I am writing to all of you with the need and urgency! First and foremost, allow me to say that this one will be lengthy. This letter might have a serious implications of who we are and what we are when we see the sufferings of others. Please reflect and listen to what your conscience tells you.
For the first time in my life, I am knocking at your hearts to help me save a life of a person in need. She is in need of our compassion and financial help. She needs a kidney transplant and it cost about 600 thousand pesos (about 12,000 dollars). She is currently undergoing weekly
dialysis. Voluntarily, at our own expense, we had Rosalie hospitalized for many days in a public hospital in the city at the onset of her illness. It did not alleviate her sufferings. We had her transferred to a private hospital. We thought it was just a simple symptoms of ulcer due to the fact that she has no proper diet, and too many missed meals. But the doctors advised for
a dialysis. We seek the opinion of a kidney doctor and they have the same findings. Her two kidneys collapsed. Her only chance to live is to risk a kidney transplant.
Who is Rosalie? What is my connection to her? Nothing. I just knew her personally when she was presented to me as the wife of my distant relative three years ago. She came from a poor family in Zurigao. Her parents are tenant farmers who are scrimping for a living. They have nothing, not a
single property to sell so that they can pay for Rosalie’s transplant. Salie (as she is fondly called) is twenty nine years old with a college education but did not pass the board exam for teachers. She is a simple person. Meek. Kind and God fearing. As a young couple who just married two years ago, they lived in a shanty made of coconut trunks and leaves. They have no children.
Between the two of them, their income each month is about 3,000 pesos (60 dollars). They are both unemployed. Her husband cannot find a decent job because he has no college education. He was forced to quit school in third grade and was sent to work in a poultry farm by his parents. I hired Salie as a tutor for my nieces (even if it is not necessary) and bought her husband a motorcycle just so that they can have a source of income. But still, this is not enough and having 3 meals a day is a constant struggle.
About me. I am one of you, also blessed to be here in the United States. Like most of us here, I worked for Uncle Sam, has an American dream. Like you, I am a Filipino by heart and loves the Filipino people. In my own small ways, I try to better myself by helping those who are in need. I am a teacher and is currently working as a substitute teacher at Los Angeles Unified School District.
Friends, for all of us who are so blessed to be here in the United States, the day to day struggles of our poor and suffering brethren is a distant and remote hum now that we are here in the land of freedom and opportunity. However, as Christians, we are called to share our blessings. Our loving God has said, "Love one another as I have loved you." Helping those in need of
our help (especially those who are hopeless) is the noblest thing to do. As a Christian and as a believer in the goodness of filipino people, I am urging you to be one with me in helping this humble soul that is silently begging for help.
Let's make a difference in our life by saving a life. We are being asked to become instrument of God's love. Let's help. Let's share. Your donation, is very much appreciated and counted on. Let's be compassionate and merciful just as our God is loving and merciful.
The wealth and resources we have now is God given.God entrusted it to us for proper stewarding. He wants us to become good stewards of his wealth. We must give our wealth back to Him through helping those in need. Remember that when you give, it will come back to you a hundrefold. Please help. Any donation is welcome.
With prayers that God will talk to the hearts that read this letter, I remain.
-Leonida Enanoria Reese (Carcaranon)
email address: l_enanoria@hotmail.com
Please send your donations to this address: 1005 S Green St. Historic Downtown Tehachapi, CA 93561
P.S.
Please forward this to anyone you know. If you know or have connections of any charitable agencies that can help, please refer us to them.
