Letters from some Kham Aid kids

Dear Sponsors [names deleted], who I miss,

Hello!

I will use my pen to wish you both Success at Work, and Joy in Your Family. Best of Luck! Tashi Delek!

Today I am so happy to have received the letter and photo(s) from my faraway uncle and aunt. I don’t which words to use to express my excitement. Thank-you for the letter and photo(s), I will remember you forever. I think today is the happiest day I have ever experienced, because I saw a photo of my faraway father and mother, with such a smile and so much beauty. You two are my parents. I will always remember that I have faraway parents. They support me, and make me feel like there is love all over the world. Although you are in distant Beijing, it is the same as having you at my side, accompanying me. Seeing your happy smiles in the photo, I really wish I had wings to fly to your side and hug you, and personally say “thank-you” to you. Although it is such a simple word, it contains my heartfelt emotions. I feel so proud that I have such great parents. Oh, by the way, I really like your family’s “Tigger”! She’s so cute! I like her so much. The three years are nearly over and we are about to take our graduation exams. In one week we will have our senior high school entrance exams. I really hope that I can go to senior high school after I graduate, but I’m afraid my parents are unable to pay for my school fees. Therefore, I am often sad, because I have always wanted to become a useful person for society. I don’t want to be illiterate. Although at present I can’t speak English, but I will keep on improving. Please forgive me. I am writing this letter in Chinese. The second letter is written in English. I am afraid there may be some things in English that are not written clearly, so that’s why this letter is in Chinese. Please forgive me!

I wish my uncle and aunt: Best of Luck with Everything!

Student: Mu Mu (Dawu Junior Middle School)

27 May 2004

To sponsor a child, please go to the sponsorship form.

Dear Sponsor [name deleted],

Hello! Firstly, I’d like to wish all of you and your “baby” good health and luck. One year has passed. I am another year older, and have matured some more. When Dana Isherwood saw us, she said that we had grown lots. In ten days, I will have finished my Junior Middle School education. I hope, and I believe, that I will receive satisfactory results. I hope that the smile on my face will resemble that of a farmer in autumn, because he has reaped the harvest. I hope I will be like that too, and that I can pass on to you the joy that I have reaped. I would be so happy, because I would have lived up to your heartfelt expectations. I hope these wishes in my heart will come true!

Some time ago, you set free a dove of hope. You let a dove that was facing death, return to nature. It soared freely in the sky, just like the other doves. Thank-you for giving me the opportunity to return to school. To continue studying with my classmates at a school full of warmth and fragrance. In the small amount of time I have, no matter what happens, no matter what difficulties I may meet, I will conquer my studies. I will study diligently and conscientiously, and will repay you with my good grades.

These days, my family is quite harmonious. However, I watch my grandmother’s teeth fall out, one by one. I watch the number of grey hairs on my parents’ heads increase, strand by strand. I watch them, sustaining this family, growing older, day by day. I watch them working their hearts out for us. Sometimes as I watch them, I sit quietly in the corner and let the tears run down my cheeks. Luckily for me, I have your sponsorship, which eases the burden on my family. Thank you so very, very much. Thank-you for sponsoring me. I will study extra hard.

At present, I’m studying in the new classroom and am also using the newly purchased laboratory equipment. I have good relations with my teachers and classmates. I am living very happily here. I don’t want you to worry about me. I will study very hard in order to repay you.

I wish you and your baby: Happiness and Joy

Best of Luck

Sponsored student: Your Yan Ying (Dawu Junior Middle School)

My Uncle [name deleted] whom I miss every minute and every moment:

Wish you are happy upon seeing this letter!

First, I picked up my pen, thinking about Uncle: you being so far away, how is your health recently? You don't have any sickness, do you? Is work tiring? Is everything as you wish?

Now I will let uncle know everything about my situation here. Uncle, since the good news from you reached me that I could finally continue to study, I'm very good here, just I miss you very much. Uncle, if I was without your sponsorship, I could never have entered my previous school, neither could I continue to study. Because you probably know the situation of my family already.

Uncle, I miss you so much, really. I also want to tell Uncle a piece of news. Uncle, since I enter high school, my study has improved! I will study hard to get to a higher level, to make Uncle happy. Now, I really don't know how to thank you, Uncle, I don't know how to repay you.

Uncle, it's Nov 15th today. Our Aunt Luo came to see us. I'm very happy, so happy that I didn't have any tears. I'm a little sad, because Uncle didn't come. The more I see Aunt Luo, the more I miss Uncle, then my tears wouldn't stop. I asked Aunt Luo about Uncle. Auntt Luo said Uncle is good. She also said Uncle is studying the Chinese language. I'm very happy. I believe my Uncle can study it very well.

Here I quietly pray for Uncle (name deleted), that I can communicate with Uncle in Chinese. Uncle, I miss you so much! What do you say? Do you think we can meet again in the future? Now what upsets me is that I can't see Uncle, because Uncle is in a place very far, far away. Therefore, I can't meet with Uncle. I hope I can meet with Uncle once.

Moreover, Uncle, you don't have to worry about me. Everything about this school is very good. Teachers also give us great care. I'm in No. 2 class of the first grade of senior high school, which is the Tibetan class. Being a Tibetan, I think I must learn Tibetan, right? There are 42 students in my class, each of them is very good.

Uncle, because of my limited time, I will stop here. Talk more next time.

I'm sorry, Uncle, I didn't write very well.

At last, wish Uncle are happy everyday! Work goes smoothly! Everything goes as you wish! And wish your parents are happy!

Miss me much!

I love you,

I miss you!

Your sponsored student: Ge Rong Zhi Ma (Batang Senior Middle School)

Nov 15th, 2004