Newsletters
With our regular newsletters, we aim to keep you posted on all the interesting and important news and updates of our programs and various activities. Enjoy reading!
June 4, 2009
Dear friends and partners, What an exciting month it has been for us. The response to the shopping bags – our eco warrior system for the environment plus work for so many of our women ended up in us selling 1200 pieces in the first month. I pray that this trend may continue for many months.
We have had a number of firsts – unusual events that have touched my heart. Bruce Ford, an Australian friend, ran the first ever marathon for Tabitha – Bruce entered an event called Racing the Planet - a 7 day marathon in the heart of Namibia – the race was very tough and Bruce struggled – but he never quit – at the end of the week he ended up in the hospital with a severe infection in his leg. Bruce raised nearly $50,000.00 Australian dollars for Tabitha – his race so reflected the people he raced for – people who struggle constantly and never quit – thank you Bruce! Another partner of Tabitha – Dan Hammond participated in a Triathlon in support of Tabitha – the final figures are not yet in – but he raised several thousand dollars – Dan’s participation involved determination, pain and struggle – but like Bruce he never quit. Dan reflects on the people he supported – people who are often in pain – they struggle but they don’t quit - thank you Dan. This week I visited a family of 6 – desperately poor – they have 2 hectares of land – but the land is very poor quality – it cannot grow rice as the water just seeps through the pebbly soil – the family got a field well a month ago – the father cried – he cried not because he was tired or because he was defeated – he cried because he had hope – he cried because he could work. I saw their fields yesterday – it was amazing – every inch of his fields was sprouting with new life. His wife Sokha carried her youngest in her arms – her face was shining – her eyes spoke volumes of the joy she felt. The parents and their 4 young children tilled and planted every inch of their fields – their house is nothing but a simple shade from the sun – and all their hard labor is bearing fruit. Harvest will begin in June – they expect to make several hundred dollars from each field – sounds so little to most of us – but for this family – it is riches beyond their imagination. A youngster Danielle had her birthday last week – she didn’t want presents – she asked instead for money – money to be able to help a family in Cambodia. Danielle went housebuilding 2 months ago and Danielle - like so many of our young Tabitha supporters – gave of herself – through a birthday present for others – I know of so many young people who have done this and because of each of these young people – so many young people here like Vutha’s 3 older children – can now to go school. Miriam and I are leaving for Canada this weekend – we are looking forward to seeing family and friends – first time for a whole month off in 16 years for me. I am excited – it’s been a long struggle – it can be painful – but none of us at Tabitha have ever quit. I look at all of this with wonder – how can my God have blessed me so richly – how privileged I am to have each of you in my life – each of you who give in so very many ways - I could write volumes about what each of you have done – I can write volumes about the lives each of you have touched. Thank you my friends, you are an amazing group of people. Talk with you again in August. Janne
