A Very Special Letter From Florenc

Awhile back, I wrote each of my sponsored kiddos asking them to send family photos, if they had them, and would be willing to part with them. I honestly didn't think I would get anything in return because most poor families either can't afford to get photos taken or if they have a few, they are prized possesions that the family won't give up.

When I opened the envelope from Albania yesterday, I saw a little hint of of a photo. They were real photos! Not even printed out on paper! I literally screamed a little bit in my apartment. If my neighbors didn't think I was odd before...they do now. Anyway, here are the pictures Florenc sent to me.

Florenc is the young man on the far left. In this picture with him is his baby cousin, his father, and his younger brother. Look how happy they all look! And the way dad is helping Florenc hold the baby shows how gentle and caring he is.

Florenc's brother, father, and mother. Check out mama's pink shades!

These wonderful pictures also came with a heartfelt letter. So much love comes from this 12 year old boy.

Hi my dear friend Kayla,

I received your letter and your pictures well.

I was so happy to hear from you and to hear that you are fine and have an amazing family. I like the pictures very much and you looked very beautiful. This is Florenci writing to you. I am doing fine.

I got to school everyday and I am on the 7th grade. I am doing fine with my lesson. I live with my parents and my brother. My father is doing well and he is a farmer. He works everyday with farming and he is doing fine. My mother is sick because of the kidneys. She is not feeling very well. My brother is doing fine. Hhe goes to the fifth grade. He is doing fine at school.

I have a great desire to go to the university and to have very high results.

I live in a very beautiful village and there is lots of greeness here where we live. We have many different and beautiful colors. There is warm weather here and we have started to plant different plants here. I am sending you two pictures and in one of them, I am with my brother, my father, and my little cousin. In the other one, there are my parents and my brother.

I would like to thank you for being my friend and I consider you as a member of my family.

Lots of honor and respect from your friend Florenci and family.

I love how excited Florenc is about his education! I hope that I can encourage him in his studies so he continues to work towards his goal of going to college.