Fr Joseph Camilleri, who is a missionary in Guatemala, recently phoned up to say that on 21 September last, the only ambulance his hospital had to transport patients during emergencies was involved in terrible car accident in which the patient was killed outright and four other people injured. A heart-breaking story indeed, but circumstances that cannot be remedied, unfortunately.

However, the problem that now faces Fr Joe is that his ambulance is a complete write-off, so would-be patients now have no other means of transport other than their horse-carts to take them to hospital. Moreover, although Fr Joe’s parish is larger than Malta, its roads are simply rough country-tracks which become even more bumpy and dangerous every time it rains heavily.

Consequently, more often that not, by the time that cart reaches hospital, it is too late for the patient as he/she will have died on the way, especially if the group have set out from Belize or San Salvador – neighbouring regions from which patients also flock to the hospital which Fr Joe built in Jalpatagua, Guatemala, about two years ago.

It is true that thousands of miles separate us from all this and that, consequently, we are spared having to witness all this human suffering, but surely our generous hearts will not allow us to turn our backs on people in such desperate need of our help. The Maltese and Gozitans have always risen to the occasion in times of crisis, so we are sure that everybody will help to the best of his/her ability to ensure that Fr Joe’s parish gets the new ambulance it so badly needs, as soon as possible.

Donations can be made either by sending a cheque addressed to Fr Joe Camilleri to his sisters’ home at 28, St Zachary Street, Xewkija, Gozo or to our home at 169, Fleur-De-Lys Road, Fleur-De-Lys, Birkirkara, BKR 9066 or by sending blank SMS’s on these number: 5061-7372 – e2.33; 5061-8068 – e4.66 and 5061-8911 – e7.

While thanking you all in his name, we can assure you that Fr Camilleri will definitely be praying for all his benefactors.

Charles and Lina Thake

Birkirkara