Every once in a while, I have a very special day.
The most recent one happened on Wednesday. As I was leaving for work, I found quite a pile of mail waiting for me at the top of the stairs. Amongst the pile of bills and flyers was a plain white envelope with the Watoto logo on it. It was a new letter from Bridget!
Bridget Nassali came into my life about three and a half years ago. At the time, she and her younger sister had been placed in one of the Watoto villages. Both of Bridget's parents had passed away and her caregiver had become too sick to look after her and her sister. Bridgets' official Watoto profile I received when I started to sponsor her stated that "a good samaritan" had brought them to Watoto. Now Bridget lives with her sister and six other Watoto siblings in a home on a beautiful hillside outside of Kampala, Uganda.
I have received several letters over the years. She tells me of school, home, and friends. She often writes about her thankfulness for what she has and her desire to love others. Her interests have shifted over time from playing with dolls and skipping to leading groups of small children, learning about photography and working hard during her first year of senior school. I can't help but smile when I think about the wonderful future she has ahead of her.
Last year, my friends Tracy and Bel went to Uganda to work with a team and build a home in one of the Watoto villages. I sent along with them a few things for Bridget and the hope that out of 1700 children, they would be able to find my special friend. One Sunday after church, the team was taken to the Watoto village where Bridget lives to visit one of the homes and share a meal with one of the families. My good friends immediately went to work trying to see if anyone knew Bridget. Tracy began chatting with a little boy who said that he knew Bridget. Tracy continued to ask questions to see if it was "the right" Bridget. It turned out that she lived in the house next door! Even more amazing was the fact that as everyone was enjoying the meal together, Bridget came to the door!!! My friends only spent and hour and a half in that village of 800 children and in that time Bridget came to the very spot my friends were. It was a special meeting. Bel and Tracy spent time talking to Bridget, saw where she lived, took a video and pictures and gave her the letters and pictures I had written and lots of hugs. (I love telling this story)
From time to time I still pull out the letter she wrote to me after meeting Bel and Tracy. A couple of days after meeting Bridget, the team made an unscheduled stop at the school Bridget attended. The teacher had asked a few students to meet the bus and accept some gifts that the team wanted to leave for them. Wouldn't you know it? As Tracy stepped off the bus, she came face to face with Bridget. Bridget asked to run back to the classroom and soon returned with a five page letter she asked Bel and Tracy to bring home for me. In it she wrote that she was praying that I would have the opportunity to come and meet her someday. Now that is going to happen. As I have been going through the process of making arrangements to go on this journey to Uganda, I have also been making arrangements with the Watoto office so that I will be able to visit with Bridget myself when I go. I'm soooooo excited! I have written her more than one letter since the new year telling her how much I'm looking forward to meeting her....all of which I mailed off in a package recently after I received confirmation that the trip was a go.
I just wanted you to know about this amazing young girl in my life. You can rest assured that if you ask me about her, I'll start going on like a proud auntie (and probably offer to show off pictures and share her letters if you are willing.... :-)
46 more sleeps!!
The most recent one happened on Wednesday. As I was leaving for work, I found quite a pile of mail waiting for me at the top of the stairs. Amongst the pile of bills and flyers was a plain white envelope with the Watoto logo on it. It was a new letter from Bridget!
Bridget Nassali came into my life about three and a half years ago. At the time, she and her younger sister had been placed in one of the Watoto villages. Both of Bridget's parents had passed away and her caregiver had become too sick to look after her and her sister. Bridgets' official Watoto profile I received when I started to sponsor her stated that "a good samaritan" had brought them to Watoto. Now Bridget lives with her sister and six other Watoto siblings in a home on a beautiful hillside outside of Kampala, Uganda.
I have received several letters over the years. She tells me of school, home, and friends. She often writes about her thankfulness for what she has and her desire to love others. Her interests have shifted over time from playing with dolls and skipping to leading groups of small children, learning about photography and working hard during her first year of senior school. I can't help but smile when I think about the wonderful future she has ahead of her.
Last year, my friends Tracy and Bel went to Uganda to work with a team and build a home in one of the Watoto villages. I sent along with them a few things for Bridget and the hope that out of 1700 children, they would be able to find my special friend. One Sunday after church, the team was taken to the Watoto village where Bridget lives to visit one of the homes and share a meal with one of the families. My good friends immediately went to work trying to see if anyone knew Bridget. Tracy began chatting with a little boy who said that he knew Bridget. Tracy continued to ask questions to see if it was "the right" Bridget. It turned out that she lived in the house next door! Even more amazing was the fact that as everyone was enjoying the meal together, Bridget came to the door!!! My friends only spent and hour and a half in that village of 800 children and in that time Bridget came to the very spot my friends were. It was a special meeting. Bel and Tracy spent time talking to Bridget, saw where she lived, took a video and pictures and gave her the letters and pictures I had written and lots of hugs. (I love telling this story)
From time to time I still pull out the letter she wrote to me after meeting Bel and Tracy. A couple of days after meeting Bridget, the team made an unscheduled stop at the school Bridget attended. The teacher had asked a few students to meet the bus and accept some gifts that the team wanted to leave for them. Wouldn't you know it? As Tracy stepped off the bus, she came face to face with Bridget. Bridget asked to run back to the classroom and soon returned with a five page letter she asked Bel and Tracy to bring home for me. In it she wrote that she was praying that I would have the opportunity to come and meet her someday. Now that is going to happen. As I have been going through the process of making arrangements to go on this journey to Uganda, I have also been making arrangements with the Watoto office so that I will be able to visit with Bridget myself when I go. I'm soooooo excited! I have written her more than one letter since the new year telling her how much I'm looking forward to meeting her....all of which I mailed off in a package recently after I received confirmation that the trip was a go.
I just wanted you to know about this amazing young girl in my life. You can rest assured that if you ask me about her, I'll start going on like a proud auntie (and probably offer to show off pictures and share her letters if you are willing.... :-)
46 more sleeps!!
1 comment:
shannon-
what an awesome story! thanx for sharing. i have links to my friends blogs on mine, would you mind if i put yours as a link from it? have a great day!
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