Autumn Greetings Wherever You Are!
Here in Lacomb, Oregon, the colored leaves are falling and there is a nip in the air, reminding us to wear scarves, dig out our long sleeves and start thinking about hunkering down. Everything is still luscious and green, but we are feeling the season’s change with fire building, great garden harvests, and the last music venues of our normal gigging season. It always feels great to share the music throughout the year with our communities in Oregon’s mid-valley, particularly after sharpening and polishing with the tutelage of spring and summer performances.
Ancient Ways students come together weekly from Sweet Home, Lebanon, Albany, North Albany, Corvallis, Wren, Salem, and of course, Scio and the Cascade foothills where Ancient Ways was born 31 years ago. We are always welcoming in new students interested in studying this sweet music with us, as that is what drew me to Zimbabwe in 1990. October 12th finds us at the Philomath Sunday Market to get the last taste of our marimba music in October.
26 years ago, we began Nhimbe for Progress with Cosmas Magaya, and have kept a focus on education and health for our Zimbabwean neighbors for all these years. Currently, the attention is being given to operate the preschool, as well as the community library and garden, provide services through the Mhandara Monthly Care for maturing girls, and build (and deepen) wells for anyone in need.
The Ancient Ways and Nhimbe landscapes are like a kaleidoscope every year revealing how the fundraising we do through our performing, writing, and events dovetails with Nhimbe’s reality, supporting the key functions of the vision. We have been and are still dedicated to uplifting the people in rural Zimbabwe through the dedication of a handful of village residents who understand and are committed to the future. Many people have come and gone since 1990 when I put my foot on this path, both here in the states, and there on the ground, all of which make this incredible tapestry unfold, giving the children, the families, and the elderly, hope, tools and resources for a better life. Huge thanks to all the ways you have supported our work over these many years, for example, tipping at performances or sending donations to help us raise funds for our efforts.
Recently the HeartWorks Eldercare team here in the US, hand-made (pieced and tied) another six comforters, which were shipped to our rural area and gifted to six elderly residents in Mhondoro (they choose one person from each village). We honor the elderly with this lovely donated high-quality needle-craft and thank you for your help in making it a reality! There are various ways to help those in need and this has become an annual way to reach out and let the elderly know we are not just thinking about them, but actively extending our warmth to embrace them! Check out the video!
Thank you again for all of the ways you continue to keep Nhimbe for Progress on the map! (zoom in and, although this is not recent, see the Community Center!)
We appreciate all that you do. Feel free to donate here now – you do make the difference!