Why didn my PenPal write back?
Again, the rural areas where these orphans and vulnerable children live are very different from many places in the U.S. The letters are written in the schools, but if the child was sick on letter day or had to fetch water or work in the family garden, he or she may miss the opportunity to write. Sometimes children move around from relative to relative, which can also mean no response. Also, the teachers themselves have very little to work with, like desks, shelves, storage and they have very large class sizes (sometimes 80 students to 1 teacher). Keeping track of 300 letters in that environment is challenging to say the least, and sometimes a letter gets missed. If you didn’t hear a response, don’t get discouraged! Keep writing as a ministry to the child and OJM will notify you if the child is no longer at the school.
