• Profile Jharana Das
  Jharana Das is the head of our operation in Koraput. She is a beautiful, young woman in every way with a great heart. She grew up in the district, is extremely well educated and understands the need for all children (and adults) to be educated and trained in various fields so that their quality of life can be improved. Her husband, Hemo, is a local pastor and as a couple they are well respected and loved in the district. Jharana takes an active part in caring for the children's well being, she oversees their education, health and spiritual care. Jharana also visits many of the villages in the remote areas where she sees and hears the needs of the tribal people.
  
   
• Container On Its Way
  Many thanks to all the people and organisations who assisted us with the 40-foot container, which is on its way to Orissa as this goes to press. We anticipate it arriving in Koraput in the second week of December. I can't thank David and the team at Blackburn Service Centre enough. They gave up much of their working space in the last couple of weeks to store everything as well as the carpark in front of the workshop for the container.
  
  Heartfelt thanks to the Austin Hospital and Christian Blind Mission gave us so much medical equipment and consumables, as well as many individuals, schools and companies who contributed. Thanks also to the many people who came to help on the Friday and Saturday when we packed the container, and for the few who tirelessly collected large and small items from many places all over Melbourne and surrounding countryside.
  
  The container happened because we had to send over two concrete block making machines which were donated to us from Missionworks in Coffs Harbour. We also need to thank Warren, the carrier who brought them down from Coffs Harbour to Melbourne. We are so blessed by the generosity of people like Phil from Missionworks and Warren. The concrete block machines will enable us to build a boundary wall around our land. This will stop the bears, jackals and any other pests from entering our land, eating our vegie garden, stealing our livestock or, worse, attacking the children living there. It will also enable us to make the blocks to build our nursing college and additions to the children's home. We will also now be able to go to the villages we work in and build latrine blocks, housing, and other structures as required.
  
  We also had several working computers donated, so when we considered the cost of sending the block machines and purchasing computers in India, the container suddenly became viable.
  
  Of course, to make these blocks, we need sand, cement and labour. Labour is the cheapest commodity and the most available. Whether we go out to the villages or are building on our land, we will employ local people and therefore put back into the local communities. It’s a never-ending story, but one that needs repeating: we do need your help to do this work. A bag of cement costs about $6, sand we get by the trailer load, the cost depending on the distance. A cubic metre of mix makes 100 large blocks.
  
  
• ORDER NOW: Speckled Goat White and Red Wines. Ideal Christmas gift. Cabernet Merlot 2003 and the Semillon Sauvignon 2006 are great value at $99 (plus delivery) per case. Mixed case of white and red wine available upon request. All profits go directly to Jacob's Well. To order online through a secure gateway go to: http://www.winesuncovered.com.au/speckledgoat/ or download the order form and either fax your order to 02 9439 0169 or post with enclosed cheque or money order to Wines Uncovered, PO Box 245, Crows Nest, NSW 1585.
  
  
• New Wells Bring Hope
  The wet season caused a slow down in well sinking for a while. Now that the wet is over, wells two and three are finished and well four is almost done. We plan to start number five in the next week or two.
  
  
• Coffee Plantation
  We have the opportunity to buy a 40 acre coffee plantation with well-established coffee bushes and spices (black pepper). The land also has a stream running beside it. The owner is selling for family health reasons. This will provide income for our work in the Koraput district, employ at least 20 local people full time and many more at harvest time. We need about $100,000 to purchase the plantation. We may be able to get a loan, however we would still need the 20% deposit.
  
  There is a huge market for coffee – it is the world's second largest traded commodity (oil being the first). India is now the world's largest coffee producer. Wouldn't you like to drink our own special coffee, grown in the highlands of eastern India?
  
  
• Children's Profile - Padma
  After just one year at our Rejoice Children's Home Padma can now read and write letters perfectly. Her health has improved considerably and she is always neat and clean. She can sing in English, Hindi and Oriya, enjoys playing and helps with the cooking.
  
  
• Time to Say Goodbye
  Joan Roose and Vicki Williamson are flying to India this week for Jacob’s Well. They are spending some time in Mumbai to assess how Jacob’s Well may assist in the slums, followed by a couple of weeks in Koraput, checking on the progress of our projects. Our prayers are with them for a safe and rewarding journey. Check out the Jacob’s Well website for updates from their trip.

Please join us and help break the poverty cycle. Download and complete the donation form 83kb pdf. Either fax +61 3 9803 6115 or post to PO Box 680 Glen Waverley Australia 3150. Cheques made payable to 'Jacob’s Well India'. 100% of your donation goes directly to India*.

On behalf of the villagers we thank you. Donations are fully tax-deductible.

 

 

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