Dear Diego,

Thank you for your letters!

You asked if I can swim. Yes, I can. I learned when I was very young. I used to be afraid of the water. I didn’t like to jump into the pool from the side. I was very afraid to jump off the diving board. But my parents insisted. I took lessons for many years at a place called the YMCA. (The letters stand for Young Men’s Christian Association. It’s a place that teaches sports.) After many lessons and a lot of practice, I could swim very well. I was no longer afraid of water. I enjoyed it. I also made friends with other children who took swimming lessons there.

As I got older, I became very glad that I can swim. I was a Boy Scout. My troop would go to summer camp and take trips. We learned to paddle canoes. No one was allowed in a boat unless he could swim. I could swim, so I got to use the boats.

Many skills are scary at first. I was also afraid when I first learned to drive. I was a little afraid the first time I spent a week away from home. But learning to overcome fear is important. Now I do it all the time.

In the Bible, when an angel visits someone, he always has to say “Don’t be afraid of me.” Meeting an angel must be scary, but also fun. Just like swimming.

I hope you can learn to swim. Is there a pool in your neighborhood?

You asked if I like to watch videos. I do! I like to watch movies about adventure and space travel. My favorite TV show is called Doctor Who. Every episode is a story about a mysterious man called The Doctor. He has a ship that can go anywhere in time and space. He always has friends who travel with him. He likes to help people wherever he goes. He also likes soccer.

I also like Phineas and Ferb. It’s a cartoon about two brothers. Every day they make some funny invention. Their pet platypus is a secret agent.

Children’s Day sounds like fun. We don’t have that holiday here, but I think we should. Jesus said “Let the children come to me,” because his love and teachings are for you too.

All the best,
— Garrett Mitchener