20 cents/20 centavos

I want to share this note with you. It was written by an 11 year old boy. I've told the people that if they have a need or prayer request, they can write it down and put it in the offering. The coin that was wrapped in the note is worth about 20 cents. It's not much but it can buy a loaf a bread here. Instead, he gave it as an offering. Every time I see him helping at church and just talking to him, I am encouraged. I am humbled by his caring heart for those around him and his family. Here's what the letter says. I translated it as literally as possible.

Quero compartilhar esta carta com você. Foi escrita por um menino de onze anos. Eu disse as pessoas da igreja que quando eles tiverem alguma nescessidade e pedido de oração, eles poderiam escrever e colocar na caixa de oferta. A moeda que estava enorolada no papel da cartinha vale uns 20 centavos. Não é muito, mas aqui dá pra comprar um pão. Em vez disso, ele deu como oferta. Todas as vezes que vejo ele ajudando na igreja e quando converso com ele, eu fico encorajado. Fico tocado com o coração dele, de sempre se preocupar com a família e com aqueles que estão perto dele.


Your Excellence Mr. Pastor

1. First of all I would like to greet Mr. Pastor.

2. Mr. Pastor, I bring to you my worries.

3. Mr. Pastor, my worry is that my father is disabled.

4. My father does not speak, and does not walk, so my older brothers took my daddy to my brothers in the city.

5. We are now suffering, me along with my mother and [younger] brothers.

6. My mother does not work and she is also ill, and my [older] brothers have kicked us out of the house; even this next year I don't know if I will continue school because I will not have money to continue school.