FFHL’s University Scholarship Students Have Much To Be Thankful For This Year
A letter of gratitude in spite of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and widespread economic challenges. The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land’s University Scholarship Program student award recipients have have much to be grateful for.
A FFHL University Scholarship Program student shares this letter of thanks with his sponsor:
Dear Mr. Nick,
How are you? I hope you are well and safe. I was very late in sending this letter, however, the reason for the delay wasn’t my negligence, I just didn’t know what to write because this letter means so much to me.
The financial situation of my family has always been normal and stable, and my parents provided us with the education we needed. However, in the past two years, the financial situation of my father and mother has greatly deteriorated, especially this last year with the emergence of COVID-19. My father is now unemployed. My mother provides an income for our household, but she earns only half the salary my dad used to make.
I am the oldest child in my family. I am eighteen years old, my younger brother is sixteen years old, my sister is eight years old, and my youngest brother is three years old. My mother always desired for her children to be educated. She works all day and night to help us overcome life’s difficulties.
I never once thought about giving up on my education. I am even more encouraged about it now than when I was younger. I decided to join an institute to work to help my family pay for my education in installments. A while after the outbreak of the pandemic, I received a package from the Holy Custody in Jerusalem with scholarship information inside. My family and I were amazed and full of intense joy.
I know I must do my best because this is an irreplaceable opportunity, and I will not waste it. I worked hard and placed third in high school. After my family celebrated this accomplishment, I submitted my grades for a scholarship, and we waited for a response.
Ten days later my father’s phone rang. We didn’t know who was calling. The person told my father that his son received the scholarship. We all jumped with joy and cried, especially my mother. She works so hard to see her children succeed.
I want to thank you with all my heart. You are my guardian angel. You have given me hope to learn and have encouraged me to keep striving to reach my dreams so I can continue helping my family. I never expected to receive a scholarship, nor did I even expect to receive acceptance the first time I applied for a scholarship. Since I was young, I have wanted to keep learn so I may become a successful person.
I wish to dedicate this message as my way to say, ‘thank you’. I am very excited to get to know you. I am crying tears of joy right now.
I hope the Lord blesses you, dear Mr. Nick. The work you have done means a lot to me. All the love and thanks from my heart.
