Yesterday I wrote a letter to a six-year-old in Guatemala. How do you even begin to communicate with someone when you’re separated by thousands of miles, two languages, and a vast age difference? Never mind that the relationship is initially based on a monetary gift. I wrote the letter to a girl in Guatemala that my fiance and I sponsor through Food For the Hungry. I feel like any response I get from this girl will be completely contrived. How would you respond to someone who was donating money to pay for your education? It just seems like an awkward situation. Certainly a six-year-old wouldn’t have issues with it, But what about when the child gets older and begins to understand the world around her? I would almost expect her to be grateful for my monthly gift. But more likely I would expect cynicism. Some well off American in Los Estados Unidos thinks he’s all that because once a month he donates the equivalent of a meal out to an average restaurant. Am I supposed to be impressed at his sacrifice? Am I supposed to be grateful that he gives so much?

I can’t help but wonder how these sponsored children feel. I’m sure they do feel a measure of gratitude. But what do they think about the wealthy people who sponsor them? Do they ever wonder why I don’t give more? Do they ever wonder why I don’t do more than write a simple check each month? What do they think about their peers who aren’t sponsored? Do they feel sorry for them? Or do they feel a touch of guilt because they were chosen to be sponsored and other possibly more deserving children weren’t chosen? Do these sponsored children feel an overwhelming desire to succeed in order to please some distant check-writing American? And what happens when they fail? The girl I was writing to failed kindergarten. I struggled with what I was supposed to say about that. Do I say anything at all? Do I tell her to try harder? If I do will she take that as a threat that I’m going to stop sending money? If I mention anything about her performance will she take that as a threat to her sponsorship? I never want to be seen as a wealthy American holding money over a poor Guatemalan’s head.

Simple love was all I could show. I told the girl who me and my fiance are. My fiance works at a daycare center and wants to be a teacher. I want to be a writer. I told her I like to yo-yo and asked her if she does. I asked her how she liked school and told her we were praying for her. I really didn’t know what else to say.

This simple act has allowed me to communicate with someone across the globe. It’s not very good communication–it’s fraught with difficulties and misunderstandings. But it is communication. I think slowly I’ll be able to come to a better understanding of this girl’s world. That’s something I think is very important. Whether we like it or not this world is moving towards a global understanding. My neighbors are not only the people next door, but the people around the world. I am commanded to love them all the same.