OK so tonight was invited to give a talk and show the movie about The Tanbok Project at the carol service at the church members of my family have been going to for years. Great positive feedback and stimulating discussions have ensued. I realised earlier its roughly 7 years to the day since I first inadvertently wandered to Tanbok and found Sara Mtn and family singing their hearts out. I now find myself reflecting on this and on the Christmas message I was asked to give. In the 7 years that followed, Saravina and co. from Tanbok Tabi Jayjay Alisha Aru have absolutely blown me away with how much theyve achieved despite the fact their primary school has hardly any supplies and barely had walls. They mastered subjects like calculus that so many of my friends and colleagues here couldnt manage despite having the finest resources at their fingertips. They schooled at the top institutions of their country. Sara has just finished her degree. I’m just so proud of them and their inspiration has stayed with me daily. I’ve since spent a fair bit of time giggling with their friends and family in their intriguing village. They even adopted me and we had a ceremony and everything. My relationship with the village over the years is what has kindled the Tanbok Project. They gave me so much: so much love, so much generosity. They taught me what it is to be determined, to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. There is no time of year more so than Christmas where we think about those we love and wonder if we’ve shared as much with them as they did with us. Christmas is about sharing. Christmas is about love. Christmas is about lending a helping hand to those who need it. And that to me is what the Tanbok Project is all about. My wish this Christmas is that we here in London and those in Tanbok who wont even be able to read this can share something together. Let’s give them some cash, to build the things their community desperately need. And let’s open our hearts to what these wonderful people that you’ve never met on the other side of the world can give to us that we desperately need. Let’s share their spirit of determination. Let’s share their generosity. Let’s share in their unquestioning kindness. Let’s share their ability to be happy. Let’s let them remind us of our humanity. It’s a two-way street. This Christmas, let us give and receive gifts that matter. This project won’t solve all the world’s problems. It’s about sifting through the wilderness of things we dont like in this world and identifying what we as individuals can do in whatever small way. Step by step, penny by penny, brick by brick. I can’t do this on my own. I dont know enough, I can’t raise enough… I need help. I need your help. Donations go a long way with this project. But more than that: I need you to believe. Let’s believe in what we can do by coming together and uniting with a community on the other side of the world. Merry Christmas everyone. Safe trip to your homes and may the mulled wine abound.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:42:48 +0000
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