A request from Ruby

Your recent support in Afghanistan 2018 You helped save the lives of mothers and babies by providing crucial birthing classes 2019 You helped bring clean water to rural villages 2020 You helped provide vital mental health support to people struggling through the Covid-19 pandemic

Dear Engage readers,

I hope you can forgive me for the sparseness of this letter. Because I live in [redactected], Afghanistan, it’s not safe for me to share too much about my life here, and the people in my community. I can’t even share my real name. Instead of [redad], you can call me Ruby.

I want to be honest with you – things in Afghanistan might be a bit more stable now than they were when the [redacted, replaced with new powers] first arrived, but things could topple at any time. We don’t know what’s going to happen next, and people have already been through so much. Drought, the cost of living crisis and growing unemployment rates are having disastrous effects on the people I work with. And I’m more acutely aware than ever that the agricultural work I do – and even just my presence here in [redactected] – is so important for the people I live and work among. Which is why I want to keep telling you stories of my work, despite the risks, in the hope that you can help me.

You might have received a letter from me in the post recently sharing the story of Fazal (I’ve given him a different name to protect his identity), one of the farmers I work with. If you didn’t, let me introduce you. Fazal is the sole supporter of a family of ten. Because of the drought we experienced over the summer, he struggled to get enough water for his family to drink, and even less to water the few sparse crops he’s been able to grow. His children are hungry, and in danger of becoming painfully malnourished. I’m going to do all I can to help Fazal feed his family. But I need your help. If you can give to BMS World Mission’s Afghanistan Christmas appeal, you can help Fazal and farmers like him get the seeds, tools and training they need to grow enough food to feed their families.

I know Fazal, and I know how desperate he is to make sure his family have enough to eat. Just like any other parent, he wants to make sure his children grow up strong and healthy. If you can give today, you’ll be able to help him.

There are so many other things I wish I could share with you about my life in Afghanistan and the people I know. I wish I could share about the young girls who live near me,[names redacted], who dream of becoming a doctor or a lawyer, or of going to high school, who are now unsure about what their futures hold. I wish I could tell you about my colleagues, [names redacted], how hard they’ve worked doing [redacted] and how they hope to [redacted redactected]. Maybe one day I’ll be able to. But until that day comes, it gives me hope to know that you’re praying for me and supporting me from afar.

I know things are hard for a lot of people in the UK right now, and if you’re not able to give, please don’t feel that you have to. But if you can, I know you’ll be making a huge difference to Fazal and his family. Every blessing, Ruby

PS Your prayers and support mean so much to me. You can give to the BMS Afghanistan Christmas appeal today by simply visiting www.bmsworldmission.org/afghanchristmas Thank you so much.