A container of generosity

Six months ago I had the pleasure of speaking to Fr Joe Camilleri from Xewkija. Fr Joe, a missionary who has been in Guatemala for the last 13 years, kindly asked me to help him obtain some items for his newly built hospital in Jalpatagua, Guatemala.

I was only too happy to help. Yet I was not prepared for such an outpouring of generosity and kindness from the people of Malta and Gozo. With the huge response I received I decided to organise and send a container myself.

I was so overwhelmed by the response from so many generous people and companies, that I had enough donations of food, new clothes, bedding, towels, medicines, four brand new air conditioners, toys, games, paint, ceramic bathroom fittings, stationery, tiles, mattresses... that I filled a 40-foot container.

A big 'thank you' goes to all those who donated these items and cash that went towards the payment of freight charges. I would also like to thank Josephine Bartolo, who kindly let me use a garage for four months to store and pack all the donated items. Without it I would not have managed to do this small deed for Fr Joe.

May I also thank my friend Doris Scerri whose help was so greatly appreciated. The container left Malta on March 5 and will arrive in Guatemala at the end of the month. Fr Joe needs a lot of help in his missionary work and I, for one, have enjoyed helping him. Anyone wishing to make financial donations to Fr Joe can do so by sending them to his sister Agnes Camilleri at 28, Zachary Street, Xewkija. Thank you.