The Value of a Letter

Pierre Faye - Posted on June 1, 2009

Ngor Ndeb and Ngor Mack are twins and both sponsored. It’s an amazing experience they are living since they were enrolled in the sponsorship program. This opportunity to have friends from abroad is so exciting for them. Anytime they see Gilbert, the sponsorship coordinator for their neighbourhood, they expect to have a fun time of interaction with him.

When the 7-year-old twins see Gilbert coming, they beam with joy. Ngor Ndeb runs up at him, grasps his hand and asks if she has him if he has any letters for them.

He tells them no. “I [am] just passing to see how you are doing as I did not see [you] for awhile,” says Gilbert.

“We are doing well, we play Football. Can you be our coach?” inquires Ngor Mack, with a piercing expression.

The soccer field is just on the right of the well, where the women come to fetch water. In the afternoons, from around 5:00 p.m. until twilight, they like playing soccer. Sometime they play until they can’t see the ball to kick it.

Since they know they have sponsors and friends in the United States, anytime they see Gilbert they want to know more about the United States and get news about their sponsors.

Judy Kuljis and Roger Landberg are the names of their sponsors.

“Children expect to have letters. It makes them feel close to their sponsors. They are far away from their sponsors, but the letters bridges the gap of distance,” says Gilbert.

On this football field, you see dribbles worthy of a professional soccer player. Smart players, like these twins, expect when they grow up to be professional players. But, most of the time they have to overcome hindrances, such as the lack of a safe soccer field, footwear and shoes.

“I like, when I grow up, to be like Drogba, [an African soccer player who is with Chelsea, in England], says one of the twins.

The kids would like to know through the letters of their sponsors more about American soccer.

Gilbert is more than a child supervisor; he is also a coach and caring friend whose company arouses sympathy and admiration among the children.

When he was about to leave, Ngor Ndeb and Ngor Mack reminded to him that they want to hear often about their sponsors. Every day they think about their sponsors and they pray that God will bless them.

“Tell to my sponsor to write to me. I want to hear more about his country,” says Ngor Mack. As always, Gilbert, with a broad smile leaved the boys at twilight to go home. They have a caring friend whose dedication is praised by the whole community.

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