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Inside This Issue
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MRDS Online Newsletter:
3 Quarter 2005
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Bridging the Centuries
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The Muslim village has 400 families who
struggled for water; while less than a mile away the Tigris
River ran swiftly past their land. Millennium stepped in and
made a difference.
The water had always been carried to our homes, barns and
fields. This has mostly been women’s work, and we did not
mind. It has always been this way. For centuries our women
would go to the river for water. This river means life to
us. Some even say life began in the land between our great
river, Tigris and the Euphrates.
Everyday we would walk together to the river, fill our tubs,
balance them carefully on our heads and walk back. The mile
each way is not so bad, we can visit with each other. Now
there is a busy highway we must cross to get to our river.
We must cross it carefully, and sometimes one of us is not
careful and precious water is spilled. It is back to the
river for her. This time she must hurry; there is work to be
done. Life is very busy for women in our village.
Some months back, foreigners came to our village. Our elders had heard
about a better way to get water from the river and wanted it
for us. They asked these people from Millennium to help
bring the water into the village. It was hard for me to
imagine!
Our men soon began digging a long trench by hand from the
river to the village. The foreigners came back to help lay
the pipe; they put in a pump and built a tower.
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Prior to Millennium's water project, these women made a daily
walk to the river for their water supply.
There was a big truck with a long arm that lifted a huge
tank, onto the top of the tower. Much of the time we women
watched from our doorways, we were not used to so much
activity and so many strangers.
Finally, the water from the river was pumped into the tank.
As it began to fill, some water poured out at the top. What
fun the young boys had playing in that waterfall. But, I was
not very happy. I thought it would be messy to fill my water
tub from a waterfall. I could not change my clothes every
time I went for water!
But our men are clever; soon I saw they had installed a tap.
Oh, this is much better than the waterfall for filling my
tub. This is something very useful, and only a two minute
walk from my house. The women have not stopped talking about
how this has changed our lives. We are so thankful to now
have water inside our village.
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Celebration in the Desert
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In our last newsletter we reported that a
new school was about to be dedicated. Here is a report from
a Millennium worker who attended that long awaited
celebration.
Northern Afghanistan, June 2005
The bright blue building stood alone in the distance, like a
cool aquamarine pool of water in the dry and drab desert.
One year ago this would have been a mirage, a trick of the
desert. But it was as real as the young boys who had lined
up along the road to greet us. For them this was a proud
moment. They were thrilled to be celebrating the opening of
their new school.
The dry, dusty, hot desert wind blew all around us, but it
could not wilt the smiles on the faces of the children. You
could see the approval and anticipation in the eyes of the
teachers who would finally be instructing their students in
a proper school. This new building was a stark contrast to
the tents and mud rooms that had served as classrooms. The
new school is much cooler in the desert heat and warmer in
the frigid, high desert winter. It is clean, and is equipped
with black boards, desks and plenty of room for studying and
dreaming of a brighter future.
At the podium, students proudly recited poems. Local
officials and dignitaries gave speeches about the new era
that had come to their village with the completion of the
school.
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They were all proud and very grateful for
what the partnership between their village and the
Millennium team had accomplished for their children.
After the ceremony, the ribbon was cut and everyone entered
the school for an inspection. Soon we all found seats along
the hallway and got ready to enjoy the gracious hospitality
of the community. The traditional Afghan food had been
prepared in large pits dug especially for the celebration.
It was truly a feast!
After the meal, all of the children were given gifts: book
bags from a Houston donor were filled with school supplies
and toothbrushes. We also opened boxes of donated soccer
balls, frisbees, jump ropes, kites and more. The children
had a great time and proudly held up their bags as we took
photos of them in front of their school.
This was just one day in our workweek. But celebrations with
communities are always special days for us. For this village
and especially for the children the day had an impact that
will last for years to come.
A heartfelt thank you to all who participated in making this
school a reality...for those who funded the school, for
those behind the scenes who made it happen, for all those
who labored in love that the children in this village would
have a new beginning. It has been a special partnership
between two different worlds, bridged by love. |
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New Development Center Brings
Unexpected Gift
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 More
than 600 large boxes of used clothes were distributed this
summer by our newest development center in Uzbekistan. It
was easy to see that many families were badly in need of
clothes. Though only short-term in scope, a clothing
distribution project made an immediate impact on the
community. The project was a great success and just one of
several developed by our team as they began establishing
their work in this region.
Project ideas can be overwhelming when beginning a new
center. This particular area is struggling from a lack of
employment and access to technology. Besides jobs they need
things such as computers, phones, water pumps and ideas for
income generation.
In order to begin where needs were greatest; our workers
have been interviewing village elders to see where our
knowledge and their needs intersect. As a result of taking
this time to share needs and ideas, our new partnership is
well underway.
A highlight of the Millennium network is
the availability of shared knowledge. “How-to” plans on
beginning new projects are invaluable in the early planning
stages of any development center. This particular center has
begun consulting our other offices to determine if a
successful tomato-drying project would work well in this
region.
The center has had success with several educational
programs. A map distribution project provided lesson plans
and framed maps of the United States and Canada, one for
each of the 422 schools in the region. The ongoing English
language activities are always very well attended. These
include day camps and seminars to train English teachers.
This Millennium office is already engaged in a challenging
goal. They are looking for a new location on which to build
a center that is large enough to house an English library,
computer center and a children’s playground. They have
successfully raised half of the needed funds. Once another
$30,000-50,000 is received, they plan to begin construction.
It is heartening to see how even the most basic project can
have unexpected and unintended results. One particular woman
found more than just clothes in the recent distribution. In
the pocket of a man’s shirt she found four $10 bills, a sum
equal to a typical monthly income! But this was a very
special treasure. She explained that her family would now be
able to pay for an upcoming wedding celebration. Traditional
wedding gatherings draw many people, and more than one is
usually required. For a family having difficulty providing
its own meals, feeding the neighbors is a costly
undertaking. One small project was able to provide for their
needs, and touch their hearts as well.
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CEO's Letter: We Carry
On
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Being confronted with monumental scenes of
destruction, we do what we can where we are. Disaster knows
no boundaries, and in due course it washes up on our own
doorstep. Sadly, the grand schemes of history fall short of
truly solving our problems. Too often they are even counter
productive. In spite of this, we carry on.
Those responses that have been most effective have often
been local. Responses tailored by those closest to the
situation to address the immediate needs as they present
themselves. When we are the local community we each step in
and respond as our talents and resources guide. In those
areas where we cannot do it best, we rely on and support the
greater efforts of other disaster relief organizations to
supply the necessary aid. Because of this, we carry on.
Millennium’s worldwide network of teams works closely within
their individual communities. Programs are tailored to show
people how to meet their basic needs. The humble talents and
resources of our teams are solving problems every day. In
support of them, we carry on.
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Coming to America
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Coming
to America is incredibly exhausting; just ask the teachers
who spent four weeks in Houston this summer learning the
latest in English teaching methods. “English is the gateway
to prosperity,” explained one of the Tajik participants to
her hosts. Houstonians opened their homes and shared their
lives and values with another culture, making unique
friendships. As a result, many teachers expressed an honest
change in their opinions toward America. One commented, “We
see now that there is no difference in the hearts of people
no matter what religion or country they are from. I could
not believe how caring and generous Americans are.” For the
teachers this dream come true is an experience they will
never forget.
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