I’ve been thinking about time lately and how precious it is. And I’ve been thinking that time is a great resource. I’ve often said “I don’t have time to do this or that.” But somehow we manage to make time for things that we need to do, or want to do, things that we become passionate about or things or people that need our compassion. I was discussing the other day with someone that I have fitted more into my life the last 3 months than I have done for years. I guess the last time I was fitting so much in was when I was doing 70 hours a week studying and working full time with 4 kids and a husband working away. It wasn’t that I got ‘more time,’ that it became magically at my disposal, but I guess I just prioritised what I needed to do in a different way to get things done that I needed to do.
In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking. Sir John Lubbock.
In the past weeks lots of things were happening behind the scenes besides organisation of upcoming events, Tanzanian Trivia Challenge, Nairobi Night Out, and Coral Cove Golf Club Charity Golf Day for Umoja. Valerie in Washington is working behind the scenes for us with her connections there, helping get the word out in the United States. Valerie http://fakingfabu.blogspot.com is an American lady who is the besty of my niece, and is a shining light for Umoja far across the Pacific Ocean. To have someone as part of our team that I have never even met is simply amazing and she is doing a FANTASTIC JOB of spreading the word about what we are doing. Hopefully in the coming blogs I will have some exciting news from Valerie’s tireless efforts, so check back often. I am bursting to say something, but as dad always used to say, “Don’t pee before your water comes.” Strange Aussie saying I know, but being raised in the bush I guess it fitted our environment at the time!
OTHER BEHIND THE SCENES ACTIVITIES
Jenny Dawes and her friend from Mt. Tamborine has offered to do 2 paintings to auction at an event. Both are established artists and holding an exhibition early next year.
- Meryl continues to sew on daily and her work is just beautiful! She has made many, many appliqued cot blankets for babies and is not moving onto clothes making. If anyone has any material they could donate to Meryl, please contact me cathy@umojahome.com and I will collect. Even unwanted bedspreads, curtains etc., Meryl has turned into works of art for our future babies.
- Several book publishers have donated childrens’ reading books to our future orphanage. They have been most kind in supporting us and already we are gathering a nice amount of children’s reading materials.
- We’ve begun putting together an action plan for next year’s fundraising and are looking at Umoja Events, Events – Indirect, Corporate Events, Presentations, Merchandise, Media and Media-Indirect to name a few. A lot of fine tuning needs to be done and already have had offers of caberet acts from the Gold Coast to come and perform for us at an event we are planning.
- Begun ‘some’ paperwork for Kenyan government. Will have to do most of it while I am in Kenya.
- Events will keep getting organised for my return while I am away in Kenya. The wonder of the internet makes this possible and virtual communication at any time day or night. Just because I will be out of sight doesn’t mean I am not planning and collaborating with the team here.
Did I mention how humid it is in Bundaberg?? I just want it to rain. So different to this time last year, when we just wanted it to STOP!
See you on the flip side.
Cathy
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