The Trek to Nepal is beginning this Saturday, March 4th, 2006 by Rosalind Russell, our very own ‘goat lady’.
Unexpectedly Rosalind Russell decided to depart to Nepal before her November trip. She is compelled by the reality that the first ‘passing of the gift’ of two goats would take place in about a week, which she did not wish to miss; and the clincher being that Rabin announced his engagement, which means the wedding MUST take place in a wedding month according to Hindu-Nepali custom. The last possible day to marry at this time is the 7th of March on our calendar.
It was his deepest wish that his Mayte, Mom to us, would be there to rejoice in the marriage. As it is, Rosalind is arriving within a few hours of the ceremony at the Temple. She will be attending the wedding with Rabin’s family and nearly 500 guests for the reception, and participating as is the custom as his “mom”.
Her first concern was with the wedding taking place, how could she and Rabin do the work? But only 2 days will be needed for the wedding events, time for her to rest is her thought.
In their custom it is not usual to have a honeymoon, or intimacy for that matter, so Rabin and Rosalind will head off to the villages to see the passing of the goats, the ‘pass the gift forward’; they will be giving the goats to the widows and single women in a high altitude village that Laguna practically single handily created with our generosity, all this work within the communist controlled areas; then seeing all the woman in all the villages they have served in, now numbering 5 with the widows, with 2 more to be added, so 7 villages, hundreds of women and children; and also she is going to see the progress of the school that is physically being built at this time for 200 children and ascertain the needs for the school and the added costs for building supply increases.
Rosalind has underwritten half the trip herself to get there with the other half coming in from past donors who understand she is not paid for the humanitarian work she does for us as well as the village women which is adding to peace in the world, even freedom.
She stated that in a recent call with Rabin he reminded her
of the phenomenal success for all the women and villages they gave the goats to
as having over 50% improvement for all the women, and more for many, in how they
live, including health and schooling as well as an ability to chose to set up an
income creating business. Is that not incredible?
Rosalind knows that the success of her work is because of the generosity of the
supporters, the donors. Without the donors, there would not be such a project
changing the world at a time of Civil War. She is totally grateful for everyone
making the project live on so well while also expanding the work beyond anyone’s
understanding for such success. Certainly she did not expect such successes nor
understand the expansion that would come about to help these wee villages so far
from her home of 26 years in Laguna.
Remember, the project is not just giving goats to poor women, it takes them out of abject poverty; removes trafficking of children because of the increased income; slows and stops infanticide and even contributes to less terrorism in that poverty is the culprit for taking on communism as well as the desire to kill others whom they perceive to be the reason they are poor. Pretty niffy package that Russell has put together with “goats”.
Russell is sure that the 3 weeks is insufficient to do more than the aforementioned agenda, also taking away time from her own work is not possible at this time with more time away. She returns the last of March, missing the Patriot’s Day Parade and Saint Patrick’s Day, but serving the world.
Her request is that those inclined will hold her well in their prayers and blessings for the over 30 hour flight to get there (another 30 to return), and to maneuver the treacherous areas she goes to in the Kavre District of Nepal.
It is not too late to be a part of the journey of supporting. Her friend who is assisting in the foundation’s works while she is gone, also tending to her cat Star Kitty, and plants will manage checks too. The gifts can be designated for the school, the goat project or ‘whatever’ you wish. Send them to: “THE R STAR FOUNDATION”
Post Office 4183, Laguna Beach, CA 92652. (This is a 501©3 tax deductible foundation). For those wishing to book her for her engaging speaking engagements may call and leave a message at: 949/497-2545 to set up a convenient date after she returns.