‘Tenk-hee, tenk-hee’. . .
Dearest friends and family,
‘Tenk-hee, tenk-hee’ is Krio for thank you, thank you!
Wow, I am flabbergasted, deeply touched and thrilled by the absolutely phenomenal response to my birthday idea. Your generosity and support really moves me, especially knowing how much this will mean to the women of Sierra Leone. It seems that the grand total is going to be in the $6000 range!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been very busy this week making purchases for WAFF and getting set for the big celebration which will be on Monday. Shopping in Freetown has been quite the experience. Not exactly pulling into a Target or Reny's parking lot and coming out in a ‘one stop shop’!!!! It really has been fun, but challenging too!
To date, I have bought 25 plastic outdoor chairs of all colours, 2 tables and table umbrellas for the little garden. This will be such a nice spot for the women and staff to hang out. Now the women sit on the steps in the breezeway. I have also bought two sewing machines (a treadle and a hand one), enough nice cotton fabric for 100 new hospital gowns... in vibrant purple, turquoise and pink.
Each women and about 100 more to come, will get a toilet bag with a small towel, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, a jar of zinc oxide (the urine makes their skin completely raw and this is the best for soothing healing). Today I topped off the purchases with 2 commercial grade ‘made in the USA’ washers and dryers at an auction at the US Embassy...such a deal $186 USD!!! They are in prime condition. This will be great...all the laundry currently is being done by hand!
I have many other ideas...one is to sponsor a patient to get her nursing degree and also to buy farm/garden tools and seeds for women when they go back to their villages. I will keep you posted.
Monday we will have the party (Monday is also the birthday of one of the nurses here) and it promises to be very festive. I will be sure to send some photos, but in the meantime here are a few for you.
The staff here at WAFF are so excited and in awe of everyone's generosity and knowing that many people care for their welfare.
This is going to definitely be one of my most memorable birthdays!!!
Much love and gratitude to you all, Helen
1 comment:
I love what you're doing Helen. Yogi & I are so proud and happy for you. We think the "many happy return" phrase is an understatement. The happiness the donation brings will have an enormous joyful multiplier effect. Happy happy birthday! Much love, Stella & Yogi
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