• Sickle Cell Scourge
  We were sad to receive the news that two children from Rejoice Children’s Home have been very unwell. Debo was hospitalised for three days with sickle cell anaemia. His blood pressure was very low and he needed a blood transfusion from two bottles of blood. He’s home now and has been taking medicine regularly and is in better health. Similarly, the same thing happened to Shanti, who was in hospital for four days and also required two bottles of blood, which Jacob’s Well paid for. Our children will continue to be treated, cared for and strengthened to reduce recurrences.
  
  Sickle cell disease is a serious health issue facing the tribal people. It is a genetic disorder, common in the tribal areas of India, and without proper medical care, can be fatal. Many babies born with sickle cell disease die in infancy. Infants, older children and adults with the disease suffer bouts of critical illness called crises. Tribal villagers don’t have the funds to pay for doctors, antibiotics or blood transfusions, but without proper medical treatment they die.
  
  Sickle cells have a lifespan of 10–20 days compared to 90–120 days for normal red blood cells. Their distorted shape causes the cells to become stuck in blood vessels, depriving tissue and vital organs of oxygen. Sufferers become severely anaemic, causing their hearts to work faster and greatly increasing the risk of heart failure. They are more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, more likely to have strokes and to experience kidney failure. By the age of 30, 70% of people with sickle cell disease will have developed gall stones. 50% of people with sickle cell disease do not live beyond 50.
  
  Education, better health care and better employment will enable many of these people to address this and many other serious health issues. Jacob’s Well is making a small difference. We can do more as more people come on board. Please share this with your friends, your family and your work colleagues.
  
  This reminds us of just how blessed we are to be living where we are, with a health, social security and education system.
   
  
• Home Parents
  Susant Kumar Majhi and his wife, Pranati, are our home parents. They are a loving and caring couple who have three children of their own. We are truly blessed to have them as vital members of the Jacob’s Well team.
  
  Majhi and Pranati come from the same village in another district in Orissa. Like many villagers they married very young and had their first daughter while they were in their teens. They understand the needs of tribal people and have experienced village life with all its difficulties first hand, so they are able to serve the children and their families in our area of outreach.
  
  To assist the children’s home become self-sufficient, Majhi maintains a wonderful vegetable garden. There are some chooks laying eggs and an orchard, with first harvest due in a couple of years. The children are all involved and are not only learning how to grow their own food, but enjoying eating their produce too!
  
  Thank you to all whose support has made this possible.
  
  
• Children's Profile - Sonadei Nayak
  The change in Sonadei has amazed all of us. When she came to Rejoice Children’s Home she was not able to read and write but now she can write very well and has improved in reading. Her handwriting is very good. She can pronounce the English alphabet and many words.
  
  Sonadei’s health has improved dramatically. She looks so beautiful now, full of confidence where once she was shy and afraid to look directly at anyone. She is helping with the housework and spends a lot of time helping the younger ‘brothers and sisters’.
  
  
• A Battle Fought
  If you haven’t heard the story of our ill-fated container, here’s a short version of what happened.
  
  The container arrived safely in Vishakapatnum a few days after Joan and Vicki arrived. They had already been told by customs agents how hard it would be to clear the cargo, but if there were letters supplied by officials in Koraput it would help. Even though everything was donated for charitable purposes, it was of no consequence; everything would be valued at Indian prices and duty from 35% to 135% depending on the item would be charged. This would have amounted to in excess of $10,000 AUD. The Koraput Officer took over six weeks to supply the letter. There were also several officials who were open about requiring a ‘personal payment’ before they would do anything. We were adamant: Jacob’s Well will not pay bribes. Eventually, after reports and letters were supplied, we were advised they would still open the container, value everything as they wished and require payment of duties. We were also aware that once a container had been in port for three months, it would be seized and the contents auctioned for considerable amounts of money.
  
  Given this, we decided to have the container returned to Australia. We instructed the shipping people in India to arrange for the container to be on the next ship to Singapore. That didn’t happen. Three more ships left and another six weeks passed before our Australian shipping agents, Pro Global Logistics, came to the rescue. They arranged for the container to be returned, cleared through customs and delivered to Hastings. There a small team of wonderful people helped unpack it and then repack the contents into two containers which went to medical missions in Vanuatu. The remaining contents were shipped to a medical mission in Peru.
  
  Damian from Pro Global Logistics was very helpful arranging the shipping, receiving calls from Joan in India and providing information and encouragement! He made sure all the re-entry processes were done. We are blessed to have them as our partner.
  
  
• Benefit Concert
  Join us for ‘a merry gathering in the country’ – Beethoven at Kyneton. The Flinders Quartet will perform two Beethoven string quartets on Sunday 17 June at 2:30pm at St Paul’s Anglican Church, 22 Yaldwyn Street West, Kyneton. Tickets $15/$8 will be available at the door. All proceeds will benefit Jacob’s Well. We hope to see you there! For more information go to: Benefit Concert Pictured right: Zoe Knighton, cellist of the Flinder's Quartet, and Joan Roose, CEO and founder of Jacob's Well, at 3MBS studios promoting the event.
  
  
• Tax Time
  A great way to minimise your taxable income this financial year and help break the poverty cycle is to make a donation of $2 or more to Jacob’s Well.
  
  
• Print Version of Living Water Issue #3
  Download PDF
  
  
• ORDER NOW: Speckled Goat White and Red Wines. Speckled Goat White and Red Wines – an ideal gift! Merlot 2005 $107.88 per case plus delivery or Cabernet Merlot 2003 and Semillon Sauvignon 2006, both great value at $99 per case plus delivery. Mixed cases of white and red wine available upon request. Profits go directly to Jacob’s Well. Help us break the poverty cycle. 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.
  

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.

 

 

Contact Jacob’s Well

Unsubscribe from Jacob’s Well