As I write to you today, on Jan. 28th, 2010, the time has almost come for us to leave for Egypt. In three days, on the 31st, we leave from Comox and then from Vancouver the same night. In the last post I told you we would be spending time in that country with friends of ours. Because of the demonstrations going on in Cairo, I have checked the government of Canada’s travel advisory site. There are no official warnings posted against travel in Egypt. However, the usual precautionary advice is there. We are advised not to join large crowds (brilliant!) and not to be out too late at night. I don’t mean to trivialise the situation in Egypt, but those warnings might also apply in Vancouver’s east end. I did register Cynthia and myself with the Canadian government’s site as visitors to Egypt.
We are planning to take a large number of running shoes with us for the children at the Found School, the school for Sudanese refugee children which Mary-Jean, our friend, helps to run. So far we have 116 pairs packed in suitcases and a golf bag. We have many more pairs in the house, as the response, from the citizens of the Comox Valley, to our plea for shoes, has been overwhelming. Here’s a general letter of thanks which Cynthia was moved to write to the local papers and so to our wonderful valley residents.
“Letter to the Editor
The people of the Comox Valley are the best. My husband and I are off to Egypt on Mon. Jan 31st to visit friends, Neil and Mary-Jean. These friends are involved in helping with a school for Sudanese refugee children in Cairo. The children, families and their teachers are amongst the poorest of the poor in this city of millions. The C.O.O.L. church which meets on Sundays at Berwick has supported the school for two years by providing funds for the students and teachers to have a hot meal at midday. For many this is their only meal of the day.
Two weeks ago I wrote to Mary-Jean to ask if anything was needed that we could bring with us when we visit the school. Her reply was unexpected – “Please bring multivitamins and good second hand shoes. Many students canʼt attend school because they have no shoes and walking the roads in bare feet causes many cuts and foot infections with no money for treatment or antibiotics.”
As a family we tried to respond. My son Ben Davies has a financial planning company in Comox. He included a plea in his current newsletter and collected 3 large bags of excellent shoes from his generous clients. My other son Tim works at Brooklyn Elementary School. The teachers spoke to the children and to teachers at other schools.
The news spread like wildfire and now two days later our front hall is piled with bags of good shoes. Personal friends raided their closets and found more shoes.
Tim Cowan at the Medicine shop in Comox donated 13 huge jars of Gummi multivitamins and friends Lynore and Don donated a further 4 jars of the same multivitamins. Another friend Tricia gave us $20 towards the excess baggage costs that we will undoubtedly incur.
We are overwhelmed with the generosity of this Valley community. Over and over a need is mentioned in the news media and the Valley people rise to meet it. We will visit the school with shoes in hand and tell them that their plight is known in the Comox Valley. They are not forgotten refugees ignored by Governments and persecuted by others. On the contrary, in the Comox Valley they are respected, valued and cared for as individuals. It is said to really understand the plight of others we must walk a mile in their shoes. We cannot do that with the Sudanese refugees. But because of your generosity they will walk many miles in your shoes and, Iʼm sure, will thank God for you every day. Well done Comox Valley.
Blessings Cynthia and Martin Davies”
Bags of shoes at home
More shoes in the hall.
I had planned to write a weekly post to the blog from Egypt, but as the internet has been shut down by their government as of today, posting may not be possible. Well, if it doesn’t work out, I will update you on our trip when we return.
On our return, the next big challenge for me will be to get in shape for The Ride To Conquer Cancer. I am one member of our team of eight who will be riding in this event which takes place in June 2011. We are riding under our team logo of Team Flip Flop Shops. This is the name of a business venture by our son Ben and partner Josée. (actually it is mostly Josée’s baby). If you would like to read more about our ride you can click on the link here to my site, and go to the team’s site from there.
So my friends, until the next time, take care of yourselves and may God bless you and keep you in the palm of His hand.
