To Our Donors…Annette Arnold — Mount Forest, ON
Six thousand pairs of eyes said it all. Some so shy, some bright and shining, some with tears, some not daring to look at us, some glued to us, and many not wanting to leave the warmth of our hands. Each day two Canadians had the distinct pleasure of telling them of your heartfelt generosity. Many children were speechless and some left us speechless as they chose to kneel or genuflect before us, making us feel so unworthy of their actions, but so honoured by them too. As each child came to receive their gift we would both hold their hands and in unison we would say “This gift is for you … with love, from Canada.”
They gave thanks in their own little ways: some nodding, some with very hesitant English saying “Sank you,” some more sure of themselves saying “Thank you,” and others using their own language “Webale” (Thank You) and yet others going one step further and saying “Webale Nyo” (Thank you very much). Still others were totally speechless, but their eyes without exception gave their gratitude away. There were a few special children who will always stand out in my mind: a beautiful young girl who said, “Tell them I love them too,” with such sincerity that it made my heart skip a beat, and the young boy who just stood there and kept saying “God Bless you! God Bless you!” with both of us locked in a trance until they at last moved him on. Such gratitude is rare and I hope that somehow I have told it so that you feel it too, because it is your generosity that has given us such pleasure. How I wish you could have accompanied us as we left the distributions to see children walking happily with their guardians, with bedkits and mattresses on their heads, on bikes and motorcycles, but most of the time on foot. They came from near and far and we saw some of them walking up the mountains — way high up — and we were certain that their faces still had that beautiful happy smile and their eyes were still shining knowing that someone so far away cared so much for them.
I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to you for the love and generosity you have shown these beautiful children who live in a land of such incredible abundance — there is nothing they cannot grow here — yet malnutrition is no stranger to them. We were told by many who work closely with these beautiful young people that the gift you have given them today makes an incredible impact on their young lives – not only today, but for years to come. May you rest peacefully knowing that your gift to them is at work. |
