May 2010

After the closing prayer and the last song, dance music was played on the rented sound equipment, and the eighteen Samaritana women who were still wearing their borrowed formal gowns, together with staff, volunteers and other friends, crowded into the center garden of Samaritana’s center to laugh and dance together.  It was a fun way to end the 18th anniversary celebration of Samaritana as a community last May 8.

After joining them for a while, I later slipped back into the sala where I said thank you and goodbye to other guests who were leaving.  In between goodbye’s near the garage, one of the women approached me and tapped me on the arm.  She said, “Kuya, thank you so much for everything.”  This particular woman is one with whom we have journeyed even before the beginning of Samaritana’s ministry as an official organization.  We have been through all the ups and downs of her life, offering grace sometimes and tough love at others.  For her to say “thank you for everything” is really saying a lot!  Her “thank you for everything” seems to say the world in just a few words.  What touched me most, however, was that as she said this to me, there was a softness in her face and tears welling up in her eyes.  Moments later when she said the same thing to Thelma, they embraced in an emotional moment.

I wish that my saying “thank you” to you for your special gift to Samaritana can carry with it even a small fraction of the meaning and feeling of this woman’s words the other night.  Your generous gift is a symbol of your friendship and partnership.  But it is also a very real and concrete form of material support that helps Samaritana to carry on the work and ministry that we do among women like the woman who said “thank you for everything” that night.  You are supporting the work of Samaritana, and through Samaritana you are investing in the lives of special women, creating impact and opening up hearts to change and new possibilities.

Thank you so much for everything!

For Samaritana and all the women we serve together,

Jonathan Nambu
Executive Director