Saying Goodbye
It’s been a difficult month. My long-time friend and favorite traveling companion, Maureen, lost her courageous fight with cancer. It’s hard for me to imagine a world without her here to give me guidance.
I often called her my “big thinker”. She was one of the initial MCP board members and the one that pushed me to go places I wouldn’t have had the nerve to go on my own. She always lighted the way.
She gently suggested we visit “all” of Phoebe’s schools in Uganda instead of the one or two I had planned to schedule. She gave me a firm but compassionate push to do a local TED talk and was the support that made me feel I could pull it off. She worked feverishly on succession plans and wrote up notes and ideas from every trip we took, being sure to let nothing fall through the cracks. And, not wanting to waste a minute of our time she’d come up with art projects for the local village children, some planned well in advance and some spur of the moment. She was one of the most creative people I’ve ever known.
The MoonCatcher Project was a passion for her. She spoke of it at dinner parties and wrote letters to celebrities hoping they’d take us on as their next big project. She believed in the mission with all her heart and that steadfastness was an anchor for me. She was often my inspiration and I imagine I’ll draw on that always.
Recently we’ve received a grant from the Nordlys foundation that will be matched by a friend of Maureen. With this money Phoebe (our partner In Uganda, much loved by Maureen) will complete the building that will house The MoonCatcher Project’s tailors. The building has a sewing room, storage room, office and two toilets. It will be named after Maureen with a plaque at the entry in memory of her grit and grace.
A line in her obituary says it all. “She just had a way of being able to walk into your soul, and make you feel safe. She was the very best of humanity.”
More News
A 55-gallon barrel has been shipped to Kenya thanks to the indomitable help of our board member Agnes and her family. A 50-pound box has also been shipped; barrel by sea and box by air. Once it all arrives, Phoebe will travel to Kenya where she and Jacky will divide the contents of the barrel for our sewing cooperatives in both countries - to keep them all sewing in the midst of the pandemic. It feels great to have done this.
Some of the contents of our 55-gallon barrel headed for Kenya included ripstop nylon, masks, and of course, Tyvek.
This month we were able to send 100 kits to Tanzania with The OuterLoop Humanity Project. We have collaborated with them in the past and we are happy to continue this partnership.
Alice Marcus, our partner in Nigeria, took another 1,000 pieces of Tyvek to Nigeria last week to continue making our kits there. Alice is changing the lives of people in her childhood village. She has helped them in so many ways, including making masks, providing food, building schools and more. Go to her website to learn more about her work with the Victor Foundation.
We have a great committee that has been meeting online - to develop an auction fundraiser. They have decided to pair our Spring auction with May 28 International Menstrual Hygiene day. For two weeks leading up to the 28th we’ll be posting fabulous auction items for you to bit on and fun raffle goodies too. Stay tuned!
Zoom continues to occupy my days, allowing me to give presentations and meet with groups and individuals. We continue our work to develop a virtual MoonBee that works for our volunteers. Though it will be a smaller pared-down event, we hope to be able to offer something soon.
Happy Valentines Day. Isn’t it the coolest thing that we celebrate a day all about LOVE?
My personal valentine - painted for all of you.
Sending my love to all of you -
Ellie