marysmeals
I didn’t post last night because on my way to the cafe I was sadly diverted to the brand spanking new Colombo’s opposite St James’ church. It was late after the hottest day so far. My body told me it was 35 degrees though that may be an exaggeration. As a rule, Scottish people don’t tan, they stroke. I hid in a darkened room for much of the day, only to emerge when night had fallen and that terrifying armada of Yugoslavian bugs had scrambled. Cruelly diverted into Medjugorje’s most memorable pub, I was forced into a heated game of Articulate with around half of the conference. We gringos drew disapproving looks from all sides as two previously upstanding members of the SIR office team almost came to blows over the proper way of operating a small egg-timer.
This followed a long day in the cool conference hall. After Liesbeth, Imogen Walsh delivered a fantastic talk about the Backpack appeal - a companion project to Mary’s Meals which asks children in the developed world to send backpacks filled with pencils, paper and other stationary to Mary’s Meals schools around the world:
‘In order for these children to get the most of the education Mary’s Meals provides, these backpacks are essential as the majorirty of the children cannot affored pencils.’
A Malawian girl named Mary sporting a new backpack
After Lunch we had a talk from Geoff Edge, founder of Mary’s Meals Wales. His talk more than anything we have heard really touched me. His speech was a direct demonstration of how to set up national fundraising groups. Full of encouragement, he spoke of how his initial efforts have blossomed through patience and hard work into raising over half a million pounds for the charity. He organised the launch of the fundraising group in the Welsh Assembly. At one point he held up a large photo of a lorry packed full of goods on its way out of Wales. This photo struck home with me as it reminded me so much of the early days of SIR, where with great faith that we were doing something right, we would load up bags of goods in Dalmally donated by locals in Scotland, to head off to those in need.
The message ‘With Love From Wales’ was inscribed on the side of Geoff’s lorry.
Perhaps this more than anything is a sign of how far the chairty as a whole has come. He truly is an inspitration to all those who wish to get involved with Mary’s Meals.
Geoff Edge, Mary's Meals Wales
Our project leader in India is celebrating mass today in St James, then we will hear talks on our main project in Malawi.
Thanks for your time,
Joe.
Tags: Craig Lodge, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Mary's Meals, Mary's Meals Wales, Medjugorje, Scottish International Relief
June 17, 2009 at 9:20 am |
Good reporting – keep up the good work, Joe!