Dear Parish,

I’m writing this letter with great pleasure. How are you doing with your family? I believe every one of you is doing fine.

Things have been moving well for me all this while, the programme has created a lot to my happiness. Through the help of the school, I’m now able to manage my trade with more knowledge and skill. With this programme, I’ve become an outstanding woman in the community with the other women looking into me for help in their trade which I gladly do. If not for your encouragement and the programme, it could have not be so. Once again I’m saying thanks for organizing such a programme and may the lord bless you and strengthen you in order for you to help other women.

From your letter you said you had a holiday on May 9 to celebrate the Mother’s Day, it was same here in Nigeria. It was a splendid day for me. I believe yours was a nice day because you deserve such honour. I’m sending my hearty congratulations to you.

Here in Nigeria, we are experiencing the rainy season of the year when farmers will have to plant their crops, fruits will be in season. After this rainy season, we will then come to the extremely cold season of the year which is normally towards the end of the year.

Enclosed in this letter is the picture of my family. The names of the children will be arranged from the eldest to the youngest: Peter, Rutt, Dorcas, Yusuf, Eli and Isaac. Actually, you have done a lot in my life which I cannot in a hast forget, you have made me seen light where there is darkness, you have created hope in me where every thing seems hopeless. To crown it all, you are wonderful!

My sincere regards are to be extended to your family and friends over there. Remain blessed.

With love,
Veronica