14/09/2009 Hi Mima, Following our brief chat yesterday, here's the message I'm asking you to take to the Elders on my behalf. It's to let the Elders know about a wee project I'm setting up in support of Christian Engineers In Development (CED) - a charity organisation that provides engineering expertise to Developing countries. My wee project aims to HELP raise funds for provision of piped clean water, improved sanitation and health and hygiene education to small communities in Africa. I am now ready to start gathering supporters to help raise funds for a rural water supply project in Kajugangoma in Uganda. Kajugangoma lies about 4 kilometres west of a small town of Kanungu at an altitude of 5000 feet above sea level. It's a very broken country with most of the 2000 population living in hamlets around the ridges ... there are two primary schools in this area. The present source of water includes three unprotected springs which are not easily accessible - and there is a high incidence of water-borne disease. Women and children spend up to 4 hours daily fetching water - often involving steep climbs, laden with heavy water cans. You can appreciate how piped clean water supply coupled with sanitary improvement, and health and hygiene education would help to improve the lifestyle of a small community like this at Kajugangoma. This is one of the 6 rural water supply projects applied for by the Church of Uganda. Mima, the purpose of this note is merely to inform the Elders of my intention, and to seek first the Elders spiritual support and any guidance or advice you may wish to throw my way. As I am now ready to start gathering supporters for this project I'd like the Elders to know I intend to begin with an outright, blatant begging campaign ... and it's going to be in the form of ebegging first. I intend to reach out to almost everyone I know in and outside the Church circle asking for financial and other kinds of support. I have a good reason for choosing this strategy which I'll be happy to share another time - but at this stage I need to know if the Elders at WGNC have any objection to me ebegging from WGNC members - privately. Next ... an artist friend of mine in Stirling is joining me in the project. Laura Newbury and I have agreed to give a significant proportion of the nett revenue from some of our art activities to this project - in some cases up to 85%. This should be fun and testing. We are also examining two other plans for inclusion. In all these efforts, we will co-ordinate closely with one of the directors of Christian Engineers In Development (CED)... Ian Rankin is an architect living and working in Glasgow. Ruth and I have known Ian and his wife Jeni since the mid-80's when Ian was working with AIM. We get on very well together. I am aware all this is somewhat vague at the moment, Mima. I can add finer details when you want them. Please pray for wisdom, courage, energy and my ongoing involvement in this work before I get too old or otherwise unable to continue. Have a good meeting, Ali Tel: 0141 946 5032 Cell: 07712 581 061 And God blessed them, and said to them, ''Be fruitful and multiply, and subdue the earth.'' Dear Ali, Here is a written version of what I said to you on the phone. I forwarded your email to the elders and they dealt with it last Tuesday. No one has any objection to this plan and if you have this on your conscience, then by all means go ahead. Some had looked up the web site and thought it was a good solid organisation worth supporting. The only thing is that the elders cannot push your request in front of all the other things WGNC is involved in, and if people don't give money, that will be between you and them. However, they wish you God's blessing in what you do. I have no doubt you will be planning things and look forward to your next email. Mima Top | Find # aa09/gen128elders |
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