Godparents tell

«As I knew that my godboy Matías lived in Bogota, I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to meet him personally. At the beginning of the year I travelled to Columbia. The director of ‹Fundación Apoyar› gave me a warm welcome. He introduced me to Matías’ reference person. Each sponsored child is assigned its own reference person who regularly visits the child and its family. Together we went to the apartment house where Matías and Clara, his grandmother, live in just one single room. The boy’s parents had separated what was mentally troubling the mother. Since then there has been no contact between father and son who is brought up by his grandmother. When we arrived and I got out of the car Matías ran towards me and gave me a long and warm hug. We hit it off right away. The grandmother offered us a fine cup of coffee and showed us her room. It was part of a larger apartment being inhabited by other families. The old rooms are partly infested by mold. Meeting Matías was for me a great enrichment. It was rewarding to see that even with a small contribution one can help a child.»

«Thanks to the kind mediation of Children’s Care Emmaus, in spring we had the opportunity to visit in India  our 14 years old godgirl Blessy. With mixed feelings we travelled from Mumbay to Belgaum, a commercial and industrial city in the state of Karnataka. When our aircraft landed at the small airport, Blessy and her siblings as well as the caring pastor Cyril F. were already waiting for us. We were allowed to visit Blessy’s family in their modest apartment. The familiy of five lives in two small rooms and shares the few sleeping places. All children attend school or a boarding school. The mother cares for the household and works as a nurse assistant in a hospital. The father a former alcoholic little contributes to the family’s upkeep. The children accompanied us on all our trips. We had been deeply touched by their frugality, their contentment and above all their irrepressable happiness. Our trip to the Indian continent has given us an insight into lives of underprivileged people. This valuable experience proves that with the right attitude towards life it does not take much to be satisfied. A good chance to reflect once again about our own lives.»

«For about 30 years I support godchildren of Children’s Care Emmaus. When I was still a high school student I ‹shared› a child with a girlfriend because then we did not have much money. In the meantime I have sponsored many children from various countries. At present Luis Miguel U. in Santa Rosa de Cabal (Columbia) is my godchild. In spring this year when I was planning my second trip to Columbia, I asked myself why not include a visit to him? However, along the way I had doubts about visiting my godchild. My interest in the life of Luis Miguel and his family is genuine, yet, I did not want to produce myself as a ‹rich aunt› from Switzerland. However, when I met him, his mother and his coach, my doubts vanished. The 12 years old boy is of a quiet but bright nature and is fond of playing football. As he is a diligent pupil he already attends the 9^th grade. Later he would like to study languages. Luis Miguel lives in a village, and it takes him an hour to get to school. His parents have a 9-years-old daughter and a 2-years-old son. It was a friendly encounter. I had the feeling that Luis Miguel found it exciting to get to know his godmother coming from so far away. If ever I should be in Columbia, he would like to see me again. I would definitely visit him.»

«My wife and I, our three children and our five grandchildren make music. Some classic, others rocking. The youngest girl at the age of one and a half already sings the first melodies. This year I could celebrate my 70^th birthday. As on other milestone birthdays we organized a performance of a concert to which we invited friends and relatives and in which I played the double bass. On 28^th August we performed – five amateurs of the Thun city orchestra and three professional musicians – Franz Schuber’s little-known octet in the parish hall of the evangelical church in Ostermundigen. The performance lasted an hour without a break. There were 140 guests. The concert was a great success. The collection resulted in proceeds of CHF 2300.00 for Children’s Care Emmaus and CHF 1700.00 for Swiss Solidarity!»

«In February I had the opportunity to visit three of my godchildren in India. In the Relief Organization ‹Our Lady of Providence› in Calcutta I was hospitably received by sister Celine Y. who runs a school with 700 girls. The little Munni, my goddaughter, sang and danced for me. She proudly showed me her certificate. The building is simply and functionally furnished, everything is clean and well-kept. In Chennai I met Rev. John B., head of the Parish Charity ‹Queenship of Mary Church›. We drove through a wide plain with rice fields to my godson Bharath. The family with four children lives in a house consisting of just one room. They sleep outside under a canopy. Bharath is intelligent and goes to college so that later he can support his family. Then we continued our trip to the family of my goddaughter Jebamalaimary. They live in a low, thatched hut. The father has leprosy and is unable to work. In the evening we paid a visit to Jebamalaimary in the hospital where she is trained as a nurse. On Sunday Rev. John B. organized a party that ended with heartfelt words of thanks. On behalf of them I should like to forward this thank you to all sponsors of Children’s Care Emmaus.»

«Dear Team of Children’s Care Emmaus, through your kind mediation this April I had the opportunity to visit my godchild Thirupathi at the ‹Good Shepard Home› in South India. This encounter with my godson and the other children of the home was extraordinarily impressive for me. Despite the bodies marked by the disability, these children’s faces radiated a happiness and contentment that deeply impressed me. I was also able to convince myself that every donated franc falls on extremely fertile ground and is accepted very gratefully. I wish so much we could do more for these wonderful children. My very special thanks go to the care teams in India, particularly to Father S., Mrs. Grace and Mr. Fernanddo for their tireless commitment to the little privileged children. With grateful regards!»