Archive for April, 2010
“A Night of Music Bringing HOPE & CHANGE”
In less than one week Hope4Change will be hosting its first benefit concert with the help of our friends in the music world. James, Paul, and I (Sarah) agreed that holding an event that will allow us to share our passion for the poor “eyeball to eyeball” with concert-goers would have great impact. So we’re doing it! Mbele!
First, we’d like to thank the musicians who will be donating their time and energy to H4C. We’re expecting that the “transforming power of giving” mentioned in our mission statement will pour out upon them. Also, we pass our appreciation on to those who have helped with design and printing of the concert’s promotional posters and hand-outs. Your generousity has urged us on. Our web site and blog are what they are because of the technical & creative design capabilities of Matt & Christine of Lilypod Media (www.LilypodMedia.com). They are”on board” with our H4C vision!
We’re shouting out a huge thank you to our friends at Sound of Life for air-time through the Irish-brogue radio spots. Whose voice is that anyway? Finally, we send our huge thanks to the folks at Pointe of Praise Family Life Center for the use of their welcoming and spacious facility. Parking will be plenteous!
Some of the plans for the night are…great music and a charged atmosphere of enthusiasm for being together and for the cause. At different points during the concert, three urgent projects will be presented…briefly. They are: the hospital in Arusha, Tanzania, the water reservoir system in Mokokchung, Nagaland (India), and child sponsorship in Manila, Philippines. More about these projects may be found on our web site under the CURRENT PROJECTS tab – click on thumbnails for medical, engineering, education respectively. If Internet technology is in a cooperative mood on May 8th some short videos will be shown depicting the needs in these three locations. And I do mean “short” – three minutes or so.
So come on out on Saturday night of Mother’s Day weekend (in the U.S.) for a night to remember. Stop by our display table which will be set up in the entrance area. We’d love to meet you! Together let’s supply what’s needed to our H4C partners who are joyfully bringing HOPE & CHANGE to the people of their villages, cities, and regions.
Thanks!
Sarah, James, & Paul
www.H4Cinternational.org
Myca………It’s Just not Right
Myca Amaro died on March 1st, 2010 of Dengue Fever in Manila, Philippines.
Myca’s life on earth is now gone. She died of Dengue Fever – and it could have been prevented if she had gotten the right medical treatment at the right time. Who can find the words that can that express the pain that her family felt as they watched death take it’s toll on her. Dengue Fever is known among some as “Breakbone Fever.” Does that speak for itself?
If you read my last blog you know that I had just returned in late February from Sakila, Tanzania, Africa after the death of our beloved Mama Helen Issangya. Then, Sarah and I received the news of the death of Myca on March 1st. Myca was a young girl that we were sponsoring. We had hoped to sponsor her, at least, until she had gotten through High School. I had thoughts and plans of visiting with her and her family to build a friendship and watch her grow into a young woman who so desired to live a productive life. One of her quotes in regard to now being offered an education was, “Education is important to me because it is one of the things that no one can steal from me.”
Myca, Sarah and I never knew you, but we had planned to get to know you and your family. I hope to visit your family one day when I get back to Manila.
Speaking for Hope for Change…..www.H4Cinternational.org, this is “why we do what we do.” For all the Mycas all over this world we believe that we can make a difference in the lives of some of them. Myca, we never knew you, but we will remember you always! Your short life has given me (us) a more firm resolve to do what we can do. We will always move forward! Never a step backwards.
James R. Smith