I have been working for these past 33 years as a lay missionary in Latin America. Since 2000 I have been working in Bogotá, Colombia, and I am now onholiday in Malta.

I would like to express my gratitude to all the benefactors of the Mission Fund of Eureka Court, Block A, Flat 6 (ground floor), Main Street, Mosta MST 1018, who, through their generosity have made it possible for me to receive a donation of €1,500 towards my mission work.

I am currently working on two special projects besides other small ones. The first is to teach a group of women various arts and crafts so that they can eventually create co-operatives and thus earn living.

The other project is helping a group of young girls (all aged under 16), who live in a small house and are under the care of a Colombian nun. They all come from what is known here as ‘a risky situation’ (guerilla activity, extreme poverty or difficult moral environment) and for this reason they live away from their families.

Throughout the year we help these children by giving them psychological, educational, spiritual and material help and thus prevent them from having to roam the streets begging for food, and so forth.

I must say that this year I have received the money at a very appropriate time because, as Christmas approaches, I can organise a party for them and give them new clothes and stationery for school.

By educating and helping these girls I hope they will be able to form good families and become honest Colombian citizens.

I therefore encourage more people to keep on sending used stamps to the Mission Fund.

Financial donations can be sent directly through HSBC (Account no. 0611 9744 8050); BoV (163 0079 8019); APS (200 0082 0762) or Banif (000 8796 3101) so the help they give Maltese missionaries can continue.

Further information can be found at www.missionfund.org.mt.

God will surely reward this kindness towards the less fortunate and I assure all Maltese and the Mission fund that they are always present in my prayers.