I would love to bring my sister HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS because she is one of the nicest persons I know. My sister who is a devout Christian, left Barbados at the age of twenty-six to go to the United States of America to seek a better life, because my mother had eight of us, and we were very poor.

While my sister was over there, things weren't a bed of roses she had expected. She used to call us complaining at times, but was very determined to stay and help us. While she was over there, our Father took very ill and was diagnosed with cancer, which shook the whole family up. We are a very close family even up to this day. I felt as though the whole world had ended, and I could only imagine how my sister felt, because it was seven of us over here to comfort one another, and it was her alone over there grieving, yet she was calling and praying for us over the phone, and telling us to be strong, and I said what about you, because you're all alone, and she said the Lord will be there for her.

One day she call to talk to my father, and she said to him she's coming home, because she would never put America before him, Dad said to her no you stay and help the others, and that she did. After that conversation, my father passed away, about two weeks later at the age of fifty. My sister told us not to worry that she will take care of us, she was the oldest, the others were 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 23, and me 24.

My sister sent money through Western Union every two weeks to buy food, and pay what little bills we had. About six weeks after my father's death she sent home a jumbo barrel, with clothes and shoes for everyone. At this point of time now we're doing OK, but unfortunately about four months after my father's death my mother passed away, at age 49. She had kidney problems. We couldn't believe this was happening to us, now getting over the death of our father, and grieving all over again for our mother.

Again my sister was there for us. Doing what she had promised to do, take care of us.

A number of years has passed now, my sister has her papers, a good job and is doing alright.

She call home now, and ask us to go see if we get our visas, unfortunately all of us didn't get our visas, so only who had theirs my sister was able to send for. Up to this day, she always sends for my daughter, for trhe summer vacations. She has her own family and still worries about us, and we tell her she don't have to do it, but she still does.

Every Christmas she sends each and everyone of us a card, with at least fifty dollars in it. I would love to give my sister something very special, and this trip would be a great gift.