Elton's Chance

Call me Angelina Jolie because I have found an African.

Life has a lot to do with chance. I have written before about increasing your odds for success but sometimes you get to be on the other side of the coin. When you have taken advantage of your “chance” and start achieving things, you may have the opportunity to give someone their chance.

My Africa trip was a game changer and why it took me four months after to write Elton, I will never know. Why Elton and not the other thousands of kids? Well, chance for one, but he was willing to smile and sometimes you just click with a person. Many of the kids seemed scared, nervous, skeptical, or annoyed with me and their life but not Elton. You can sense his optimism in the letter. He has the attitude to do something bigger than most, especially given his situation. In the letter he is not making excuses, he is just asking for some assistance, something I have utilized throughout my life from many great mentors.

As a friend of mine said after reading the letter, “Children from regular places, even if they aren’t well off, have big dreams. But children who have so little, yet dream so big; their ambition, determination and joy of life is just heartwarming. It makes you want to make their dreams come true that much more.”

How amazing is it that I can have a conversation with a kid 8500 miles away who lives 20 miles from a power source? Granted, it takes 3 weeks for a letter to travel that distance, but for a kid who has to deal with a hungry season, my impatience can easily tolerate the delay.

While we are currently only pen pals, he is definitely someone I would like to help give an opportunity.

The question is, how?

Here is a photo of the letter with a transcription below. I tried to copy the text just as he wrote it.

 Dear Taylor Fox

                How a you my Pen-Pal. I hope you well with me I am fine.

I enjoyed your company and personality I am in grade 8 at Mambilima basic school my performance was very good uniform Like that you are training see in the picture  I have enjoyed reading the latter that you sent for has inspired me much you have that you a training for the Air Force for the United States it is so nice to hear that I would olso like to take such coreer when I finish school. The if you start work is that don’t forget to assist me so that I become

    I con’t forget about and I hope you con’t fogert about me I really enjoyed being with you and am missing you so much. Taylor Fox the time I received your latter I said thank God you are my only freind in the United Stetes of America  God Bless you as you training for a good job.

Yours sincerely

Elton Mambwe