CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2001 Letter from Sister Elsy Mathew

 • Letter from President Jean Delattre
   • We need your help

Dear Friends of A.A.M.I.

It is with a heart full of joy and of gratitude towards Providence and you that I write these few lines because you are the instruments of the Lord at the service of the poor. For all that you are doing, allow me to thank you wholeheartedly.

In 1988, with the help of your charity A.A.M.I. and the equally precious help of the association A.N.S.M.F.I.S. of France, we have bought a house situated in the middle of the destitute quarters in order to be in the midst of the poor, live like them in simplicity and in poverty so as to be available to serve them. In the centre of Marie Virginie, we have started a canteen for the children covering 8 sectors of our congregation and at present some 95 children come regularly for the midday meal, and out of these some 37 children are sponsored.

These children who are poor, orphans and abandoned need assistance for their education, medicine when they are sick, and other needs. We provide all these to them and here, they are at home.

After having carefully examined the results and the growth of our activities, we felt the need to extend this project to old aged people who are abandoned by their children. They are between 60 and 106 years old. To this, we have to include the destitute children who live in the streets, the prostitutes and the young without any employment. All this segment of the population is not immune from the dangers of life which continue increasing. We cannot wait any longer.

If I dream alone, this will remain a dream, but if I dream with you, this will become a reality. It is with this conviction that I have thought of our future project Saint François with Jean Delattre and with you who are part of my mission. All that we do can appear but a drop in the ocean but the ocean gives a sense to this single drop of water.

Would we not be happy if 50 old aged people could return to their homes after a good warm meal ? Having felt the touch of love and attention during their last days ? What a change would it be for the children of the streets who come for learning to read and write and who are despairing for a home as do the young people who need to be given a direction, loved and cared for .

Dear friends, we cannot do everything but we can do something. One day their tears of joy will fall on us, on our families. Let the house of Saint François become a real home for all those who never had a home in all its aspects.

Dear friends, thank you for all that you have been so far, for all that you are and for all that you will be.

Your servitor      

ELSY