A Letter To God
by GL Fuentes
The house – the only in the entire valley – sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest. The only thing that earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho – who knew his fields intimately – had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east.
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.”
The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing”. The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house until the woman called to them all, “Come for dinner”. It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”
With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones bean to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coins. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.
“It’s really getting bad now,” exclaimed the man. “I hope it passes quickly.” It did not pass quickly. For an hour the hail rained on the house, the garden, the hillside, the cornfield, on the whole valley. The field was white, as if covered with salt.
Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the plants. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. When the storm had passed, he stood in the middle of the field and said to his sons, “A plague of locusts would have left more than this. The hail has left nothing. This year we will have no corn.”
That night was a sorrowful one.
“All our work, for nothing.”
“There’s no one who can help us.”
“We’ll all go hungry this year.”
But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope, help from God.
“Don’t be so upset, even though this seems like a total loss. Remember, no one dies of hunger.”
All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write. The following Sunday, at daybreak, he began to write a letter which he himself would carry to town and place in the mail.
It was nothing less than a letter to God.
“God,” he wrote, “if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year. I need a hundred pesos in order to sow my field again and to live until the crop comes, because the hailstorm….”
He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside and, still troubled, went to town. At the post office, he placed a stamp on the letter and dropped it into the mailbox.
One of the employees, who was a postman and also helped at the post office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. The postmaster – a fat, amiable fellow – also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his desk, commented, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!”
So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter. But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it he needed something more than goodwill, ink and paper. But he stuck to his resolution: he asked for money from his employees, he himself gave part of his salary, and several friends of his were obliged to give something ‘for an act of charity’.
It was impossible for him to gather together the hundred pesos, so he was able to send the farmer only a little more than half. He put the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho and with it a letter containing only a single word as a signature: God.
The following Sunday Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. It was the postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office.
Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence – but he became angry when he counted the money. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.
Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the public writing-table, he started to write, with much wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to envelope with a blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said: “God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t sent it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho.”
A Letter To God Summary
Lencho’s Hope of Good Harvest
Lencho was a farmer who lived on the crest (peak) of a low hill with his family. His was the only house in the entire valley. His field was full of ripe corn and easily visible from the house. He was eagerly waiting for a good rain to have a good harvest so he could earn money for his family.
Turning of Lencho’s Hope into Despair
As Lencho hoped, it started raining at the time of supper (dinner) which gave Lencho a ray of hope. He was extremely delighted to see that. He compared the raindrops with silver coins which shows his joy. But soon his joy turned into despair as the rain changed into hailstones which ruined the crops. The field had been covered with snow like a layer of white salt. Lencho was worried for his family.
Lencho’s Firm Belief in God
Though Lencho was a poor farmer and had lost all his crops, he had firm faith in God. He found in God his last hope and decided to write a letter to God for help. He asked God to send him a hundred pesos so that he could sow his field again and support his family until the new crops were harvested. He also wrote that if God didn’t help him, his family would die of hunger.
The Postmaster’s Letter to Lencho’s Letter
After reading Lencho’s letter to God, the postmaster laughed but soon realised that Lencho had firm faith in God and his belief should not be shaken. So, he decided to help Lencho with the help of his office employees. He collected seventy pesos and handed the envelope to Lencho himself in which he also contributed a part of his salary.
Lencho Addresses the Post Office Employees ‘A Bunch of Crooks’
Lencho became angry when he saw seventy pesos in the envelope as he had demanded a hundred pesos. He did not believe that God could do such a mistake and send him less money. In his letter, he requested God not to send the rest of the money through the money order because he thought that the post office employees were ‘a bunch of crooks’ who might have stolen his money.
Chapter Sketch
This story is about hard life and extreme faith in God of a poor farmer (Lencho) who had lost his crop due to heavy rain and hailstones. It was the only source of income to fulfill his family’s desires.
He firmly believed that God would help him in such a difficult situation and would not let him and his family die of hunger. He wrote a letter to God to seek help. Some kind employees of the post office helped him. So, the story tells us to have faith in God and never lose hope in adverse situations.
About the Characters
Lencho : A poor farmer who lived on the peak of a low hill with his family. He was a firm believer in God. He was innocent, hopeful, caring and responsible.
Postmaster : A fat, amiable (friendly) fellow who helped Lencho to retain his faith in God. He gave a part of his salary in the charity for Lencho on behalf of God.
Post Office Employees : People who helped Lencho on postmaster’s call. They laughed at Lencho when they saw the letter but helped him in his need. Lencho called them a bunch of crooks.
Chapter Highlights
- Lencho’s hope of good rain to have a good crop. It rains but the rain soon changes to hailstorm.
- Lencho has firm faith in God.
- Lencho writes a letter to God to help him.
- He asks God to send him hundred pesos.
- The postmaster and other employees laugh at Lencho’s letter to God.
- The postmaster decided to help Lencho in his problem.
- The postmaster wants every employee to help in this noble deed.
- The postmaster collects seventy pesos and gives the envelope to the postman who gives it to Lencho himself.
- Lencho gets angry after getting seventy pesos amount as he had asked for hundred pesos.
- Lencho calls the employees of the post office a ‘bunch of crooks’ as he thinks that they have stolen the rest of the amount.
- Lencho again writes a letter to God to send him rest of the money.
- Lencho has firm belief in the magnanimity of God; and God never betrays the trust of a believer.
Word Meanings
Word : Meaning
entire : complete
valley : a low area of land between hills or mountains
crest : top of a mountain or hill
ripe : developed to the point of readiness for harvesting and eating
corn : a kind of grain
downpour : a heavy fall of rain
shower : drizzle
intimately : in a private and personal way
supper : an evening meal, typically a light or informal one
predict : guess
approaching : coming close to someone or something
pleasure : a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment
satisfied : pleased
expression : the action of making known one’s thoughts or feelings
regard : consider or think of in a specified way
draped : covered with something (cloth)
curtain : a piece of material suspended at the top to form a screen
hailstones : pellet of hails
resemble : have a similar appearance to or qualities in common with someone or something
exposing : making visible by uncovering it
frozen : covered with rigid ice
quickly : at a fast speed
hillside : inclined side of hill
destroyed : ruined
plague : an unusually large number of insects infesting a place and causing damage
locust : insects which fly in big swarms (groups) and destroy crops
solitary : done or existing alone
upset : unhappy; disappointed or worried
instructed : ordered someone to do something especially in a formal way
conscience : an inner sense of right or wrong
daybreak : dawn
peso : currency of several Latin American countries
sow : to plant the seeds of a crop
envelope : paper over to mail letter
heartily : loudly
amiable : having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner
serious : thoughtful
tapping : to hit in gentle stokes
correspondence : letters set or received
evident : clearly seen or understood
resolution : a firm decision to do or not to do something
charity : help or money given to those in need
contentment : a state of happiness and satisfaction
deed : a brave or noble act
slightest : a very small amount
deny : refuse
wrinkling : a slight line or fold in something, especially fabric or skin of the face
lick : to strike with tongue gently
affixed : attached to something else
blow : cause to move
bunch : a number of things, typically of the same kind
crooks : dishonest people or criminals
A Letter to God Questions and Answers
NCERT Solutions
Oral Comprehension Check
Question 1 : What did Lencho hope for?
Answer : Lencho hoped for a good rain as it was much needed for a good harvest.
Question 2 : why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
Answer : Lencho compared the raindrops with new coins because they were promising him a good harvest resulting in more prosperity.
Question 3 : How did the rain change ? Why happened to Lencho’s fields?
Answer : The rain changed into hailstorm as a strong wind began to blow and huge hailstones began to fall alongwith the rain.
All the crops in Lencho’s field got destroyed because of the weather conditions.
Question 4 : What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?
Answer : Lencho was filled with grief after the hail stopped as everything was ruined and there was nothing he could feed his family with. He could see a bleak future for him and his family.
Question 5 : Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
Answer : Lencho had firm faith in God. He believed that God sees everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience and helps one in one’s problems.
He wrote a letter to God demanding Him a hundred pesos to sow his field again.
Question 6 : Who read the letter?
Answer : Postmaster read the letter.
Question 7 : What did the postmaster do after reading the letter?
Answer : The postmaster laughed when he read Lencho’s letter but soon he became serious and was moved by the writer’s faith in God. He didn’t want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. So, he decided to collect money and send it to Lencho on behalf of God.
Question 8 : Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Answer : Lencho was not surprised to find a letter with money from God as he believed that God will help him.
Question 9 : What made Lencho angry ?
Answer : There were only seventy pesos in the envelope whereas Lencho had demanded a hundred pesos. The difference in the amount made him angry.
Thinking about the Text
Question 1 : Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?
Answer : Lencho has complete faith in God as he is instructed that God knows everything and helps in our problems. There are a few sentences which show this:
- But in the hearts of all who lived in the solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope-help from God.
- All though the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.
- “God”, he wrote, “If you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year”.
- He wrote “To God” on the envelope, put the letter inside and still troubled, went to town.
- God could not have made a mistake, nor could He have denied Lencho what he had requested.
- It said, “God of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me, send me the rest, since I need it very much.”
Question 2 : Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter God?
Answer : The postman send money to Lencho in order to keep Lencho’s faith in God alive and firm as he was completely moved by it.
When the postmaster reads the letter of Lencho to God, he becomes serious and does not want to shake his faith and decides to answer the letter. He gathers money with the help of his post office employees and friends on behalf of God and signs the letter ‘God’ so that Lencho’s faith does not get shaken.
Question 3 : Did Lencho try to find out who send the money to him? Why or why not?
Answer : Lencho did not try to find out who had sent the money to him because he never suspected the presence of God and had complete faith in Him. He could not believe that it could be anybody else other than Him who would send him the money. His faith in God was so strong that he believed that He had send money to him for his help in his problem.
Question 4 : Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation? (Remember that the irony of a situation is an unexpected aspect of it. An ironic situation is strange or amusing because it is the oppose of what is expected).
Answer : Lencho thinks that the post office employees have taken the rest of the money as he had demanded a hundred pesos from God and in the letter there were only seventy pesos and God cannot make such a mistake. So, he assumes that they have stolen the money.
The irony in the situation is that Lencho suspects those people who helped him in his problem and tried to keep his faith alive in God.
Question 5 : What are people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is? You may select appropriate words from the box to answer the question.
Greedy, Naive, Stupid, Ungrateful, Selfish, Comical, Unquestioning.
Answer : It is almost impossible to find a person like Lencho as he is an unquestioning and naive kind of person.
He is not stupid if he doesn’t know who has sent him money or a letter will reach God without any address. It is Lencho’s faith in God. In the real world, people are selfish and greedy and Lencho is totally lovable and different.
Question 6 : There are two kinds of conflict in the story between humans and nature and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Answer : Conflict between Humans and Nature
The conflict between humans and nature is illustrated by the destruction of Lencho’s crop by the hailstorm as Lencho was expecting a good rain to have good harvest as that was the only hope he had for his earning. He worked hard to feed his family, but nature turned violent and destroyed everything.
Conflict between Humans
The story also illustrated another conflict, between humans themselves as the postmaster along with his friends and staff sent Lencho money that Lencho had demanded from God although they didn’t know Lencho.
Lencho blamed them for taking away some amount of money. He called them ‘a bunch of crooks’. This shows that man does not have faith in another man, thereby giving rise to this conflict.
Thinking about Language
There are different names in different parts of the world for storms, depending on their nature. Can you match the names in the box with their descriptions below, and fill in the blanks?
gale, whirlwind, cyclone, hurricane, tornado, typhoon
Question 1 : A violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle ………….
Answer : cyclone.
Question 2 : An extremely strong wind …………..
Answer : gale.
Question 3: A violent tropical storm with very strong wind ………………….
Answer : typhoon.
Question 4 : A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in the shape of a funnel ………………
Answer : tornado.
Question 5 : A violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the Western Atlantic Ocean………….
Answer : hurricane.
Question 6 : A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage………..
Answer : whirlwind.
Question 7 : Match the sentences in column A with the meaning of ‘hope’ in column B.
| A | B |
|---|---|
| 1. Will you get the subjects you want to study in college? I hope so | (a) a feeling that something good will probably happen. |
| 2. I hope you don’t mind my saying this but I don’t like the way you are arguing. | (b) thinking that this would happen (it may or may not have happened). |
| 3. This discovery will give new hope to HIV/AIDS sufferers | (c) stopped believing that this good thing would happen. |
| 4. We were hoping against hope that the judges would not notice our mistakes. | (d) waiting something to happen (and thinking it quite possible). |
| 5. I called early in the hope of speaking to her before she went to school. | (e) showing concern that what you say should not offend or disturb the other person on a way of being polite. |
| 6. Just when everybody had given up hope, the fishermen came back, seven days after the cyclone. | (f) wishing for something to happen, although this is very unlikely. |
Answer :
- (b)
- (e)
- (a)
- (f)
- (d)
- (c)
Question 3 : Join the sentences given below using who, whom , whose , which , as sugggested.
(i) I often go to Mumbai. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. (which)
Answer : I often go to Mumbai, which is the commercial capital of India.
ii) My mother is going to host a TV show on cooking. She cooks very well. (who)
Answer : My mother, who cooks very well, is going to host a TV show on cooking.
iii) These sportspersons are going to meet the President. Their performance has been excellent. (whose)
Answer : These sportspersons, whose performance has been excellent, are going to meet the President.
iv) Lencho prayed to God. His eyes see into our minds. (whose)
Answer : Lencho prayed to God, whose eyes see into our minds.
v) This man cheated me. I trusted him. (whom)
Answer : This man, whom I trusted, cheated me.
Question 4 : Find sentences in the story with negative words, which express the following ideas emphatically.
a) The trees lost all their leaves.
b) The letter was addressed to God himself.
c) The postman saw this address for the first time in his career.
Answer : a) Not a lead remained on the trees.
b) It was nothing less than a letter to God.
c) Never in his career as a postman had he seen that address.
Question 5 : In pairs, find metaphors from the story to complete the table below. Try to say what qualities are being compared. One has been done for you.
| Object | Metaphor | Quality or Feature Compared |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud | Huge mountains of clouds | The mass or “hugeness” of mountains |
| Raindrops | ||
| Hailstones | ||
| Locusts | ||
| An epidemic (a disease) that spreads very rapidly and leaves many people dead. | ||
| An ox of a man |
Answer :
| Object | Metaphor | Quality or Feature Compared |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud | Huge mountains of clouds | The mass or “hugeness” of mountains |
| Raindrops | Coins | Money that a good crop will bring |
| Hailstones | Frozen pearls | brightness of pearls |
| Locusts | a plague of locusts | An epidemic (a disease) that spreads very rapidly and leaves many people dead. |
| Lencho | An ox of a man | strong |
Extra Questions
Extract Based Questions
Read the following extracts carefully and choose the correct option.
Question 1 : The house – the only one in the entire valley – sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest. The only thing the Earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho who knew his fields intimately had done nothing else but see the sky towards the North-East.
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.
“The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing”.
i) Where was Lencho’s house located?
a) On the crest of low hill
b) In the entire valley
c) In the field of ripe corn
d) Towards the North-Earth
ii) What was Lencho’s wife preparing?
a) Good harvest
b) Supper
c) Clothes
d) Coffee
iii) Find the word from the extract which means ‘very closely’.
a) Promisingly
b) Entire
c) Intimately
d) Towards
iv) What does ”crest’ mean?
a) Surface of the hill
b) Center of the hill
c) Bottom of the hill
d) Top of the hill
Answer : i) a) On the crest of low hill
ii) b) Supper
iii) c) Inimately
iv) d) Top of the hill
Question 2 : It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the North-East huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body.
i) What could be seen approaching in the North-East?
a) The fresh air
b) Huge mountains of clouds
c) Big drops of rain
d) Herd of stray animals
ii) Why did Lencho go out?
a) To protect his ripe crops
b) To shoo away the stray animals
c) To irrigate his fields
d) To have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body
iii) Find the word from the extract which means ‘forecasted’.
a) Predicted
b) Dotted
c) Approached
d) Seen
iv) What do you mean by huge mountains of clouds?
a) Very high clouds
b) Very dark clouds
c) Clouds promising heavy rains
d) Clouds making hilly pattern
Answer : i) b) Huge mountains of clouds
ii) d) To have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body
iii) a) Predicted
iv) c) Clouds promising heavy rains
Question 3 : With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in curtain of rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coins. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.
i) What happened to the rain suddenly?
a) It stopped
b) It turned into acid rain
c) It changed into hailstones
d) It started raining more heavily
ii) What did hailstones resemble in the extract?
a) Silver coins
b) Ice-creams
c) Flowers
d) Snow peaks
iii) Find a word in the given extract which means the same as ‘contented’.
a) Regarded
b) Draped
c) Exposed
d) Satisfied
iv) What does the word ‘exposing’ mean in the extract?
a) Hiding
b) Coming out in open
c) Preventing
d) Influencing
Answer : i) c) It changed into hailstones
ii) a) Silver coins
iii) d) Satisfied
iv) b) Coming out in open
Question 4 : Not a leaf remained on the trees. the corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the plants. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. When the storm had passed, he stood in the middle of the filed and said to his sons, “A plague of locusts would have left more than this. The hail has left nothing”.
i) What happened to the crop when the storm had passed?
a) It blossomed
b) It remained as it was
c) It grew to produce more seeds
d) The corn was totally destroyed
ii) What was the status of leaves after the storm?
a) They turned green
b) They turned pale
c) They were detached from the trees
d) They dried up
iii) Describe Lencho’s feelings as shown in the extract.
a) He was elated
b) He was very sad
c) He was angry
d) He was charged up
iv) Find the opposite of ‘destroyed’ from the passage.
a) Restored
b) Lost
c) Grown
d) Passed
Answer : i) d) The corn was totally destroyed
ii) c) They were detached from the trees
iii) b) He was very sad
iv) a) Restored
Question 5 : “That’s what they say: no one dies of hunger.” All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write.
i) What was Lencho’s only hope?
a) The help of God
b) The help of the government
c) Flourishing of his another of his another crop
d) His family’s support
ii) Despite being a farmer what did Lencho know?
a) How to please God
b) How to write
c) How to talk
d) How to die
iii) How did Lencho work in the field?
a) Like a farmer
b) Like a businessman
c) As hard as an animal
d) As comfortably as the rich
iv) What does that word ‘conscience’ in the extract mean?
a) Knowledge
b) Awareness
c) Interest
d) Moral sense
Answer : i) a) The help of God
ii) b) How to write
iii) c) As hard as an animal
iv) d) Moral sense
Short Questions and Answers
Question 1 : Who was Lencho? What were his main problems?
Answer : Lencho was a hardworking farmer who lived on the crest of a low hill with this family. His was the only house in the entire valley. He eagerly waited for a good rain to have a good harvest but hailstorm destroyed his crops, so he needed money to sow his field again and support his family. So, these were his main problems.
Question 2 : What did Lencho compare the raindrops to and why?
Answer : Lencho, a poor farmer, was waiting for the rain to have a good harvest so when it rained, Lencho compared the raindrops to new coins. The big drops were ten cents pieces and the little ones were fives because the crop needed the rain badly and it was the sign of good harvest.
Question 3 : Why did Lencho write a letter to God?
Answer : Lencho’s crops were completely destroyed by the hailstorm. But there was no one to help him in his difficult situation. Being a firm believer in God, he wrote a letter God, as He was the only hope in his despair. Lencho asked Him to send hundred pesos to sow his field again and support his family till the next crop.
Question 4 : Why and how did the postmaster help Lencho?
Answer : The postmaster was mesmerised to see Lencho’s faith in God and he didn’t want his faith to be shaken. He asked his employees and friends to help Lencho. He was so determined to help Lencho that he himslef contributed a part of his salary for this act of charity. He collected seventy pesos and put them in an envelope containing only a single word as a signature of God.
Question 5 : How much money did Lencho need? How much did he get?
Answer : Lencho asked God to send him hundred pesos to sow the crops and support his family till the next harvest but when he received the letter from God which was sent by the post office employees, he saw only seventy pesos in it, less than he had demanded from God.
Question 6 : Why did Lencho not want the money to be sent through mail?
Answer : Lencho did not want rest of the money to be sent through mail because he knew that God could not do such a mistake and send him only seventy pesos as he asked Him to send hundred pesos. Due to his firm faith in God, he blamed the post office employees for stealing his money from the envelope. He also called them a ‘bunch of crooks’, who actually helped him in this difficult situation.
Question 7 : Do you think that Lencho was right to call the post office employees a bunch of crooks? Why or why not?
Answer : Lencho was a simple and poor farmer who had firm faith in God. When he asked God to send him hundred pesos, he received only seventy pesos in reply. Due to his faith in God, he blamed the post office employees for stealing his money as he could not believe that God could send him any less money. He doubted these employees. But he was not right to call them a bunch of crooks as they helped him in his problem.
Long Questions and Answers
Question 1 : How does the character of Lencho inspire us to have faith in God and remain calm in difficult situation?
Answer : Lencho, a hardworking and poor farmer, always worked as an ox in his field. He worked very hard to support his family and fulfil his needs. He was an optimist, but when his crops were completely destroyed by the hailstorm, he became worried about his family. But, he believed that God would help him in this difficult situation.
Lencho was an innocent man who did not know that there was no such a living person as God who could send him money to fulfil his needs. But due to his firm faith in God, he requested Him to send him hundred pesos.
His firm faith in God made him angry when he found only seventy pesos in the envelope and he called the post office employees a ‘bunch of crooks’. He believed that they had stolen his money because God could not do such a mistake.
This all shows his blind but firm faith in God and gives him a hope in his despair. We believe that people should have such kind of faith and attitude in difficult situation and should try a solution of their problems.
Question 2 : “Humanity still exists”, this is what get to know after reading ‘A Letter to God’ in which firm faith in God of a poor farmer and helpfulness of the post office employees are aptly depicted thought. Write a paragraph on the values in it, in about 120-150 words. Give the paragraph a suitable title.
Answer :
Existence of Humanity
The story ‘A Letter to God’ written by GL Fuentes enforces our faith in humanity. After reading the story, we know that there still are people who help others without any self-interest.
Here, the postmaster and other employees lay an example of humanity and kindness for others.
First they all laughed at Lencho’s letter to God because they knew that there was no such person but they were really moved by Lencho’s faith in God. They decided to help him to keep his faith alive and firm. Even though it was not possible for them to collect hundred pesos but any how they managed to collect seventy pesos and kept them in an envelope for Lencho. They signed on it ‘God’ except their own name. This act shows us the true picture of humanity and motivates us to be a noble and kind person.
Question 3 : Describe Lencho’s qualities in light of his faith in God. Do you have faith in God like Lencho? Was Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees right?
Answer : Lencho was a poor farmer who totally depended on the harvest to survive and fulfil the basic needs of his family. Once his crops were destroyed due to heavy rainfall and hailstones, and he was afraid to think how his family would survive. He believed that God would help him in his plight.
He had firm faith in God, he believed that God would not let him be hungry. Nowadays faith in God like Lencho’s is almost impossible and unseen. People are very much aware that nobody is willing to help others without any self-interest.
Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees was not right or justified but it was just because of his innocence as he could not believe that God had done such a mistake. It were only the post office employees who had stolen money according to him.
Question 4 : Are there people like the post office employees in real world? How did they help Lencho? What would you do if you were in place of the postmaster?
Answer : The postmaster and post office employees were very generous as they contributed for the act of charity. First they laughed when they saw Lencho’s letter to God, but soon they were impressed by his faith in God. They decided to send some money to Lencho so that this faith in God does not get shaken. They collected seventy pesos and sent it to Lencho.
When Lencho got the envelope and opened it to count money, he became angry. He again wrote a letter to God demanding the remaining thirty pesos. He thought that post office employees had taken away the remaining money, and called them a bunch of crooks, which was not justified.
Nowadays it is very rare (difficult) to find such a person like the postmaster. If I were in place of the postmaster, I would have done that so because it is always pleasing to help others and to keep their firm faith in humanity. Difficult situations can come to anyone and everyone wants a helping hand to overcome that condition.