We are what we are today because of our sponsor’s support

“Nothing in my family was going well. I was not adequately feeding my children. There was no time that I didn’t receive food support during drought time. The old hut that we were living in was leaking badly. My children had to suffer from the rain in the rainy season and were chilly,” recalls Mola Mochona, a 35-year-old father. 

Mola has eight children. He fed his family with the little harvest that he collected from the half a hectares of land he farmed. That harvest couldn’t last long more than three to four months. Life after consuming the little harvest was very hard. He and his wife had to run here and there to search for a daily labour. Despite their commitment to feed their family, daily labour was inaccessible in their area.

“We are far from town. We had to walk two hours back and forth to search for pieces of labour. Sometimes we got a job sometimes we didn’t. When we got a job, we returned with some bread for our children, if not we were back barehanded. Our children had to sleep without eating their dinner,” Mola sadly recalls.

Mola’s mind and soul were restless. He didn’t sleep well. “I was always thinking of what and how could I feed my children. Nights were longer and heavier for me. I couldn’t sleep well. People were reading my worries from my face and advising me not to fret but I couldn’t manage my worries,” Mola miserably recalls.

While Mola and his family were in unending turmoil, his daughter’s sponsor sent them a gift notification (GN). “I couldn’t believe my ears when World Vision’s community worker told me that Birtukan’s sponsor sent GN. The money reached us at our critical time. We thanked God so much and prayed for Birtukan’s sponsor for blessing,” he happily recalls.

The gift notification supported the purchase of a milk cow and two goats. The cow provided milk and the goats multiplied. His leaking old hut was renovated and a new house built for the family as the existing house was too small to accommodate the family. Similarly, the family’s food and clothing needs were also addressed. As well, Mola’s farming practices were improved. In the past, Mola was using unimproved seeds without fertilizer and, as a result, his harvest was very low. Aiming to increase his productivity, Mola was given improved seeds and fertiliser.

Mola’s life has greatly improved via the gift notification support. His children are drinking milk. They generate income selling the by-products of the milk. Whenever they face financial constraint, they sell one of the goats and solve their problem. His children are no longer soaked by rain during the rainy season due to leakages in their roof of the house. Owing to the provision of improved seeds and fertilisers, his production has increased four to five folds. He has now bought a plowing ox.

“My everyday worries like what to feed and clothe, house leakages, plowing ox problems have gone. My house is full. My children have something to eat and be clothed. I and my family are now living a steady life. My mind and body are now at rest. My daughter’s sponsor has done this. God almighty bless her now and then,” he cheerfully explains.

This life changing support from the sponsor has created a deep respect and love from the entire family. “We love her so much. Our sponsor is our angel. We are what we are today because of her unreserved support. We always say a word of prayer for her so that God blesses her 100 folds with health, prosperity and peace,” Mola joyfully explains.

Birtukan receives four letters a year from her sponsor. In case her sponsor’s letter delays for a while, she and her family feel worried. “I like my sponsor like my mother. It is through her unreserved support that I and my siblings are attending school today. I like her advice so much,” Birtukan explains.