What are the chances for a message in a bottle to be answered? Pretty high, if the sea is kind enough to bring it all the way from Bahamas to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

United Space Alliance worker Jill Vogel accidentally discovered the bottle while voluntarily cleaning the beach at the space center. The letter wrote “Dear sea penpal” and originated from a 9-year-old girl from Holy Name Catholic School in Bimini.

As it appears, every year on Columbus Day (which celebrates Columbus’ arrival in the Americas), the girl takes part in a class project: she and her classmates send messages in bottles out to sea, hoping someone would find them and answer them.

“What a cool thing for a kid,” said Vogel, as quoted by Local 6 News.

The letter was apparently written in October, but it’s never too late to answer, and the workers at the United Space Alliance decided to surprise her by responding to her wish: “I hope you respond to my letter,” the little girl wrote.

Vogel and his colleagues sent back to Bahamas space memorabilia, including crew photos, pins, stickers and information about astronauts. NASA, Keep Brevard Beautiful and Wildlife Refuge contributed with items as well.

The package was sent by mail (to make sure it gets there) and all those who contributed to it are excited and can’t wait for the package to reach its destination.