A Surprise From Basomingera!

Last Monday, I was delighted to receive the most amazing letter from my Basomingera Ada! I’ve been Ada’s correspondent for eight months, and in all that time, I’ve only received one impersonal letter written by project staff on her behalf. So when I got this letter, I was thrilled half to death! She answers some of my questions and responds to several things I had said to her in previous letters. And there was also something very special about this letter!

See the Winnie-the-Pooh and Little Pony stickers? Those are stickers that I had sent to her back in June! I still have a hard time believing that Ada took two of her precious stickers and shared them with me! From Canada to Rwanda and back to Canada… these stickers have had quite a journey!

And here’s the adorable letter she wrote:

Dear Hannah,

I greet you in Jesus’ name. May God’s peace and blessings be upon you. I am doing well at school and I am doing the end of year exams now. I will be in grade 4 next year 2014. I have my best friends, we share food and play different games together. My best friend is Sandrine. (I had asked her about her friends) My family is doing well. I miss you, I love you and I keep you in my prayers. May God bless you. Read Philemon 4-7 and Psalm 23.

I thank you for your previous letter you wrote to me and many more other letters you keep sending me and tell me that Jesus is a friend who can never forsake me. (In response to a letter about Jesus being a Friend of children) My greetings to Pastor Jesse who teaches and explains well. (In response to a letter about my pastor, who ran in a triathlon. I said that he tells people about Jesus and explains things so they are easy to understand) I thank you for the nice pictures. Please continue writing to me. (Always, my sweet girl, always!)

I can’t wait to pass on Ada’s greetings to my pastor; I think he will be excited that a little girl halfway around the world sends her greetings to him!

I can just picture her playing with her best friend Sandrine, playing together and maybe eating at each other’s houses! The next time I write to Ada, I’ll be sure to include a little something for Sandrine and ask if she attends the project with Ada.

Of course, my favorite part of the letter is when she mentions Jesus being a friend who cannot forsake her. If I never got another letter besides this one, I would content knowing my sweet girl got my letter about Jesus (I think, the most important letter I sent her) and that she understands that He will never forsake her. The most important thing to me is that all of my children know Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him. That way, I know for sure that I will see them all in Heaven one day!

Of course, the part, “I miss you, I love you and I keep you in my prayers,” is just too beautiful as well. This is the second letter from Ada, and both letters said, “I miss you,” even though I’ve never met her!

Oh, and the two verses she included are Philemon 4-7, which says “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” And of course, the 23^rd Psalm (the Shepherd Psalm) which most people are familiar with.

How I love my beautiful girl!