Dear Friends,

We will be making our next delivery trip to Fiji in October 2003 to bring clothing, medical and school supplies to Fiji.  (Our Januanry 2003 and March 2002 trips, overseen by Allison Batlin and Bob Sykes, were a great success. Over six tons of goods were delivered in January.) The demand has become so great that we are now making this trip twice a year.  Just two years ago, the people of Beqa island were depending and hoping for a guest to leave behind a couple of aspirins or a band-aide, ---- that or chew on a leaf. This was the extent of their medical care. 

This past year the Lalati Clinic saw and treated well over two-thousand patients.

On a visit in June of 2000 there was a six-year-old child in Lalati village that died from dehydration caused by untreated diarrhea. A $3.00 bottle of Kaopectate and a bit of knowledge could have saved her life.

 In 2001 the clinic also had a team of physicians perform over 40 cataract surgeries on Fijians from Beqa and surrounding islands thanks to Dr. Lance Hendricks and his colleagues from SCRIPPS. Another team of health professionals from the GEMS foundation trained “appointed nurses" from each village on Beqa in the basics of emergency medicine. In the few days they were present, they saw hundreds of patients.

We are now faced with another challenge; a crippling form of scabies is now making its way through the island that will need special medication. The clinic in Lalati is run solely on the donations of friends like you.  It is because of you, we have truly been able to bring this incredible love abroad to make such a huge difference in their lives...to extend their lives.

The two schools we supply are flourishing.  In October, I checked their supplies.  They are still hoarding their goods, afraid that they will not receive more.  I assured them, as long as they use the supplies, we would replace them.  This is a new concept for them, using and replacing.

I recognize many of the clothes running around the island now as ones that have been donated.  To see a whole village dressed in donated items is a powerful sight.  This is something I wish you all could witness, your clothing being passed down from family member to family member till it is literally hanging by its last thread.

Once again, I am asking all of you to help with our cause from the heart.  We looking for donations of clothing, school supplies, medical items, hygienic supplies, and dental care items.  Money is very much needed to purchase the specialized medication needed to treat the scabies.  All items are needed and very much appreciated. We are now able to offer tax benefits for those of you who would like to make a cash donation.

For 2003, let us count our many blessings...then let us share them from the heart.

Thanking you in advance,

Allison Batlin
Bob Sykes
Acquisitions Directors

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