My name is Mwamba Mulenga. I am a double orphaned boy.
This is how a letter began in a recent update from our ministry partners, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi. Cross Catholic helps the sisters run five free Catholic primary schools that serve severely impoverished children in Luanshya, Zambia, a destitute region decimated by the decline of the copper mining industry and the AIDS epidemic.
Every day I have the privilege to read reports like this one, that detail the many ways Cross Catholic is making a difference around the world. But sometimes a story finds a special place in my heart.
I hope you are as blessed as I was when you read Mwamba’s letter of hope, faith and sincere thankfulness to our generous benefactors:
My name is Mwamba Mulenga. I am a double orphaned boy. My parents died when I was very young. My life changed when my parents died. My younger brother and I had no hope of surviving because we didn’t know most of our relatives. Now we live with our handicapped uncle. He works very hard to give us food, but my uncle can’t manage to care for us. I had to quit school and work to help put food on the table.
Life was very hard. But one day the Lord answered my prayers through a Franciscan Sister who was visiting our area. She found me selling vegetables and asked me where I live and if I wanted to go back to school. I told her that school is my life—with an education I will become a future leader. The sister helped me and now I am in grade 6. I am very happy. My younger brother is also at my school.
I want to thank the good people who gave me and other children hope and faith to carry on. May the almighty God bless Cross International Catholic Outreach for the wonderful works they give to the poor, because many lives have been changed because of you. Thank you!
-Annie W.