The Coracle Board is not a walk in the park.
We require goals and understanding of a pilgrimage is understood within the nine members.
We must never be a sit down board and conclude over lunch. We must know the difference between a vacation and a spiritual quest. We must be ready to defend these concepts when asking corporations for money, as well as individuals we don’t know, and friends whom we hold as dear friends.
As adults we are also involved with new life found with a baby and the dimming light of our parents. The reality is we are the home health care of members in our family tree.
We must hear their soft cry and not falter as we read the cries of many that turn to use for grants. To help make their quest come true.
We balance learning how to do our own personal journey’s for knowledge on our own. We aspire to learn that there is always a light burning at the other end, and we Know somehow we must help the very best we can within our cycles of funding by understand as a pool of Board Members what is written in the applications we read.
This year One of our Board members met with an applicant that came back to report. She was so inspiring with new knowledge That she had to take time off and gave in perons as her spiritual quest. She believed so deeply she took her father with her.
She reports,” I am delighted to serve on the Board of Directors for A Coracle Foundation.
We have financially helped 28 pilgrims with some of their transportation needs
for their own spiritual journeys.
In 2003 (?), A Coracle Foundation helped send Jeanette Colbert to Acornhoek,
in the NW corner of South Africa. There, she represents Seeds of Light, another
young organization which helps children impacted from Aids. She sent her long newsletters to all of us. We learned of her connections with Funjwa school. We all felt a part of Funjwa?s exciting growth with a new well for year-around water, vegetable gardens, and computer labs.
In 2005, A Coracle Foundation helped Jeanette return to the United States
for a visit. She saw her family and friends. Past donors I met Jeanette on that visit and saw her Seeds of Light DVD. About 10 minutes into the viewing, I KNEW
I wanted to be a part of this adventure.
I proposed to come for about a month. I offered to help Funjwa School set up an Art Department and give classes in writing and art. I could build upon my career as an author and illustrator of children?s books and give assemblies showing how a book is made.
And so I did in late May and June, 2006. I benefited from contacts and work done by
Jeanette Colbert. I worked with educators and learners.
I learned that one thing equaled the other:
981 children, 1/3 of them Aids orphans=981 eager, enthusiastic learners
One school impacted by poverty and unemployment=One school with its own well, computer lab, sense of pride and eagerness to learn new skills.
A special treat for all of us came at the last of my school visit. My 90-year-old father,
Robert W. Rector, joined us for his own spiritual journey. He spent 22 hours in 3 separate planes, plus transit time, to travel from California to Johannesburg He arrived to attend the ?Thanks Giving Ceremony for our Lovely Robin? given by the Principal, the educators, and attended by Jeanette and Leslieanne, Seeds of Light Volunteers.
I was given a Shangaan name ?Rirhandzu? which means love. I was so touched!
I hope to return sometime next year and work with them again.
My father, Robert Rector, was Item 9 on the Program Agenda. His speech was short and sweet. ?You have made an old man very happy!?
