Recently, Cross Catholic Outreach received a letter that touched my heart. It was written by 12-year-old Chama Mofya, who attends a Catholic school we partner with in the Luanshya area of Zambia, run by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi. With help from Cross Catholic, the sisters offer free quality education to 1,000 other poor children like Chama in central Zambia. But don’t let me tell you Chama’s story, he tells it much better himself. Here’s what he wrote:
My name is Chama Mofya. I am 12 years old doing grade 4 at Buntungwa Community School.
After the death of my parents, my grandparents took me and that is how I found myself in Luanshya.
My grandparents are very old, and I used to go and beg for food from our neighbors. Life for me was very difficult as I didn’t have a chance to go to school because there was no one in the family who was ready to care for me or pay for my education. So somebody told my grandmother about Buntungwa Community School run by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi. They accepted me in the school without paying anything, and that is how I started my education.
My life after starting school has changed a lot. I go to school every day, and I am very happy because a lot of children in my community with similar backgrounds also go to school. May God bless the great works Cross Catholic Outreach does. Without this organization, a lot of children would still be very miserable and back on the streets.
I have changed a lot. I know how to read and write. At school they teach us to respect elders and love one another. When I finish school, I want to become a Catholic priest.
Lastly, I thank the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi for the love and support they show to the orphans and the needy in our community.
May God bless you all.
-Catherine M.
