 With much anticipation, the long awaited box of letters from our girls arrived safely on Laura’s doorstep. What a relief! For all the world, it seemed like buried treasure discovered on the ocean floor. Dear Friends, For more than 30 years, we’ve encouraged HIO sponsors and their girls in Nepal to get to know one another through handwritten letters. Carried by hand across the globe. Mail service to and from Nepal is unreliable and there are no street addresses in Kathmandu. Personal mail delivery is impossible. All through June, our Nepal teachers and staff guided our girls after school in letter-writing. Many girls decorated their notes with colorful hearts, flowers and rainbows. Every girl’s handwriting is impeccable. Each and every letter is unique. The excellent teaching that inspired our girls to do such wonderful work for their far away sponsors is heartfelt. All together, 150 notes neatly packaged were a solid three pounds of love. To ensure this precious cargo reached its destination, Ram sent it along with a trusted relative who was traveling to California. What an incredible team effort!  Rabita’s quiet nature belies her rock-solid inner strength and tenacious resourcefulness. She and her sponsor, Gary, enjoy corresponding with one another. Many fortunate girls and sponsors have formed special bonds over the years through letter-writing. A note from Rabita to her sponsor, Gary Penfield, was particularly poignant. Rabita recently completed a four-year Bachelor of Science program in environmental science while also taking an eighteen month med-tech course for certification to operate X-ray, ultrasound and MRI machines. The final words in Rabita’s note to Gary express all of our sentiments beautifully: At last I want to express my sincere gratitude for your belief in my abilities and investment in my education. Your sponsorship not only eased my financial burden, but it provided me with the confidence and resources necessary to pursue such a valuable experience. Your sponsorship has made a significant difference in my life and I am forever grateful. With heartfelt appreciation — Rabita Thank you, Rabita, for being such a superb role model for your younger HIO sisters. Thank you, Gary, from all of us on the HIO team for believing in Rabita’s capacity and the power of education to transform lives. And thank you to all in our HIO community for the many small miracles you make happen every day. In a world that can feel so utterly chaotic, we have so much to be grateful for. Lovingly — Laura & Ricky  A 50-year veteran of higher education as the Dean at RI College, Gary’s followed Rabita’s progress since she was a little girl. He couldn't be more pleased with her success.
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