A "MIRACLE" FOR A POOR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY? YES, I THINK SO!

 

This photo was taken before they knew about their new house. They both appear to have a sad resignation to their condition of poverty.  I think they are waiting to tell the son/brother, young Filbert away at the seminary, as a surprise. 

On my August 25th Blog-Post, I told the sad story of this Tanzanian single-parent family (a mother, a daughter and a son away at the seminary) and how I got interested through two visits to my condo by our local Father John Judie and Bishop Filbert Mhasi of Tanzania. I had been sponsoring a young seminarian, Filbert, for a year or two. I was very moved, by not only his situation, but also that of his mother and sister who were renting a one-room living situation with one bed and a small couch (see August 25 blog post). 

After a home visit to the family home by the Bishop and my asking about how much a small house would cost, I was hooked. I decided to help and told others what I was going to do and some stepped forward to help me. By the end of August, we had almost reached our goal - at least enough to get started. Besides my initial donation, I promised to personally guarantee the remaining $2,500 balance if it became necessary. They started construction on September 1. The mother is on track to "get the keys and own the house" even before Thanksgiving! 

Below is the mother's and daughter's response to learning about the reality of them having a new house, as reported by Bishop Mhasi, who announced the good news to them and will personally oversee the project, guard the funds and send progress reports and pictures.   

Rev. Ron,

I told her and her daughter one week ago! They couldn’t believe it. At first, she remained speechless! Then the mother started crying, then the daughter also cried. I had to cool (calm) them down and tell them to thank God for this miracle. They knelt down (right then) and thanked God for this miracle. She couldn’t believe and dream that one day (soon) she is going to own a house! She says, she has nothing to give you other than praying for you and all those who gave donations. She can’t wait to see the day when she will be given a key for her house to start a new life with her children! She and her daughter are over joyed.

I’m sure we can finish the house within two months! 

Thanks, Ron, and you are in my prayers!

+ Bishop Filbert Mhasi

A small, self-owned, fully-furnished house (with three small bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen, a small dining room, a small living room with a small front and back porch) with a lot big enough for a vegetable garden and a septic tank system. 

ANOTHER "MIRACLE" IN PROGRESS

The whole thing will cost just a little under $20,000 in United States Currency.

As of this writing, and because of the generosity of six donors, I believe that we have reached our goal. 

As I have said before, we can't save the whole world, but that has not stopped some of us from helping one desperate Catholic family on the other side of the world out of crippling poverty where it is much worse than it is here in this country.  

This "miracle" got started on Labor Day, September 1, 2025! 

The foundation started on September 3, 2025, so this project is moving forward very quickly at this point.

I received the photo below on September 8, 2025. They are moving right along!

The "secret" to this "miracle" is (a) connecting to the people you want to help through people you already know and trust, (b) having safeguards in place to be sure you are not being scammed and donations are not misappropriated, (c) having access to a US tax-deductible  501-3c organization (d) making sure you have people on site to monitor progress, send photographs and put methods in place to protect the funded project when finished.   

FOR ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT 

Father Ronald Knott

502-303-4571

jrknott@bellsouth.net