June 2008 Update

Dear Friends:

It has been a long time since our last update, and much has happened. On the home front:

The April 5 Run for the Orphans, sponsored by Seton School, was a tremendous success, raising awareness of the plight of children around the world, and $1600 for the orphanage. Seton School has become a very good friend to us, taking a very serious interest in the orphanage and the children there. We will be meeting with Seton soon to discuss how our relationship can develop. I remember, as a child in a Catholic school, we were encouraged to save money to "buy pagan babies." The wording is frightful now, but I keenly remember how the opportunity to play a part in improving the lives of other children less fortunate than myself resonated with me then. Working with the AIDS orphans of Ubumi is perhaps an improvement on the concept of "pagan babies". Maybe such opportunities for children plant the seed that will develop into a full blown altruism and a sense of our common humanity as they mature.

Also very successful was the bracelet sale. Thanks to those of you who purchased bracelets. Once again school children played the pivotal role in this project. Seventh graders at Old Trail made bracelets in solidarity with the children at the orphanage. The Key Club at Hudson High sold them, as did students at Western Reserve Academy. My favorite story of the bracelet sale, however, is about 8-year-old Madeline Burleson in Austin, Texas. She had heard about the sale through her grandmother, and asked for some bracelets to sell to her friends. I sent ten. She sold them immediately and asked for fifty more. She and a couple of friends calling themselves Kids Who Care set up a lemonade stand at the corner of her street and a well traveled street in Austin. When people stopped to buy lemonade, the girls told them about the orphans and offered them the bracelets. Some folks were so impressed they called their friends and told them to come over. Madeline's mother had offered to match what she was able to raise, and sent a check for over $700.The bracelet sale brought in about $1800 total. That money will be used to pay the school expenses for the children at the orphanage next year. This is no small accomplishment, as education is the road out of a life of poverty for these children, and this added income allows us to continue our monthly operational support of the orphanage.

The project to collect signatures to present to City Council in Hudson, to have the city "adopt" the orphanage was put on hold for next year. It needs better organization, but it still offers a real possibility.

A new opportunity has arisen through the auspices of Case Western Reserve University. The university is offering an inter-session trip to Bangladesh Dec. 27-Jan 12, to study micro-finance through the Grameen Bank in Dhaka. Muhammed Yunnus, Founder and Director of Grameen Bank,, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his "effort to create economic and social development from below." Micro-finance, giving tiny, low-interest loans to the poorest of the poor, has had a profound influence on developing nations. It is based on a deep trust of the poor, their desire to provide for themselves and their families, and their innate creativity in entrepreneurship. If possible, we would like to have a representative from Children of Ubumi and the Ubumi Project Africa attend this program. It will cost $8000 total for both, but it will have, I think, direct application to the work Eddy is doing both at the orphanage, and with the people of the Musonda Compound. We will keep you posted on this. If you have any ideas on how we can raise the funds, please let us know.

In Kitwe, progress continues to be made. So far this year we have funded a water storage tank to alleviate erratic availability of water, a "geyser" (hot water tank), fencing around the Musonda Schools, and--best of all, a VAN! How can 16 children fit into a little minivan? Well, to understand that, you would need to see the buses that run around Kitwe. They are only slightly larger than a minivan but carry up to 20 people--not counting the driver and babies. I am attaching pictures, as I have lost the ability on my computer to reduce the size. The children joined in prayer and gratitude for you around the van, and continue to keep you all regularly in their prayers.

Due to the devaluation of the dollar, we have also increased our monthly support to try to compensate. With a difficult economy here at home, I am filled with wonder, as month after month we continue to be able to support the orphanage and make a difference in the lives of the people of Musonda. We are a truly grass roots effort. I am touched by stories of great works done by simple people who never set out to undertake the work that is given to them. Originally, Eddy and Simone did not set out to found an orphanage; we only intended to find some funding while Claire was at the orphanage so she wouldn't starve; and Muhammed Yunnus didn't set out to found a bank. We all just just said "yes" to an opportunity to make a small change, and a Hand larger than ours took the helm. Thank you for your "yes'es" large and small. It appears that that's all it takes.

I will try to do better at keeping you updated. Claire leaves for Zambia in a couple of weeks. She will carry your love and concern with her, and I'm sure, bring back many pictures and stories.

Wishing you a beautiful and peaceful summer,
Penny