Pen pals Yvonne Curtis and Miriam Aguit of Uganda manage to meet in person. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
This is the toothy smile that Shellharbour's Yvonne Curtis never thought she would have the privilege of seeing in the flesh.
It's owner, Miriam Aguit, is a Ugandan orphan Mrs Curtis has sponsored through the Watoto childcare ministries for the past 12 months.
The pair made both of their dreams come true at the weekend when they met for the first time at Figtree Anglican Church following a performance by the Watoto Children's Choir.
Mrs Curtis said she was inspired to sponsor a child after seeing the choir perform in Shellharbour last year, and fell in love with Miriam, 12, as soon as she saw her photo.
"That smile, and reading her profile... I was a goner," Mrs Curtis said.
The duo exchanged letters and photos, however Mrs Curtis said she never thought she'd get to meet Miriam, especially as Watoto children only get the chance to perform overseas once while in the ministry.
"I was incredibly lucky Miriam was picked to perform in the choir on this trip," Mrs Curtis said.
She described Saturday's meeting as "a very special occasion".
"It's wonderful, very exciting and overwhelming all at once," she said.
Miriam, whose parents were killed in a car accident in 2010, came to Watoto after her uncle said he could no longer care for her and her three siblings.
Mrs Curtis' monthly $40 sponsorship pays for Miriam's food and education.
"I'm very thankful to her and to God," Miriam said on Saturday.
"For me it is very important because before I joined [Watoto] I was suffering."
Like many children her age, Miriam has big ambitions for the future.
"I want to go to university and become a doctor," she said.
"My schooling is improving every day."
Mrs Curtis said she hoped to be able to help Miriam financially to study at university.
The Watoto Children's Choir was established in 1994 as a way to share the stories of African children affected by HIV/AIDS, war or famine.
The children, aged up to 14, perform original African music and modern gospel routines.
