THANK YOU ONE AGAIN

Good Morning, thank you once again to all those who are supporting Zimbabwe widows and orphans in so many different ways.

Sometimes I become discouraged as I wonder how long we can persevere in a country where inflation rises by the day. What you can buy today for a million dollars may be two million overnight.

How does one plan on feeding and educating hundreds if by tomorrow the money we send only helps one child instead of two.

We can just do our best, knowing we are making a difference. Right now we are able to continue with the support we are giving as we have enough coming in from donations to the "project gecko"

Please continue to telll your friends and pass the word along. $10 donation for a gecko is truly
making a difference.

It is Election week in Zimbabwe . I wonder if change stands a chance.

Until next time. Sue

HAPPY EASTER

HE IS RISEN - RISEN INDEED


May I take this opportunity to wish all readers a blessed and happy Easter

In Canada we have that choice to believe or not believe- to vote or not to vote- to eat or not to eat.

Let us remember those that do not have these choices and do what we can to help in whatever way we can.

If you want, you can choose Project Gecko or SWAM both choices help the less fortunate in the world. You can read about both projects by going to the home page.

I am blessed by reaching out to others much more than I would ever have known. Working for Project Gecko or the South & West African Mission brings me much joy. See you soon. Sue

gecko story still touching hearts.

Thanks for all the e mails regarding my brother Patrick. The prognosis is still not good but it is early days yet as regards such a brain injury.

We are still receiving donations and orders for geckos and we are ready to build more projects at Safron Waldon. The elections and fear of the results are bringing things to a stand still this week, however, we are waiting in the background ready to move forward and touch more lives as soon as the opportunity arises. Yet another shipment of geckos and ornaments will be coming in soon. Thank you for continuing to pass the word along about the work we are all doing on behalf of the improvished in Zimbabwe.

Until next time. sue

communication

I was able to reach my brother by telephone yesterday. We did not discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. My eldest brother Patrick now living in Australia had a massive
sub dural haematoma which he had to have removed by surgery. The bleed was so bad that it pushed his brain completely onto the right side and down into the spinal cavity. We do not know the prognosis as yet. It seems pretty bleak. How helpless we feel. Some relatives in England, some in Zimbabwe some in other parts of Australia and here we are in Canada. Do we go and see him now? later? Will he make later? These are the results of the past 20 years broken families having to leave Zimbabwe and move to anywhere in the world they are accepted. We can only hope the elections this month bring peace and reunion.
Untill next time. Sue

NOT A WORD

Good Morning, Not a word from Zimbabwe for the past week. e.mail dosen't seem to be getting through. The telephone lines seem to be down. Since we left zimbabwe 20+ years ago we have tried not to worry when communication is shut down. But how can you not worry when you know the Elections are being held this month. Will it be like the last election in Kenya? Are family safe? Are the widows and children we have worked so hard to support safe? So many questions and no communication. The elections are just a part of the concern. We have just heard that the government has a new order. To take over 51% of White owned and foreign busineses. Just like that -your livelihood gone Businessess were struggling and now 51% goes to the government! Iwonder how the taxes get divided!!

I wonder how the people of Zimbabwe will survive? Will they have the drive to continue as they have done for so many years.
Will project gecko survive? We have to have hope. Hope is all the Zimbabweans have left.

Until next time. Sue

ps. would love to hear from some of you readers

Globe and Mail

Yesterday the Globe and Mail newspaper had a 2 page article on Zimbabwe. It was a shocking read. Yes, I had already heard most of the information from folk in the country but to see the details published in one place was overwhelming. How can the folk in Zimbabwe survive another currupt election let alone the threat that the same man who has over the past 20 years destroyed what was once the Pride of Africa and the breadbasket of the world.

2000% inflation you can be sure many more will starve to death as the world looks on.
One wonders if fewer people would die if the folk would act as Kenya has just done.! What a notion.
On this side of the world we will continue to show we care one gecko at a time.
Until next time. Sue

geckos geckos geckos

I have spent the day looking up all the outstanding orders and e mailing off to let everyone know that the ornaments and geckos are in. This shipment consisted mostly of geckos. Red, yellow, blue, green and multicolored geckos cover my desk. I am brown bagging them to take to Tiggywinkles on Tuesday am ready for pick up. Some folk are going to be disapointed as I don't have as many angles as wanted. I will order more! The order will be here in a couple of months. Let me know if you want any and any particular color.

I am amazed at the e mails still coming in. Everytime I see an order I think of the women and children that will be receiving the benefits. How easy it is to give joy to people who have so little. As easy as giving up two cups of coffee.

I was saddened this week. Margaret, a lady from Zimbabwe who we supported from time to time with food and clothing and with $200 for a cateract operation last year passed away. However, knowing that she was cared about, even if that person was on the other side of the world would have been comforting and she expressed how delighted she was to be able to see all the beautiful colors around her. It was important to her, if only for a year.

Off to bag more geckos............ Till next time Sue

ps. if you want to know what is happening in Zimbabwe this week look under Cathy's web site on this web site.

Misssion trips

Thought I would mention that planned trips into Namibia are being considered through SWAM
Although nothing has been decided on as yet, some of you out there may have always wanted to do a missions trip into Africa.

I expect, but nothing in concrete , that it would cost about $4,550.00 for such a trip. I would also suggest that a first trip into Namiba would be getting to know the people and the culture with a goal of going back with your own skill set ideas.

Just something to think about. Let me know if you are interested.

No news this week from Zimbabwe. I suspect that electricity and phones are down which limits e mail.
Look forward to hearing from you. Sue

geckos arrive

Good Morning. The geckos and ornaments have arrived. Horray! I don't beleive we have enough to meet the outstanding orders but have already ordered more. This is about the children and not timing I suspect.

We had our first Advisory Board Meeting last night. the entheausiasm in the room was exciting to see. We are all set and ready to go. First item up will be a garage sale held in White Rock . If you have good quality items to sell you may rent a table or donate your clean washed and priced items. More info to follow but please e mail me if you are interested.

Must run and sort out gecko orders. Wishing you a pleasant day. Sue

Advisory Board

PROJECT GECKO LINKS WITH SWAM (see letters on web site )
Although PG and SWAM are two distinct and seperate identities Frank and I are joining with South & West African Mission so as to facilitate tax receipts for those who give more than the $10 donation for a gecko and want a tax receipt. All "extra money needing receipts" will go to the SWAM relief fund which we hope will soon send aid in the form of relief packs into Zimbabwe. However the SWAM relief fund is for general relief and necessary help will be sent where most needed at the time.
Starting tomorrow March 3rd an advisory board will be formed. The advisory board will be responsible for fund raising through varios events. African dinners, garage sales, golf tournaments etac. (any ideas please send them) As if todays date we have 8 confirmed new board members and 6 or 7 interested or wanting to be a support at the events.
I am truly looking forward to tomorrow and seeing what will develop. I believe God has great plans.
Until tomorrow. Sue

1st posting March 1st 2008

It is with a sad heart that I write the first posting regarding "project gecko" My friend John Milne who inspired me to do more for the widows and orphans in Zimbabwe has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and given an expected survival of a mere 6 months. John, however, is expecting a miricle and moving forward with his passion which is to provide filtered water to homes in Africa. He is in the process of setting up an advisory board at this time and hopes that folk will come forward and join him on this mission.
(SEE gecko story in the letters section of the website )

We are at a bit of a stand still right now as we await the new shipment of geckos and ornaments from Zimbabwe. BUT you will be amazed at what they are making now. I will post photos as soon as they arrive but I am going to keep you guessing and waiting. I will tell you that they are made of wire and beads and very intricate. See you soon when I have more news to share. Sue