Dear Pastor,

I wrote to you when I was 14 going 15 (March 8, 2010). I really admire your work and the advice that you give to people every day, because in this life we all just need some physical being that we can trust to turn to. I thank you for the advice that you gave me when I was going through a really rough time at that age.

I am now 17 and I will be 18 the ending of this month (April). I believe that I have grown physically, spiritually and emotionally since I spoke to you. I was only at a sad place at that time and my mother was there for me despite what she was going through with the bigamy case. I understand now that my mother was really hurting and if there was one moment that I ever felt that I wasn't loved it would be because she was a mother as well as a person, and we all have emotions and sometimes lack that inner strength that we need daily.

My mother died September 27, 2012, so life has still not been easy for me, but I have never given up on God and for the favour that He has shown to me. Also, since my mother died, God has blessed me with an entire support team. I feel so loved and everyone is just there for me and I love them and thank them for that. I also wanted to give up on school the last time we spoke. But guess what, I am now at the University of Technology where I have almost completed my first year.

All I can say to everyone that is reading this today is that they should believe in God and they should never give up in anything that they are doing. Live is rough, yes, but decide the path that you want to take.

Pastor, thank you for the encouragement that you gave me when I was 14. Today, I look back at it and I took your advice well. Three years from now when I have got my degree and ready to face the world, I will revisit this message that I wrote to you. May God continually bless you and shine his light upon you

I.G.

Dear I.G.,

I give God thanks for enabling me to send you words of encouragement and guidance during the days you felt stressed and depressed. I take no credit for myself. God is a good God and God understands all things. The word of God exalts all believers to cast their cares upon God, because God cares.

I am happy to know that you are now a student at university. And I really want to thank you for taking the time out from your busy schedule to write to me. I am saddened by the death of your mother. I am sure that the trials that you have faced will make you a stronger person. Take good care of yourself and may God watch over you.

Pastor