INDIAN SCHOOL BOUSHER
CBSE Affiliation Number: 6630203 & School Code 90252
ACADEMIC YEAR 2025 - 2026
SUBJECT: ENGLISH RESOURCE PERSON: SREEVIDYA.S.
TYPE OF LM: REFERENCE NOTES GRADE & SECTION: X-A, B, C & D
DATE: 04-04-2025 TOPIC: A LETTER TO GOD BY G.L. FUENTES
A LETTER TO GOD
1 Introduction:
Gregorio López Fuentes (1895–1966) was a renowned Mexican novelist, poet, and journalist.
His works often depicted the struggles of the rural poor and addressed themes of social
justice and resilience. A Letter to God is one of his most well-known short stories,
highlighting the unwavering faith of a simple farmer and the irony of human
perception. Through his writings, G.L.Fuentes brought attention to the deep-rooted beliefs
and hardships faced by the common people of his time.
Title:
The title A Letter to God holds deep significance, as it encapsulates Lencho’s unwavering
faith in divine intervention during his crisis. By writing directly to God, Lencho symbolizes
absolute trust and hope in a higher power. The act of addressing a letter to God highlights
the simplicity and purity of his belief, which contrasts with the complexities of human
nature, including doubt and skepticism. The title also sets the tone for exploring themes of
faith, kindness, and human compassion, showing how belief in God inspires extraordinary
acts—whether through the divine or through people acting in his stead. It perfectly
captures the essence of the story.
Theme of the Lesson:
The central theme of A Letter to God revolves around faith, hope, and irony. The story
highlights the absolute faith of a poor farmer, Lencho, in God, and his unwavering belief
that divine help will reach him. The narrative also explores the theme of human kindness,
as the postmaster and his employees, touched by Lencho's faith, try to assist him.
However, the story takes an ironic turn when Lencho, instead of being grateful, mistrusts
his benefactors, illustrating how unwavering faith can sometimes prevent individuals from
recognizing reality.
Summary
Lencho, a hardworking farmer, lives with his family in a small house on a hill, where he
cultivates crops. His livelihood entirely depends on a good harvest, and he eagerly
anticipates the much-needed rain for his fields. When the long-awaited rain finally arrives,
Lencho is overjoyed, but his happiness is short-lived. Soon, the gentle rain turns into a
devastating hailstorm, completely destroying his crops. With no food or money left, Lencho
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is heartbroken but refuses to give up hope. He has immense faith in God and firmly believes
that divine intervention will help him overcome this crisis.
Despite his lack of formal education, Lencho writes a letter to God, expressing his dire
situation and requesting 100 pesos to sustain his family. He takes the letter to the post
office, addressing it simply to "God." Amused yet moved by Lencho's unwavering faith, the
postmaster decides to help him. He collects money from his colleagues and donates a portion
of his own salary to gather funds. However, they can only collect 70 pesos. The postmaster
places the money in an envelope, addressing it to Lencho as if it were sent by God.
When Lencho receives the letter, he is neither surprised nor overjoyed but rather
disappointed to find only 70 pesos instead of the requested 100. His faith in God remains
unshaken, but he assumes that the post office employees must have stolen the remaining
amount. Without a second thought, he writes another letter to God, asking Him not to
send money through the post office, as he believes the employees in the post office are
dishonest. The story ends on an ironic note, as Lencho fails to recognize the kindness of
those who helped him while continuing to trust in divine intervention.
2 Read the extracts given below and answer the following questions.
2A “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. It was during the meal that, as Lencho had predicted, big
drops of rain began to fall. 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. This hope was a part of the
tradition, for in the old times, people in need always turned to God. It was this faith in God
that made Lencho see the rain as a blessing sent from heaven.”
I What was the single hope that Lencho and his family had during the rainstorm?
Answer:
Lencho and his family hoped that the rain would save their crops, as they believed it was
a blessing sent from God. This hope was based on their faith and tradition of turning to
God in times of need.
II How does this passage reflect Lencho’s belief in divine intervention?
Answer:
This passage reflects Lencho’s strong belief in divine intervention as he associates the rain
with God's blessing. His unwavering faith leads him to see the rain as a sign of help from
God, reinforcing his belief that God will take care of his problems.
III What is the meaning of the word "solitary" as used in the passage?
a) Crowded b) Isolated c) Prosperous d) Busy
Answer:
b) Isolated
"Solitary" refers to something or someone that is alone, isolated, or in a remote place,
which in this case describes Lencho’s house in the middle of the valley.
IV Why does Lencho and his family place their hope in God during the rainstorm?
a) They believe God controls the weather.
b) They think the rain is a curse.
c) They have no faith in nature.
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d) They are seeking revenge on the weather.
Answer:
a) They believe God controls the weather.
Lencho and his family rely on their faith that God will provide for them, viewing the rain
as a sign of divine intervention.
2B ‘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 the envelope with a blow of his
fist.’
I What does the phrase ‘wrinkling of his brow’ mean in the given extract?
Answer:
The phrase ‘wrinkling of his brow' means surprised or confusing appearance by the folds
on the face above the eyes.
II To whom did Lencho write the second letter?
a.to his brother b. to God c. to the postmaster d. to his parents.
Answer: (b) to God
III State True or False
The story is set in Latin America.
Answer: True
IV ‘He started to write….’, why did he start to write?
Answer:
Lencho had strong faith in God. He couldn't understand why he did not receive the full
amount of money he had asked for. This confusion turned to anger, so he decided to write
another letter to God. In this letter, he mentioned that he only received seventy pesos, not
the demanded 100 pesos. Also, he asked God to find a different way to send the money,
without using the postal services to avoid dishonest postal employees.
3 Answer the following questions in about 40-50 words.
I How does Lencho's faith influence his actions, and what does it reveal about his
character?
Lencho’s strong faith in God influences his actions after the hailstorm destroys his crops.
He firmly believes that God will help him, showing his innocence and hope. However, his
doubt towards the post office employees reveals his inability to recognize human kindness.
His story reflects how faith can inspire resilience but also lead to misunderstandings.
II What role does the postmaster play in the story, and how does he demonstrate
kindness and empathy?
The postmaster serves as a compassionate figure in the story. Initially amused by Lencho’s
letter, he soon feels admiration for the farmer’s unshakable faith. He takes it upon himself
to collect money and secretly fulfills Lencho's request as much as possible. His actions
demonstrate selflessness, as he goes out of his way to help a stranger without expecting
gratitude. This highlights the theme of human kindness and reinforces the idea that
goodness exists in unexpected places. His kindness contrasts with Lencho's
misunderstanding, making the story's irony even more poignant.
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III What is the irony in Lencho’s reaction to receiving the money, and what
message does the author convey through it?
The irony in Lencho’s reaction is that instead of being grateful, he believes that the post
office employees stole part of the money. The very people who tried to help him are the
ones he distrusts the most. This situational irony emphasizes the idea that blind faith can
sometimes prevent people from seeing reality. The author conveys a message about
human perception—sometimes, people fail to recognize kindness when it does not align
with their expectations. This irony makes the story both humorous and thought-provoking.
IV Why did the post office employees find Lencho's letter funny?
The post office employees found Lencho's letter amusing because it showcased his simplicity
and innocence. His unshakable faith in God, to the point of asking for divine help in the form
of money, was unusual and unexpected. The humor lay in the earnestness of the letter,
which they had never encountered before. It was an extraordinary display of trust in the
supernatural.
V Do you think that Lencho was right to call the post office employees a bunch of
crooks? Why or why not?
Why Lencho called them crooks: Lencho misunderstood the situation and assumed the post
office employees had stolen part of the money he believed God sent. His frustration over
not receiving the full amount led him to think they were dishonest, highlighting his distrust
of humans compared to his faith in God.
Why they aren't crooks: Lencho was wrong because the employees demonstrated kindness
and generosity. They collected money from their own pockets to fulfill his request. Rather
than being dishonest, they showed empathy and went beyond their duty to help, even
though he never acknowledged their efforts. Their actions were compassionate, not criminal.
4 Answer the following questions in about 80-100 words.
I Describe Lencho’s character. How does he represent faith, innocence, and irony?
Lencho is a hardworking and devoted farmer who relies completely on nature and divine
intervention for his survival. His faith in God is so strong that he writes a letter requesting
financial help, genuinely believing he will receive assistance. His innocence is evident in his
unwavering trust in divine help and his lack of doubt in God's ability to send him money.
However, his character also reflects irony—despite receiving help, he assumes that the post
office employees are thieves rather than kind-hearted people. This duality in his character
highlights the contrast between faith and reality, making him a compelling figure in the
story. The author uses Lencho’s character to depict the power of belief while also critiquing
human nature's tendency to misjudge others.
II If Lencho had discovered the truth about the post office staff, how do you think
he would have reacted?
If Lencho had found out that the post office employees had gathered the money for him,
his reaction could have been one of shock and guilt. He might have realized that he
misjudged them, and that God’s help came through human hands. This realization could
have led him to appreciate kindness in all its forms rather than expecting miracles.
Alternatively, given his deep faith, he might have still believed that God influenced the
postmaster’s actions, reinforcing his belief in divine intervention. Either way, this discovery
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would have been a lesson in humility and gratitude for Lencho, showing him that faith and
humanity are interconnected.
III Imagine you are one of the post office employees. Write a response to Lencho’s
second letter.
Dear Lencho,
I understand your disappointment in not receiving the full amount you requested.
However, you must know that God works through people, and He has given others the
kindness to help you. The money you received was from those who admired your faith
and wanted to support you. Instead of doubting the people around you, try to recognize
the goodness in their actions. Faith is not just about expecting miracles—it is also about
seeing God in the kindness of others. I hope you will always keep your faith but also learn
to appreciate human generosity.
Yours sincerely,
A Friend from the Post Office
IV Imagine a conversation between Lencho and the postmaster after Lencho
receives the money. Write a dialogue where Lencho expresses his gratitude to
God and shares his doubts about the missing amount, while the postmaster tries
to explain their act of kindness without revealing the truth.
Lencho: Thank you, God, for sending me the money I desperately needed. But I wonder
why the full amount didn’t arrive. Could it be that someone took part of it?
Postmaster: Lencho, your faith in God is truly admirable. Perhaps, instead of focusing on
the missing amount, consider the kindness of people who may have been instruments of
God’s work.
Lencho: I hadn’t thought of it that way. Still, it feels wrong for someone to take a portion
of what was meant for me.
Postmaster: Sometimes, help comes in unexpected ways. It’s not always about how much
we receive, but about the intention and effort behind it. Perhaps this, too, is God’s way of
teaching us gratitude.
Lencho: I suppose you're right. But it’s hard to feel grateful when I needed the full amount
to replant my crops.
Postmaster: I understand, Lencho. Your struggle is real, but even small acts of kindness
can create ripples of hope. Trust that things will work out, and your faith, combined with
resilience, will carry you through.
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