October, 2003:

Dear Carol and all Rotarians,

The second container has finally arrived, after spending about a month on the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe (just not enough rail-cars and diesel to get trains/containers from there to Harare). It went through customs quite well, and was delivered the a ware house owned by the president of the Harare Dawn Rotary Club -- Mr. Greg Pozzo. He has been tremendous in giving help with this. We had a truck come this past week on Wednesday and take eight of the gaylords back to St. Theresa. Then on Thursday, I helped "supervise" the loading of another truck load to Regina Coeli Hospital, one of our "sister hospitals" in the Eastern part of Zimbabwe -- they are right near the Mozambique border, and are very grateful to get any and all assistance. I am attaching some photos of that loading.

Then later that morning, our truck came for the other eight gaylords for St. Theresa. We have not unpacked any of them as yet, but will as soon as I get back early next week. I was in Harare to pick up Loretta, who was back in the US visiting kids and grandkids, and to be there for the baptism of the newest grandchild, Olivia Marie Stoughton. She arrived back on Thursday about noon, and although having a terrible cold, is happy to be back -- and I am happy she is back, but hoping she does not share the cold with me! The boxes from Shawano were definitely in the ones that we have taken to St. Theresa's, and so will be sure to get some pictures of the unpacking of those also.

We are truly thankful to ALL who have been instrumental and helpful in obtaining these supplies for us. The Harare Dawn Club has also then distributed the other gaylords to hospitals in the Harare area. It is great to see this tremendous cooperation with everyone. With all supplies being either very difficult to obtain or much too costly for us to obtain, these supplies truly are "life-savers".

God Bless all of you. Dick Stoughton

Dear Carol

On behalf of our Rotary Club I would like to thank you for the medical supplies you sent us in the container which arrived in October last year. The majority went to the two main government hospitals in Harare which are desperately short of everything while the undersheets and linensavers went to two of our homes for the aged.

I must apologise for this belated thank you for the container but I thought it had already been acknowledged while I was away on holiday.

Yours sincerely,

Alan Hall.

Chairman, Community & International Services Committee
Rotary Club of Harare Dawn.