Writing to a special friend, my sponsor, on International Friendship Day

Dear friends: Ronda and Scott,

How have you been? I Hope so much my letter finds you well! 

As International Friendship Day approaches, through this letter, I want to wish you a happy Friendship Day!

Right now, I am sitting outside my house trying to remember our long time of friendship, which started four years ago.  I confess that I never thought both of you would become the most important people and friends to me, and I never thought I could have a foreign sponsor like you would care about me in a way that nobody else does.

I am thinking of our first correspondence letters thorough the sponsorship programme of World Vision. To date, I have received 17 letters from you -- all wonderful ones. Your encouraging words and so, so much care you have poured out into my life have helped me change and turn into a better person, the person I am now. A real friend is someone who is always ready to reach out a hand when you are in need and you have been here for me in every moment, even when I was in need of advice, encouraging words and for someone to believe in me. 

You have said to me, since the beginning, that I am a special child and I can reach to make my dreams come true, and be the person I long to be. Now, thanks to your encouraging words, I am a respectful person, a good student and I am still working to be a better and better one. I want to write this down for you to know, so that you can always remember it because it is in large part because of you.

Who would think that we could be such good friends together one day? You are so far away, in the United States and I am here in Albania. How strange the world is! How can three people be such close friends despite the distance? This is strange and amazing too!

Dear sponsor, in my whole life I have made lots of friends and I am still making new ones.  Friends are very important to human beings, are they not? Here, in Vlora, we have an expression for those who have many friends. We say, “A good person has lots of friends”.

Each one of my friends has and important place in my heart. You, my sponsors and dearest friends, have your part. Our friendship has always been sincere and wonderful. I have engraved your names and what you have done for me deep in my heart-- so deep, I can never forget you.  Never!

I have not had the chance to meet you in person, but through the letters we have written and the photos, I think I know you well.  Your letters are filled with sincere love, energy and positivism. In every line, I see that you want to pass this energy even to me. I admire your good will and heart to help me and I am so glad you are part of my life.

You made me see my life in a different way, to see even the bright side.  I do not find something to compare and measure how important you are in my life.  But, if I would try to find something I would chose to compare our friendship with the sky because the sky is: unlimited, it is beautiful, it is blue, and it gives us a sort of peace when we look upon it.  

I find peace every time I read your letters or receive new ones from you. You taught me how to see the light, even in the small and tiny things and to value things by not judging them from their appearance. This, I will remember always.

I want to close my letter wishing you a happy International Day of Friendship! I wish you as much love and care, as I have found in you. I want you know that I feel privileged and blessed to have you in my life.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Sincerely,

Your sponsor child

Arsena