He reads on.

“There are 5 in my family. I have one older brother and a dog named Daphne. Your father sounds like a very brave and caring person.”

Elisa’s father is indeed brave and caring. Just over three years ago when war broke out in South Sudan, Elisa’s family fled in search of safety. They traveled many days by bus and by foot to Kakuma refugee camp, but because of their religion and nationality, others beat them and stole their food. Elisa’s father left the family to continue their search for safety, which they found six months later when they all reunited in Dadaab.

Today, with Dadaab under water and his family living indefinitely in their church sanctuary, Elisa wishes it were all a bad dream — that instead of sleeping in church, he were just singing and dancing in it. He is glad to find fresh air in the words Blake has written him.

“I wish I could hear you sing,” the letter reads, “because I bet you are a wonderful singer. What’s your favorite song?” Elisa, who's wearing a bright yellow tank top with the phrase, “We stand together,” grins as he reads. He thinks of his own dream to become a professional singer and change the world through music. He wants to go to college and use his musical talent to stop people from fighting — to save others from the uncertainty and disorder of life as a refugee.

The letter from Blake (pictured above, far right) concludes: “Thank you so much for writing to me. I hope you and your family can come to America.”

Elisa is happy to know that someone so far away, who doesn’t know him, has taken the time to write. How fun it would be, he thinks, to meet Blake in America. Or even in Dadaab. They could go swimming and play football, dance, write songs. And sing together the music that unites them.

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