Two months ago, as we looked toward the road ahead, the necessity of raising $18,200 to meet our upcoming financial obligations seemed an impossibility. Every year school tuition fees, food prices, vehicle repair costs and all the expenses of simple daily living have gone up and up. By this spring they had come to feel simply beyond reach. Like scaling a mountain whose peaks seem to keep getting higher and higher, the trail up the mountain of the ever growing costs of daily living in Uganda had only become steeper with every passing month and year.

So, when I sent out our most recent “News and Needs” letter to all our supporters –
St Paul’s parishioners and beyond – it felt like a bit of a “Hail Mary” football pass with the goal line so far down the field that a touch down seemed almost impossible to visualize. But somehow, some way, you all – together – not only caught the pass and scored a touchdown. You also even went on to score the extra point!

Net proceeds from our first ever GVCP ”Walkathon” event have now reached $19,200 – with a couple of pledges still on their way to us! This means that not only can our young students rest assured they will be returning to their studies after spring break, but also that – as we await harvest of our spring crops – short term food insecurity fears can be set aside for now. And perhaps even a payment can be made on our over due dental bill for braces for one of our young people.

While our circle of support extends far beyond St Paul’s and our local Newton community, nonetheless, central to our ongoing success has been the steady support from the Parish of St Paul and so many of its parishioners. Thus, a very special “Thank You!” is due to all involved from St Paul’s. With that in mind I will close here with the picture that follows below – our Walkathon crew out in front of St Paul’s church building, the starting line and finish line of our fundraising hike. Our gratitude to our St Paul’s “family” for the time, energy and money – invested in this project is beyond words.