... is that it helped me find a long-lost friend whom I had never laid eyes on! In 1989, I began sponsoring a young girl in Jackson, Mississippi, by the name of Nkenge Ransom, through the Christian Childrens Fund. It turned out to be a nearly 15 year relationship, maintained entirely by letters. (Her earliest were, in fact, written by her mother.) Then, suddenly, CCF notified me that she had been dropped from the program - no surprise as she had entered college! But, despite the fact that she was no longer a minor, they refused to assist me in continuing our relationship; they said they could not give out any information that would help me contact her.
That was in 2004. One night about a year ago, I wondered if there was any possibility I could find her through Facebook. I typed in her name, and was over-joyed when there was only one response - Nkenge Ransom-Friday, with a picture. I was sure it was her! I sent off a message, and was thrilled when she responded within the day. Once again we were able to communicate, now through Facebook, and we caught up on each others' lives. When she first contacted me, she and her husband of five years were living in Italy and she was working for the Red Cross. Later last year they returned to the States and she is now working on her doctorate in International Studies at the University of Oklahoma, as well as teaching at a nearby community college.
A few weeks ago she contacted me and said that she and her sister, Joy, would be in Los Angeles for just two days, arriving on the 18th. Could we meet for lunch? That meeting, so many years in the making, took place yesterday, the day after her 27th birthday. I'm thrilled to say that she is everything I expected her to be - sweet and bright, charming and ambitious. We had a lovely hour and a half visit with her and her sister (also a beautiful, delightful young woman). It was a bit hard to let her go, but we promised each other many more visits in the future. And now we can call and write and share pictures any time we want! Ain't technology great?
That was in 2004. One night about a year ago, I wondered if there was any possibility I could find her through Facebook. I typed in her name, and was over-joyed when there was only one response - Nkenge Ransom-Friday, with a picture. I was sure it was her! I sent off a message, and was thrilled when she responded within the day. Once again we were able to communicate, now through Facebook, and we caught up on each others' lives. When she first contacted me, she and her husband of five years were living in Italy and she was working for the Red Cross. Later last year they returned to the States and she is now working on her doctorate in International Studies at the University of Oklahoma, as well as teaching at a nearby community college.
A few weeks ago she contacted me and said that she and her sister, Joy, would be in Los Angeles for just two days, arriving on the 18th. Could we meet for lunch? That meeting, so many years in the making, took place yesterday, the day after her 27th birthday. I'm thrilled to say that she is everything I expected her to be - sweet and bright, charming and ambitious. We had a lovely hour and a half visit with her and her sister (also a beautiful, delightful young woman). It was a bit hard to let her go, but we promised each other many more visits in the future. And now we can call and write and share pictures any time we want! Ain't technology great?
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