• Field Report September 08
  Joan in India
  
  
• Rejoice Mastiput
  We celebrated Indian Independence Day with a flag raising ceremony, soccer match, corn on the cob and cake for everyone, including some boys from the local village. The match was between our Rejoice boys and the local village boys with 15 to each side. Our boys won 3-1 and everyone had so much fun we arranged a rematch that we also won!  It was also decided that on the fifteenth of each month we will have a party and cake for the children whose birthdays fall during that month, so everyone at the home can rejoice!
  
  The children were thrilled to receive their new school uniforms and were very excited to be going to school in new clothes. Our youngest was allowed to go to school with the big kids as part of the Independence Day celebrations and she loved it so much she goes with the rest of the children every day, even though she is too young! School is a real privilege here so the children value the opportunity that the generosity of our sponsors has given them. Each child has their own pencils, drawing pad, pencil case and ruler to let their creative expression flourish. As we now have 46 children we have employed a second tutor, Ramesh, to assist the younger children, enabling Sangram to effectively tutor the older children with a more manageable class size.
  
  A local man and his daughter have been engaged to farm our land.
  Pranati, our housemother, has been treating them as equals (something that is very rare in India). As a result of this kindness she was asked to go to their village and represent them in a government organised women’s meeting, as the local people cannot read or write. She was entrusted to be their eyes and ears. After the formal part of the meeting finished, the real work began for Pranati! When these illiterate women’s children get sick, they are given medicine, but they don’t know what to do with it, so it remains unused. Therefore Pranati spent another hour teaching them how to open childproof bottles, how much medicine should be given for different ages and when to administer it. This was a wonderful opportunity to show love and respect for our neighbours and for Pranati to share her knowledge.
  
  
• Here's Mud in Your Eye!
  Anyone who has been to India will not find what I’m about to say unusual, although if you know my aversion to motorbikes it is rather comical. Picture this. The heaviest rain you have ever seen hurting my face & eyes so much that I had to wear my reading glasses. I’m all suited up in waterproofs and customary thongs, on the back of a motorbike, entering a village where we had just completed a bore well. Ungracefully I get off the bike and start walking towards the villagers. What a sight I must have been! Yet, it doesn’t stop there. Squelch! I lost my thong in knee-deep mud, and I wasn’t going anywhere until I rescued that thong. So now I am knee and elbow deep in it. Eventually I find the errant thong only to lose the next one after a few more steps. Majhi, our housefather and my driver, is no help at all, as he cannot stop laughing! Finally, I try to reclaim some dignity. With muddy thongs in hand I stride into the village, where the first use of their new well was to wash me and my thongs.
  
  
• Building Progress
  In spite of the torrential rain – and hail! - we have completed the storeroom for cement, building supplies and motorbike. The storeroom is connected to the shed and has been built with a v-shape roof to harvest rain water, which will flow into a large storage tank.
  
  
• Well Report
  Due to heavy rains and flooding bore well work is difficult, however our two masons have been willing to continue through the wet season, working under tarpaulins. Rivers have been flooded and our last well was completed end of July. To get supplies, the well mason and his crew have to wade through chest-high water, but with the help of the villagers they made it safely. This remote village has approximately 180 people who are extremely grateful for the clean water. The other village we are working in has proven even more challenging with four attempts to reach the water table frustrated by extensive solid rock. However, we will persevere! We are currently looking to train two men from the well team to become assistants to each of our masons, with the objective to become masons themselves, enabling our main mason to take on an overseeing role.
  
  
• Rejoice Kakinada
  We now have 16 children at Rejoice Kakinada who are settling in well. Some children are in need of sponsorship. If you wish to sponsor a child please download and complete the sponsorship form, enclose with your payment details and post to PO Box 680 Glen Waverley Australia 3150.
  
  
• Flinders Quartet Benefit Concert
  Escape the city and help benefit Jacob’s Well
  
  When: Sunday 12 October 2008 2:30 pm
  Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church 22 Yaldwyn Street West, Kyneton
  Tickets: $15/$8 available at the door.
  Enquiries: 0419 314 440 or info@flindersquartet.com
  All proceeds benefit Jacob’s Well, helping break the poverty cycle.
  
  
• Cultural Raffle
  The major prize is an authentic, hand-knotted, pure wool Persian rug. The original design is taken from designs found in the Taj Mahal. This rug would be a spectacular addition to any home and will be a talking point for years to come, rrp $2800. Other prizes: • One night’s accommodation at Sofitel Melbourne, value $450 • Sterling silver leaf print cufflinks, value $230 • Sterling silver flower print square pendant, value $230 • Ken Duncan ‘Reflections’ Book, rrp $79.95 • Melbourne Bowls Club Membership, value $75 • Shalimar Indian Restaurant Dinner Voucher, value $50. http://www.jacobswell.org.au/jacobs_well_fundraising.html for full terms and conditions.
  
  To become a ticket seller and obtain your raffle booklets contact Vicki Williamson via email vicki@jacobswell.org.au or phone 0417 037 234.
  News Flash: Booksellers please remember books and payment need to be returned to PO Box 680 Glen Waverley 3150 by 17th October.
  
  
• Print Version
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  To continue this life saving work we need finance, sponsors, expertise and partners. Please join us and help break the poverty cycle. 100% of your donation goes directly India.* Our dedicated team of field workers ensure your donation goes to the area of greatest need. Cheques made payable to Jacob's Well India. Post to PO Box 680 Glen Waverley Australia 3150. On behalf of the villagers we thank you. Donations to approved aid development activities are tax deductible.

 

 

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