I am a Sister of Charity who has been living in Pakistan for 13 years. I work mostly in the field of the formation of young religious persons and young women who are discerning their vocation in life. I also animate and co-ordinate formation programmes in the Archdiocese of Lahore. As a community we also visit poor Christian families in our parish, where we prepare children and adults to receive the sacraments; we help children in their studies and we also accompany sick people to the doctor or to the hospital. Many times these people ignore their illness because they cannot pay to visit a doctor and, besides, are unable to pay for the required treatment. Often they are discouraged from going to the hospital because, being poor, they are put aside and left waiting without being given the possibility of being visited by a doctor. Our presence with them in the hospital makes a difference, as we speak for their rights and don’t leave the hospital until they are seen by a doctor.

Our visits among the families enable us to see what the real needs of the people are and therefore we can respond to what they really need and not to what we think they need.

I would like to thank the Mission Fund for the donation of E1,200 which they gave me. I will use this donation to support the education of poor children (especially poor girls who are often denied the possibility of education) and to provide some of the medical treatment for hepatitis patients – a common disease among the poor, the treatment of which is very expensive and long.

I encourage the readers to keep on supporting the work of the Mission Fund by sending used stamps and donations and by participating in any initiative that they organise. Without the generous aid which you have always given, the Mission Fund would be unable to continue to do the good that it is doing in favour of the poor, through the regular contribution that they give to all Maltese missionaries.

May the Good Lord, who rewards every glass of water given to the poor, fill your hearts with His peace and joy and may He grant you all the blessings that you need.

Sr Natalie Abela

Sister of Charity,

Lahore – Pakistan.