I am a Maltese missionary working in Pakistan. Our ministry is mainly in the fields of education, health and social work. We visit many families where we strengthen the people in their Christian faith, we help children with their homework and we try to promote the woman, who, in this country, is still considered a second class citizen.

Our work is just a drop in an ocean of needs. The greatest wound is illiteracy. It is a common scene to see children running about in the streets, others collecting garbage from common skips and child labour. Often these children are not paid for their work but are given a daily meal.

Although they are not a financial help to the family, they become less of a burden as they come around the table … if they have one! As we believe that education will save the human person, we try to invest most of the donations which we receive by offering the possibility for education to these children, with the hope of opening new horizons for their future. You understand that it’s impossible to help them all as we lack the financial means. However we do what we can.

I would like to thank the Mission Fund for its untiring work in fund raising activities so that they’ll be able to help all the Maltese missionaries. I would like to thank them sincerely for the donation of e1,200 which they have given me this year. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the Maltese who always respond generously whenever you are called to contribute to any project of charity. We might be the ones who are working directly in the field but without your help, we truly can do little.

I encourage you to continue to offer your donations, to send used stamps and phone cards to the Mission Fund and to help in any other possible way. May the Lord, who rewards every glass of water given to the needy, fill your heart and your household with every kind of blessing. You are all in our daily prayers.

Sr Natalie Abela

Sister of Charity.

Lahore, Pakistan