Have you ever wanted to make a difference in someone’s life but shied away from contributing to a charity because you were not sure where your money would go and how it would be used? 

Have you ever wondered why you were born in a land of safety and plenty while others, through no fault of their own, struggle to survive?  Why money is spent to build monuments to power and wealth such as museums, cathedrals, and “bridges to nowhere,” while investing in human capital to teach the needy how to provide for themselves is secondary?

In 2006, my step-daughter Emily introduced me to her friend Hayley whose mother Hilary, now living in Virginia, grew up in Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia.  Hilary introduced me long-distance to her friend Lesley in Zimbabwe who agreed to assist me in my effort to support Edline’s education.

Since I started sponsoring Edline in 2000, Zimbabwe has imploded.  No one knows why the leadership of the country created the disaster that their people currently face as Zimbabwe earns the reputation of "the poorest of the poor."  Learn more concerning their plight on the following PBS web site:

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/zimbabwe504/

Recently I discovered that Lesley has two adult children, one of whom volunteers to support local AIDS orphans.  By support, I mean her daughter Nat gathers food to help keep them alive.  Here is Hiliary's initial report:

"For several years now, Nat has been working both through her church and independently to find out which orphans she can help within a specific geographic area.  Her weeks are spent asking bakeries, grocery stores and individuals to donate whatever food they can and a couple of days a week are spent driving around collecting it.  In Zimbabwe, food is scarce and so is gasoline

People spend hours and hours sitting in queues waiting to purchase a limited amount of gasoline.  Believe it or not, gasoline can now only be bought on the black market.  This is because the government failed to pay the bills for the country's fuel! 

The last time I was there I heard her tell a heart-breaking story of how, on one occasion, the bread was still frozen when she arrived at the church and the children were so hungry that they tore right into the cold, hard bread."

According to the Economist, in early 2008 the inflation rate in Zimbabwe was 24,000% so what Nat needs is a way to access money as she needs to spend it so that it will not depreciate while she holds it. 

These grannies may or may not be relatives of the children that they shelter.  One granddaddy watches over five of his grandchildren and four other orphans.  Their homes usually have no running water or electricity. 

The older children are currently devising a ways to barter for food by trading home-made candles and sleeping mats.  What the children do have is the hope that the economic and political situation will change in Zimbabwe.   I share their hope since my father used to preach:  “There is nothing so constant as change.” 

For those who are willing to share the blessings that life has bestowed upon us all, this is an excellent opportunity to assist a group of women in Zimbabwe as they care for their displaced orphans.  Woman power is alive and well there.  The white women are collecting and distributing food.  The black women are providing shelter.  Will you help me provide funds for them to feed and school the children? 

Spending a casual $25 is now hard for me to do.

Our contacts in Africa guarantee that every dollar we donate will be a dollar directly consumed by the orphans.  The women will provide quarterly reports by email on what they receive and how they spend it.  They have proven that they can do a lot with the little.

Evaluate how Nat spent my contribution of $150 in 2006.

If you would like to help tell this story, please forward this email to others in your address book.  And if you have lasted this long in this epistle, thank you for your very kind attention!  

To share in this effort, mail your contribution to:

Nat's Orphan Relief

Hilary Lofink

11729 Flemish Mill Court

Oakton, VA  22124