Today, I share with all of you the letter from my friend Gilson. Many thanks to those who attended his call. Here you are:
Thank you very much!
Peace and good to everybody! I am Father Gilson Patrick Silva Oliveira, I exercise my priestly ministry in the Church of São Lourenço do Fogo, Cape Verde.
As Jesus said in the Gospel, knock and it will be opened to you … ask and it will be given you. I as a priest among the people spend a part of my day visiting the poorest people in the community. Bringing them a message of hope, administering sacraments, on one of these visits I arrived at the house of a poor family among many that exist in the community which impressed me the most joy in the way of living of that family despite the difficulties … a mother with her children and grandchildren at home and without a bathroom. Needed in the field.
From that moment I said I will speak with people of good will to see if I can build a bathroom for you and it is from here that began our story through a conversation I had with my friend Santiago we met in Taizé. As soon as I spoke with Santiago he said to me: «Friend Gilson, we managed to make a bathroom for the family … and added I need time to talk to my friends through a blog of solidarity that I have www.vidaapasionante.com. My friend Santiago did not stop fighting and seek means to help me. He sent 1,420 euros and today the dream of the family has come true.
Dear friend Santiago and all those who collaborated in this work of solidarity, a big thank you from the heart in personal name and in the name of the family … God will reward you with eternal life. This is the concrete reality of living the Gospel. What you did together with your friends is priceless, because dignity and joy are not bought. In the annex you will see the construction from the beginning. The before and the after. I wish you all a holy and happy Christmas. That the baby Jesus is born in the heart of each of us. The Lord bless you and give you peace. Amen.
