Original Update

Dear Friends of Claire and Ubumi Partners:

Many exciting things have been happening in the past couple of weeks. Individual partners have been doing some recruiting on their own, and our group of "savers" keeps growing. Joan Sauer, a counselor at Evamere, raised $200 from the Evamere staff. My brother, from California, had a white elephant sale with his faith group and sent $347. Here is what Claire asked me to say to you:
"Thank you so much for your help with everything. I cannnot tell you how much you are helping, with the money, with the motivation, with everything. It truly nearly brings me to tears. ...
I am sitting here wondering how I can possibly express my gratitude. Thank you so much. God has blessed me in so many ways during this trip and the greatest blessing has been your excitement and dedication to my work."

On the phone she told me the children are busy making thank you cards, and the orphanage director, Eddie, just glows when he talks about the group in Ohio that is helping. Thanks to your help, she will soon be able to connect to the internet from the orphanage instead of having to go into town to the internet cafe. This will make communication with her much, much easier; and significantly improve her resources for fundraising.

Now for some business. The Ubumi Project is a Zambian NGO (not-for-profit organization) Everything you give will go directly to them, unless earmarked for Claire's personal support. With Dr. Cantoni's help, we are currently working on establishing ourselves as an American non-profit organization. Once that happens, everything deposited into our current account will be tax-deductible retroactively. However, it is very important for us to keep careful records to be able to account for all donations.

Therefore: when you make out your savings check sometime during the last week of this month please send the check to Ubumi Project, 283 Hartford Drive, Hudson Ohio 44236. I will record and deposit them into the Ubumi account as close to Feb. 1 as possible; and send your name and donation amount on to Claire. Remember to make it out to Ubumi Project. and in the memo section or on the back write: for deposit only to account #4313029931.

Part of the beauty of this program is the opportunity for direct contact. If you wish to include a picture of yourself or a note for Claire or one of the children, I will gather them and send them in a single mailing. (Once she is set up with internet, you can email her directly.) If you work with a group that would like to establish an information sharing project with the people at Ubumi, they are open to that as well. They may not have much materially, but they are rich in information and good will. What they have they are willing to share.

Let me know if you have found any ways to save that you are especially proud of. I will pass the word on to others. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions: 330-650-2864.

Wishing God's richest blessings on you all.
Penny