This is a wonderful situation as I have been off chemo for
three months. I thank you for your
prayers and caring thoughts for me.
It was wonderful to spend three weeks in November in Kamuli,
Uganda after last being there in October 2013.
My passion for The BezCan Project has been rekindled. I have spent 14 weeks of the last two years
in Uganda. I found this fourth time it
has been harder to be back in Australia.
We are currently rated the richest country per head in the world. I find it hard to watch my own society living
‘high on the hog’ after working closely with people who get by day-to-day.
On the way to Dubai I read an OxFam advertisement in an
international newspaper stating that the 85 richest people in the world own as
much as the poorest 3.5 billion people in the world. That is almost half the world’s
population! I cannot see how this is
fair. So I have recommitted myself to
making the lives of 850 children and 50 staff and their families in two schools
in Kamuli, Uganda fairer. My hope is that
I live in reasonable health for the next three years to be able to visit and
see the The BezCan Project through.
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| Bezallel students using the textbooks you financed: teaching and learning was much easier for both schools in 2014 |
Going forward DHC’s hope is Barbara, I and you, my readers, and
a wider audience will provide the finance to enable us to place Bezallel and
Canaan Schools in a fairer position – at least we will make a difference for a few
of our fellow disadvantaged citizens of the world. In addition to the school’s annual subsidy of
A$60,000+ (which is currently funded), I am seeking at least $500,000 to enable
Canaan Junior School to build a new school on the land The BezCan Project has funded this year and to vastly improve the
cobbled together buildings and infrastructure at Bezallel Preparatory Primary
School.
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| Late November beginning construction of the 150 metre wall and drain to prevent the continuing erosion from water flowing from Progressive High School into Bezallel School's grounds. |
I have been to many countries around the world, including poor
ones. Uganda is the first time I have
come to understand better what poverty is through making friends, true friends. I am sorry that it took to my sixties to realise
this.
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| Wilber, one of my amazing Ugandan friends, and I under the gum tree at Malamu Conference Centre on the evening of the dinner I hosted for the two schools staff and various committees |
As I enjoy this time free of chemotherapy, I look realistically
at the likelihood of a further one or two more six-month periods of chemo
treatment before it does not help my situation.
I have reflected on my life and feel it has largely been very
rewarding. Highlights are being married
to Barbara, an incredible person, having four wonderful children and enjoying
their partners and their families. I have
enjoyed knowing my Mum’s wider family and Barbara’s wider family. I have enjoyed making friends in different phases
of my life, particularly The Glebe Christian Youth Club (Youngies), Petersham
Baptist Church and through running our own business. My working career at EY and our own business
has provided me with skills and knowledge that are being fully utilised in
Uganda. Barbara’s willingness to live
moderately has been a key part of us being able to save and invest for our
retirement. In turn, we are now able to
significantly fund The BezCan Project.
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| Our grandchildren enjoying playing with pegs before our Thanksgiving dinner |
So DHC has much hope, much hope for the future however long it
is! I hope my next three weeks in Uganda
will be last two weeks in February and beginning of March 2015. Dr Lisa says this looks likely based on my
current health.
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