In my recent efforts to raise money for the @amaponian family I shared the struggles in one of my Saturday morning live shows. Several people responded with gifts. One person in particular went above and beyond. She sent a very nice gift in the mail that shocked me (I'll share the amount later). It touched my heart because I know that this person does not have a big income.
With her permission I'm sharing the email that was sent after the gift arrived in the mail.
Names are replaced with initials. Just for reference: we call super chat donations "squurrels" in the live shows. When I see a YouTube user give a super chat I get distracted like a dog that sees a squirrel!
Dear Blake and Family and Fanily!!
I sat on this for a while. . . . I wanted to just share this lil message, to let you know I wasn't trying to be a Big Shot, or Arrogant or any of the same adjectives. When I was listening to your show Saturday, I came in 10 minutes late, but got the gist of the situation of your friend and his family. I sat here just a bit then decided to email you to let you know "J" and I wanted to contribute, and I would have to send it snail mail because a squirrel wasn't appropriate, don't have any checks or do we do checks, it's cash or nuttin'. I knew I had to get it done ASAP, so I wouldn't change my mind from "fear". "fear" of SHTF, medical emergency, food for our table, utilities, etc. . .just . . "fear" . Having to always have "IT". You know that "IT" factor. I gathered the funds and drove right to the Post so I couldn't change anything here in Texas,(not participate) BUT COULD MAKE, HOPEFULLY, A CHANGE IN VENEZUELA! (gosh I always mispell venezuela) So off I went!
On disability I get paid once a month, so I usually shop once a month so I don't spend more than we have, works good for us. Anything extra, I lock in a lil box and save for. . ."IT", "fear". We don't have savings, just our "IT" fund, whatever that ends up to be. When I heard what you had to say, my "fear" or "IT" went away and all I could think of was the horror your friend and family live in in a country with no freedom, helplessness, terror, "FEAR"! No food, no money, no jobs, no freedom, no life. Broke my heart cause I only had the "fear" of "it" . . .what. . "it" while your friend and family live in "FEAR" for their lives, their every breath, safety, well-being, liberty, religion, freedoms on and on.. . . I live in a country where I can walk to the corner buy a candy bar, coke , go to McDonalds, go to a grocery store, buy a chicken for only $0.99 #, buy bread, milk and go to bed with my belly full. ( a chicken there is like $40.00) What's wrong with my picture. . . I DEFINITELY have more than I need, and am ashamed of "IT" and "fear" when folks like your friend aren't safe in any way.
I pray that your Friend and Family are and will be safe, that the country pulls together for it's people. I'm so broken when there is such suffering, and thank you for their story, a wake up call in TX. You and yours are in my heart 4 ever, and your friend in Venezuela the same. Things will change, and only we can do that. Forgive me for my selflessness in this story, but, if anything sometimes a lil change can make a BIG difference, and I hope your friend knows he and his are not forgotten and that they are IMPORTANT and LOVED. You guys changed my life and I thank you for that. I'm getting rid of my "it"!
Love you guys to the moon and back!
"P" and "J"
here's the video our gift giver referenced
The mosquito that bit you is aedes aegypti .
Regarding the FEAR that the donor mentions, it is very REAL. Here you can die from an allergy (allergies can shut your throat closed) because you can't find anti-allergies drugs or they are so expensive that they cost more than a month's salary. People are dying from conditions that, in a normal country, could be easily dealt with and cheap to treat.
The middle class disappeared and went under the poverty line and those who already were poor are dying or dangerously under-weight, and that is specially true in the case of the eldery.
Several millions of young people have fled the country because they realized they would never be able to own a home or a car or a life; or to be able help their families by sending money from abroad.
But you already know all that.
I want to thank you very much for the help you are giving fellow steemian @amaponian through his hard work.
God bless you and other people like "P" and "J" for helping those in need.
P.S.: Very funny the SBD -> Death Buy Silent joke ha ha ha. For those who are learning english as a second language, it's about f*rts!!!!
I was bound to cry, but then I realized there was someone already crying behind me: My daughter Laura. She and his brother Samuel were listening to my reading. My wife is not at home. She's taking care of her mother (age 85) who is ill.
Thanks "P" and "J" for that donation (still don't know the amount). But those words have a greater value for us. We are IMPORTANT, LOVED and NOT FORGOTTEN (I think I'm crying now)
I'm calling my wife...
(later my wife said, while crying, that we have to give to others in need)
That fear is a real thing here
but I'm sure we can also get rid of it
when we know there are over there good people caring about us.
God bless you all.
Wonderful news do not cry of joy but my eyes watered. your friend was right, a door closes and a window opens. @amaponian @daddykirbs
feeling loved and esteemed is the maximum
Again it just shows how you impact others... Shared...
Wow wonderful, it's really hard for me here on steemit, cause i make alot of quality post but still i get nothing... I just want to give up sometimes but i still keep going
Don't forget to check on me
Hello! I translated the post into Spanish, in Google translator to understand it well.
And when I got to the part where he shares the mail, he made me cry.
In the midst of everything bad you can always see the hands of good people acting. These are small miracles.
Thank you for sharing this history.
It made me want to cry when I first read it too.